So I've sort of adopted an abandoned cat. Here's a description of the situation:
I had neighbors about a year ago who moved out. They moved out, but left their cat (I'm VERY angry about that). Well, fortunately for this cat, there was a little girl down the street who wanted to be a vet when she grew up, and was feeding the poor thing.
I guess she hasn't been feeding it lately, because I saw it yesterday (I had named it "Boots" a while ago, because it had white hind legs, while the rest of it was a beautiful grey). I called Boots to me, and it (I'm unsure if it's a male for female) came right to me. I went to pet it (as I did often) and found that it was emaciated. It couldn't even meow, only let out a poor hoarse squeak.
So I invited it onto my porch, and poured a bowl of my housecat's food (an adopted feral, caught her with a cage trap when she was a kitten, along with her sister who I gave away) and a bowl of fresh water. I was afraid I wouldn't see the cat again, as it had been a month since the last time I saw it.
However, when I came home today, there was Boots, in front of my house, waiting for me! So I stroked the cat again (I made sure to wash up afterwards, I'm not sure if the cat is diseased and I don't want to infect my housecat/housecow) and brought out more food and water. This time, it was able to meow clearly and it was looking a bit more healthy.
This cat is skinny (emaciated, really), grey and white, and its short fur is matted in places. I don't think the cat is injured at all, but may be diseased. I know I have to take this cat to a vet. I don't think I'll be able to use a cage trap, but I'll have to catch it somehow.
So does anyone have any advice for me? I know this cat needs to go to a vet, but I want to fatten it up a bit because I don't know if it can handle the stress of going to a vet in its weakened condition. What cat foods would you recommend for Boots in his/her emaciated condition? Most importantly: Despite the fact that he/she is tame, it's still a bit skittish and I'm not sure I'll be able to get it into a cat carrier, and I don't think I'll be able to use a trap, either. Is there any financial help I can find, being that I'm relatively poor? Once the cat is in good health (May Saint Francis smile on this poor thing) what humane shelters do you recommend, since it's nearly impossible to find a home for an adult cat regardless of how well-behaved it is?
Thank you very much in advance for ANY advice you can give me on this, as I've never done this with an adult cat in poor shape. My housecat (Housecow) was captured as a kitten in good health, so she wasn't difficult.
Oh, I suppose I should mention that I live just north of Los Angeles.
I had neighbors about a year ago who moved out. They moved out, but left their cat (I'm VERY angry about that). Well, fortunately for this cat, there was a little girl down the street who wanted to be a vet when she grew up, and was feeding the poor thing.
I guess she hasn't been feeding it lately, because I saw it yesterday (I had named it "Boots" a while ago, because it had white hind legs, while the rest of it was a beautiful grey). I called Boots to me, and it (I'm unsure if it's a male for female) came right to me. I went to pet it (as I did often) and found that it was emaciated. It couldn't even meow, only let out a poor hoarse squeak.
So I invited it onto my porch, and poured a bowl of my housecat's food (an adopted feral, caught her with a cage trap when she was a kitten, along with her sister who I gave away) and a bowl of fresh water. I was afraid I wouldn't see the cat again, as it had been a month since the last time I saw it.
However, when I came home today, there was Boots, in front of my house, waiting for me! So I stroked the cat again (I made sure to wash up afterwards, I'm not sure if the cat is diseased and I don't want to infect my housecat/housecow) and brought out more food and water. This time, it was able to meow clearly and it was looking a bit more healthy.
This cat is skinny (emaciated, really), grey and white, and its short fur is matted in places. I don't think the cat is injured at all, but may be diseased. I know I have to take this cat to a vet. I don't think I'll be able to use a cage trap, but I'll have to catch it somehow.
So does anyone have any advice for me? I know this cat needs to go to a vet, but I want to fatten it up a bit because I don't know if it can handle the stress of going to a vet in its weakened condition. What cat foods would you recommend for Boots in his/her emaciated condition? Most importantly: Despite the fact that he/she is tame, it's still a bit skittish and I'm not sure I'll be able to get it into a cat carrier, and I don't think I'll be able to use a trap, either. Is there any financial help I can find, being that I'm relatively poor? Once the cat is in good health (May Saint Francis smile on this poor thing) what humane shelters do you recommend, since it's nearly impossible to find a home for an adult cat regardless of how well-behaved it is?
Thank you very much in advance for ANY advice you can give me on this, as I've never done this with an adult cat in poor shape. My housecat (Housecow) was captured as a kitten in good health, so she wasn't difficult.
Oh, I suppose I should mention that I live just north of Los Angeles.