What is wrong with this cat?

peppersmommy

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Okay.. this is long before it actually gets to the problem. so one day I found an injured cat, fell in love with him, brought him, took him to the vet.. got his injury taken care of, and got him fixed. I kept him in for a bit longer.. but when his injury healed, I decided he could go back outside. (where he absolutely loves it) He owns me now.. and stays in my yard. I started putting food out for him, and it wasn't long when another cat came in our yard and started eating. He was absolutely gorgeous.. and such a sweet heart.. well... now he pretty much stays in our yard.. so I put food out everyday.. well over the next few months.. we've had like 7 different cats coming to eat.. which isn't a problem.. because they aren't mean to each other. I know it's spring and the breeding will start soon. We are going to take our 2nd cat and have him fixed.. because we love him.. and feel its our responsibility since we pretty much claim him as ours.. so that he wont breed with the females. We would love to bring them in.. but we have 2 inside cats (that have been all of their lives), and 2 dogs. Our inside animals have their vaccines.. but we just can't afford vaccines for the 2 outside cats that we claim as ours. Plus.. when we bring them in.. they are always just trying to get back outside because they are scared I guess.. Okay.. now for the problem. There is one cat in particular.. that comes by to eat. Her whole butt and tail is soiled with diarrhea.. shes been like that for a while.. 2 mnths atleast. I feel awful for her! But.. like I said I can't afford to take her to the vet.. shes not mine.. and I can barely afford the things my inside animals need. What can be wrong with her? And what can I do to help her that doesn't involve spending money?
 

starlie

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It sounds like she has worms. I'm pretty sure treatment would involve taking her to the vet. Can you catch her and take her to the local Humane Society?
 
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peppersmommy

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I don't know if I can catch her or not.. she always takes off running when we go outside.I have some pyrental pamaote (or whatever its called) from the cats when they were younger.. but its expired.. do you think that would work for her even though its expired?
 

ricalynn

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Peppersmommy,
you should never use expired medications - on pets OR people. If she's that skittish you may be able to let the Humane Society know about her and maybe they can come get her with a humane trap. she sounds like she's in pretty rough shape, and I'm glad you came to ask for help for her!! There are lots of folks here who have lots of experience, and Im sure they will be along to help you soon.
for looking out for this girl!
 

gayef

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Please do not used expired medications - the outcome is not always positive. At the moment, it would seem that if this girl needs assistance, then you must either give it to her or not. There isn't any gray area here.
 
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peppersmommy

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I wish I could save every helpless hurt animal that I could find.
But.. Im just a 20 yr old newlywed.. who pays a lot to go to school and make ends meet.. and provide my own animals with vet care. I know there is no gray area. I was just hoping someone could give me clues as to what might be wrong with her.. and if there was any home remody I could give her to help her.
 

cjandbilly

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It sounds like worms to me. But, it could be something more serious, too. I really think you need to get her some help through the humane society or some shelter. Good luck!
 

hissy

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You are not going to like my advice, but here it is anywhere. Chances are the cat with the bad diarrhea is very ill and it is not worms. It is probably something much more severe than worms. If you cannot afford to spay and neuter EVERY cat that comes into your yard- THEN STOP FEEDING. It is coming on breeding season, and you will have more cats showing up around a food source, and that leads to colonization which leads to breeding, and if the cats are sick, the kittens will probably die and it can really be a mess. I know that it is tempting to put food out for one cat or two, but the problem is that the food draws more cats, and you open yourself up to a whole mess of problems if you can't care for them properly.

If you say "But I have to feed them or they will starve" Then I would say to you to do measured feedings, only for the two cats you can provide for, taking the food and water away after 20 minutes and not leaving it out all the time.

Do I sound harsh? Probably, but what you are doing is creating a problem for yourself and for these cats. They will survive without you believe it or not, at least the strongest will. That is the way of nature until man gets in there and mucks up the works.
 

pat

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Originally Posted by Peppersmommy

I wish I could save every helpless hurt animal that I could find.
But.. Im just a 20 yr old newlywed.. who pays a lot to go to school and make ends meet.. and provide my own animals with vet care. I know there is no gray area. I was just hoping someone could give me clues as to what might be wrong with her.. and if there was any home remody I could give her to help her.
But there isn't. We can guess...we can say it's parasites, or something she's eaten, or ibs, or a disease...who knows? No one will know unless she gets a veterinary exam. Because you can not care for her, please find a no-kill group in your area, if you can, who will trap her and care for her as she needs.

I am sorry to be blunt, but I hope you'll hear what I'm saying...folks in cyberland, can not substitute for a hands on exam. What we can do, is be supportive, and there is a cats sos section for folks who do tnr and other rescue work, if you wish to learn how to best handle what sounds like a crew of strays you are feeding.
 

laceydf

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I really feel bad for the kitty with the problem. I hope that you can catch it and take it to a shelter so they can look after it.
I agree with them about not being able to feed them all, because they will find food elsewhere, i just wish there was a way to help the one with the problem
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by Peppersmommy

I wish I could save every helpless hurt animal that I could find.
But.. Im just a 20 yr old newlywed.. who pays a lot to go to school and make ends meet.. and provide my own animals with vet care. I know there is no gray area. I was just hoping someone could give me clues as to what might be wrong with her.. and if there was any home remody I could give her to help her.
Do you have an aspca??? humane society.,.. they often have reduced cost vet care..
 

misstorri

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Call various local aspca's in your area there has to be someting someone can do to help.I totally understand how you feel because I would fell the same way, but the aspca might hold you accountable for the cost of turning a cat in.My b/f feeds a stray dog behind his work and when he called the aspca they wouldnt pick up the dog and told him it would be 75.00 to drop him off.They aslo told us that once you are feeding a stray we would be liable for that animal.But I agree with everyone else, maybe you could try trapping her and bring to either the aspca or a local vet willing to wave the cost of an exam.
 

marge

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It's so awful cause good natured well meaning people do this and it rarely ends up well as hissy points out. A neighborhood near me had this happen, a nice woman fed a few cats and before long it was 10 and the neighbors were furious. Cats were in their yards etc. they complained and the woman got help from a rescue group. that is what you should do, contact a local rescue group that will help you and find a way to find a place for these cats.
 
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