The Kitty in the Tree

I'm a college student, and as usual, nothing really exciting really happens around here often, until yesterday. I had heard from my friend that there was a cat stuck in a tree just outside my residence hall, but when I went outside to look, I didn't see one, so I didn't think much of it. Later that day, I walk into the lounge and I see this little cat walking around the lounge, looking around at all the people. It was the cat that had been stuck in the tree. They had finally gotten her down after two days of her being stuck in a tree.

Well no one wanted to take her to the shelter since the shelters around here have no 'no kill' policy. So, naturally, I said I'd take her in. Of course, I live on campus, and would be fined if I kept the cat in my room. Luckily I leave next Friday to go home for the weekend. Home is 6 hours away. I went to the local animal hospital and asked if I could board the cat till next Friday and since she was a stray, they gave me 10% off. $50 isn't bad for more than a weeks board. Well, I've contacted my mom about keeping the cat and as of right now, she's mine, but my mom says its still not a sure thing.

Well, if I am allowed to keep the cat, which I hope I am, I need to know what she'll need. She's nine months old and has probably never had any shots. I bought her a harness today so that when I'm driving home, I can take her out of the car every hour or two and let her stretch her legs. I'm getting a pet carrier next week to transport her in as well. No loose animals in my car! Its dangerous. I guess what I really need to know, is what I'll need for the cat. Food and water bowls are a given. She's not litter trained, so I'll have to get a litter box and train her to use it. I know I'll have to get her plenty of toys (I'm known for spoiling my animals rotten.) But what I really need to know is what kind of shots will she need, what kind of training should I do.

In a nutshell....what should I do since this is my first stray. The cats I've had before have all been store bought. I've never had to take care of a stray before. Below is a picture of her. She doesn't have a name as of yet. I was thinking of naming her after the tree she came out of, but we don't know what kind of tree it is yet.

Hey Soka....here is what you will need for her:

-Spay (absolutely critical as she is 9 monthes of age)
-FIV/FELV test
-Strongid (for worms)
-Revolution (for fleas..if she has any)
-Distemper (combo)
-Rabies
-FVRCP

As for items you need:

-Food (look for protein as the first ingredient...chicken, beef, lamb etc.), Bowls, Litter Box, Litter, Scratching posts, nail clippers...and lots of love.

Most of the shots and stuff will have to wait till about mid May since I won't be truely home until then. Once home, I'm taking her to the vet to get all her shots and things. Thanks for letting me know which ones she'll need. The vet up the street is currently taking care of her until I leave, so she's getting all the food she needs. As for love, I think I've been annoying the vet staff. I was there twice today just to see her. One of those times I waited an hour in the parking lot just to wait on them to get back from lunch break so I could see her.

The spay will def be the first thing I do. About how much do they cost?

Originally Posted by Soka

Most of the shots and stuff will have to wait till about mid May since I won't be truely home until then. Once home, I'm taking her to the vet to get all her shots and things. Thanks for letting me know which ones she'll need. The vet up the street is currently taking care of her until I leave, so she's getting all the food she needs. As for love, I think I've been annoying the vet staff. I was there twice today just to see her. One of those times I waited an hour in the parking lot just to wait on them to get back from lunch break so I could see her.

The spay will def be the first thing I do. About how much do they cost?

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I found this on the Lonesome pine website:

SPAY/NEUTER ASSISTANCE!!!!

We now offer assistance to the public in altering their pets! Your pet can recieve it's vaccinations (including rabies), vet exam and spay/neuter from $47-$57. **Animals adopted from shelters are also accepted**

I think that is pretty good.

Katie

Well I won't be able to get her fixed until I get her home to Richmond. My mom is sending me $75 to cover her boarding fee, a pet carrier, and harness. (So she doesn't get away from me when I let her out of the car during the ride home.)

Originally Posted by Soka

Well I won't be able to get her fixed until I get her home to Richmond. My mom is sending me $75 to cover her boarding fee, a pet carrier, and harness. (So she doesn't get away from me when I let her out of the car during the ride home.)

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Ok...contact these groups:


Prevent A Litter Clinic (PAL)
Carytown
Richmond VA
804-359-6369

Operation Catnip of Richmond
Richmond VA
804-674-0066
Web: www.operationcatnip.net
Spay/neuter for feral and stray cats.

Richmond SPCA:

Our on-site Smoky's Spay/Neuter Clinic enables us to provide our shelter pets with spay/neuter procedures prior to adoption and pets of the public with the surgeries for low or no cost. Our veterinarians perform nearly 200 surgeries a week (Monday through Friday) in an effort to reduce Richmond's homeless animal population. To schedule an appointment, please call (804) 521-1300.

The Richmond SPCA provides free surgeries to area residents (living in the City of Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Goochland) on government assistance, households with an annual income less than $30,000, full-time college students, owners of pit bulls (and strong pit bull mixes) and feral cat caregivers. In most cases rabies vaccinations are included.

Looks like you could get a "free" spay since you are a full time student...but I would call them now to get on their schedule.

Katie

Free surgeries to full time college students. Well I say, I definatly fit into that category. I'll definatly give them a call or visit while I'm home next weekend.

Update: I went to see Miki today. She is a very active cat that wants to explore everything. I sat with her in the waiting area of the vet's office and held her. She's getting more used to me now. There was once today that she tried to get away from me but that was because there was a big orange cat roaming the room and Miki doesn't take to well to other cats. But other than that, she kept close to me and loved for me to pet her. She purrs a lot now. When she sees another cat or dog, she makes a meow noise. Its quite cute.

She still has a way to go though. She is still spooked by sudden movements and sounds and nearly jumped out of her skin when the door opened. I still have to harness train her and get her used to a carrier.

Update: Talked to my grandmother tonight. She says to get Miki a blood test to test for contagious diseases. I have yorkies at home and she doesn't want to run the risk of getting the dogs sick. I made sure to tell her that once that cat was at my mom's house, not to take it to the shelter unless I said they could. I've had my animals taken from me when I was little. Its traumatizing. But as of right now Miki is mine. I'm going to schedule a vet appointment as soon as possible to find out what she'll need, and spay her as soon as possible.

Miki, you're such a beautiful little love!

Also, Sierra and I met the first week of my Freshman year in college, so she lived with me the rest of the year in my dorm room! (ssssh, don't tell anyone!)

Yea, Miki would live with me in my dorm room, but the RA's around here are pretty strict. Some girls last semester tried to keep a kitten with them. They way they got away with it for as long as they did (3 weeks) was they had the kitten stay in a different room every night. And that kitten was like 5 or 6 weeks old. Miki is 9 months. She'd be seen. Plus my RA is rule happy and would fine me.

As a matter of urgency before you take her home I would get the vet to deworm and deflea her! Your mom won't thank you for bringing those into the house, and that is cheap to do. She is beautiful and I am so happy you will be taking care of her.

I'm getting my grandmother to set me up an appointment with the vet in Richmond. She doesn't have fleas, suprisingly. At least, I can't see them. But I will definatly get her a flea collar.

please dont put a flea collar on Miki - they are very dangerous and can cause numerous health issues. I can find a link about it if you would like to read up about it. Your vet will be able to provide you with something for fleas.

I think your doing a wonderful thing her - this girl is lucky that she found her way into her life, even if it meant being stuck in a tree for 2 days

Dangerous flea collars. That's news to me. I'll look into getting something else then. Despite her jumpyness (is that even a word) she is a sweetie. I think once she calms down from all of this, she'll be one of those cats that love attention and love to cuddle.

Oh and I'd love to read about the collars.

awwwww she sounds so sweet !!!! awwwww bless her!!!!

here is a link - that i started actually a couple of years a go inface as I didnt know flea collars were bad.... ( i did a search for flea collars that was in the results - didnt even remember I had started it!)http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...t=flea+collars

Ok, I am definatly getting her something else. I don't want Miki to have to go through any of that. Thanks for letting me know.

Update: Well I haven't seen Miki since Friday since I was volunteering on Saturday and the vet isn't open on Sundays. I miss her like crazy. I went to Walmart and got her some things. A leash, a water dish, some food, and some cat treats. I'm going tomorrow to the vet to visit her and try her harness on her and she how she reacts to it. I hope she doen't flip out.

Originally Posted by Soka

Update: Well I haven't seen Miki since Friday since I was volunteering on Saturday and the vet isn't open on Sundays. I miss her like crazy. I went to Walmart and got her some things. A leash, a water dish, some food, and some cat treats. I'm going tomorrow to the vet to visit her and try her harness on her and she how she reacts to it. I hope she doen't flip out.

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Hopefully she doesnt flip out. That would be no good. You sound like you know what your doing though. It's great that you took this baby in. I just love people like you!

And how did the name come about? How did you pick the name Miki I mean? Just curious. Pretty little kitty you got there!