Just caught a stray that I caught once before he was a stray

Just caught this guy, walked right into the trap like a pro. I THINK he is neutered already believe it or not. I am also pretty sure I know who dumped him, they moved I think. I think I have caught him once before and a neighbor told me he belongs to a couple across from me. The shape of this guy now I KNOW the people left him behind. He was a fat cat last time I got him maybe a year ago. I found him within 20 feet of his previous home. He just hangs out around here. His short buff fur is completely matted, he cannot go to the bathroom it seems, his tail looks shaved in the center, he is sitting funny on his left side maybe sores or something, has fleas, ear mites, his ears are pink and balding down to the skin from the ear mites.

He is going to the cheapo clinic at noon tomorrow when they open. I am hoping they will keep him but I bet they won't. They are full like everyplace else is. But at least he will get the vet treatment he really needs. He is super friendly. Only meowed a few times to be pet, loves being scratched on the ears. Never a hiss, spit or growl. and QUIET! I never caught a stray that was completely quiet in the cage in the bathroom! Usually they meow and meow and complain but not a peep!

If there are any Ohioans out there who can help keep this guy until a home is found I would greatly appreciate it. I am posting ads up right now but he will probably need some meds and a shave. He is in my bathroom right now and my cats are flipping out (6 in a small apartment).

Poor baby I will send good vibes and prayers. Let us all know how the vet goes..

AWWW! What a sweet little face. He looks grateful to be taken care of. Good job trapping and helping to get healthy again.

Aw, he looks really rough! Everyone who is thinking about dumping a pet outside should see that! Poor old guy, I hope someone has room for him.

He is positive for FeLV AND FIV and not neutered! I told the vet to test him and vaccinate him and worm him. So the vet did all that and THEN tested him. So I paid for all that and now he is positive.

Oh and get this, the vet told me to let him go!!!???!!!???
Obviously I am not letting a positive cat who is not neutered go!!!

I am probably going to have to euthanize him on Monday unless anyone knows of a FIV/FeLV positive rescue?? Ohh he is so sweet and cute and loves attention and good with the box.

I have 6 healthy vaccinated cats, right now I have him in a semi-large carier in the bathroom. Just enough room for a towel and tiny litter box. I am only letting him out in the bathtub to eat and then right back in. I don't know if I am being too cautious or not. I think as long as he doesn't come into contact with my cats then he is okay. And I am washing my hands after touching him.

Originally Posted by Jen

He is positive for FeLV AND FIV and not neutered! I told the vet to test him and vaccinate him and worm him. So the vet did all that and THEN tested him. So I paid for all that and now he is positive.

Oh and get this, the vet told me to let him go!!!???!!!???

Obviously I am not letting a positive cat who is not neutered go!!!

I am probably going to have to euthanize him on Monday unless anyone knows of a FIV/FeLV positive rescue?? Ohh he is so sweet and cute and loves attention and good with the box.

I have 6 healthy vaccinated cats, right now I have him in a semi-large carier in the bathroom. Just enough room for a towel and tiny litter box. I am only letting him out in the bathtub to eat and then right back in. I don't know if I am being too cautious or not. I think as long as he doesn't come into contact with my cats then he is okay. And I am washing my hands after touching him.

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Wait..so the vet vaccinated the cat FIRST and then TESTED him?? I would wonder if the test was inaccurate due to the be vaccinated first.

Katie

It was immediately afterwards, like within 30 seconds. Do you think so?
Oh please tell me you think so.

ok looking at his paperwork, he was vaccinated against FeLV but not vaccinated against FIV. So he at least would have FIV right if that is what the test results are? The vet did a snap test and said it would only tell what he had 30 days ago, so if he was infected within the past month he wouldn't test positive for it. Would the vaccine still affect the test results then or not for a month after getting them?

I would read this and then make a decision:

http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/releasing.htm

Katie

that is a great site,
I just don't know what to do! He is so sweet! I certainly do not want to put him to sleep! I have no way to keep him though, I can release him but he isn't neutered. I can't have him neutered until at least June 2nd. I have called every shelter I can think of and no one has room. I can't keep him in my 6 cat tiny apartment, he would be locked in a cage just a little bigger then he is for the next week and a half. That isn't fair. Who knows if I could catch him again by June 2nd? I don't think he is a stray long enough to care to be on his own. He is so skinny and matted and has horrible diarrhea. Who knows what he would be eating out there... I guess I will keep calling around.

I am sorry that you are in this situation. But I would urge you not to put him down if you can avoid it. There is a cat in the shelter i help out at who had FIV and has had it for quite a while now and is still very healthy. Do you have any friends who don't have any cats who would be willing to take him in just for a few weeks until he could be neutered or one of the shelters has a place free up?

Tiger Ranch in Pittsburgh and the wonderful woman Lin Marie who is there will take him!! I am so happy!! I am thinking of a name for him right now.

Thank you TNR1 who linked me to that wonderful website which made me feel like a jerk for considering putting him down! Thank you.

Jen...I'm glad you found a place for him. I don't consider you a jerk for considering euthanasia....we are all trying to do what is best for the cats.

Katie

Oh I'm glad you found a place for him! He looks so sweet!

Originally Posted by TNR1

Jen...I'm glad you found a place for him. I don't consider you a jerk for considering euthanasia....we are all trying to do what is best for the cats.

Katie

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I was exaggerating a bit
I did feel bad, I always do when a cat is PTS. I have worked in shelters and seen a lot of them be euthanized and sometimes it just has to be done. I know in this case, there were other ways and thankfully I found a place that was answering the phones on a Sunday!!

Hey quick question...

Knowing he has FeLV/FIV....

I only had him out of the cage for a couple minutes twice today to eat and stretch his legs. He was kept in the bathroom in the crate. I swepted the floor and took out the trash and threw out everything he touched. Am I being thourough enough? Should I get down on hands and knees and scrub? Say some bodily fluid got onto the floor that I don't know of, how long does the virus live outside the body in the fluid?

Thanks guys for all your help!

Originally Posted by Jen

Hey quick question...

Knowing he has FeLV/FIV....

I only had him out of the cage for a couple minutes twice today to eat and stretch his legs. He was kept in the bathroom in the crate. I swepted the floor and took out the trash and threw out everything he touched. Am I being thourough enough? Should I get down on hands and knees and scrub? Say some bodily fluid got onto the floor that I don't know of, how long does the virus live outside the body in the fluid?

Thanks guys for all your help!

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Jen...I would do an online search.

Katie

Oh I am now, I was just trying to take the easy way out

In case anyone is interested in knowing:

To sum it up:
FIV is only transmitted through mating and biting.
Very hard to transmit. Cats with and without can share litterboxes, food bowls and everything.

FeLV is a lot easier to transmit, through ALL bodily fluids with direct contact to them and you can even transmit it if you pet an infected cat and then go right to a not infected one, but only if you have a bodily fluid on you. It does not live long outside of the body. Seems like a matter of minutes from what I can tell.

Oh I'm so glad you found a place for him