To start off, I already have 4 cats, I do not want any more. I just moved into a new neighborhood, and it has so many neighborhood cats. I don't necessarily think they are feral. They are very friendly, they come straight up to you. I don't think anyone owns them. I think everyone just kinda tolerates them, and possibly are feeding them because they seem very healthy and not skinny or starving. None of them are sterilized (horrible, I know). I started feeling bad because 2 cats started coming up to me, every time I come home, rubbing up next to me, so I started leaving food out for them. Well, now I just noticed one has an injured front leg, he's limping. I'm going to take him to vet soon. But I'm looking into the future and don't know what to do. He's injured, I want to take him into my home for him to heal, but I'm afraid he will get used to being inside, and then it would be cruel to throw him back outside. At the same time, I think he has grown up in this neighborhood, and I don't want to rehome him to some other place. I think the other cat is his brother/friend. They all get along - this neighborhood is his home. I don't know what to do. Should I just help him heal inside my home and throw him back out? I do intend to get him neutered. But I think he has fleas also - I don't want to bring him into my home and get MY OWN CATS infested with fleas (my cats are on flea prevention though). I think his leg is broken, I think he needs a cast, but I can't just take him to vet and put cast on him and leave him outside? What is the chain of events I should do here?
A) Treat his fleas
B) Treat his broken leg
C) Take him into my home or leave him outside?
D) Keep him outside as a neighborhood cat or rehome him?
E) Get him neutered
I know his medical care is going to be costly. I don't want to spend a bunch of money fixing him and then give him away to someone who is going to abuse him. How can I ensure he finds a good home, or is it better to just leave him outside?
P.S. I have had similar problem in the past. I nursed a sick mom cat back to health, and then I rehomed her with someone else. I don't know how she did, and I feel bad about that.
Please give input - those of you who care for strays...
A) Treat his fleas
B) Treat his broken leg
C) Take him into my home or leave him outside?
D) Keep him outside as a neighborhood cat or rehome him?
E) Get him neutered
I know his medical care is going to be costly. I don't want to spend a bunch of money fixing him and then give him away to someone who is going to abuse him. How can I ensure he finds a good home, or is it better to just leave him outside?
P.S. I have had similar problem in the past. I nursed a sick mom cat back to health, and then I rehomed her with someone else. I don't know how she did, and I feel bad about that.
Please give input - those of you who care for strays...