Hi there
I am new to this site, so thanks in advance for reading. My fiancÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]e and I have two kittens. There is a house that is in foreclosure next door and has not had an owner for nearly 2 years now. Around August-September of 2008 three kittens appeared with most likely their mother and kept their eyes on us and of course scurried away when they got scared. They came around every once in a while, then they came back with only two kittens, then they left for a few weeks, then just the two kittens came back and looked like they needed some care. The mother never showed up again at this point. So we fed them some milk and water and a bit of food. To make a long story short we have "adopted" them. Of course they learned we take care of them and over the harsh winter here in the Northeastern Ohio area we built them a home in the garage, they have little beds and everything like that, toys, fresh food and water daily. They were born behind our garage and part of the backyard next door so they are naturally wild but at this point you wouldn't think they were ever afraid of us, they rub, they love to be pet, be around us, follow us...etc... Unfortunately they do have to stay outside because my fiancÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]e is very allergic to cats. It's ok that she goes out and is around them and pets them and plays with them but she has to wash her hands right away and can't touch her face or anything. Of course having them in the house shedding on a regular basis would not be a good thing either. But again, they are naturally wild so they aren't bothered by only coming in the house every once in a while to explore and be pet. Also, as mentioned, they are treated well outside and have a very large "home" out there. Did I mention the comfy beds?!
Anyways...next door a flipper has bought the house and has been working. When the cats get scared of other things, or a lot of commotion going on they go visit (we would assume some other cats down the street as that is where they come from sometimes when we go outside and call for them) so they can be away from all of the people and we aren't home cause we have to go to work. This morning, my fiancÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]e was going to work and Pawman (that's his name cause he has a mark on his paw, while Scardie (naturally scared - but yet the first one who had let us pet him!) doesn't) was out and about in the plants and greenery at the front of the house. By the time I went out for work about 45 min later and moved their food from the front of the door to next to their beds Pawman got out of his box and started limping. I thought maybe he slept on it wrong (like I always do!) but he sleeps all over the place most of the time so he should be limping every time he gets out then! I left for work and they finally came back after the commotion stopped next door and Pawman is still limping. The top of his left front leg, just below where it meets his body is swollen. Now they like to chase bees, as I am always chasing THEM away from the bees...so maybe this morning when he was bouncing around he caught a bee the wrong way - with the stinger. Or maybe he got hit on his leg. Of course I read a bunch of suggestions online here saying it's hard to tell when they are outside and out and about and then you get the "mystery symptom" cause you don't know what it is from. However, what has happened looks to be consistent with a broken leg or getting stung by the bee. He looks like he is spacing out and jumping away from us when we go to pet him. I know there is that article about "if you can't afford a vet" and I understand many my direct me to that article, but we truly cannot afford a vet bottom line and I am not looking for vet advice per se and I guess then my whole post wouldn't make sense then! But.... maybe someone could give me some ideas since we will just have to let it be and see what happens (especially since it looks like it could be one thing or another)....and also since they are naturally wild. Anything to help the pain? Any suggestions? I can understand that is what you get with wild cats....I guess maybe I'm surprised since it's been 9 months and they haven't gotten into any "trouble" until now. Again, thanks in advance!
I am new to this site, so thanks in advance for reading. My fiancÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]e and I have two kittens. There is a house that is in foreclosure next door and has not had an owner for nearly 2 years now. Around August-September of 2008 three kittens appeared with most likely their mother and kept their eyes on us and of course scurried away when they got scared. They came around every once in a while, then they came back with only two kittens, then they left for a few weeks, then just the two kittens came back and looked like they needed some care. The mother never showed up again at this point. So we fed them some milk and water and a bit of food. To make a long story short we have "adopted" them. Of course they learned we take care of them and over the harsh winter here in the Northeastern Ohio area we built them a home in the garage, they have little beds and everything like that, toys, fresh food and water daily. They were born behind our garage and part of the backyard next door so they are naturally wild but at this point you wouldn't think they were ever afraid of us, they rub, they love to be pet, be around us, follow us...etc... Unfortunately they do have to stay outside because my fiancÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]e is very allergic to cats. It's ok that she goes out and is around them and pets them and plays with them but she has to wash her hands right away and can't touch her face or anything. Of course having them in the house shedding on a regular basis would not be a good thing either. But again, they are naturally wild so they aren't bothered by only coming in the house every once in a while to explore and be pet. Also, as mentioned, they are treated well outside and have a very large "home" out there. Did I mention the comfy beds?!
Anyways...next door a flipper has bought the house and has been working. When the cats get scared of other things, or a lot of commotion going on they go visit (we would assume some other cats down the street as that is where they come from sometimes when we go outside and call for them) so they can be away from all of the people and we aren't home cause we have to go to work. This morning, my fiancÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]e was going to work and Pawman (that's his name cause he has a mark on his paw, while Scardie (naturally scared - but yet the first one who had let us pet him!) doesn't) was out and about in the plants and greenery at the front of the house. By the time I went out for work about 45 min later and moved their food from the front of the door to next to their beds Pawman got out of his box and started limping. I thought maybe he slept on it wrong (like I always do!) but he sleeps all over the place most of the time so he should be limping every time he gets out then! I left for work and they finally came back after the commotion stopped next door and Pawman is still limping. The top of his left front leg, just below where it meets his body is swollen. Now they like to chase bees, as I am always chasing THEM away from the bees...so maybe this morning when he was bouncing around he caught a bee the wrong way - with the stinger. Or maybe he got hit on his leg. Of course I read a bunch of suggestions online here saying it's hard to tell when they are outside and out and about and then you get the "mystery symptom" cause you don't know what it is from. However, what has happened looks to be consistent with a broken leg or getting stung by the bee. He looks like he is spacing out and jumping away from us when we go to pet him. I know there is that article about "if you can't afford a vet" and I understand many my direct me to that article, but we truly cannot afford a vet bottom line and I am not looking for vet advice per se and I guess then my whole post wouldn't make sense then! But.... maybe someone could give me some ideas since we will just have to let it be and see what happens (especially since it looks like it could be one thing or another)....and also since they are naturally wild. Anything to help the pain? Any suggestions? I can understand that is what you get with wild cats....I guess maybe I'm surprised since it's been 9 months and they haven't gotten into any "trouble" until now. Again, thanks in advance!