2 days ago, my kids and I came across a stray cat outside a store. It was so emaciated it looked skeletal and could barely stand or walk. We brought him home and made a home for him in our laundry room. That first night he was so weak he literally couldn't eat, even soft food. We took him to the vet the next day, but couldn't afford to hospitalize him so that he could get IV fluids. All we were able to do was deworm him (he has terrible diarrhea), give him a shot for nausea to see if that would help him eat, give a bolus of fluids subcutaneously, and buy some high calorie canned cat foot. Since then, I've been force feeding Gatorade with a syringe every couple of hours and feeding 6 small meals (just a couple of spoonfuls) a day. I just don't know if anything we are doing is making a difference. I bathed him today- in his weakened state I really didn't want to because I didn't want him to catch a chill, but I had no choice. He seems to be able to make it to the litter box to pee, but he just lays in diarrhea in his bed. I change out his bedding every time I go in there, but he was still caked head to toe with poop.I blow dried him as best I could and put a heating pad under his bedding to keep him warm.
What are the signs to look for that he is improving? At this point,I don't know if I'm helping or prolonging his suffering. I absolutely cannot afford any more veterinary care. I started a gofundme account to try to raise money for his medical expenses, but, so far, no luck. Earlier, when I went to give him fluids, he was in such a deep sleep I thought he was dead. It took me a full minute to wake him up. My heart just breaks for the poor guy- he is so sweet. He came right to us and loves to curl up in my daughter's lap. He is neutered, so I think some family just abandoned him! I can't stand crap like that and it makes me so angry I just want to fight all the harder for him.
Anyway, my daughter is in love with him, despite my warnings not to get too attached because he may not survive. She's named him Krookshanks, like in Harry Potter. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
What are the signs to look for that he is improving? At this point,I don't know if I'm helping or prolonging his suffering. I absolutely cannot afford any more veterinary care. I started a gofundme account to try to raise money for his medical expenses, but, so far, no luck. Earlier, when I went to give him fluids, he was in such a deep sleep I thought he was dead. It took me a full minute to wake him up. My heart just breaks for the poor guy- he is so sweet. He came right to us and loves to curl up in my daughter's lap. He is neutered, so I think some family just abandoned him! I can't stand crap like that and it makes me so angry I just want to fight all the harder for him.
Anyway, my daughter is in love with him, despite my warnings not to get too attached because he may not survive. She's named him Krookshanks, like in Harry Potter. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!