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dancerjodiThere's a cat in our neighborhood that I'm now pretty convinced is a stray. He's always outside around our house and last year lost an eye in a fight with something. Usually he's really skittish and runs away if we come even remotely close to him. Sometimes he climbs up on the roof under our 2nd floor windows and looks at our cats inside of the house. http://www.marmontianderson.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=8&pos=8
We came home from grocery shopping last night and he was laying on the side of the driveway. Normally he'd bolt when we got out of the car, but he didn't for some reason. I slowly crept up to him and got down at his level, talking to him all the while. I didn't want to get too close (I don't want to be bringing fleas in to my house) but he didn't seem scared of me at all. I'm not sure why the sudden change, but I'm glad he finally trusts us enough to let us near him.
I could see the damage around the eye much clearer. Something got him real good, because he's got massive scars across his nose. Something is up with his mouth, because it doesn't close all of the way on that side. It was all kind of black, but I couldn't tell if that was his fur or a hole or what given how I was still a couple of feet away.
We have some small cans of wet cat food in the house that ours won't eat, so I figured I'd bring it out to him. At first I just plopped it on a paper plate for him, but as he started to "eat" I noticed he just kept licking it. I got a closer look at his mouth, and saw a bunch of missing teeth. I did notice that the large top tooth was hitting his bottom gum, and the gum has kind of disintegrated around it. The poor thing - he can't actually eat with his teeth! I went back in the house to grab a spoon to mush the food up a bit (it was in its can-shaped clump) and it seemed to make it easier for him. He continued to just lick at it furiously to get some food into him.
That poor cat! I thought of him all night. We weren't sure if he was a stray or if his owners just never let him in the house. Either way, he's needed some major care and has been neglected. I'd bet his mouth is all infected. I'm not sure how the poor thing has kept alive given his mouth. Scrounging for food and water is one thing, but I have to imagine more limited given his problems with his jaw.
I'm not sure what to do about it. We can't bring another cat in the house. I'm willing to put food out there for him each day and will even go so far to get one of those heated doghouses that B and T found for the winter (if it seems like he'd use it - the heat is set off when the animal stands in it). He needs serious veterinary care. I'm a total bleeding heart for animals and I know that there is no lack of ones that need saving. I just can't help but wonder if we should try and trap this guy and bring him in to the vet. Though, God knows what the bill would be. And then what? If he's living outside, won't he just become a huge mess again?
What would you do?
And what kind of pirate name would you give a stray one-eyed cat that hangs in your yard all of the time? He was on our garage roof this morning when I left for work.
We came home from grocery shopping last night and he was laying on the side of the driveway. Normally he'd bolt when we got out of the car, but he didn't for some reason. I slowly crept up to him and got down at his level, talking to him all the while. I didn't want to get too close (I don't want to be bringing fleas in to my house) but he didn't seem scared of me at all. I'm not sure why the sudden change, but I'm glad he finally trusts us enough to let us near him.
I could see the damage around the eye much clearer. Something got him real good, because he's got massive scars across his nose. Something is up with his mouth, because it doesn't close all of the way on that side. It was all kind of black, but I couldn't tell if that was his fur or a hole or what given how I was still a couple of feet away.
We have some small cans of wet cat food in the house that ours won't eat, so I figured I'd bring it out to him. At first I just plopped it on a paper plate for him, but as he started to "eat" I noticed he just kept licking it. I got a closer look at his mouth, and saw a bunch of missing teeth. I did notice that the large top tooth was hitting his bottom gum, and the gum has kind of disintegrated around it. The poor thing - he can't actually eat with his teeth! I went back in the house to grab a spoon to mush the food up a bit (it was in its can-shaped clump) and it seemed to make it easier for him. He continued to just lick at it furiously to get some food into him.
That poor cat! I thought of him all night. We weren't sure if he was a stray or if his owners just never let him in the house. Either way, he's needed some major care and has been neglected. I'd bet his mouth is all infected. I'm not sure how the poor thing has kept alive given his mouth. Scrounging for food and water is one thing, but I have to imagine more limited given his problems with his jaw.
I'm not sure what to do about it. We can't bring another cat in the house. I'm willing to put food out there for him each day and will even go so far to get one of those heated doghouses that B and T found for the winter (if it seems like he'd use it - the heat is set off when the animal stands in it). He needs serious veterinary care. I'm a total bleeding heart for animals and I know that there is no lack of ones that need saving. I just can't help but wonder if we should try and trap this guy and bring him in to the vet. Though, God knows what the bill would be. And then what? If he's living outside, won't he just become a huge mess again?
What would you do?
And what kind of pirate name would you give a stray one-eyed cat that hangs in your yard all of the time? He was on our garage roof this morning when I left for work.
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another thought
Date: 2007-06-01 03:52 am (UTC)Wire the hav-a-trap so it can't close the first day or so, and only put the wet smelly fishy food in there. One-Eye can go in and out and nothing happens. . . then you catch him.
We also have a big wire cage you could keep him in for a day if you need to wait before your appointment. S/he won't like it much, but it means you don't have to be sure to trap him/her ON the very day you have the appointment, which isn't assured/highly unlikely.
Let us know if you need either trap or wire cage or both and we can bring it over tomorrow after work or whenever convenient for you.
There's an "after hour emergency" vet in Walthaqm, open 24 hours:
VESCONE (Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center of New England), www.vescone.com, 781-684-8387. Located at 180 Bear Hill Road, Waltham. Which means they probably charge more, BUT you can just go in any time you catch kitty and have the free time.
Don't worry, we'll help pay.
Re: another thought
Date: 2007-06-01 02:15 pm (UTC)Brian and I have gone to Vescone a couple of times (they were the ones that did Mal's initial string allergy to the tune of $4k, ouch)! Its a minimum of around $200 just to walk in the door, so its substantially more expensive.
We're going to keep an eye out for him for a bit (it figures, I saw no sign of him last night) and I'll probably try and schedule a Saturday morning appointment for him at our regular vet, but try and grab him the Thurs or Friday before. You're right he won't be happy being stuck in a kennel type thing, but he'll be safe, have food and water and we'll know where he is.
I did call my vet and the Humane Society yesterday and they both suggested that whether he's got an "owner" or not, he needs attention and that we should intervene. I'll keep you posted! :)
Re: another thought
Date: 2007-06-01 05:33 pm (UTC)