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femmedem

(8,187 posts)
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 08:39 PM Jan 2020

Updated: I seem to have a new cat: an ill stray who walked into my kitchen.

Last edited Mon Jan 20, 2020, 05:55 PM - Edit history (1)

This poor girl is so thin that her spine is sharp, she's got a bad upper respiratory infection (pneumonia?) and a drooly mouth that smells like she's got an abscess. Also, it looks like someone cut some of her whiskers.

We're going to the vet tomorrow. I hope she makes it. She's lying on the bed next to me now--quarantined from the other cats--being sweet.



Updated to say the vet opted to keep her overnight so she could sedate her for a full exam. (She panicked in the vet's office. I'll take it as a good sign that she was able to climb on top of the windows?)

So no real news until tomorrow, except to say she seemed perkier today until we went to the vet.

83 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Updated: I seem to have a new cat: an ill stray who walked into my kitchen. (Original Post) femmedem Jan 2020 OP
Do please let us know how it goes. 3catwoman3 Jan 2020 #1
I will. I'm just hoping she doesn't have leukemia or FIV. femmedem Jan 2020 #4
I have 2 heated cat houses in my garage for 2 strays gab13by13 Jan 2020 #41
I'll give a fuller update tomorrow, but she is staying overnight at the vet femmedem Jan 2020 #70
She found a good and kind human. CottonBear Jan 2020 #2
Thanks, I hope so too. She's got some wheezy breathing. n/t femmedem Jan 2020 #6
She feels safe now. You are a good person. N /T CottonBear Jan 2020 #11
Thank you SO MUCH for caring for her. She may perk right up with a shot of Convenia CurtEastPoint Jan 2020 #3
Yes, I'll give an update tomorrow evening. Her appointment isn't until 4:00. femmedem Jan 2020 #10
I had this one show up at my house this week. Looks to sinkingfeeling Jan 2020 #5
What a beauty! He made himself right at home, didn't he? femmedem Jan 2020 #12
No one in the neighborhood has claimed him. He's a little sinkingfeeling Jan 2020 #16
Awww. I hope you and Andy and he have lots of happy years together. n/t femmedem Jan 2020 #31
Sounds like you are in luck! Cats with sweet mews/chirps are so cool. lark Jan 2020 #82
One of my cats is a house panther, too. He was an 18-month-old feral stray when he found me. nt tblue37 Jan 2020 #65
OH, black and white kitties are the best!! And look at those bigass ears on this little gal!! Leghorn21 Jan 2020 #7
Ha, thanks. I hope you're right. femmedem Jan 2020 #17
What a beautiful cat. Such an expressive face. Fla Dem Jan 2020 #35
Poor Baby dem in texas Jan 2020 #8
Yeah, I took that photo yesterday when she'd just come in. She's drooling more today. femmedem Jan 2020 #15
...eating is a very good sign! Hope she's hydrating too... FirstLight Jan 2020 #50
My best friend 2naSalit Jan 2020 #9
Sounds like your best friend's made a perfect setup for them. femmedem Jan 2020 #19
It's a cool little system the cats 2naSalit Jan 2020 #23
I live in an area that is almost all rentals and a high poverty rate. femmedem Jan 2020 #30
Oh, poor baby! Ohiogal Jan 2020 #13
Best of luck sweet baby and sweet femmedem! 😽 MLAA Jan 2020 #14
No name yet. femmedem Jan 2020 #21
😍 MLAA Jan 2020 #22
Oh, femmedem, you're a wonderful person. Laffy Kat Jan 2020 #18
oh dear, she needs help Skittles Jan 2020 #20
Thanks, Skittles. Yes, maybe I jumped to a wrong conclusion about her whiskers. femmedem Jan 2020 #27
when my cat had his face bit after a cat fight Skittles Jan 2020 #37
I rescued a cat from outside that was so scared she appeared almost feral Rhiannon12866 Jan 2020 #24
Your rescue cat came to the right place. femmedem Jan 2020 #25
Yes, when I finally found out more about her, turns out she was 12, poor kitty Rhiannon12866 Jan 2020 #45
Tuxedo kitties are so smart! colorado_ufo Jan 2020 #26
Is it true that tuzedos are smart? Louis1895 Jan 2020 #66
I am just basing this on my own observations, after owning dozens of kitties! colorado_ufo Jan 2020 #68
My experience with Tuxies is that they soldierant Jan 2020 #74
Thank you for taking this kitty in. gademocrat7 Jan 2020 #28
Keep us informed! Iliyah Jan 2020 #29
😻 Duppers Jan 2020 #32
Poor baby I_UndergroundPanther Jan 2020 #33
Only a small sample size in my case but I believe that Hav Jan 2020 #34
Awww! warmfeet Jan 2020 #36
Good for you montanacowboy Jan 2020 #38
Oh, kitty! paleotn Jan 2020 #39
Sending positive energy wendyb-NC Jan 2020 #40
Poor baby. Keeping my fingers crossed!!! n/t evemac Jan 2020 #42
Those are bestest kittens. You are lucky jpak Jan 2020 #43
Bless you and healing vibes to this sweet girl AllyCat Jan 2020 #44
Sick, Stray Cat JGug1 Jan 2020 #46
My cat adopted us about 6 and a half years ago lunatica Jan 2020 #47
So glad she found you. MerryBlooms Jan 2020 #48
Good for you both! Jirel Jan 2020 #49
Long distance love and white light to fur baby! Guilded Lilly Jan 2020 #51
I cried. Prayed. Cried. Prayed. Cried and prayed. sprinkleeninow Jan 2020 #52
Thank you for your good work. PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2020 #53
Good for you for knowing what's good for you and the kitties. kag Jan 2020 #67
Good vibes for your kitty denbot Jan 2020 #54
Be sure to give us an update! Nt raccoon Jan 2020 #55
Similar happened to a friend of mine whistler162 Jan 2020 #56
Same thing happened to us. luvtheGWN Jan 2020 #62
She looks a lot like our rescue, Coco. lark Jan 2020 #57
What a wonderful, hopeful story femmedem Jan 2020 #72
oh wow Skittles Jan 2020 #77
Thank you for taking care of the poor baby! CousinIT Jan 2020 #58
Pretty baby. Scarsdale Jan 2020 #59
I care for four kittens whose mom disappeared soon after they were born... B Stieg Jan 2020 #60
I hope it's not too late Dukkha Jan 2020 #61
Please let us know how it works out at the vet! calimary Jan 2020 #63
Oh, I'm so sorry you lost one. femmedem Jan 2020 #71
Poor baby samplegirl Jan 2020 #64
My heartfelt best to you and all your kittehs. BobTheSubgenius Jan 2020 #69
I'm looking forward to good news from your vet tomorrow! Native Jan 2020 #73
Awwww RandySF Jan 2020 #75
Bless you for taking in this sweet baby! redstatebluegirl Jan 2020 #76
Sending all my best to her and MuseRider Jan 2020 #78
I think cats have radar that picks up good vibes Bayard Jan 2020 #79
Keep us posted! WinstonSmith4740 Jan 2020 #80
As my wife and I have entered the 13th month of cativity I have grantcart Jan 2020 #81
I hope she recovers fully from her many medical pbs MatthewHatesTrump2 Jan 2020 #83

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
4. I will. I'm just hoping she doesn't have leukemia or FIV.
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 08:47 PM
Jan 2020

She looks in worse shape in person than she looks in that photo.

She knew to pick me out because I have a heated cat shelter on the porch.

gab13by13

(20,864 posts)
41. I have 2 heated cat houses in my garage for 2 strays
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 10:38 PM
Jan 2020

that have been with me for 6 or 7 years. Let me tell you, they are in those houses right now.

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
70. I'll give a fuller update tomorrow, but she is staying overnight at the vet
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 05:56 PM
Jan 2020

so they can sedate her for a full exam.

CurtEastPoint

(18,549 posts)
3. Thank you SO MUCH for caring for her. She may perk right up with a shot of Convenia
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 08:43 PM
Jan 2020

and some TLC. Keep us posted.

sinkingfeeling

(51,276 posts)
5. I had this one show up at my house this week. Looks to
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 08:47 PM
Jan 2020

be 6 to 8 months old. A tom. Looks exactly like one of my cats, so thought he was Andy for 2 days!

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
12. What a beauty! He made himself right at home, didn't he?
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 08:53 PM
Jan 2020

He probably got lost catting around for the first time since he isn't neutered. Any chance someone is looking for him?

lark

(23,003 posts)
82. Sounds like you are in luck! Cats with sweet mews/chirps are so cool.
Tue Jan 21, 2020, 07:18 AM
Jan 2020

I had 2 cats forever that were very silent - neither meowed, they just purred really loud. Then we rescued Coco and she is the opposite, very talkative and quite loud, almost like a Siamese. I'm hoping our next kitty has a sweet meow/chirp, but that won't be for awhile because my old male is very unfriendly to other cats now that his mom of 18 years passed a month ago.

Leghorn21

(13,520 posts)
7. OH, black and white kitties are the best!! And look at those bigass ears on this little gal!!
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 08:48 PM
Jan 2020

She’ll make it just fine, so glad you’re taking her in first thing, femmedem!!

She’ll show you her gratitude for years on end by being a crazzzzzy little girl who will entertain and amaze you on a daily basis!!

On behalf of bedraggled kitties everywhere, THANK YOU FEMMEDEM

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
17. Ha, thanks. I hope you're right.
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 09:04 PM
Jan 2020

I've rescued a fair number of strays and I've never seen one in such bad shape before.

Except my Snug, who was a little stray kitten with calicivirus. Snug's doing fantastic now.

dem in texas

(2,672 posts)
8. Poor Baby
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 08:48 PM
Jan 2020

Thank you for taking this poor critter in and getting her some medical care. you can see her mouth is not right.

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
15. Yeah, I took that photo yesterday when she'd just come in. She's drooling more today.
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 08:56 PM
Jan 2020

It must hurt fierce. She's eating treats, though--a good sign.

FirstLight

(13,352 posts)
50. ...eating is a very good sign! Hope she's hydrating too...
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 02:20 AM
Jan 2020

Please keep us posted, I am a stray kitty rescuer as well... haven't had one come for a while but we have a resident boyo who keeps his boundaries pretty clear. And he's a softie who stays in a lot too lol

Hope little girl kitty feels better soon

2naSalit

(86,054 posts)
9. My best friend
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 08:49 PM
Jan 2020

has had many a stray adopt her but she also discovered that her resident cats brought strays home with them, often with kittens in their poscketses. She has a couple of mudroom like spaces between the kitchen and the back door with a door closing off the kitchen. There is a cat door for the residents and lined cubbies for them in one room. Every once-in-a-while a new cat shows up in the morning needing attention or just a place to crash but one which all the other cats have allowed into their safe room, pre-approved.

I hope this one will be okay soon. Bless you for taking her in for help.


femmedem

(8,187 posts)
19. Sounds like your best friend's made a perfect setup for them.
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 09:08 PM
Jan 2020

Sometimes my indoor cats make friends through the window with neighborhood strays, but it sounds like her cats are even more accepting than mine.

2naSalit

(86,054 posts)
23. It's a cool little system the cats
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 09:17 PM
Jan 2020

have. They all started out as strays and found this nice lady who will feed you and get you medical attention if you behave... and they tell their friends. It's a college neighborhood and every semester end there are more strays. The neighborhood has an organization where they hold a big rummage sale every year to pay for spay/neuter fees and hopefully find homes for them too. I used to be the "charmer" whom neighbors would call to talk a cat down out of a tree or something.

But these strays are all from the neighborhood so they may have been acquainted before finding my friend's home.

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
30. I live in an area that is almost all rentals and a high poverty rate.
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 09:37 PM
Jan 2020

Sometimes people have to move and can't take their cats; sometimes people don't spay or neuter their cats and their cats get lost. I have a little setup on my back porch with shelters, some of which have pressure-activated heating pads. I've probably spayed/neutered more than a dozen and found homes for a bunch. Fortunately there's a local organization that covers most of the cost of spays/neuters for ferals and strays.

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
21. No name yet.
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 09:12 PM
Jan 2020

It usually takes me a while. I've got one that I couldn't name for weeks--just kept calling her Gray Girl--until I realized that Gigi was obviously short for Gray Girl.

Skittles

(152,964 posts)
20. oh dear, she needs help
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 09:11 PM
Jan 2020

thank you femmedem

it's possible her whiskers fell out for some reason (ill health?) and are growing back

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
27. Thanks, Skittles. Yes, maybe I jumped to a wrong conclusion about her whiskers.
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 09:31 PM
Jan 2020

She might have gotten into a fight or it might be health-related. She's too nice and trusting to have been abused.

Skittles

(152,964 posts)
37. when my cat had his face bit after a cat fight
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 10:26 PM
Jan 2020

my vet shaved the area, cleaned it up and gave him a shot....later, all his whiskers on that side of his face fell out - he looked hilarious with just one set of whiskers

Rhiannon12866

(202,970 posts)
24. I rescued a cat from outside that was so scared she appeared almost feral
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 09:19 PM
Jan 2020

But after going to the vet and having necessary dental surgery, she almost became a lap cat, she must have been in pain, poor kitty. What a pretty cat and good luck at the vet! Kudos for rescuing her!

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
25. Your rescue cat came to the right place.
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 09:24 PM
Jan 2020

Thanks for giving her dental surgery! I took in a senior stray once that needed dental surgery; it made all the difference in his quality of life for his last few years.

Rhiannon12866

(202,970 posts)
45. Yes, when I finally found out more about her, turns out she was 12, poor kitty
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 11:22 PM
Jan 2020

It took me awhile to bring her in and I wished I'd known about her sooner, but she was able to spend the rest of her life safe inside, just looking out the window.

And I now have another cat I rescued from outside and he wasn't easy to catch, either. I found him as a little kitten in a supermarket parking lot one night on my way home. It took me, a guy who worked at the store and his wife who came to pick him up to finally catch him, I couldn't have managed alone. And when I took him to my vet, he said the little guy was about 7 weeks old! That was over 5 years ago and he likes me now, but he's still pretty feisty!

Louis1895

(768 posts)
66. Is it true that tuzedos are smart?
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 03:28 PM
Jan 2020

I had one as a kid and loved her dearly and she did seem very smart.

If I ever get another cat of my own, I want another tuxedo. We now have a big grey tabby male and skinny blue oriental. Mutt and Jeff but great buddies!

colorado_ufo

(5,717 posts)
68. I am just basing this on my own observations, after owning dozens of kitties!
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 04:21 PM
Jan 2020

I had adopted one from a vet's office - a stray - who was incredibly smart. It was nothing to teach S'More tricks. Just pat your chest, and he would leap into your arms! He would ride around on your shoulder. However, it would sometimes startle people when he would jump from my shoulder to theirs! He was fast as the wind and (unfortunately) quite a hunter. Eventually, he became bored with us, I think, and took up residence down the road from us with a large family with a lot of kids.

I have had other tuxedo kitties and also have relatives who had tuxies with "tails to tell." Anyway, I am convinced that this color pattern is somehow linked with superior feline intellect.

soldierant

(6,648 posts)
74. My experience with Tuxies is that they
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 07:15 PM
Jan 2020

are born story tellers. I doubt they believe their own stories, but they seem to like it if you appear to believe them, or at least go along with them. I think that shows intelligence.

Hav

(5,969 posts)
34. Only a small sample size in my case but I believe that
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 09:45 PM
Jan 2020

cats don't forget and will have a lasting bond with those that helped them. Characters differ, of course, but they can be such loveable creatures.

wendyb-NC

(3,250 posts)
40. Sending positive energy
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 10:37 PM
Jan 2020

For your sweet new kitty girl. Hope her breathing problem, can be fixed easily so she can get some meat on her bones and join your household where she can have a stable loving home.

JGug1

(320 posts)
46. Sick, Stray Cat
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 11:47 PM
Jan 2020

Get her tested for Feline Leukemia and FIV first thing. If she has either, her future is very likely very limited. Give careful thought to trying to treat. Yes, I'm a DVM. Good luck. You my have a buddy for a very long time.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
47. My cat adopted us about 6 and a half years ago
Sun Jan 19, 2020, 11:47 PM
Jan 2020

He was a juvenile. He and I are the only ones left in the family. I consider myself a lucky cat lady now. He travelled with me from California to New Mexico. He was a pretty good traveler. We stayed in a pet friendly hotels. I wouldn’t part with him for the world!

Jirel

(1,991 posts)
49. Good for you both!
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 01:08 AM
Jan 2020

Hopefully a crap-ton of antibiotics will set her right. Congratulations on your new kitty.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
53. Thank you for your good work.
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 04:03 AM
Jan 2020

I used to have cats, but right now it would be totally irresponsible of me to have one. I keep expecting some stray to show up at my front door and adopt me. I'll be honest and say I'm glad that hasn't happened yet, as these days I'm doing a lot of travelling, and really, really, cannot have even a potted plant.

Someday I'll stop my travels, and then I'll take in some strays, or old cats from the shelter. I promise.

kag

(4,076 posts)
67. Good for you for knowing what's good for you and the kitties.
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 03:38 PM
Jan 2020

In the meantime there are good people like femmedem and my hubby who can't resist a stray in need. We've been adopted by several cats over the years. Current count is three, but you never know who might wander by...

 

whistler162

(11,155 posts)
56. Similar happened to a friend of mine
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 09:57 AM
Jan 2020

she ended up in a cat share situation. The cat came and went as it pleased. It turned out the cat was going to another house several blocks away some of the time.

luvtheGWN

(1,336 posts)
62. Same thing happened to us.
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 11:28 AM
Jan 2020

When we moved to England for a year (hubby was on sabbatical) we had to give away our darling orange tabby. We lived in a small community in Sussex and when I went to the neighbourhood shop for groceries I discovered a sweet little fluffy asleep in one of the small floor freezers. I picked him up, was told his name was Chawsie and that he was owned by a lovely family just down the street. But he was "anybody's" and followed me home! We let him out in the evening and he made his way back to his own home, but every morning for the rest of the year we found him on our windowsill and he was ours for the day!
We spent the last month of our sojourn in Europe and told him we'd be away. Our neighbours said he stayed close to his own home, but the day we arrived back, there he was on our windowsill! We left for home (Toronto) a week later, and learned that he chose the folks who rented our house as his new daily adoptee family!

lark

(23,003 posts)
57. She looks a lot like our rescue, Coco.
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 10:47 AM
Jan 2020

She had been in a terrible accident, had both front legs broken & rehealed wrong, was missing all the fur from her stomach & back legs & most of her throat and her stomach was distended, hot pink & hot to the touch. She also had an abscessed tooth and was drooling & wouldn't eat. She, at least, had been being fed - up to the point where she quit eating because of pain. Oh yeah, most of her fur was hugely discolored and it looked like she had been burnt. Luckily nothing she had was contagious.

A year and a half later, she's healthy & she's even playful now and is starting to try to be friends with our dog. She'll never be able to run right because of her bad front legs, but she scurries fast and can jump short distances and is a very happy friendly girl. Hope your kitty does well too.

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
72. What a wonderful, hopeful story
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 06:42 PM
Jan 2020

and how lucky Coco is to have found you. Mine panicked at the vet's office, so they decided to keep her overnight and sedate and examine her tomorrow. I'll be thrilled if she does as well as Coco. I think she might; she seemed to be feeling more energetic today.

CousinIT

(9,151 posts)
58. Thank you for taking care of the poor baby!
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 10:53 AM
Jan 2020

I hope she is OK. Both of my fur-kits are strays (well, one was adopted from the animal shelter, the other was a stray).

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
59. Pretty baby.
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 11:02 AM
Jan 2020

I hope all goes well for her at the vet. They seem to have a 6th sense as to which hoomans will be helpful to them. Eating is a good sign.

B Stieg

(2,410 posts)
60. I care for four kittens whose mom disappeared soon after they were born...
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 11:03 AM
Jan 2020

and we're just getting to the "capture, spay/neuter and release" phase.

Dukkha

(7,341 posts)
61. I hope it's not too late
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 11:24 AM
Jan 2020

We have several ferals in my condo neighborhood and several residents look out for them. I had an empty patch of common area near my unit so I turned it into "Feral Island" a garden with a spot for food and shelter for the kitties. All the cats have that small cut on the ear showing that they have been marked as treated and released by the vet.

calimary

(80,693 posts)
63. Please let us know how it works out at the vet!
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 11:34 AM
Jan 2020

It’s been a week since we lost one of our foundlings.

I hope the news from your vet is GOOD news!

femmedem

(8,187 posts)
71. Oh, I'm so sorry you lost one.
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 06:06 PM
Jan 2020

It never gets easier.

The vet decided to keep this girl overnight and sedate her for a full exam, so I won't have any news until tomorrow. She seemed better today than yesterday: less wheezy breathing and she had more energy.

MuseRider

(34,058 posts)
78. Sending all my best to her and
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 07:30 PM
Jan 2020

to you. I have done this so many times and have been lucky every time. I hope the same goes for you and this pretty girl. She certainly knew whose kitchen to arrive in! All the best.

Bayard

(21,805 posts)
79. I think cats have radar that picks up good vibes
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 07:56 PM
Jan 2020

You are obviously a sender!

Best of luck to this sweet girl, and you.

I'm taking our latest vagabond to the vet in the morning to be neutered. Anymore, its like--what's one more?

grantcart

(53,061 posts)
81. As my wife and I have entered the 13th month of cativity I have
Mon Jan 20, 2020, 08:33 PM
Jan 2020

Snuck into the bathroom to send a clandestine message.

Aaaaah roo slow. The menacing paw is searching under the door.


There goes the bathroom mat.


I have been discovered sending an unauthorized message and will receive multiple cat jumps between 3 and 4 in the morning.

All I can say is abandon all hope.

Tomorrow you enter cativity, there is no escape.

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