Found sick/injured kitty

[dt8thd]

Yikes! Poor kitty. It is vitally important that you get him (or her) to a vet! You describe the cat as "extremely affectionate", which indicates that this is definitely someone's pet. Even if you do not plan to take the cat to your local animal shelter, call them to report that you have found the cat; kitty's owner might be searching for him, and they may have already reported his disappearance to the shelter. Many shelters also have online postings of lost & found animals, Beater's owner may have posted an ad. Other good places to look are local newspapers, vet's offices, and, of course, keep an eye out for "lost cat" signs around the neighborhood. Online searches of cat rescues in the area might also yield some results.

Whatever you do, DO NOT give kitty any medications without first consulting a veterinarian who has experience with felines! Many medications that are ok for humans or other animals, including dogs, can cause serious harm to your cat. For example, acetaminophenis extremely toxic to cats! There are antibiotics that are perfectly safe for kitty, but a vet should really be consulted regarding specific medications and dosing instructions. That said, one of my cats does receive topical codine, which we rub into the skin on the inside of his ear, for his arthritis. Something similar might work in Beater's case, in terms of alleviating some of his pain. My suggestion would be to call your local vet and explain the situation. Ask them what over-the-counter medication they would recommend and how much of it Beater should be given at a time. I can't imagine that most vet's would charge for a 5 minute phone consultation with someone who is just trying to be a good samaritan. The vet may urge you to bring the cat in to be checked out, but if you explain your tough financial position they may be willing to offer a discount or even see him for free. Let them know that Beater is clearly someone's pet and not a feral--if they are able to scan Beater for a microchip, it may be possible to track down his owner, saving you the cost of vetting. Failing that, they may also be able to suggest another vet or a cat rescue that would be able to take on Beater's case without resorting to euthanasia.

Just one more thing, if you end up having to administer medication to Beater orally, aka. "pill" him, you may want to involve your "cat people" neighbours. There is a definite technique to getting a cat to swallow any kind of medication. I use empty gel caplets, into which I pack the medication, with a little bit of butter on the outside to make it go down a bit easier, but it still involves some wrangling and a bit of finesse.

There are no easy answers when it comes to this sort of situation. You're in a very difficult position, and your caring and willingness to offer whatever help you can is admirable. Please keep us posted!

Emily

[BigDaveyL]

Originally Posted by Marcia

Please don't let him suffer. Take him to a vet, explain his situation - AND yours, ask sympathetic neighbors to help chip in some $$$ - ANYTHING but continue to have him suffer.

^^^^ This

It would be hard to think a vet would turn you away and not treat this poor guy! They can probably work something out with you.

Also, your vet could also have ideas about local shelters/rescues that could help defray the cost.