Sickly Feral on our Front Porch

[Tambrey]

I feel so bad for the poor thing...My mother came in and asked who was on the front porch, as we have many ferals, but they are regulars to our screened in front porch...
I went out and there is a cream coloured with a brown sugar coloured head cat hunched down...its entire face is covered in gunk...and its eyes are sooo icky that I do not even know if or how well it can see, or how it even got to our front porch from who knows where, as I have never seen this cat even in the vicinity of our house or street...

I put the carrier with some canned smelly food in it, near the cat, and it is not even going in...I do not think it can even smell the food

However, it did get up to move and is just skin and bones...and a ratty tail...I fear that this one is beyond help and the kindest thing I can do for it is to take it to the vet to be helped over the bridge...I hate to think of having to do that...but I have ten cats inside I care for, and numerous ferals outside that I can at least put food and water out for and know they get that...the babies I have managed to catch and tame over the years have always checked out healthy at the vets, and I do not want this sickly one to start an infection in the colony...it looks like an advanced case of distemper just from seeing visible signs in its eyes and face...

I wish there was another option, but I just cannot see the vet doing much for this one...at least not without alot of money, which I just do not have...

If I won the lottery or had unlimited wealth, you can bet I would do whatever I could for this baby...but then, I would end up with 11 inside...LOL...I am still trying to find homes for at elast four of my current residents...

Ohhhh....I hate decisions such as this...who am I to decide this cats fate?!...It came to our home for a reason...from somewhere it managed to make its way here...and I hate to just take it and end its life...but it just looks to me like it is too far gone to be able to save...
I know...we have all rescued others who were in the same boat, and they made it...and that is what makes it so hard to decide...but it comes down to time, money, and safety of the other cats and ourselves...and the fact that we are getting ready for a homestudy to adopt...
I can come up with soooo many reasons...and none of them sound good enough to end another creatures life...they sound hollow...but...I don't know....I just don't know....

[Tambrey]

Well, as of this posting, I went to check and it is no longer on the porch...I guess all I can do at this point is pray and know the cat is in God's hands and He will see it to safety or across the bridge somehow...

[Tina B and crew]

Tambrey, I know how hard it is to watch them and know there is not much you can do. I hope and pray the cat doesn't suffer any more..let us know if it shows up again

[Traci]

Tambrey, kitty may not be infected with distemper, there are various conditions that can leave severe upper respiratory signs.....including just that. More serious primary organ disfunctions can also cause respiratory distress, infections, conjunctivitis, etc. Your vet could test for distemper by doing a quick CBC and exam (upon exam, your vet could probably even determine kidney, liver or heart disfunction). An abcess that has been infected could also be possible, which could be treated with oral antibiotics. (many outdoor cats get abcesses around their face and head areas, gone unnoticed under fur and dirt)

If he comes back, at least try taking the time to get close to him and gently clean his eyes/face with damp, warm cottonballs, offer a high quality canned food and water. Do, however, wash your hands thoroughly before you handle your own cats.

[Tambrey]

Thanks Traci and Tina B...

I keep going out but have not seen him yet...he could not be far though, given the condition he was in...I am assuming a he...could be a she...

If it comes back, I will see what I can to get close to it...do what I can for it...I did call the vet in the city that I use for emergencies and harder to cure cases, and they said I can bring it in for a $29 office visit fee, and from there decide what to do...I guess $29 is not too bad to at least find out what is wrong...of course any labs would cost also, but their fees are fairly reasonable anyways...

Sooooo...if it shows up again, I will see what I can do to get it into a carrier and at least checked out then decide from there what I can do for it...but I cannot keep it...I cannot bring it home...because I will end up keeping it!!

[Cleo]

Good luck Tambrey, I hope the cat comes back and let's you close enough to help. Whatever you decide to do, we know it's from your heart and in the cat's best interest.

Would you have to take him/her back home? Couldn't you leave it there for treatment and to be adopted ... assuming it's treatable?

[LisaLisa]

Tambrey,

My thoughts are with you. I'm sure you will make a good decision of this little one shows up again. He/she sounds so sick.

Bests to you...

[Jodi]

Good luck Tambrey....keep us posted, okay????

[Tambrey]

I will keep everyone posted...as of yet, I have not seen it again, but it got very cold and windy this afternoon, so homefully the cat found shelter under our porch or some other place...I am hoping to see it again tomorrow when I put food out...maybe it will follow the others to our porch...

Thank you all for your support and prayers for this poor cat...

[LisaLisa]

Tambrey,

Did you ever see this kitty again?