Stray cat...

[bizybea]

Ok, let me start at the begining. Yesterday I went over to my mother's house. When I drove up into the driveway, I saw this tiny kitten curled up on the gravel, asleep. I stopped the car and got out. I walked up to her and got nearly on top of her before she opened her eyes and struggled to get up and run. It looked like she was really weak (maybe dehydrated) and she kind of stumbled under my mom's front porch. I went inside and told my mom about the cat and got a bowl of water for her since it was pretty humid and sticky and she looked thirsty. I saw her under the porch and I put the water near her so she would drink and I went inside the garage. I started looking for something to put her into because I knew that she was sick and needed to go to the Humane Society. I found some gloves and a crate and went back outside to try and catch her. She was asleep again and too far back to grab. She wasn't even interested in water! I opened a can of tuna and put a bit on a plate and tried to get her to come to it, but she just lazily opened her eyes and looked at it. I tried to reach for her and she went back further into the porch. I kept going in and out of the house for about three hours, hoping that she would come out so I could get her, but she wouldn't. It started raining, and here I am on my stomach in the driveway, trying to get her out! I was a mess, and it was getting dark, so I decided to let her go for the night.

I went back this afternoon and she was laying under the stairs of the porch! I ran into the garage to get the gloves and the crate and when I came back, she had run into the porch further. I was getting discouraged, and afraid that she may die under the porch (she really looked that awful). I went back inside and spent some time visiting my mom and told her that I'd be back this evening to see if I could catch her. I was walking to my car when I saw her laying asleep in the grass, about a foot from the porch! I ran back to the garage, put the gloves on and crept back out. I walked up behind her, and she stirred a bit, I waited, then crept up and grabbed her! She didn't even realize that I had her until I picked her up, and she tried to fight me with her back legs, but could barely pick them up. I felt like crying, she was so skinny! I put her into the crate and made a makeshift lid with a cardboard box, and drove her to the Humane Society.

I dropped her off and on my way home, I was thinking of how sick she looked and wondered if she would make it. I was telling my mailman about it and he told me that she would most likely be euthanized. I feel awful! I just dropped her off there, and they could kill her! I don't know what else I could have done, but to not know what will happen to her is bugging me. Sorry to go on and on, I am worrying about her and I just needed to talk about it, thanks for listening.

 

[Serena]

You did the right thing.

Our HS usually helps the sick animals get better and adopt them out. Unless it's something terminal. If the baby was just dehydrated and hungry, I'm sure they'll help her.
Kittens are usually the first animals to be adopted and with a story like this, it's going to melt someone's heart.

 

[helenabear]

I will echo a lot of what Serena just said. You did do the right thing. They will help the kitten and hopefully the poor thing will get well soon. Don't you worry because kittens are the first to be adopted so I am sure that that they will be one of the first to go to a wonderful home. {{hugs}} and thank you for being so good to that kitten!

 

[bizybea]

Thanks for the comforting responses. I hope that she will get better and that they can find a good home for her. She was a pretty cat, she just needed fattening up!

 

[DocRafiki]

It sounds like she would have died if you didn't help her. She was suffering. Euthanasia is a good thing, and Humane Societies are there to help animals... they're not the enemy. If she's able to recover, she'll be helped. If not, she won't have to suffer. Also, she won't be able to further infect other cats with a fatal disease if she has one. You definitely did the right thing.

 

[nativetxn]

Jen is right. I think you did a very kind thing bizybea but I also know how you must be feeling. {{{HUGS}}} sweetie

 

[Rajah]

Let's see... there are one of three outcomes to this:

1) You left her alone, she wouldn't eat and wouldn't drink, so would be suffering and end up dying.

2) You catch her and take her to the HS, where she is found to be too sick to treat so is put out of her misery.

3) You catch her and take her to the HS where they fix her up and find her a good home.

Of the three options, #1 is the worst. So even if she's put down, you helped her and improved her situation. And if she had a bad illness that other cats could get, you helped protect them so again did well. Most likely they'll help her out, and as a kitten she has a good chance of getting a home. So you did good

 

[bizybea]

Thanks again, for all the support. At first, I felt like if they put her to sleep, that I was to blame since I took her there, but now I realize after reading the responses that even if that is the case, it is the best. There was no way that I would have left her to die, it frustrated me when I saw her condition and couldn't get to her to help her, but I never thought of leaving her there. If she is too sick to save, I think that putting her to sleep will stop her suffering. Of course, I hope that they can save her and that she will find a loving home. Thanks again for your knowledge and comforting words, I now have hope that she will get better and be adopted quickly.