Tell me about having an outside cat......Sad update post 9

[marshallandcartersmo]

First and foremost, I am NOT a cat person. We are a family of 5---2 DS's 5 & 2, 1 DH, me, and a hyper cat-hating 7 year old Yellow Lab. Last Sunday I'm looking out my window and see a gray furry thing limping up my driveway, and she stopped to drink water out of a puddle. Now let me say again---I am NOT a cat person, but there's no way I could let an animal in pain go by. So I go outside, it immediatly starts meowing and rubbing on me, no collar---I pick her up and she has a bite mark on the front of her front right leg, and the back of the same leg---up high where it attaches to her body. I took her to our porch, gave her some milk and a can of tuna fish (no cat food around) and went on about our day---thinking she'll go to her family later. You guessed it----a week has gone by and she's still here. We bought some cat food, and fixed a cardboard box on the front porch with some cedar chips in it for her to sleep in, and I guess she's ours............
Here's some questions: What's the minimum I need to do medically/shots wise that will keep the cat healthy?? I'm sure I need to have her leg looked at too, she still limps a lot. I don't want this to sound snotty or rude, but I don't want to spend $100s of dollars on this stray cat if it'll be gone the next day. We don't have the extra income to spend on a pet that isn't ours. I imagine I could have taken her to the pound, but our pound has a pretty low adoption rate, and rather than imagine the worst, we'd like to try to keep her here. I imagine a rabies shot is essential, and if she isn't fixed---that too. She looks about a year old.
Next---what do you get for bedding for an outside cat?? Our cardboard box lasted one rainstorm (wonder who's bright idea THAT was???).........
Also, if we ever do decide to bring her in (winter storm coming or something---did I mention I'm not a cat person) how do we teach a cat to not "GO" in the house??
Also--what does a cat DO?? I swear the thing sleeps all day. She might come out of her box when we're outside playing for us to pet her once or twice, then back in her box she is!!
Thanks so much for all your help. I have never had a cat, and until last week, never thought I would!!

 

[luvdzny]

First of all you should check if it is legal in your town to have an "outside" cat. Our city has the same rules for cats as they do for dogs - they must remain on your property or on a leash at all times. If the cat continues to be an outside cat be prepared for it to come home injured frequently, you never know what kind of animals are around that it will fight with. Also you run the risk of if getting feline leukemia from other stray/outdoor cats. These are just a few things I would consider before adopting it as an outside cat.

 

[kayeandjim00]

If you can't keep a cat inside then find it a good home with someone who will The average life span of an outdoor cat is 3 years - an indoor cat's is 16 years. There are so many risks for the cat as evident by the leg issue he's got now. By all means take him to the vet and have them tell you what he needs at a bare minimum. Good Luck - it's great that you've been helping him out but in the long run cats are better off inside than outside.

 

[poohandwendy]

IMO, you should take the cat to a no-kill shelter/rescue organization (or a family willing to take her in) where she will have the medical care she needs and the possibility of a forever home.

I think it is great that you are willing to help her, but unless you intend to take full responsibility for her care, it's unfair to her to not take her somewhere she can get that level of comittment.

 

[dmslush]

If you can't keep a cat inside then find it a good home with someone who will The average life span of an outdoor cat is 3 years - an indoor cat's is 16 years. There are so many risks for the cat as evident by the leg issue he's got now. By all means take him to the vet and have them tell you what he needs at a bare minimum. Good Luck - it's great that you've been helping him out but in the long run cats are better off inside than outside.

ditto! If you can't bring the cat inside, take it to some shelter, or try to give it away. It is just going to continue to get hurt if it is outside.

 

[Virgo10]

I've been in your position because of stray cats having diseases that my own cats could catch. A trip to the shelter would have prolonged their life 1 day because cats with FIV or Feline Leukemia are put to sleep immediately.

This cat

Mr Floppie, spent nearly 3 years at our home. In all that time he would never let us near enough to touch him despite feeding him and offering him the use of my garage for shelter. He was hit by a car in the summer of 2003. We brought him to the emergency Vet but with FIV, FeLV and his numerous injuries, we felt the most humane thing to do would be put him to sleep. Was his life perfect? No but he still got 3 years that he never would have had and most of that was pretty much OK.

This guy

Dad Cat, was just the opposite from Mr. Floppie. He was always coming over for some TLC. About 6 months before we moved to Florida, I decided to take him to the Vet and, if he was OK, bring him with us. The news was bad. He had FIV. The day before we moved I found a lady who was willing to give him a home. He was at my house for at least 2 years before he was adopted.

Please do take the cat to the Vet and have it checked out. Socializing cats and dogs isn't easy but it is possible. Cats sleep for much of their lives and, if this kitty you've found is injured and half staved, it's going to sleep just that much more. Please no more milk for the kitty. It gives them diarrhea. Plain water is all they need to drink and a good dry cat food for meals. Moist food is OK too.

When cats are awake you might be surprised at just how entertaining they are. Then there's the love factor, something which most cats have plenty to give.

Best of luck to you and the kitty.

 

[Spinning]

I was in your shoes about a year ago. I do agree that a cat does live a better, longer life indoors but depending on the cat it isn't always possible to do! We had a very skinny shaggy stray cat show up last June. It was kind of friendly but not overly but the poor thing looked so bad we started to try and feed it. Slowly it started to come around. But it would not go in the house at all and if we carried it in it would totally freak and grow and run to the door.
We made a really heavy duty box for it out of wood. Filled with soft stuff and put it in a very sheltered place under out patio. She loves her box.
During the winter when it was really cold we began bringing her inside to eat. we then set up a box in the basement for her. She seemed to like that but would not ever socialize with us. She would eat and then go straight to her little box in the basement. She never ever used a litter pan in the house. She always went outside.
She is a really good cat. But I can honestly say we could never make her an inside cat. Outside you can actually hold her, pet her and she follows us around like a dog. But inside she is so stressed she will just growl and make lots of unhappy noises. We have tried so many different ways to make her want to be inside. But it has been a year and nothing has worked. Friends of ours who are cat people feel she was wild for too long to become an inside cat. So this is the best we can do.
As for shots, rabies and have her tested for feline lukemia. If neg. then she should have that shot too. I can't rmember if they did any other shots.
Good luck. So far this is a wonderful cat! She is a really great hunter...just wish she didn't like to leave her gifts all along the side of my car.......usually get 3 every other day...one mouse, one mole and some other little critter....

 

[Toby'sFriend]

As others have said, outside cats do not last for very long as a general rule. Out around our house, they are nothing more than skittles for the coyotes and foxes but you might have better luck at your house. Our neighbors buy and adopt a new batch of outside cats every summer and they are also gone by September or October.

All that being said, if you do decide to keep the cat yes you do need to get the blood test done for Feline Leukemia and a complete exam. If it has the disease, it is contagious to other area cats. It will also need a full series of shots for several different diseased, not just rabies. If it is a female cat, you need to get the thing fixed or you will soon find yourself with a box full of furry problems.

As for your other question, most cats litter train very easily. Show them the litter box, and they use it. You keep saying she so I assume you have lifted up the skirt and peeked? Unaltered male cats can be prone to spraying their territory. The females are much less likely to mark, but it has happened.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Just a sad update. We took our new-found friend to the vet this morning, her bite marks on her leg had "abcessed" (sorry about the spelling), and she also had a bite mark on her neck I didn't even see until they shaved her. She only weighed 2.2 pounds and they guessed she was about a year old. They said it would be around $450 to flush out her wounds, all her meds, her being boarded while she recovered, and to be spade. I'm sorry but we really can't afford that kind of money on a stray cat. They said she was a very sick kitty, and recommended she be put to sleep. I hated leaving her there, but that's what we decided to do. It's our usual vet we use for our dog, and I have full confidence in their recommendation, but it still didn't turn out the way I thought it would. I thought they'd give her a shot or two and send her on her way. My boys were there too, and they don't understand why we left her. Just thought I'd update. Thanks for all the opinions.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I'm sorry about the kitty. Please don't feel guilty however. I don't know of many Vets who would recommend euthanasizing a 1 year old animal for any reason other than a very grim outlook.

You probably saved the animal weeks of pain and sufferring.

 

[Virgo10]

I'm sorry things turned out badly. You did more than a lot of people would do as there are those who would have been cruel or disinterested.

Thank you for taking the time to see that this poor kitty didn't suffer.

 

[Sherri]

What a sad outcome. I am sorry it had to turn out like that for you and your family. Last Christmas I took in a very sick stray that wound up costing between $700-$800.00 but I had no choice. Happily he has adjusted to indoor life and is now healthy and very loving. However we knew from the start that he chances were 50/50 at best. Luckily things worked out.
Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. You did more then a lot of people would do, you tried your very best. It's too bad that the vet couldn't give some type of break since you have been customers and he was a stray to begin with. Our Vet was going to take our cat that we brought in if we didn't want to take ownership of him. Some Vets are in the business for money and others love.

 

[lulugirl]

Oh, poor kitty. You were kind to her.... as an animal lover, I thank you for that.

 

[Mermaid02]

You saved that cat a lot of suffering- don't feel badly. At the end, she was warm and I'm sure people were speaking kindly to her and soothing her. You did a good thing.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

First off, thank you for the compassion you showed the animal. It was more than many would do a fellow human. Thank you for taking the time to see to her, and taking her to the vet. Though ultimately you could not see to her needs, you probably would not have saved her life.

The weight you gave, is barely more than her skeleton and internal organs weigh. She was a very ill kitty, and to end her life, humanely, was the best possible choice. Do not feel guilty, you gave her a compassionate death, one free of agony. You chose to give her peace. For that, as a cat lover, I thank you whole heartedly.

 

[Cindyluwho]

You did a wonderful thing, thank you so much for helping the kitty as much as you could.