Stray?

[Jenny79]

For the past 4 months now I've been seeing a cat hanging around the parking lot of the high rise where I live.He's always wanting food but isn't skinny,fights
with the other cats who are strays,a little dirty and very friendly.

There are a few people people at my high rise who feeds them and when the this cat is done eating he tries to get the other cats food.Over the weekend,I
decided to take this cat upstairs.I'm taking him to vet this week.

My question is,how do I know if he's a stray or not?He's friendly,not skinny but always wanting food,a little dirty,might have ear mites,the pads on his feet have blisters & almost torn,shows no interest in going outside,I've noticed he doesn't use the litter box that much but doesn't pee all over the condo and he sometimes cries because he needs to pee but sometimes can't.

In help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Medusa]

For the past 4 months now I've been seeing a cat hanging around the parking lot of the high rise where I live.He's always wanting food but isn't skinny,fights
with the other cats who are strays,a little dirty and very friendly.

There are a few people people at my high rise who feeds them and when the this cat is done eating he tries to get the other cats food.Over the weekend,I
decided to take this cat upstairs.I'm taking him to vet this week.

My question is,how do I know if he's a stray or not?He's friendly,not skinny but always wanting food,a little dirty,might have ear mites,the pads on his feet have blisters & almost torn,shows no interest in going outside,I've noticed he doesn't use the litter box that much but doesn't pee all over the condo and he sometimes cries because he needs to pee but sometimes can't.

In help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

If he needs to pee and can't, as you say, even though there's a litter box available to him, he needs to be seen by a vet ASAP. He could have a blockage. While there, they can check for a microchip and that can tell you whether or not he's a stray. If he has ear mites and his paw pads are blistered, chances are he's a runaway or a throwaway but if he has a microchip, he may have just darted for the door and escaped. Check around town and see if there are fliers about a missing cat. Good luck at the vet's and please keep us updated. Thank you so much for caring enough to take him in. Many people wouldn't.

Btw, if you have any cats of your own, keep this one isolated from them until he's tested. You wouldn't want him passing any diseases on to your cats.

[Catty1]

Yes - if he can't pee, PLEASE get him to a vet. Just call a vet, tell them what the problem is, and they will make room!

Otherwise, he can die of uremic poisoning or his bladder may rupture.

BLESS YOU for taking him in - probably just in time.

PLEASE keep us posted.

[Jenny79]

He does pee but not all the time.He pees maybe once a day and heavy,smelling
bowel movements 2 to 4 times a day,if at all.I work from home,so I clean the box every time he uses it.After my first posting,he used my bath mat as his bathroom.I threw the mat away.

[Moesha]

When my kitty Morgan was having trouble urinating, the vet told me to watch him and make sure he went at least once every 24 hours. If he didn't, then I was go bring him in right away. The kitty may have crystals that are blocking him from being able to urinate properly or perhaps a urinary tract infection that is causing him the problem. Either way, the vet should be able to tell what is wrong and help you help the kitty. Thank you for taking him in and giving him some much needed medical attention. The peeing on the bathmat could be a associated with the urinary problem. Peeing in inappropriate places is often a sign of an infection or other problem. Also, neutering him would be helpful in his overall health and decreasing any desire he may have to mark his territory in your condo.

[Jenny79]

He did go when I put in the box after he started meowing at me.Poor thing..

[Karen]

Sounds like he does need a vet visit, in any case poor guy. Thanks for taking him in.