Advice Needed 1 Stray Cat Losing Weight *UPDATE VET APPT MADE* GOAL REACHED FOR VET

[Anikaca77]

Hi All,

Well I'm at my sister's place and I just saw Fatty (well we should now change his name to skinny)....I saw him resting on the road which is typical for him but when I saw him he looked like he was road kill, he's just so skinny now and I can't believe it.

I told my sister that he needs to see a vet, we have no idea of his age because he/or she and this other cat that he/she hangs around with has been around here since she moved in.

The neighbors around my sister all set out food for the 2 cats but Fatty has been getting skinner and skinner. One of my sister's neighbors decided to take them both in one time and one ended up not using the litter box and so he put them back out and well that neighbor that did take them in passed away and well my sister has 3 cats now so she can't take in 2 more although when looking at me and my situation she has more room then me but I know she won't.

The only thing that sucks about trying to just take him/her in is I'd have to take the other one as well because they depend on eachother and even though the one does hunt for food it still wouldn't be fair to leave her outside, even though she's been doing it now for about 3 years since my sister moved in here and when my sister moved in here both of the cats were adults when she moved in so they had to be 1-2 years or more.

So I guess I'm just asking for any advice what might be the problem with Fatty and how to help him. I wish I could say I had the funds to get him fixed and I told my sister if she set up a vet appointment I'd come back up here and take him/her to the vets and figure out what was wrong with him/her. But sadly I need to do something cheaper because my one cat Athena is having surgery at the end of this month for a Hernia which is $150 and then I still owe the vet $44 from a previous vet visit. Luckly, I did receive a donation before which did pay for a vet bill for another stray cat that I took in and has since found a home.

I better get going now, I will be offline for about 4 days and then return around Thursday.

Melissa

Here is the previous thread I wrote about the 2 cats.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=143233

[catmandu]

I WOULD SAY WORMS RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, AS HE SOUNDS AS THOUGH HES TOO YOUNG FOR A THYROID PROBLEM.
I WOULD GET HIM IN, HAVE HIM TAKEN CARE OF AND THEN BRING HIM BACK,
IF YOU COULD GET BOTH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT AS THE FEMALE MAY BE HAVING LITTERS, MAYBE YOU COULD FIND A SHELTER FOR HER TO BREAK THE CHAIN OF KITTENS.
GOOD LOOK WITH SKINNY AND HIS GIRL FRIEND.

[Anikaca77]

Thanks. I hope it's just worms as well. He's a super sweetie.

[catmandu]

I JUST HOPE THAT ITS NOT BAD TEETH, OR AN IFECTION IN SKINNYS MOUTH, AS THAT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.
I HOPE YOU CAN GET A GOOD LOOK AT SKINNY, AND HELP HIM OUT , SO HES NOT LOSING ALL THAT WEIGHT.

[kb2yjx]

Well, yes, worms, but since he is an outdoor fellow, I'd think about feline aids/leukemia OR cancer. Also, since the cat's age is unknown, thyroid, diabetes, or kidney disease might be considered.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I would also say have him tested for disease , could be the cause. Is he fixed? Flea treatment? Little more info needed please.

It is hot, so they eat much less in summer, but they never should be boney.

[Anikaca77]

I just called the vets that I'm taking Fatty too and I had them put Fatty under my sister's name since she's a client there and that way I can get funds ahead of time before I show up to the vets. Please PM me for the VET'S INFO and my sister's name to put the money under.

I checked to see if I could get Fatty into the vets any sooner than Friday and they said they are all booked so I will be taking Fatty on Friday at 3 pm.

I also asked the vet if the bloodwork included the FIV/FELV test and she said it didn't so there is now an additional $38 cost just for the FIV/FELV test.

The lady I spoke with said I should do the FIV/FELV test just to make sure that's not the reason for him losing weight.

So the total depending on if I have his complete bloodwork done is

$36 visit, $38 FIV/FELV test, $105 bloodwork = $179

Not including any meds. I will probably be able to cover the vet visit, plus at least $60 in gas to get to my sisters and come back....but that will still leave $143 needed.

If I'm not able to come up with the funds before his vet appointment I will have to cancel the appointment until I can afford it. I really hate to say that I need funds but I do with having to keep $150 back for Athena's hernia surgery at the end of this month I just can't afford much more, plus I just had to pay the vet $44. today for a previous vet visit.

Melissa

[Anikaca77]

I just received a wonderful donation, I won't say the person's name only because I haven't asked if it's okay to mention the amount or the name. I just need ~$100 left to raise before next Friday.

I will be willing to send out whatever books I have on cats to anyone who donates that wants a cat book.

Melissa

[Catty1]

Melissa - I remember one time you got donations and sent little presents to everyone to thank them. Heavens, girl, save the shipping costs and sell these on eBay - or sell them at a garage sale if you know someone who is having one!

VERY sweet of you, but postage costs money too!

[Anikaca77]

I just e-mailed a bunch of organizations around PA asking for some donations as well and I just got this one e-mail back from one organization:



If the cat is that sick this is cruelty to animals letting him suffer and be sick for so long.
There are many vets that have night hours, weekend hours and there are er's.
I can understand how money can be a factor but I do not understand how she can't find a friend or relative that could take this cat and get him help instead of making him suffer this long and now have to wait another week.
You have asked many people for money, all of us struggle to pay vet bills for our rescues.
We are hours away from where you sister lives yet you wrote to us.
I think you need to get your sister to see that she should be responsible and she needs do the right thing for the cat in HER care.



I know in some way with him losing weight that he's been suffering but he doesn't cry in pain or I would have taken him back home with me and I would have if I didn't have to take the girl he hangs out with as well....and if I lived closer I would of taken him a long time ago but I don't have a ton of money.......I'm so upset that someone thinks I'm being cruel...do you all think I'm being cruel...I've done so much to help cats and take care of them..I'm just so upset right now.

Melissa

[Catty1]

This is just one response out of the many you have sent...it's not the whole picture.

If you really feel like responding, give them your sister's email address and tell them to talk to her - or forward that email you got to your sister.

Can she contribute any money to the vet care? She should - if she is feeding them, then she has taken on some responsibility.

Anyway, look at the big picture - there are way more positives than negatives. The most important thing here is Fatty!

If you do contact rescues, ask if they can take Fatty rather than donate money. Rescues are the ones needing donations, as you know.

If nothing else, take them off your email list. They aren't being cruel - just telling their side of the story.

[jennielynn1970]

I am sending the meds in the hopes that if he does require antibiotics, Melissa won't have to foot the bill for that yet too. I figure Baytril and Clavamox are the two that are given the most frequently, and since I've had some extras, I'd ship those out. Same with eye meds. I'm hoping that once he is well, she can put the Revolution on him.

Poor guy. He looks really skinny.

The person who emailed you may have sounded cruel to you, or rude, but I can understand where they are coming from. Your sister is feeding them, and is basically taking responsibility for their care. With that come the bills. I know she's not expecting this to happen, the cat being sick and all, and we don't plan for it, but it does happen, and when it does we have to make sure we can take care of their health and well being.

Hopefully things will fall into place, and your sister can put some cash toward them as well.

[jennielynn1970]

Did you try contacting Furry Feet? I don't know if they have any openings, but she definitely helped out with getting testing and and vetting with our donation.

[Anikaca77]

Jenn,

I will contact them today. I just don't have long distance at home so I can't call from there and I don't have a cell phone so I'll try from work today.

Melissa

Did you try contacting Furry Feet? I don't know if they have any openings, but she definitely helped out with getting testing and and vetting with our donation.

[Anikaca77]

Jenn,

I called Furry Feet at lunch and she returned my phone call this evening.

Unfortunately she has a full house and can't help me out.

Thank you for your suggestion though I appreciate it.

Melissa

Did you try contacting Furry Feet? I don't know if they have any openings, but she definitely helped out with getting testing and and vetting with our donation.