Injured feral cat, what to do with him.

[my3chickens]

Feral cats exist because of the irresponsibility of some humans, not fixing and vaccinating their pets. Unfortunately you have now ended up with the problem! In our county we have emergency vets who free of charge will take injured domestic animals. Unfortunately he will probably be euthanized but if you are unable to cover the cost that is probably the most humane thing to do for him. Also animal control will usually pick him up and do the same, keep calling them!!

Thank you for caring enough to trap him and try and provide help for him, I wish there were more kind people like you.

 

[my3chickens]

Also.... I have 8 feral cats, I have trapped and spayed/neutered/vaccinated all of them. They have truly been the best cats I have ever had, I almost think when you rescue an animal they know that you saved them and repay you in so many ways.

Try searching on the internet for cat rescues in your area, they may be able to provide some help also. It would be nice to give him a chance if at all possible but I do understand how costly vet bills can be.

 

[patandchickens]

I had one kind of like that about 5 years ago, found him hiding in my front bushes unable to use his hind end and in sigificant pain. I was able to take him to the vet -- original diagnosis (from observation, not xrays, as he was feral and um grumpy) was that he likely had a broken pelvis from a dog/coyote bite, but it later popped a huge abscess so I think the problem was as much or more *infection* than broken bones. My vet gave me painkillers and antibiotics to smoosh into his food, and I kept him in an empty indoor run in the kennel building (this was before it was all filled with poultry LOL), and after about six weeks I went out there one morning and he had leapt up 5' to claw his way out of a windowscreen and was gone. So evidently he felt somewhat better

He was seen by neighbors off and on for the next year or so, and would surely have died (prob. got et by a coyote) if I hadn't done anything for him, so I figure I did him some good. Though I sure had wanted to get him rabies-vaccinated before I let him go!

But he was not in such bad pain as yours sounds, and I had a vet willing to do an eyeball exam on him and prescribe on the basis of that.

If you feel he ought to be euthanized, I don't know about your area but here (I looked into it with the abovementioned cat) the municipal animal shelter will euthanize injured strays brought in to them, for no fee.

But you might call around to rescue groups first. Search Petfinder.com for rescues in your area; and call the animal shelter and local vets and see if they know anyone.

Best of luck to you both,

Pat

 

[babyblue]

Well he ate and drank last night and this morning went to the bathroom in the cage so that is at least working. I called all over last night and this morning and found a humane society that will try and get him better. Pretty much works out that if he’s reasonably pleasant to deal with they will fix his leg, fix him and I can pick him up and let him back on the farm. I am 100% ok with that because he wasn’t harming anything anyways and he is the only other cat besides my tiny barn cat on the whole place. If he wants to eat their faces and claw them, well he will be put down. it’s the best I can do for the guy and he is getting dropped off at 1 today.

Here to hoping that he sort of nice. When I walked outside this morning to feed the rest of the beasties he started crying and yowling till I gave him some more food. Dh told me he fed him before he left for work too so we are pretty sure he’s been hurt for a while and not able to hunt. He quite and not smashing around the cage and cries whenever he sees us. He also has really pretty sea foam green eyes. Something I’ve never noticed because I’ve never got so close to him before.

And just to say again, if he does come back he sure as heck will be fixed lol.

 

[Skyesrocket]

That is very good news! I hope all works out for him. I was worried that you might put him down before he had a chance to heal.
Feral Toms are tough cats otherwise they wouldn't live very long. They can look like they are on death's door and bounce back.

 

[Catstar68]

Good luck with Mr. Tom. You're an angel for trying to give him a chance.

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

YAY! My paws are crossed for the poor guy. Thank you so much for helping him. More often than not, people refuse to give ferals a chance. I'm glad this guy now has one

 

[babyblue]

Well cat chose option two, try and eat the humane society workers faces off. He was quite and reasonable with dh and I, probably because he’s seen us for years and knew we probably wouldn’t hurt him. But total strangers he couldn’t handle. Also they did the best exam on him they could and his leg up into his shoulder and most of his right side had a massive infection going on that even if he was sweet and cute they had no idea if he was save able.

I am frustrated and upset because if he wasn’t feral and was nice like my barn cat I would have caught this infection long before and taken care of it. Now there’s only one tiny cat on the whole farm and she is next to useless as a hunter. We love her so she stays forever, but now I’m worried we going to get more strays coming in because the guy I had to get put down was one big strapping tom and kept all other cats off the farm.

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

At least you tried. And at least he had some good meals before he went.

You could always adopt some more cats! We often end up with feral or semi feral cats at my shelter, and it's so tough to find places willing to keep them and care for them. I bet there are shelters or rescues in your area with some big, awesome tom cats just waiting for prime mousing grounds to call their own!

 

[Aimless Farmer]

I'm sorry to hear about the Big Guy. Feral cats live such touch (usually short) lives. He had some positive human contact at the end, and he's no longer suffering. You gave him a gift, though you may not feel like you did. Doing the right thing doesn't always feel good, but it's always right.

Some feline rescues have "Barn Cat" programs, which help to find forever homes for rescued ferals and semi-ferals, like your Tom. These are cats who wouldn't be successful house cats or family pets, but still deserve a good home, and will thrive in a safe, farm setting such as yours. They come neutered and vaccinated. Look around on line.

Good luck, and hugs all around.