Found this cat near the front porch last night and this morning it was still there. She's pretty thin but a real sweetheart and it looks like she used to have a collar. She also stinks! But it isn't too bad and it really isn't her fault that she's been outdoors for who knows how long. I called the local petshops to see if they could find an ID chip but they refuse to scan cats because they might have diseases. I brought her inside to give her some food and water and she ate almost four handfuls of catfood but I noticed a toe on her back paw is swollen and she has trouble scratching with it. Seems tender to the touch and has slight fluid forming around the nail. Literally every veterinary clinic and animal shelter is closed on Sundays so I'm not sure what to do with her. I'm not equipped to house another cat. My roommates cat hasn't ever seen another cat and is being super pissy to me just for the scent and I don't want to let her into the main house and risk them fighting. Right now she's hanging out in my bedroom but this is a very short term solution. Should I just put her back outside now that she's fed and watered? Maybe I could carry her to the litter box and keep the other cat away for a minute? Can cats even share a litter box? Is there a way I can clean up her paw? I have hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol if that would help. I'd appreciate some advice from any cat friends in the audience.
The paw started leaking a fair amount of pus so I cleaned it with a warm damp paper towel but now I'm even more worried that its infected and I can't do anything about it. I made her a little litterbox from a cardboard box and some spare litter and locked her in my bathroom to be away from the other cat for now. I've attached a better picture of the kitty cat and you can see her inflamed paw in the back there.
>>34581513Cats can share litterboxes, just make she the one covers her mess so your other cat doesn't get mad. The toe is likely infected, not an emergency but best treated by taking her to the vet. I recommend posting the cat's pictures on craigslist and facebook
>>34581513>Should I just put her back outside now that she's fed and watered?Don't you dare.>>34581657What a cutie.I can't help much with the paw, but I suppose ChatGPT can. Just keep an eye on her paw, take her to the shelter tomorrow, and have a look for missing cat posters around?
post on >>>/an/
>>34581513>>34581657Poor baby, definitely a job for the vets. Just keep her fed and watered. DO NOT throw her back out. If you have time go out and buy a proper litterbox, pee will soak through cardboard.You can try to clean her paw with some water if she lets you, if not just let it be and tell the vet when you go tomorrow.>>34581912DO NOT let them share litterboxes until vet visit. Keep her away from the other cat until she's been vet checked because you don't want any potential disease and parasites to transfer to your roommate's cat.You're doing the right thing keeping them apart. Once this cat is cleaned up by the vets you can slowly introduce them (if you intend to keep her), there are instruction videos on how to do cat intros on Youtube.Definitely check Facebook etc. to see if anyone has lost their cat but DO NOT post the cat's picture until they've been scanned by the vets. Post the cat's picture up if and only if they're not chipped AND you don't want to keep the cat. Because if you post the pic of an unchipped cat asking if it belongs to anyone you WILL get people claiming it's theirs when it's not and they're just looking to adopt a cat.Good luck anon!
>>34581917I don't have GPT but I did ask Grok and it basically said clean the foot and get her to a vet as soon as I can. Today is 102f out so I guess she's a live in patient for a bit. A friend of mine thinks she might be pregnant since she was so willing to come up to people and go inside. I checked around on Craigslist and didn't find any missing cats that look like her and I don't have a facebook to check so I asked my roommate to make a post for me. Aside from the sore foot she's still calm and content. I'm going to take her to the vet first thing tomorrow and if the thread is somehow still up I will keep you posted.
>>34581657Probably she didnt live too long outdoors. Her ears aint nibbed from fights at all.
>>34581973I added a small trash bag to the box so I can swap it when I have to. Thanks for the tips on posting her to facebook, I'll have him hold off on making the post. I really don't know if I want to keep her or not. She's cute but another pet is a big responsibility. I'm going to sleep on it I think and try to decide tomorrow.
>>34582074>She's cute but another pet is a big responsibility. I'm going to sleep on it I think and try to decide tomorrow.You're being very sensible about this, I trust you'll make do right by the cat whatever you chose :)
>>34581657oh my goodness. what a scrumptious little oogums-googums, distinguished little precious tuxedo kitty. do you have a strip mall with a chinese restaurant in it nearby?usually they know what to do and take care of it
>>34581513>>34581657She looks so soft!
>>34582582She is but she's also very dirty and was kind of sticky when i brought her inside. Her tongue baths have restored her softness somewhat though.>>34582122I don't think I have a choice here at all really. I feel like I have to keep her if she has no owner. She came to me for help and I was put here at the right time to give her that help. Its the right thing to do. I've taken to calling her Sock on account of her sock(s). She's been eating a drinking normally and I've tried to keep her foot clean. The vet opens in three hours. I'll update again after the vet visit.
Well I have an appointment set for four hours from now. I was hoping to get her in immediately but what can you do... Anyway here's a picture of her being very good and sitting nicely in the cat carrier.
>>34581513I would just keep it outside. If you see it hanging out near you often, you can feed it.
Well friends here she is. No chip and no people coming forward with a lost cat. At the vet they ran the full sweep of tests and sadly she is positive for feline leukemia... Her toe was so infected they had to put her under and remove it, so that's stitched up now thus the cone of shame. She is eight pounds on the dot and they estimate her to be 18 months old. The vet visit cost me about $726.00 USD. I have decided to keep her, despite her issues. She's going back in two weeks for another checkup and to get vaccinated. For now I have to keep her separated from my roomate's cat still until he can be vaccinated as well. I have named her Sock. Despite her illness I am determined to give her lots of love and a comfortable home. Thank you to everyone here who offered up help and I hope everyone has a blessed night. Here is the first picture of Sock not as a stray I'm helping but as a new dearly loved pet. : )
This is very nice to see anon, you're a great person. I have a couple of friends that have a cat with a similar story and it's alive and 14 years old, still going strong. May Sock bring you many years of happiness.
>>34581513It seems like you've done the best you can for now so nothing besides that, but if you happen to notice any difficulty with feeding or changes in her dietary habits(vomiting, coughing, diarrhea) keep posting, I have taken care of special needs cats that have problems from their life on the streets and can give you some tips. Hopefully you won't need to hear from me as she looks perfect.
