Hello All,
I did post this is another forum as I am just looking to help this lil guy out asap. Its little long to read but I am one who believes the more details the better. Here is what I posted:
I just joined this forum because I am hoping to find a solution to helping out a feral kitten that I trapped. Well, actually 3. To start with, I am not a "cat person" (always had dogs) but love all animals. The last couple years I had massive loss in my life and never wanted another pet because I didn't want to get close to anything or anyone again. Having said that, the animal lover in me couldn't stop taking care of the feral cats we have in my area. My city, which is pretty decent average sized, has a bad feral cat issue and there isn't any animal control officers which is why the problem exists. For the last year, year and a half, I have been allowing the cats to take refuge anywhere around my home if they wanted and have also kept fresh food and water outside for them. A couple months ago one of the momma cats started bringing her 3 kittens (was 4 but sadly a car got that one while they were really young) and I watched them daily on my cameras. But as nature does, mom left them and they were really lost. They remained together and were literally stuck by each others side. At night, they loved staying on my front porch where they have plenty of protection and space and they felt comfortable there. But as it would come to be, I started to worry about them because I started to see them through the night getting closer to venture across the streets and I just couldn't handle that. We have complete a**holes here that race up and down a pretty heavy traffic street and we also have plenty of scumbags that love to have their pitbulls but also don't secure them where I see them scouring the neighborhood for cats roaming. Again, cant handle that thinking that one of the lil buggers would die because of these issues. So I decided to take them in and raise them as inside cats (wont be declawing) but here is where the issues begin. First, I am actually allergic to cats. But given my nature, I don't care and still will take care of these guys. Second, I am not working currently (looking but no callbacks) so money isn't there for extra spending. Difficult enough for bills etc let alone the outrageous costs of vets (which does bother me). When back to work then that's a different story but for now life is what it is. Third, I successfully trapped all 3 without trapping any of the adults that frequent my home BUT my area does have volunteer people who do trap, neuter and release so they have knocked down the population and most of the cats that are around now are mostly fixed. However, we don't have a lot of rescues around nor programs that do vet care and the last thing I want to do is send them to the SPCA as they told me a while ago that they just terminate ferals, period. Disgusting but cant change that. So after getting them inside, where they have a full room to themselves where they can adjust to me and the new life, the largest of the kittens (which I am imagining is a male because of his dominance and size) has shown gunk around the eyes and nose. I noticed it from way back once I was able to put the food outside while his mom stayed close since they were used to me and I was able to see he had this issue on and off for quite some time. By all the reading I have done I know it most likely is herpes but oddly enough (and I know that it can change quickly) the other 2 kittens don't have the same. The other night I did find a small vomit patch where I did find roundwoms and of course I panicked because I didn't want to have them get really sick on me so I do what I do and stayed up all night researching. I ended up ordering Durvet Wormeze Feline Liquid Wormer for Cats and it just arrived today so that will be starting today. I cant get anywhere near these guys as they are still extremely shy and skittish (they hide all day and are so afraid of everything) and I cant even trap them again especially since I am so afraid of causing more trauma then they have already been through as well as they will never get close to kennels/crates ever again I am sure.
Problems are that options here are very limited. I know first answer is vet then if not vet to check rescues etc and so on. I have done as much research as possible so I have seen everything from vet websites to these forums but I figured I would join to ask more specifically what's going on and the real world situations that exist for me (with options). I just cant afford vets and there aren't any organizations that can help me locally. If I left them alone outside then the chances were/are extremely high that they're life would be very short. My hopes are that they get past this point and have a nice life inside with me and if my allergies get too bad then I will make sure they go somewhere where they remain together and not to a farm or things like that. I included a pic of the wee one where you can see the eyes and nose but that was at a distance. I am guessing the stress of the trapping and confinement made the illness aggravated but I am hoping someone here has come across this before and what can be done without vets or trying to give them pills. I am really hoping there is edible items that can be given ibn the food that is safe for the other 2 to consume as well since they do everything together including feeding and drinking. Finances are the largest factor here.
Since I have no idea which of the three (or maybe even all 3) have the worms, I knew it is safe to give them the dewormer as its safe for them all to take. Was really wanting to get Drontal but again, vets are not an option nor is $225+ to
be able to get it without prescription.
Sorry for all the babble but I do believe the more details the better so that I don't waste time as I just want these buggers to be happy and healthy.
JJ
I did post this is another forum as I am just looking to help this lil guy out asap. Its little long to read but I am one who believes the more details the better. Here is what I posted:
I just joined this forum because I am hoping to find a solution to helping out a feral kitten that I trapped. Well, actually 3. To start with, I am not a "cat person" (always had dogs) but love all animals. The last couple years I had massive loss in my life and never wanted another pet because I didn't want to get close to anything or anyone again. Having said that, the animal lover in me couldn't stop taking care of the feral cats we have in my area. My city, which is pretty decent average sized, has a bad feral cat issue and there isn't any animal control officers which is why the problem exists. For the last year, year and a half, I have been allowing the cats to take refuge anywhere around my home if they wanted and have also kept fresh food and water outside for them. A couple months ago one of the momma cats started bringing her 3 kittens (was 4 but sadly a car got that one while they were really young) and I watched them daily on my cameras. But as nature does, mom left them and they were really lost. They remained together and were literally stuck by each others side. At night, they loved staying on my front porch where they have plenty of protection and space and they felt comfortable there. But as it would come to be, I started to worry about them because I started to see them through the night getting closer to venture across the streets and I just couldn't handle that. We have complete a**holes here that race up and down a pretty heavy traffic street and we also have plenty of scumbags that love to have their pitbulls but also don't secure them where I see them scouring the neighborhood for cats roaming. Again, cant handle that thinking that one of the lil buggers would die because of these issues. So I decided to take them in and raise them as inside cats (wont be declawing) but here is where the issues begin. First, I am actually allergic to cats. But given my nature, I don't care and still will take care of these guys. Second, I am not working currently (looking but no callbacks) so money isn't there for extra spending. Difficult enough for bills etc let alone the outrageous costs of vets (which does bother me). When back to work then that's a different story but for now life is what it is. Third, I successfully trapped all 3 without trapping any of the adults that frequent my home BUT my area does have volunteer people who do trap, neuter and release so they have knocked down the population and most of the cats that are around now are mostly fixed. However, we don't have a lot of rescues around nor programs that do vet care and the last thing I want to do is send them to the SPCA as they told me a while ago that they just terminate ferals, period. Disgusting but cant change that. So after getting them inside, where they have a full room to themselves where they can adjust to me and the new life, the largest of the kittens (which I am imagining is a male because of his dominance and size) has shown gunk around the eyes and nose. I noticed it from way back once I was able to put the food outside while his mom stayed close since they were used to me and I was able to see he had this issue on and off for quite some time. By all the reading I have done I know it most likely is herpes but oddly enough (and I know that it can change quickly) the other 2 kittens don't have the same. The other night I did find a small vomit patch where I did find roundwoms and of course I panicked because I didn't want to have them get really sick on me so I do what I do and stayed up all night researching. I ended up ordering Durvet Wormeze Feline Liquid Wormer for Cats and it just arrived today so that will be starting today. I cant get anywhere near these guys as they are still extremely shy and skittish (they hide all day and are so afraid of everything) and I cant even trap them again especially since I am so afraid of causing more trauma then they have already been through as well as they will never get close to kennels/crates ever again I am sure.
Problems are that options here are very limited. I know first answer is vet then if not vet to check rescues etc and so on. I have done as much research as possible so I have seen everything from vet websites to these forums but I figured I would join to ask more specifically what's going on and the real world situations that exist for me (with options). I just cant afford vets and there aren't any organizations that can help me locally. If I left them alone outside then the chances were/are extremely high that they're life would be very short. My hopes are that they get past this point and have a nice life inside with me and if my allergies get too bad then I will make sure they go somewhere where they remain together and not to a farm or things like that. I included a pic of the wee one where you can see the eyes and nose but that was at a distance. I am guessing the stress of the trapping and confinement made the illness aggravated but I am hoping someone here has come across this before and what can be done without vets or trying to give them pills. I am really hoping there is edible items that can be given ibn the food that is safe for the other 2 to consume as well since they do everything together including feeding and drinking. Finances are the largest factor here.
Since I have no idea which of the three (or maybe even all 3) have the worms, I knew it is safe to give them the dewormer as its safe for them all to take. Was really wanting to get Drontal but again, vets are not an option nor is $225+ to
be able to get it without prescription.
Sorry for all the babble but I do believe the more details the better so that I don't waste time as I just want these buggers to be happy and healthy.
JJ