- Joined
- Sep 14, 2003
- Messages
- 460
- Purraise
- 4
OK,
Let me start by saying that yes, I know that there's no way to physically look at a cat and determine what's wrong. Despite that, I'd like to rule some things in or out if possible.
This is a feral cat that's been around our apartment complex since the summer. He's been perpetually looking haggard and sick, but we were dealing with four feral kittens in our 1-bedroom apt., and other than calling Animal Control, we had little we could do with him (he's also not always around).
Last night we caught him; soon he'll be going to the vet and if he's irreversibly sick -- probably put-down. For now, I've been washing everything I own eight-ways-to-Sunday to avoid giving anything to our two cats.
The images below span this summer (July) through October.
Symptoms: emaciated (there is food locally); occasionally drools (see bottom image); looks haggard and gaunt, eyes and ears dirty. He has enough energy to chase birds when there's one nearby, but otherwise he's a bit sluggish and stays nearby.
Of course we've been concerned that he might be infecting other cats. Some cats have gone missing this summer, but we don't know the reason. There are 4 healthy-looking cats that [probably] have shared local food bowls with this cat.
There's a fluffy kitten that looked like hell one day that used to accompany this cat. I don't know if it got sick and died - we have a bunch of orange fluffy ferals and it's nearly impossible to tell them apart.
Ideas?
What I especially don't want: distemper or anything else that could be transmitted to other cats.
????????????
Let me start by saying that yes, I know that there's no way to physically look at a cat and determine what's wrong. Despite that, I'd like to rule some things in or out if possible.
This is a feral cat that's been around our apartment complex since the summer. He's been perpetually looking haggard and sick, but we were dealing with four feral kittens in our 1-bedroom apt., and other than calling Animal Control, we had little we could do with him (he's also not always around).
Last night we caught him; soon he'll be going to the vet and if he's irreversibly sick -- probably put-down. For now, I've been washing everything I own eight-ways-to-Sunday to avoid giving anything to our two cats.
The images below span this summer (July) through October.
Symptoms: emaciated (there is food locally); occasionally drools (see bottom image); looks haggard and gaunt, eyes and ears dirty. He has enough energy to chase birds when there's one nearby, but otherwise he's a bit sluggish and stays nearby.
Of course we've been concerned that he might be infecting other cats. Some cats have gone missing this summer, but we don't know the reason. There are 4 healthy-looking cats that [probably] have shared local food bowls with this cat.
There's a fluffy kitten that looked like hell one day that used to accompany this cat. I don't know if it got sick and died - we have a bunch of orange fluffy ferals and it's nearly impossible to tell them apart.
Ideas?
What I especially don't want: distemper or anything else that could be transmitted to other cats.
????????????