Hi All!
My hubby and I recently moved to Ohio after living many years overseas. We currently have 4 of our own cats. Here is my dilemma...
There is a stray cat who started showing up at my house about a month ago. After asking some questions around the neighborhood, evidently this cat has been abandoned by its owners who foreclosed on their home and moved away.
He is an absolute sweetheart!! I took him to the vet on Monday and had him tested for FeLV (he was negative) and got him vaccinated and treated for worms/mites/fleas. He is already neutered. I want to foster him until I can find him a home (I wish we could keep him, but I have 4 cats already and we are at our limit) but I am concerned because I never had my cats vaccinated for FeLV (they are strictly indoor cats), and even though this little guy has had his first booster and has tested negative, the vet has told me we are not in the clear until he has had his 2nd booster and tests negative again in a month or so, as he may have been exposed. Also, since he is still outside, he is still vulnerable to getting it from one of the numerous cats that are in the neighborhood.
I want to put this little guy in my (large) basement until I can find him a home, but is it a safe idea given my kiddos are not vaccinated? They will not be in contact with him, but there is still the chance he gets out to the house (or they get in the basement) and there could be contact through the bottom of the door. I am willing to get my cats vaccinated (and am going to do so now) but even still, they won't be "protected" (as much as the vaccination can protect) until they have had their 2nd booster as well. I fear if I take him to the shelter he will be put down as they are all over-populated with abandoned animals right now, and I cannot find a no-kill shelter that can take him. He is a precious little guy and deserves a chance, but I want to be rational and not expose my guys to anything. Any advice on those who have taken strays in who already had cats, and how to go about it the safe way?
Thanks!
My hubby and I recently moved to Ohio after living many years overseas. We currently have 4 of our own cats. Here is my dilemma...
There is a stray cat who started showing up at my house about a month ago. After asking some questions around the neighborhood, evidently this cat has been abandoned by its owners who foreclosed on their home and moved away.
I want to put this little guy in my (large) basement until I can find him a home, but is it a safe idea given my kiddos are not vaccinated? They will not be in contact with him, but there is still the chance he gets out to the house (or they get in the basement) and there could be contact through the bottom of the door. I am willing to get my cats vaccinated (and am going to do so now) but even still, they won't be "protected" (as much as the vaccination can protect) until they have had their 2nd booster as well. I fear if I take him to the shelter he will be put down as they are all over-populated with abandoned animals right now, and I cannot find a no-kill shelter that can take him. He is a precious little guy and deserves a chance, but I want to be rational and not expose my guys to anything. Any advice on those who have taken strays in who already had cats, and how to go about it the safe way?
Thanks!