Stray cat advice

[Lindsayj014]

Hello,

Im posted here before about a few stray cats ive taken in to get medical help or until i can take them to the shelter. I just brought another one in thats sick with an upper respiratory issue and now that ive seen a bowel movement, im guessing a parasite or bacterial issue as well.

The advice im seeking is how to get him into a carrier to go to the vets on monday. I had a horrible time getting him into my spare bedroom. He was in my mudroom and sprinted into the house when I opened the door to feed him. He got back into the mudroom and i had to use a thick blanket and gloves to carry him into the bedroom. I know he tried to bite me due to being scared. Does anyone have advice on how to get him in a carrier and not scare him more? Hes terrified now, even though hes very friendly outside. I dont think hes ever been indoors before.

Im also concerned about the possibility of him having Felv. Since he sprinted through the door, he did have very brief contact with my cats although there was no fighting or grooming obviously. He also did have a bowel movement in my house although i cleaned it up and disinfected the area before i let my cats out from upstairs. Is felv transmitted that easily? Also his feces was yellow and very runny, could that mean a parasite or bacterial infection?

Thank you and sorry for the long post.

 

[Margot Lane]

The only advice I have is that he is gonna be scared, no matter what happens, it is all so new to him. I am sure other will chime in here soon bout the best way to get him in the carrier. Thank you for taking care of this kitty, he looks absolutely lovely. From what I have read Felv is transmitted easily so good to keep your cats separate.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. I don't know where he is hiding in your spare room, but the only thing I would know to do is take the same approach that you did to get him to that spare room - blanket and gloves. Take the carrier in there, close the door, and work to get him out from in/wherever he is and into the carrier. You can try enticing him with 'yummy' food, by placing it in the carrier first to see if he would go in on his own, but the odds are not in your favor. If he is hiding under a bed, all the harder this will be. He is going to freak out regardless of what you try to do.

If you have a trap or a large crate with a door, covering the outside of it, trying to entice him in there with food, and then opening the door to it with the carrier set up against the door would be another thought.

How is he acting now? Have you checked on him, and is he eating any food that you left in that room, and using a litter box if you placed one in with him?

I wouldn't worry so much about FeLV for the short duration of time he was in your home without being in that spare room, and the fact of how you cleaned up his accident. Just wash your hands before and after going into that room; you could also spray your feet with an anti-bacterial spray upon exiting. I wouldn't keep shoes on when you go in there either. His stool could suggest so many things, and until he is checked out and tested, there is no way to know what might be going on.

I hope you can manage to get him in the carrier, and kudos to you for wanting to help this guy out! Let us know what happens!

 

[Lindsayj014]

Hi. I don't know where he is hiding in your spare room, but the only thing I would know to do is take the same approach that you did to get him to that spare room - blanket and gloves. Take the carrier in there, close the door, and work to get him out from in/wherever he is and into the carrier. You can try enticing him with 'yummy' food, by placing it in the carrier first to see if he would go in on his own, but the odds are not in your favor. If he is hiding under a bed, all the harder this will be. He is going to freak out regardless of what you try to do.

If you have a trap or a large crate with a door, covering the outside of it, trying to entice him in there with food, and then opening the door to it with the carrier set up against the door would be another thought.

How is he acting now? Have you checked on him, and is he eating any food that you left in that room, and using a litter box if you placed one in with him?

I wouldn't worry so much about FeLV for the short duration of time he was in your home without being in that spare room, and the fact of how you cleaned up his accident. Just wash your hands before and after going into that room; you could also spray your feet with an anti-bacterial spray upon exiting. I wouldn't keep shoes on when you go in there either. His stool could suggest so many things, and until he is checked out and tested, there is no way to know what might be going on.

I hope you can manage to get him in the carrier, and kudos to you for wanting to help this guy out! Let us know what happens!

Hes still scared, hes up against the wall in the bedroom under a chair. He did eat and drink last night and he also ate a little this morning so i know he is coming out from that spot a couple times. He hasnt used the litterbox yet but he did go last night in my house unfortunately before i was able to get him in the bedroom.

He was all over my house and basement before i could get him in a blanket last night so i really hope whatever issue thats making his stool color yellow doesnt pass along to my cats. That is good advice, i will wipe the bottom of my feet when i go out from the room hes in.

Do you know of anything to use to get out the urine smell? He went in a small room and the smell is really bad. I tried the odor remover i already have plus opening the window but thats only helped somewhat. 24 hours later, the smell is still pretty bad.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Do you know of anything to use to get out the urine smell? He went in a small room and the smell is really bad. I tried the odor remover i already have plus opening the window but thats only helped somewhat. 24 hours later, the smell is still pretty bad.

If it is carpet, get 'The Equalizer' by Vetoquinol. You may have to order it from Amazon as I am not sure it is sold in pet stores or other places. It doesn't take a lot and doesn't have to saturate the carpet to remove the odor. Just soak up what you can, spray it on the area, let it sit for a couple of minutes and then wipe up the area. I usually used paper towels or a rag and stood on it to soak up anything, both before and after spraying it.

If it is hard flooring, usually a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water will do the trick. Spray it on, let it sit and wipe it up. Could take a few times.

Btw, the fact that he ate/drank in the first 24 hours is pretty darned good - a lot of them won't eat that quickly. That may mean something really good to eat, like human fish or fried chicken (think KFC) might just do the trick in the carrier.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

As for the FELV, this, from Cornell University's Department of Feline Health,

"FeLV is a type of virus called a retrovirus, meaning it can be incorporated into a cat’s genome and may not be cleared over time. Persistently infected cats shed infectious viral particles in saliva, as well as in feces, urine and milk. Any close contact among cats can spread FeLV, including bite wounds, mutual grooming, or sharing feeding dishes and litter boxes. Transmission can also take place from an infected mother cat to her kittens, either before they are born or while they are nursing. FeLV does not survive long outside a cat's body – probably less than a few hours under normal household conditions - so it is unlikely for a cat to be infected from the environment without prolonged close contact with an infected cat.

Cats at greatest risk of FeLV infection are those that may be exposed to infected cats, either via prolonged close contact or through bite wounds. Such cats include cats living with infected cats or with cats of unknown infection status, cats allowed outdoors unsupervised where they may be bitten by an infected cat, and kittens born to infected mothers. Though any cat exposed to the virus can develop an FeLV infection, kittens are at a greater risk than adult cats due to their immature immune system."

So, your resident cats are probably fine.

 

[Lindsayj014]

If it is carpet, get 'The Equalizer' by Vetoquinol. You may have to order it from Amazon as I am not sure it is sold in pet stores or other places. It doesn't take a lot and doesn't have to saturate the carpet to remove the odor. Just soak up what you can, spray it on the area, let it sit for a couple of minutes and then wipe up the area. I usually used paper towels or a rag and stood on it to soak up anything, both before and after spraying it.

If it is hard flooring, usually a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water will do the trick. Spray it on, let it sit and wipe it up. Could take a few times.

Btw, the fact that he ate/drank in the first 24 hours is pretty darned good - a lot of them won't eat that quickly. That may mean something really good to eat, like human fish or fried chicken (think KFC) might just do the trick in the carrier.

Thank you, i will use the vinegar and water.

I have another issue with him now. Hes still eating and drinking pretty well but hes going to the bathroom on my beanbag in the room, not the litter box. He went pee on it first so i put cleaning solution and a towel on that and then he had a bowel movement in that same place on the towel. It wasnt as soft but still looked pretty yellow. In the past when ive taken in friendly cats from my neighborhood theyve all used the litterbox effortlessly right away. So, im in new territory with this one and im not sure what to do. I put the litterbox on the beanbag where hes been going to the bathroom but im sure thats not the best method. Is there a better way to get him to use the litterbox?

There is some good news though, he has gone in the carrier without even putting food in it. So im hoping hes in there on monday so i can just shut it on him.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Is there a better way to get him to use the litterbox?

You might consider removing the beanbag from the room. You can also try a litter box with soil/leaves/etc. from outside in it, as that might be the closest to what he is used to. Also, you can lay down a puppy pee pad and see if he would prefer that since he used the towel. Anything he will use now, you can transition from later to an 'actual' litterbox/litter.

He sounds like he is coming around a bit already! That is good! And, going in the carrier is a good thing at least for getting him to the vet. It might make him shy away from it afterward, but that is a matter you can deal with later. If that should be the case, give in a cardboard box turned upside down with an opening cut into its side as a replacement hiding place.

 

[Lindsayj014]

You might consider removing the beanbag from the room. You can also try a litter box with soil/leaves/etc. from outside in it, as that might be the closest to what he is used to. Also, you can lay down a puppy pee pad and see if he would prefer that since he used the towel. Anything he will use now, you can transition from later to an 'actual' litterbox/litter.

He sounds like he is coming around a bit already! That is good! And, going in the carrier is a good thing at least for getting him to the vet. It might make him shy away from it afterward, but that is a matter you can deal with later. If that should be the case, give in a cardboard box turned upside down with an opening cut into its side as a replacement hiding place.

I did remove the beanbag, i was hesitant because its so big but he just went on it again. Pee pads are a good idea, im going to try that. Hopefully the vet will have some ideas as well tomorrow. I probably am not going to keep this cat since i already have 4 and a dog but i wanted to bring him inside since he was so friendly and needed medical attention.

One of the previous male cats i took in that went to the local shelter did have FIV so im assuming theres a strong possibility that this cat has that as well. I only know about the previous cat though due to the shelter profiling him on their facebook page.

Im still not sure if this cat would be better off indoors or outside but i think if he has FIV then he should probably stay inside. Also with his medical issues and not being fixed i am fine with keeping him in my house for the time being. My local shelter doesnt put down for space and even adopts out cats with Felv. They also have a barn cat program for cats that need to stay outdoors so if needed i can take him there.

I do think hes adjusting pretty well for not ever being in a home. He just needs to learn to use the litter box. Hes seems pretty comfortable in the carrier so hopefully he stays in there until tomorrow morning at least. Hes pretty much staying in there except when he comes out to eat/drink and go to the bathroom. I have a lot of boxes so i can cut down one for him after his appt.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Keep us posted on how things go!

 

[Lindsayj014]

Keep us posted on how things go!

Hello,

The cat i brought in was just fixed yesterday and had a small surgery to repair his eye as well. He is FIV positive, which i had assumed. He is also very old for a stray/outdoor cat with the vet estimating somewhere between 5-7. There is a rescue/tnr place that i have worked with in the past that helped me get him fixed, i iust had to pay for the fiv/felv test and the blood test i wanted him to get. Unfortunately, he woke up to soon after sedation in a bad mood so they didnt want to do the blood test. He has been drinking excessively and urinating large amounts at least 9-10 times a day which i dont think is normal. They said if he still has the same symptoms in a couple weeks, the ladies at the rescue can bring him back in for a blood test.

I brought him home last night and he was very hyperactive and couldnt sit still. I stayed with him for a while and when i checked on him this morning i couldnt find him and its a small bedroom. I do have a small hole in that room that i havent repaired yet from a plumbing issue with my shower. I just have wood there but he was able to get past that and get into the crawlspace. I have no idea how to get him out, food has not been working. I was able to put a small camera in the crawlspace and I found him laying in there but as soon as he saw that he moved in further, so i don't know how far back he is currently.

Does anyone have experience with a cat getting into a crawlspace? This is entirely my fault but I really didnt think he would attempt to get in there since none of my cats had and he was pretty calm before he went to the vet yesterday.

 

[Margot Lane]

Hello,

The cat i brought in was just fixed yesterday and had a small surgery to repair his eye as well. He is FIV positive, which i had assumed. He is also very old for a stray/outdoor cat with the vet estimating somewhere between 5-7. There is a rescue/tnr place that i have worked with in the past that helped me get him fixed, i iust had to pay for the fiv/felv test and the blood test i wanted him to get. Unfortunately, he woke up to soon after sedation in a bad mood so they didnt want to do the blood test. He has been drinking excessively and urinating large amounts at least 9-10 times a day which i dont think is normal. They said if he still has the same symptoms in a couple weeks, the ladies at the rescue can bring him back in for a blood test.

I brought him home last night and he was very hyperactive and couldnt sit still. I stayed with him for a while and when i checked on him this morning i couldnt find him and its a small bedroom. I do have a small hole in that room that i havent repaired yet from a plumbing issue with my shower. I just have wood there but he was able to get past that and get into the crawlspace. I have no idea how to get him out, food has not been working. I was able to put a small camera in the crawlspace and I found him laying in there but as soon as he saw that he moved in further, so i don't know how far back he is currently.

Does anyone have experience with a cat getting into a crawlspace? This is entirely my fault but I really didnt think he would attempt to get in there since none of my cats had and he was pretty calm before he went to the vet yesterday.

any chance of a crawl space photo? It might help us advise.

 

[Lindsayj014]

any chance of a crawl space photo? It might help us advise.

Does this help at all? Im not sure if i can get the camera back any further since its very tight right at the entrance. It looks like he had a comfortable amount of space to lay down and to walk though.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Is there any other way out of that space other than how he got in there? Is the crawl space big enough for a person to enter? You probably have a couple of choices.

If there is no other way out and the space is big enough for a person, you could enter it, corner him at the end and grab him with a blanket/towel. I know I am making it sound easier/simpler than it really would be, but it might be the fastest resolution. Of course, you would need to 'gear up' a bit to help avoid bites/scratches.

If not possible, the only other things I would know to do is to set enticing food at the entry (many people use KFC, or some similar fried chicken rendition) and see if he eats it. If so, then try feeding him again, but 1.) this time set up a trap with the food in it which abuts the entry way, so that when he goes for the food, the trap closes with him in it, or 2.) and just wait until he decides it is time to come out of there on his own. He likely will eventually, it's just a matter of when and how patient you want to be while waiting for him to do so.

If there is another way out, you might do the same type thing with the trap on the 'other side'. This would be the best thing to do if the other way out leads outside, which you definitely don't want him to try.

 

[Lindsayj014]

Is there any other way out of that space other than how he got in there? Is the crawl space big enough for a person to enter? You probably have a couple of choices.

If there is no other way out and the space is big enough for a person, you could enter it, corner him at the end and grab him with a blanket/towel. I know I am making it sound easier/simpler than it really would be, but it might be the fastest resolution. Of course, you would need to 'gear up' a bit to help avoid bites/scratches.

If not possible, the only other things I would know to do is to set enticing food at the entry (many people use KFC, or some similar fried chicken rendition) and see if he eats it. If so, then try feeding him again, but 1.) this time set up a trap with the food in it which abuts the entry way, so that when he goes for the food, the trap closes with him in it, or 2.) and just wait until he decides it is time to come out of there on his own. He likely will eventually, it's just a matter of when and how patient you want to be while waiting for him to do so.

If there is another way out, you might do the same type thing with the trap on the 'other side'. This would be the best thing to do if the other way out leads outside, which you definitely don't want him to try.

The space isn't big enough for a person, the space to get in there is very small too so im surprised he fit. He is not a small cat, he was weighed at almost 12 pounds yesterday.

Im worried about him peeing in whatever area he is in too. I did get him to use the litter box and hes been doing that well now with no accidents. If he doesnt come out tonight i think i will try some kfc and see if that works. I was making progress before his vet visit too. Besides going in the litter box, he was eating in front of me again and frequenting outside the carrier more. He always seemed very calm too.

Is urninating around 10 times a day a lot for a stray cat? I have taken in several strays in the past few years and have never seen any cat drink and go to the bathroom like this guy. I havent decided yet whether to put him back outside either especially now that i know he has FIV. Will a FIV cat be okay outside as long as he is fixed and doesnt fight? He has an upper respiratory infection right now and i think i will need to get his blood checked so i plan on keeping him inside for the time being. I just want to do whatever is best for this cat and will be the most comfortable for him.

 

[FeebysOwner]

That sounds like a lot of urinating, even if he does drink a lot of water. Best to have that checked out when you get him out of the crawlspace. A urinalysis, along with the blood work, would be a good idea.

An FIV cat really should be kept indoors. There are all kinds of diseases/illnesses he would be exposed to outdoors, even if he is fixed and doesn't fight (while other cats could still fight him). FIV can weaken a cat's system, making them more susceptible to catching other things. And, the older he gets the more likely that is, just by virtue of the natural aging process.

Once you get things straightened out with him, both medically and with this situation, a safe, secure room for him will help him acclimate to your home and you. It may be a slow process, but he will eventually come around, and it really is in his best interest.

 

[Kflowers]

You're doing a good thing. For your own sake, if you do not wear glasses consider getting a pair of safety glasses or goggles to wear when you are moving him around. Protecting your eyes will make you more relaxed which will make him more relaxed.

 

[Lindsayj014]

I just saw in his paperwork that he got two vaccines as well as being neutered so its possible he isnt feeling too well right now. Im just going to wait for now and hope he comes out on his own.

 

[Margot Lane]

That’s a good shot of the crawl space…might be helpful to see what’s just outside of the frame for better perspective. Do you have a measurement of the hole width? (Sorry to ask but it helps). Failing the excellent idea of traps, or a small skinny child (?) being able to make a go of it, both plumbers and firefighters have gadgets & tools that might help. Is there anything you feel comfortable actually ripping out or wedging open further? Again, a “further away” shot might get you more advice.

 

[Lindsayj014]

That sounds like a lot of urinating, even if he does drink a lot of water. Best to have that checked out when you get him out of the crawlspace. A urinalysis, along with the blood work, would be a good idea.

An FIV cat really should be kept indoors. There are all kinds of diseases/illnesses he would be exposed to outdoors, even if he is fixed and doesn't fight (while other cats could still fight him). FIV can weaken a cat's system, making them more susceptible to catching other things. And, the older he gets the more likely that is, just by virtue of the natural aging process.

Once you get things straightened out with him, both medically and with this situation, a safe, secure room for him will help him acclimate to your home and you. It may be a slow process, but he will eventually come around, and it really is in his best interest.

I will be getting him checked out, im worried it might be his kidneys.

Financially, i am not able to keep him unless i could foster him through a rescue or the local shelter which i would be willing to do. I have a senior cat that has some severe allergy issues and ibd as well as an aging dog with arthritis. I have 3 more cats as well but i will see what i can do to keep him inside longterm. Right now he is very scared so i wouldn't consider him very adoptable. Its probably going to be harder to find a home too since hes a middle age cat with FIV and potentially other issues. The rescue that helped me has no room for fosters at this time but might in the future.

He was very good with the other cats i feed outside and even fine with my dog when they were both in the garage so im hopeful he will come around eventually it will just take a lot of time.