Feral Cat injured - put down - reaching out

[onelove6366]

One of our feral cats outside has been gone for about 1 1/2 weeks. I feared the worst. Have been looking, calling him and even went to the neighbors who have horses and they hadn't seen him either.

He showed up this morning. I was turning off the back porch light to get ready for work. I had already put the morning meal out for the ones who were out there and noticed him standing on the porch.

He looked awful - so bad I didn't even recognize him at first. I tried to pick him up with a towel and he wouldnt' let me. He went under the shed. He smelled awful. He's one of the ones that lets us pet him and even sometimes pick him up. There is only one other one that I can touch. It took me a long time to coax him out but finally he let me pick him up and put him in the trap. I drove to the CC Humane Society but it was too early and they were closed. No emergency numbers posted. I had brought a phone book with me and called every rescue agency I could find in the book and could not get anyone. So, I took him to the emergency vet hospital in St. Charles - the one by the MVA - I hate them. They cost SO much! I had a bad experience with them with my dog a few years ago and also know of several other people who have paid BIG bucks for their animal to be treated there. But I couldn't wait.

He had a wound between his legs and it was full of maggots. He was severely dehydrated and they couldn't even see the extent of the wound. The estimate to treat him was $2,800.00. I had to have him put down. Even so, it cost me $256.00 and I brought him home in a cardboard box and buried him myself. I am heartbroken.

But I also know I've reached the end of my limits here. I cannot do this anymore. I am reaching out to everyone I know or have ever worked with for cat rescue and saying - if anyone knows of a feral cat sanctuary - I need to place my feral colony there becuase I cannot do this anymore. I have about 10-14 cats some are fixed. I have one of my original bunch that isn't fixed and the rest are cats that just started hanging out a few months ago and two kittens about 8 weeks old from the one that wasn't fixed.

I have 3 traps. I want to help place these cats somewhere else becuase the thought of them being put down is too painful for me to even think about right now but feeding them - caring for them is too much of a strain on my finances and my emotions. The money I spent this morning was from my mortgage money. What else could I do? I am not at work today and while I have leave I certainly would rather use it for something else instead of mourning cats who have suffered a fate that they all risk every day out there. I have to assume he was attacked by a fox or maybe another cat. I don't know. But he smelled dead and I cannot get that out of my nose right now.

If you know of any resources to place these cats somewhere I would greatly apprecitate it. If you don't - but you know of others who may - please pass on my e-mail.

My cell # is 301-609-1877. I am going to continued feeding them for the next few weeks while I try to place them. I don't want to think about what will happen after that right now. This is my plan of action for now - I hope it works.

I have two indoor cats. I have not been able to afford their regular vet care due to the cost of feeding these feral cats. Now, I will be making up a portion of a mortgage payment. I cannot let this cause me to lose my home. I'm sorry - but I am spent and need some help to do the right thing for these cats. They are healthy for the most part. I have papers for the ones I've had fixed and they had rabies shots on 8/27/09. I have the papers.

Please let me know if there is anything you or anyone you know can do. I am heartbroken but know this is what I must do.

Thanks.

Angela Parker
Cell: 301-609-1877

 

[aps45819]

The estimate to treat him was $2,800.00. I had to have him put down. Even so, it cost me $256.00 and I brought him home in a cardboard box and buried him myself.

$256 to put a cat down?

 

[onelove6366]

Cost to put the cat down

$256 to put a cat down?

I arrived at 7 am

Emergency exam consult was $101.50
Emergency Services $18.20
Biohazard Waste Mgmt. $4.99
Euthanasia $132.00

Total $256.69

This was the VCA Southern Maryland Verterinary Referral Center - the 24 hour emergency vet place there in St. Charles by the MVA.

I knew he was suffering. He smelled so bad and looked so bad. You can't imagine. I didn't know what else to do. The euthanasia I paid for was the minimum. Had I had a "communal creamation" it would have been like $180.00 or more for more services.

I asked them if they had discounts for feral cat caretakers and they said no.

I just can't do it anymore. I have to be able to take care of my indoor cats and myself. This is killing me.

 

[Cowgirl]

I'm really sorry to hear you had to put one down. I know it's hard to do, but at least he's not going to suffer anymore.

I don't have any advice on placing your cats, but good luck.

 

[Justme2]

One of our feral cats outside has been gone for about 1 1/2 weeks. I feared the worst. Have been looking, calling him and even went to the neighbors who have horses and they hadn't seen him either.

He showed up this morning. I was turning off the back porch light to get ready for work. I had already put the morning meal out for the ones who were out there and noticed him standing on the porch.

He looked awful - so bad I didn't even recognize him at first. I tried to pick him up with a towel and he wouldnt' let me. He went under the shed. He smelled awful. He's one of the ones that lets us pet him and even sometimes pick him up. There is only one other one that I can touch. It took me a long time to coax him out but finally he let me pick him up and put him in the trap. I drove to the CC Humane Society but it was too early and they were closed. No emergency numbers posted. I had brought a phone book with me and called every rescue agency I could find in the book and could not get anyone. So, I took him to the emergency vet hospital in St. Charles - the one by the MVA - I hate them. They cost SO much! I had a bad experience with them with my dog a few years ago and also know of several other people who have paid BIG bucks for their animal to be treated there. But I couldn't wait.

He had a wound between his legs and it was full of maggots. He was severely dehydrated and they couldn't even see the extent of the wound. The estimate to treat him was $2,800.00. I had to have him put down. Even so, it cost me $256.00 and I brought him home in a cardboard box and buried him myself. I am heartbroken.

But I also know I've reached the end of my limits here. I cannot do this anymore. I am reaching out to everyone I know or have ever worked with for cat rescue and saying - if anyone knows of a feral cat sanctuary - I need to place my feral colony there becuase I cannot do this anymore. I have about 10-14 cats some are fixed. I have one of my original bunch that isn't fixed and the rest are cats that just started hanging out a few months ago and two kittens about 8 weeks old from the one that wasn't fixed.

I have 3 traps. I want to help place these cats somewhere else becuase the thought of them being put down is too painful for me to even think about right now but feeding them - caring for them is too much of a strain on my finances and my emotions. The money I spent this morning was from my mortgage money. What else could I do? I am not at work today and while I have leave I certainly would rather use it for something else instead of mourning cats who have suffered a fate that they all risk every day out there. I have to assume he was attacked by a fox or maybe another cat. I don't know. But he smelled dead and I cannot get that out of my nose right now.

If you know of any resources to place these cats somewhere I would greatly apprecitate it. If you don't - but you know of others who may - please pass on my e-mail.

My cell # is 301-609-1877. I am going to continued feeding them for the next few weeks while I try to place them. I don't want to think about what will happen after that right now. This is my plan of action for now - I hope it works.

I have two indoor cats. I have not been able to afford their regular vet care due to the cost of feeding these feral cats. Now, I will be making up a portion of a mortgage payment. I cannot let this cause me to lose my home. I'm sorry - but I am spent and need some help to do the right thing for these cats. They are healthy for the most part. I have papers for the ones I've had fixed and they had rabies shots on 8/27/09. I have the papers.

Please let me know if there is anything you or anyone you know can do. I am heartbroken but know this is what I must do.

Thanks.

Angela Parker
Cell: 301-609-1877

:

frown: Just wanted to let you know been where you are now and you have to do what you must. I will say a prayer for you and the cats too

 

[yknotpoms]

I will check my email when I get home. I had a lady looking for some barn cats. She maybe willing to take a couple. Can't access that email account from work.

Also to feed them until you get them placed go to the managers at your local pet supply places and tell them what you are doing, take pics and talk with them see if they will save you the opened damage packaged cat food they would toss out. If you come by regularly and ask they maybe able to help you and you could feed them for free possibly. Just ideas.

 

[onelove6366]

I will check my email when I get home. I had a lady looking for some barn cats. She maybe willing to take a couple. Can't access that email account from work.

Thanks.

 

[ArkRescue]

Oh my I am SO sorry. You got out of there for less than I did with one that had to be put down. The bill was close to $500 and I took his body home with me too. His name was Jesse. Jesse turned out to be Leukemia positive.

It does hurt and it's also frustrating to try and try to place cats and have trouble finding homes for them. I can tell you from experience that about 3 to 4 of every 10 feral cats run away from their new homes even if you contain them for several weeks to allow them to get used to the new sounds/smells. If you don't contain them a few weeks, the rate is much higher as they run off to "find" their way back "home".

I have nothing to offer you with regard to homes for feral cats - it's unfortunate but they are harder to place than the non-ferals. I would try contacting the groups that you see advertising for barn homes for cats and maybe they can take them or help out in some way? I'll find the info. I've seen and pass it on to you.

 

[aubriana]

feralcatrescue

 

[Justme2]

Try here found this on the web and it's in ST Mary's

SMAWL - St. Mary's Animal Welfare League: Home Page or maybe the can find you a way to solve your cat issue

Now every body pray for the cats and angie too.

 

[onelove6366]

Thanks everyone for your responses and referrals. I will check everything out that is sent to me. I will be feeding them for the next few weeks and will continue to search diligently for a place to take them.

 

[ArkRescue]

PS - If you think you can catch the one that had the kittens that hasn't been fixed let me know and I will get her fixed on August 2nd (next appt. I have with them). I'll help to get the others fixed too if we can get some donations to help pay HS.

 

[onelove6366]

I don't have a lot of time to work on helping to get donations but I am pretty sure I can catch her. I have another resource I am going to try to utilize for fixing the one too. I am posting an update to this thread so please check that one out - I want everyone to see it.

PS - If you think you can catch the one that had the kittens that hasn't been fixed let me know and I will get her fixed on August 2nd (next appt. I have with them). I'll help to get the others fixed too if we can get some donations to help pay HS.

 

[onelove6366]

Update - Please Read!

My husband doesn't see any reason why we can't keep the ones we've had fixed (we've been with this what I call "core group" since birth).

Now, this is my real problem -----

There is a small trailer park nearby. There is a lady there who feeds cats and hoards dogs (in my opinion). Well, she keeps the dogs contained but the cats are all roaming all over, breeding, etc. They are very aggressive and within the last few months more of those cats are wandering over to my side of the fence and this is the crux of my problem.

I am not interested in enlarging my colony. These interlopers aren't either - they want to take over and run my guys off. This is what I think happened to my boy that I had to put down yesterday - I think one of the aggressive Toms attacked and injured him./

Any help in getting these cats out of the picture?

 

[cattitude]

Any help in getting these cats out of the picture?

As someone who sees first hand what results from cats being allowed to roam and reproduce, I say call Animal Control. I'm a believer that at some point you need to "cull the herd" and you cannot save every cat.

Also, I understand you are feeding these cats you call your "feral" cats, but when you feed them and they live on your property, they are YOUR cats and you are responsible for them, which can (unfortunately) result in veterinary costs that can be quite expensive. If you have food outside for them, naturally more cats are going to be attracted to the food, so you have a catch 22 problem.

 

[ArkRescue]

I agree that we can't save them all, but in this case maybe someone can contact the caretaker at the trailer park to see what resources they may have to get the cats fixed? If none, and we don't have offers of funding, you can trap the ones that come on YOUR property and drop them at AC where they would be put down (unless AC is willing to come get them).

Sometimes culling IS the best way to handle the problem and I know some people don't like to hear that. I don't like to hear it either, but sometimes there is no other solution.

As someone who sees first hand what results from cats being allowed to roam and reproduce, I say call Animal Control. I'm a believer that at some point you need to "cull the herd" and you cannot save every cat.

Also, I understand you are feeding these cats you call your "feral" cats, but when you feed them and they live on your property, they are YOUR cats and you are responsible for them, which can (unfortunately) result in veterinary costs that can be quite expensive. If you have food outside for them, naturally more cats are going to be attracted to the food, so you have a catch 22 problem.

 

[FeralCatLover]

One of our feral cats outside has been gone for about 1 1/2 weeks. I feared the worst. Have been looking, calling him and even went to the neighbors who have horses and they hadn't seen him either.

He showed up this morning. I was turning off the back porch light to get ready for work. I had already put the morning meal out for the ones who were out there and noticed him standing on the porch.

He looked awful - so bad I didn't even recognize him at first. I tried to pick him up with a towel and he wouldnt' let me. He went under the shed. He smelled awful. He's one of the ones that lets us pet him and even sometimes pick him up. There is only one other one that I can touch. It took me a long time to coax him out but finally he let me pick him up and put him in the trap. I drove to the CC Humane Society but it was too early and they were closed. No emergency numbers posted. I had brought a phone book with me and called every rescue agency I could find in the book and could not get anyone. So, I took him to the emergency vet hospital in St. Charles - the one by the MVA - I hate them. They cost SO much! I had a bad experience with them with my dog a few years ago and also know of several other people who have paid BIG bucks for their animal to be treated there. But I couldn't wait.

He had a wound between his legs and it was full of maggots. He was severely dehydrated and they couldn't even see the extent of the wound. The estimate to treat him was $2,800.00. I had to have him put down. Even so, it cost me $256.00 and I brought him home in a cardboard box and buried him myself. I am heartbroken.

But I also know I've reached the end of my limits here. I cannot do this anymore. I am reaching out to everyone I know or have ever worked with for cat rescue and saying - if anyone knows of a feral cat sanctuary - I need to place my feral colony there becuase I cannot do this anymore. I have about 10-14 cats some are fixed. I have one of my original bunch that isn't fixed and the rest are cats that just started hanging out a few months ago and two kittens about 8 weeks old from the one that wasn't fixed.

I have 3 traps. I want to help place these cats somewhere else becuase the thought of them being put down is too painful for me to even think about right now but feeding them - caring for them is too much of a strain on my finances and my emotions. The money I spent this morning was from my mortgage money. What else could I do? I am not at work today and while I have leave I certainly would rather use it for something else instead of mourning cats who have suffered a fate that they all risk every day out there. I have to assume he was attacked by a fox or maybe another cat. I don't know. But he smelled dead and I cannot get that out of my nose right now.

If you know of any resources to place these cats somewhere I would greatly apprecitate it. If you don't - but you know of others who may - please pass on my e-mail.

My cell # is 301-609-1877. I am going to continued feeding them for the next few weeks while I try to place them. I don't want to think about what will happen after that right now. This is my plan of action for now - I hope it works.

I have two indoor cats. I have not been able to afford their regular vet care due to the cost of feeding these feral cats. Now, I will be making up a portion of a mortgage payment. I cannot let this cause me to lose my home. I'm sorry - but I am spent and need some help to do the right thing for these cats. They are healthy for the most part. I have papers for the ones I've had fixed and they had rabies shots on 8/27/09. I have the papers.

Please let me know if there is anything you or anyone you know can do. I am heartbroken but know this is what I must do.

Thanks.

Angela Parker
Cell: 301-609-1877

Angela,

I'm glad that you are getting rid of "your" cats! I cannot believe that you let the cat run around all over the place and then when it got injured, you choose to have it put down instead of saving it. What kind of irresponsible pet owner are you? If I couldn't afford to save the poor sweet kitty, I would have tried to raise money to save it. UFB

 

[kwillia]

Angela,

I'm glad that you are getting rid of "your" cats! I cannot believe that you let the cat run around all over the place and then when it got injured, you choose to have it put down instead of saving it. What kind of irresponsible pet owner are you? If I couldn't afford to save the poor sweet kitty, I would have tried to raise money to save it. UFB

I have a feral cat that adopted me and I'll have you know if he gets injured requiring major treatment or surgery I'll have him humanely put out of his misery faster than you can bet your bippy!

 

[Bay_Kat]

Angela,

I'm glad that you are getting rid of "your" cats! I cannot believe that you let the cat run around all over the place and then when it got injured, you choose to have it put down instead of saving it. What kind of irresponsible pet owner are you? If I couldn't afford to save the poor sweet kitty, I would have tried to raise money to save it. UFB

It was a feral cat, isn't that what they are supposed to do?

 

[yknotpoms]

Since your so concerned why don't you take them for her and provide them with all the care you think they should have.

Your post did nothing but hurt. One day you will fall off your high horse. It would be better to try and help.

BTW here is a definition of a feral cat: A cat too poorly socialized to be handled and who cannot be placed into a typical pet home; a subpopulation of free-roaming cats.

The lady I hoped would take some hasn't answered me so I guess she found the cat(s) she wanted some place else or changed her mind.

Angela,

I'm glad that you are getting rid of "your" cats! I cannot believe that you let the cat run around all over the place and then when it got injured, you choose to have it put down instead of saving it. What kind of irresponsible pet owner are you? If I couldn't afford to save the poor sweet kitty, I would have tried to raise money to save it. UFB