Doing our part to help the rescuers
Posted on | September 7, 2008 | No Comments
We’re taking the inspriation for this week’s column from Aleksandra, a volunteer for AdoptAPet.com (formerly 1-800-SaveAPet.com), who wrote us asking if we could add a link to her organization on our website. Because we’re huge fans of animal rescue, we’re absolutely going to link to AdoptAPet.com. But we’re going to do even more than that! We’re writing this column on animal rescue and creating a whole new section of our links directory for cat rescue groups around the world. We hope you readers will be able to help us add to our rescue directory, too.
I’m trying to catch and tame a stray cat, and I need some advice
Posted on | August 31, 2008 | No Comments
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:
I have been feeding a stray cat for about four months now, so am guessing that she is about 7 months old. I have an open appointment at my local vet to take her in for spaying, shots, etc., but I haven’t been able to grab/catch her.
I have read about an oral contraceptive for cats. Is this available as a short-term measure that would give me some breathing space as I try to tame her?
One more question about cross-infection with other cats: I also have three other cats; one is 18 years old and the others are an 8-year-old brother and sister pair I adopted at age 3 from a cat shelter. All have recently seen the local vet, had shots, blood tests, etc.
The 8-year-old neutered male seems to have adopted our feral kitten. He is now showing signs of hair loss. I have researched this online and learn that demodecticosis (mange) is more prevalent in Burmese and Siamese cats. Can you please give me any more information on this? My cat is seeing the vet this week; however, I’m now feeling some panic about introducing infections (possibly including feline leukemia) into my feline household.
~Claire Read more
My cat was injured and has some paralysis. Will he recover?
Posted on | August 24, 2008 | No Comments
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:
Three weeks ago my kitty Felix had some kind of accident that broke his pelvis in a few places as well as his left femur. At first my vet told me he would need reconstructive surgery on his pelvis and leg, and even after that he would probably have problems “getting rid of his waste” for the rest of his life. The amount he said it would cost was more than I could afford so I was considering euthanasia. He stayed at the vet for three days so they could keep him on pain medication while I made my decision, and when I went back to the vet to tell them to put him to sleep I found out he was already dragging himself into the litter box and using it fine. So I decided to go ahead with the surgery on his femur. I ended up picking him up a week after he had his accident and have had him at my home for two weeks now. A about a week ago he started putting some weight on his leg and moving his tail. The only problem is that when he steps down on his left paw, the tip of it is bent back. I tried squeezing his paw and he doesn’t pull it back like he does his other paws. It doesn’t move at all. Does this paralysis mean there is nerve damage? And is this going to be a problem after he heals? I don’t want him to break the tip of his leg because of this.
~Allison Read more
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