I have three cats already and now another cat has begun hanging around my house. There is no way I can take him/her in, but the poor thing appears to be in desperate need of a home. I’ve spoken to the local “no-kill” rescue organization and they recommended I take the cat to the humane society — where it would be euthanized. The “no-kill” policy is to let someone else do the killing.
I held out for a long time, watching the poor thing get thinner, before finally giving in and feeding it. My hope that it had a home or would stumble on one elsewhere was in vain.
Tonight when it came by I saw that it is limping. He (could be male or female — it’s never raised its tail high enough for me to see) seems to be in a losing battle. There are many coyotes in this area and I don’t know how long he’ll be able to survive if he can’t run.
If someone will adopt him/her, I can probably (90% sure) have the local rescuers pay for a visit to the vet including free spaying/neutering if needed. If I could, I would take him/her in, but my cat situation is already borderline unworkable.
I’m in western Washington State, on the Olympic Peninsula. Seattle is only about 60 miles away; Tacoma a bit farther.
PS The cat has let me touch it, but so far I’ve avoided becoming too familiar with it. Without being mean to it, I really hoped it would endear itself to another household. It is clearly not feral, and appears to be yet another abandoned feline.
Anyone who’s got a lead — even to a slot at a no-kill shelter! — contact me at AnneLaurie @ verizon . net (click on my name in the right-hand column) and I’ll put you in touch with MF.
If money for vet bills and/or transport is an issue, we can take up a collection (I can donate through PayPal, for instance).
Comrade Mary
Those of you in the area: this would be an excellent week to rescue a black and white cat from coyotes.
I’m far away, but I can throw a few bucks into Paypal to help with vet costs and whatnot.
jenn
Sweet kitty. I’ll put out the word to my friends up in Washington. Sadly, the cat-loving friend I had nearish Sequim moved a couple years back.
beckya57
I live in Tacoma. We have 2 cats and are planning to adopt another one later this summer, but not right now (about to go on vacation and have our condo re-carpeted). There are several no-kill rescue groups that take cats in my area; check out the Petfinder website, they’re listed there.
Yutsano
I’m in Seattle, but I can only haz one kitteh and my little girl would definitely not be accommodating of another furball in the house. I’ll kick in some scratch when I can.
Southern Beale
This cat looks amazingly like Kevin Drum’s dearly departed Inkblot.
Mnemosyne
Aww, she looks like our Charlotte’s long-lost sister (which is funny, because Charlotte’s actual sister is a calico). We’re full up (and 2,000 miles away) but I, too, would be willing to kick in a few bucks to take care of vet bills if a roof can be found for him/her.
Hypatia's Momma
Poor sweetie. Does the area have a local version of Fix Our Ferals or Alley Cat Allies? I’ve used such groups to help with medical care for abused/abandoned cat colonies (and some of them rescued.)
It might be a good idea to find one of these groups or a “travelling vet” at a local pet store to test him-or-her for FIV.
bingbango
Looks like he could use some milk or something.
Steeplejack
Alley Cat Allies is a great group. I have a friend in Atlanta who has done a lot of work with them.
I’m in for a PayPal donation if that gets set up.
EL
I’m in SoCal, but would donate to the kitty for the kitty. (ducks rotten tomatoes). I hope someone close by can take this adorable cat.
Steeplejack
Also, while we’re on the subject of cats and cat rescue, let me throw in a bleg for a Balloon Juicer who is too modest to do it for herself.
WereBear’s blog, “Way of Cats.” Fund-raising bleg at the upper right.
Allen
I guess that when it comes to critters, I’m just an old softie but I am of the opinion that there is always room for one more. I’ve never turned away a critter that needs our help. We owe it to them.
Moesha
Count me in for a donation
Kristine
I’ve emailed a friend in the Portland OR area who works with a local cat shelter–I’ll see if they have any connections in the area. Anne Laurie–I don’t want to contact you directly unless something firm turns up.
Hypatia's Momma
MF, I don’t know one of the difficulties for you is ability to afford cat food, so this may be useless advice. One of the ways I was able to feed cats-in-need was working out a deal with the owner of the pet store where I did most of my shopping: She let me grab sample packs of dry food every time I came in and if she had any that were near expiration, she’d give me the rest of the case.
Shopping at place like Grocery Outlet and other discount food stores let me find really cheap fish (salmon, mackerel and tuna) that I could give them on occasion. At one point, I was feeding 13 cats from dry food packets and cans of mackerel, diluted with lots of water and with vitamin drops added. Funsy!
Dee Loralei
That sweetie looks like an old cat I took in years ago, her name was Ralphie and she lived to be 19. I hope the sweetie finds a forever home.
Hypatia's Momma
@Allen:
Well, not if you can’t afford the extra food, don’t have enough room, aren’t allowed that many pets, or the pets already living there would flip out completely.
I was able to set-up temporary winter shelters for a few strays on the front porch of my previous home but that was because I had an actual house to do so.
Allen
@Hypatia’s Momma: I get my cat food for free from a friend’s daughter who is a vet tech and I get expired bags ‘o food. The critters getting along with each other is an other issue. My two cats, which are both rescues, are not what I would call best friends, get along good enough. My dog just treats them as part of the pack, though a bit an the funky side of the pack.
WereBear
@Steeplejack: Aw, shucks, Steeplejack, thanks.
Came by to say heck yes, if there’s a need of donations to get this cat help, I’ll kick in too…
And anybody know Kevin Drum?
mai naem
@WereBear: I thought of Kevin Drum too when I saw the pic I just didn’t how appropriate it was to even make a comment so soon but this guy sure looks like a much more svelte version of Inkblot.
LiberalTarian
Sad news. OT, but I saw mention of the hit and run here on BJ, and thought folks might be interested:
WereBear
@LiberalTarian: Aw crap. But I understand he did save her life.
Hope she can rebuild.
MazeDancer
Where’s the pay pal link? See lots of “Will donate”. But where to donate? Know it’s hard for the poster MF, but if she/he can take kitty to vet there is no question we’ll all come up with the $ for the care.
Know that local rescuers are overtaxed, but maybe if MF could mention to them this cat will have funding, they’ll take it in? Wounded kitty is not going to go looking for another house. So hard, I know. I’m sitting on the front porch right now with my own “Visiting kitty”. Took years before it would let me touch it. I haven’t moved because of this visitor, working to get it to feel safe. So appreciate the difficulty of being chosen by a lost kitty.
But where do we send funding?
karen marie
@Southern Beale: I was going to say — maybe we should take up a collection to get kitty fixed up and mail him/her to Kevin Drum as he’s got an open bed.
Triassic Sands
@Allen:
I am commenter MF.
So far, the cat has never raised its tail high enough for me to ID the sex. For simplicity I’ll refer to it as he/she.
Without going into a lengthy description of my situation, suffice it to say, a fourth cat will not work. The newcomer has my three cats in a tizzy already, since he/she sits outside the house and cries. (There is already severe internal strife among the three cats, one of which must be kept separate from the other two at all times. (All three are rescues — one humane society, one no-kill shelter, and one independent who showed up at my house starving and very sick.) The layout of my small house makes that difficult. Extensive efforts to introduce the third cat failed miserably, when the resident-dominant female said “NO!” The last time I failed to close a door completely, the result was one broken lamp and one broken tail.)
The local no-kill shelter will pay to spay or neuter the cat, and probably treat his/her bum leg, but he/she really needs a permanent home.
Anyway, her behavior right now is that of a cat that is under serious stress and is uncertain and afraid. She will let me touch her, but what she seems to want most is to come inside the house. She frequently positions herself directly in front of the front door and cries.
The local no-kill shelter won’t take him/her (I’ve tried twice.) and the humane shelter is a near-certain death sentence.
If you can’t do it, please ask others if they would take this poor critter in and save it from a grim fate. Obviously, since I don’t really know this cat, I can’t vouch for his/her behavior, but I get the feeling that what he/she wants most is a secure home. With a little patience he/she could become a very good friend to someone.
phillygirl
This kitteh needs to go to the vet. Tell me where to send a check.
Triassic Sands
I will try to determine the cat’s sex.
Allen
@Triassic Sands: I’ve put the word out. I, unfortunately, cannot get to Sequim, though a just a few hours away. I could foster another cat till I could get him/her into a no kill shelter.
wonkie
I live on an island near Shelton and I know an older gentleman down in Chehalis who is looking for a cat. Let me make some phone calls. He will need help with the vet bills.
Triassic Sands
@Allen:
If you could foster this cat, I will try to figure out a way to get it to you — after he/she has been to the vet.
Contact me directly. Anne will give you my email address. I’ll give her my phone number too.
There are lots of generous, cat-loving people in the BJ community who seem willing to help with cat-related expenses, maybe they could help with the cost of relocating the cat. The local no-kill shelter might be willing to lend a hand too. They’ll help with the spaying/neutering (free), but I don’t know what their policy is regarding relocating a cat — I’d guess the budget is limited (that is, essentially zero) for that purpose.
Triassic Sands
@wonkie:
Wonkie, I can figure out a way to get the cat to Shelton, if necessary.
Right now, my car is in need of some very serious maintenance (clutch and wheel bearings) so it isn’t fit to drive that far, but I’ll be getting it fixed soon and if Sequim to Shelton is the only problem, I’m sure that is solvable.
Jane2
@Allen: Would gladly help with transport/vet costs.
Triassic Sands
Yesterday, when I discovered the cat was limping, I was really bummed. Today, thanks to caring people here at BJ, I’m a little more hopeful.
Even if I could work it out, this is not a good place for a homeless cat — there are too many predators. In addition to coyotes, there is no shortage of owls and eagles, who frequently perch in trees right across the street from my house. Inkblot’s sad fate is just the latest cautionary tale about the dangers for house cats.
Yutsano
@Triassic Sands: We can talk soon. I can hop the ferry next Sunday and donate transportation if needed. Feel free to e-mail me through AL and we can arrange whatever.
Hypatia's Momma
@Triassic Sands:
Do you have anything like a Pet Taxi service? They are often not too expensive and it would only be one-way.
wonkie
@Triassic Sands: I sent an email to annie laurie with my phone number. The gentleman in Chehalis who is lookig for a cat wants one that will be happy as an indoor only kitty. Otherwise he has no stipulations. However he is low income and will need to have the cat’s vet issues taken care of before the cat comes to live with him. I can do some of the driving although I would approciate not having to drive all the way to Sequim since I will be going to Chehalis too! Let’s exchange phone numbers so we can talk directly.
wonkie
@Yutsano</ If the black and white cats goes to live in Chelahlis and does not need a foster home, would you consider fostering a different cat in need. This cat is a dumped pet who is very frighteed and lonely. Right now he is living with a colonly of ferals in Spokane. He is an old cat and going blind. It's really sad to think of the poor old kitty afraid and alone with vision problems. lavendar dreams donky rescue is trying to find a home for him ad they would be able to help with transportatio to Seattle. Please let me know if you can help. Lkoerber889ataoldotcom
wonkie
yatsano, somethiig happened to my message. I wonder if you would be willing to foster a different cat since this one might go to a home in Chehalis? There is dumped pet cat living in a maintained feral cat colooy in Spokane. He is an older guy and losing his vision. He is also miserable lonely and scared. Lavender dreams donky rescue is trying to find a home for him. They would be willing to help with transportation. If you can help please contact me at lkoerber889ataoldotcom
Yutsano
@wonkie: I can’t foster any cats unfortunately. I was offering to help with the transport of the kitteh. I have family in Spokane I could drop a line to though.
wonkie
@Yutsano: If you think they could help. please do! I feel so sorry for the poor old kitty. Anyone else out there want to help a blind cat?
http://www.facebook.com/DonkeyRescuer
Triassic Sands
@wonkie:
I have no idea whether the cat would be willing to be an indoor-only cat. Of course, I would hope this cat would be willing, that’s one of the reasons I want to find a home for him/her — it’s not safe outside.
I have two indoor cats, but I’ve never thought keeping a cat inside for its entire life was the best option, so I take them for walks on a leash. Of course, I started them when they were young, and I don’t know how easy it would be to teach an old cat new tricks.
People laugh when I tell them I walk two of my cats, but its great for them (20-30 minutes each a day, with occasional hour-long walks — and no, in my experience, it is not possible to walk two cats simultaneously — see “Herding Cats” for an explanation.).
I recommend it to anyone who has an indoor cat and a suitable place to walk. I’m sure some older cats would take to it, while others would fight it, but one never knows without trying. One caution, even though they are on leashes they are amazingly skillful predators. If you walk a cat at night, be alert for rodents — cats are so fast, they can snag a rodent before you realize what has happened. Birds, although not 100% secure, are a much more difficult proposition for a cat on a leash, so the song-bird slaughter is pretty much solved by putting a cat on a leash.
Try it — they’ll like it. (Maybe.)
MikeJ
haven’t been around much today, just saw this. If kitty cab ride is needed I can do that. I sometimes hike up the Dungeness river anyway, so I’m used to driving to Sequim.
Kristine
Is there a link for vet costs?
Jane2
@Triassic Sands: I have two indoor designer cats, and adopted a rescue that was used to being outdoors. It took perseverance, but she accepted her indoor status within six months.
Triassic Sands
@MikeJ:
Mike, I don’t know what will happen, but why don’t you give Anne your contact information so I can get in touch with you if it becomes necessary. Thank you.
@Kristine:
No. At least not yet.
I should be able to get the local no-kill shelter (Peninsula Friends of Animals / Safehaven) to pay for spaying/neutering. If there are additional vet costs that they won’t cover, then donations would be in order.
I don’t want to have anyone collect money until there is a definite course of action and the costs are more or less known. It is possible that money could be needed for relocation, if that works out.
Right now, I’m waiting for the shelter person to get back in touch with me. Since the cat doesn’t have a regular schedule, we’ve somehow got to coordinate “capture” with a willing vet.
I really appreciate your willingness to help.
Jackie
I’ve emailed a cat person friend in Sequim. Don’t know if she has room for another, though.
Triassic Sands
@Jackie:
Thank you, Jackie. Some of the local refuges of last resort have an unbelievable number of cats they’re providing for — the local shelter woman in charge of “trap, neuter, release,” said her contacts were tapped out — some have as many as 10, 12, maybe even 15. There are way too many cats.
Triassic Sands
If everyone willing to help will send their contact information to Anne, when things work out, however they do, I’ll let you know if help is needed.
Those with possible homes for him/her should definitely leave your information with Anne.
Thank you, everyone.
wonkie
@Triassic Sands: Most vets will take a cat without an exact appointment. In other words you can call a vet now and explain that the cat is a stray that you don’t see every day. ASk if you can brig the cat in when you see it next and the vet will probably say yes. It’s pretty urgent to get the cat toa vet because that’s the starting point for getting the cat to the ho0me in Chehalis or anoy other home for that matter.
MathInPA
We can’t, sadly, take in any more cats; we only just finally caught the feral in our area and fixed/released her after getting her litter. We’re adopting two of the adorable little buggers– my first non-adult cats I am a drooling mess of awwwwwww– and the third is going to my mother-in-law, and with our existing adult cats we’re going to be stretching a bit. We tried the local no-kills and basically got told ‘no more cats, MAYBE the kittens if you can get them tamed down’ (which was easy with Pippin, the first one we caught, who is a LOVE BUG but Blaze, his brother or maybe sister, they’re young, whom we caught later with Frodo, the one that went to m-i-l, have been harder to get; it’s happening, though, since I am now acceptable climbing gym if I am sitting still) and then got no calls back afterwards.
However, since we’re in pursuit of spaying & neutering ourselves, some useful facts have come to our attention if you can’t get free spaying and neutering from the shelters. There’s a new vet here, in Port Angeles, Best Friends Pet Care, which is located where All Animal Veterinary Hospital, west of Port Angeles, used to be. She’s offering relatively cheap rates on spaying & neutering for the moment, so that might be an option.
Triassic Sands
@wonkie:
Wonkie, the local no-kill shelter has their own procedure. They will pay for the spaying and neutering, but they work with two local vets, one of whom insists the cat be brought in inside a trap — their theory is that if the cat doesn’t have to be trapped, it isn’t feral and doesn’t qualify. The shelter is very annoyed by this silly requirement. I’ll have to decide if I want to try to trap the cat or risk losing it when I try to pick it up and stuff it in a carrier. The carrier I have (for this purpose) has a too-small doorway, and a struggling cat can fight very hard to avoid being shoved in a place it doesn’t want to go — even if the cat is properly scruffed.
Since I will be working with the shelter I have to depend on their telling when and where.
janeform
I had good luck getting a stray cat who hung around in my backyard into a carrier by using a larger-size carrier with a wider opening, and leaving food in it. It took a while (several days? — I don’t remember because it was a few years ago). At first the cat didn’t go in, then she stayed in but not long enough to be caught, and finally long enough that I could close the carrier door with him in it. The story had a happy ending — my friends took him and it was a match made in heaven.
wonkie
@Triassic Sands: @Triassic Sands: Bummer. How frustrating! Oh well I guess the hoops have to be jumped through.