Finally caught that stray kitty!- UPDATED
In the pet thread I posted that there was this black cat in my alley that I had been feeding from time to time but couldn't get near. Tonight I heard him crying outside so I went out with some food. He kept his distance but didn't run away. After he finished eating he just layed down. He also kept meowing his head off. He also kept coming closer but just far enough away so I couldn't reach him. I could tell this was the turning point. I opened my basement door and walked in. After 5 or 10 minutes I saw him at the door. He walked in, walked out, walked in again. After he got far enough I closed the door. He was not happy and started crying but didn't go wild. He went and hid in the garage. I brought him more food and water, litter and a bed. He came out and ate the whole bowl of food and then went to hide again. I gave him his space and went back to check on him later. He came out from the garage and slowly came up to me. After that, the love broke loose. It was unbelieveable! He started rubbing against me and purring and even curling his toes! I finally was able to tell that he definitely is a male (intact).
Then he wouldn't leave me alone :) He is jet black and beautiful. I now need to get him into a carrier and to the vet. He needs the works and I'm sure he has fleas too.
The thing is, now I've taken him on but I can't keep him. I plan on getting him all the vet care he needs and now that I know how loveable he is, he can be adopted. Wilma of course is not happy. She keeps sitting by the basement door with her tail ten feet around ;D
Aww Biodancer, thats so amazing of you!
Awwww, that's so great!
Pics!
I need a name! Something not obvious like shadow or raven or midnight but something clever for an all black cat who likes to talk and loves the love!
You did a great thing! Stories like this make me realize there are still some wonderful people in this world.
Of course, being a pure black cat, Snowflake is a great name! :-D
for some reason, max or felix came into my mind...
I was able to get an appointment with my vet this morning. They are always booked on Saturdays so I really lucked out. I told them he needs the works! If his FELV/FIV tests come back negative he can come out of the basement. Wish us luck ;)b
Awesome! Poor Wilma. I like Raven. Ravens are fiesty and headstrong and clever and talkative and glossy and wonderful.
I need a name! Something not obvious like shadow or raven or midnight but something clever for an all black cat who likes to talk and loves the love!
A cat that talks?? Willis!! Then you can say "Whatchoo talking 'bout Willis!" :D (Yes, I AM a dork!)
PICS!
I need a name! Something not obvious like shadow or raven or midnight but something clever for an all black cat who likes to talk and loves the love!
A cat that talks?? Willis!! Then you can say "Whatchoo talking 'bout Willis!" :D (Yes, I AM a dork!)
PICS!
Willis! That's funny!
Well we are back from the vet. There is good news and unexpected bad news. First the good news. His test for leukemia and FIV was negative. He got neutered, a distemper vaccine, flea treatment, worm treatment and his nails clipped. He is in the carrier now for a couple of hours recovering.
The bad news. He has an unknown bite wound on his right front leg. That's a rabies risk and he has to be quarantened for 6 MONTHS! Adoption is out of the question at least until next year! He can't get a rabies vaccine until November. Plus it's not going to be easy keeping him in the basement for 6 months. We are currently having the basement finished so there is going to be a lot of work going on. The plus side is that the basement should be finished in 2 months.
The other bad news. The vet felt a mass in his abdomen near his liver. She couldn't for sure say what was going on because his stomach was so full of food (he has eaten 3 cans in 12 hours). She wants to check him again and recommended an ultrasound.
I forgot to ask the vet what to look for in regards to the rabies. It's a low risk that he has it but it's a scary thought. What if what if my basement cat comes down with rabies?! (basement cat, just like the LOL cats)
Awww poor basement cat! Possible rabies or suspicious lumps! I hope both turn out to be nothing to worry about.
I think you should name kitty Seitan. Because what else do you name Basement Cats?!
I think you should name kitty Seitan. Because what else do you name Basement Cats?!
Seitan, That's awesome ;)b
Biodancer, it's so cool that you've taken this cat under your metaphorical wing. I'm sure whatever the vet tells you he'll be in great hands.
In slightly unrelated news, I met a tiny tiny black cat perched on a gatepost when I was out for my run today. I had stitch so I stopped to say hello. Mew mew mew :)
He really is an incredibly sweet cat. I just spent some time with him and he curled up on my lap and purred and fell right to sleep. He must feel so safe and relaxed now. It makes me sad to have to leave him alone in the basement and hear him cry when I leave. It makes me sad too when I'm spending time with him in the basement and I hear Wilma crying outside the door. I've been reassuring her that she is still my #1 girlfriend :)>>>
That's great Biodancer that you helped this feline out (I thought my mom was the only person who went to the trouble of doing that!) She ended up keeping her black male cat, she named him Merlin. :)
I hope that he is fine and that the lump was just food and the bite is nothing! It's great to hear that he opened up to you and trusts you!
Thank you for doing what you have!
As you know, three weeks ago I took in a stray cat, "Murray", that I had been feeding in my back alley. He was friendly and my intention was to put him up for adoption as soon as possible. I took him to the vet the next morning for a check up and to get his vaccines and neutered. The vet found his right front leg was swollen from an infected bite. She said by law she couldn't give him the rabies vaccine because he is now a rabies risk and needs to be quarantined for 6 months. After three weeks he hasn't shown any sign of rabies so I am not concerned about that. My problem is that Wilma does not like other cats. I wasn't expecting to have to keep him for 6 months. The vet is also concerned about FELV. He tested negative but the infected bite he had could have transferred it to him. So I started my cat on the FELV vaccine series just to be safe. In the meantime I have been keeping them separated and will continue to for at least another two weeks until Wilma can get the last vaccine in the FELV series.
My problem? Keeping these cats separated has been a nightmare. I take turns letting each cat have the run of the house. I let Wilma out of her room while I am at work and keep Murray in a spare bedroom. When I come home I put Wilma away and let Murray out until bedtime. Then I put Murray back in his room for the night. In the past three weeks I have not gotten a complete nights sleep. He cries and bangs on the door every couple of hours. Wilma does too but not as much. Last night my fiance didn't close Murray's door correctly and he was able to get out. We woke up at 3 AM to a huge cat fight. They both had blood on them and there was fur everywhere. Now I'm scared that if he is infected that Wilma is now too.
I'm so stressed out because I can't sleep. I've tried asking rescues if anyone will take him in, but no one will because they are "full" or because of the rabies quarantine. I can't take him to the SPCA because of the rabies risk and they will just put him down. I can't let him back outside because the vet reported the rabies risk to the USDA and they are going to be coming over to my house on Monday and then randomly througout the next six months. If he is not there I could get fined for letting an "at risk" animal loose. I'm literally crying right now because it is 7 AM and I've gotten 2 hours of sleep and he is pounding on his bedroom door. I was off from work yesterday and let him out for the entire day. It's not fair to keep Wilma in her room for 6 months because of him. My fiance suggested giving Wilma to my parents for the rest of the year but I don't want to give up my cat.
I don't know what to do. I just wanted to help him but this has turned into a huge mess.
If they fought until they were bloody, what's the chance of anything that could transfer already having transferred? Could you let them into the same space together now and let them duke it out for the top cat spot? Like, put Murray in a cage so Wilma could get the posturing out of her system - or is it too late for a gentle intro? Cat didn't like other cats, either. I'm thinking of him and I'm not sure what would have worked. ((bd & wilma)) ((Murray)) ((finance after you were done with him))
btw - How has Wilma been doing? I haven't read an update, so I'm hoping she's in good health (otherwise).
I'm so sorry you're going through this--You *are* doing a wonderful thing for this cat, but you are really in a bind because of it.
Have you checked with everyone you know and asked them to ask their friends if any of them can foster this kitty for 6 months?
I wish there were a magic solution to this problem.
Please know you are absolutely doing the best thing in the world for this little one.
Also, I don't know much about cats, I confess--I'm more of a dog person-- but is there a way to get 2 cats used to each other or re-introduce them so that they can learn to like each other?
Wilma's health is doing fine otherwise, thank you for asking.
And yes, they both had blood on them after the fight. Wilma had a chunk of Murray's fur under her nails and when I pulled it away I saw blood. I tried to clean it off best I could but it was under her nail and I couldn't get it all. This morning her nail is totally clean which means she was able to lick off the rest of the blood. She has had one of the two FELV vaccines (they are given three weeks apart). So my only hope, other than Murray doesn't have FELV/FIV, is that maybe the one vaccine has given her some protection.
Murray had blood under his right eye so Wilma must have stratched him there. We also cleaned that the best we could.
I was kind of thinking the same thing HH. What's the point of keeping them separate now if he's already infected her?
Up until last night Wilma wasn't showing any signs of hostility towards Murray. She seemed to get used to his smell. She wasn't hissing at the door or anything. They even accidentally met face to face one day (again my fiance's mistake) and when we found them they were just sniffing each other. We've even introduced them with one of us each holding one of them and there was no hissing or growling, just sniffing. I don't know what happened last night.
Damn. I wish I had some great advice, but I've never had luck introducing cats to one another. :-\ But I did want to reiterate how awesome you are for helping and that I really really hope you find a compromise that works for all 4 of you now living under your roof.
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