Let me preface this by saying I have not caught the cat yet, I only see him wandering the borders of my property.
Last winter a female cat had her kittens under a barn that borders the meadow behind my home. There were several kittens running about for a month or so then there were only two. Now 6 months later these two have been occasionally wandering through my backyard.
The all black one is very friendly, he comes right up to us when we are doing yard work, purrs like crazy and cozy’s up to us whenever we are outside. About two or three weeks ago the black one went missing and I did not see him for a while. Usually they hunt birds and mice out in the meadow behind the house. He was no where to be seen. Now, I see him occasionally wandering further back in the meadow than usual and he has developed a severe limp. Finally, last night he came up to me when I was sitting on the porch and his limp has intensified. He looks like he is wincing every time he walks. I put my hand out and tried t touch his front right paw and he bolted on all three legs into the bush.
Should I catch this little guy and bring him to the vet? The problem is there are very few no-kill shelters around, and the humane society would probably euthanize. We do not want this cat for ourselves, I have two siamese attack cats that would be very sad if we let the interloper in. My wife does not want to risk bringing him to a shelter if they are just going to euthanize him, yet if we let him stay in the meadow the coyotes will get him evenutally - or a great horned owl might snag him - there are a lot of nasties in the woods that could get him. I think he is sleeping in a rock pile in the far back…but I am not sure.
What would you do? Bring him to the vet, or let nature take it’s course?
Take him in! He’s in pain, hungry and probably has other health issues being a stray. It is the humane thing to do rather than wait for mother nature to take her time with him.
We have been debating this all week, my wife and I. We picked several nickle size ticks off his face earlier in the week, so we know he’s not grooming properly. But nature, is nature and quite literally 50% of me says let her take it’s course.
I actually feel bad about saying this but I think you should let nature take it’s course.
I have been critical about the whole American “indoor cat” thing but I have recently been watching a show that showed cat killing racoons, bears in dumpsters, badgers under the house etc. I now know why SOME American’s insist on indoor pets (in New Zealand if the cat is outside it killls birds…nothing kills the cat!) if this cat has survived the Great Outdoors then it should be left to the Great Outdoors.
To even catch it to take it to the vet would be very traumatic.
I would seriously consider whether you could catch the cat, take it to the vet for treatment for the leg injury (and while it is there have it spayed or neutered) and then release the cat back into the “wild”.
This may not be practical, but I’d think it would be worth a call to a vet to investigate.
You obviously care at least a little for this cat. Is it possible for you to get him some help, and keep him in a spare room or something while he heals, and then let him go again?
On the other hand, if he isn’t taking care of himself enough that he’s got ticks on his face, then something is really wrong with him.
We had a cat show up at our house with a bone sticking out of her leg.
People thought we were crazy for taking her to the vet to get her leg fixed and to get her spayed and vaccinated. Vet told us she’d likely never walk right again and would probably lose her leg. We told them to do it anyway, and we’d take care of her.
That was 10 years ago. She’s a loving, happy cat who can run, jump and play. And she still has that leg. (Vet did a great job, and she was a young cat)
If it were me, I’d do it. Just because I’m a big FREAKING softie.
My wife and I had a really heartbreaking experience just like this, except it wasn’t a broken leg, it was a stray with a respiratory thing. Long story short, after a couple hundred dollars spent, at least he died in our house, warm and relatively comfortable, and buried in the yard, not eaten by coyotes or something.
You’re constrained by all the things you don’t want to do so you’re making it harder than it should be. You have the ‘let nature take it’s course’ thing going on but you are a player in the scheme of things, you have a connection with the cat.
I’d take it to a vet. Maybe ring around and sound out the local vets first. Then again, catching it might be crueller than letting it die on it’s own. Damn.
The tick scenario has me thinking this cat is in a bad way. My wife took home a stray like that (despite our having two cats and a dog). We took her to the vet who did all the de-ticking and shots. He was sure that she was abandonned because she had already been spayed. But the streets messed with her head. She was awfully fearful of people. We let her out in the back yard and she would stay on our property. Sadly one time she darted out the front door and got hit by a car within seconds. I had to bring her to the vet and have her euthanized. I miss Pewter but I’m thankful for our brief time.
Sorry to ramble, but I’d say if you have the money have her looked at, and if it’s too expensive for you to do the full medical repair, let the poor thing be put out of her misery rather than being a meal for some other predator.
Take it to the vet and get it tended, or if you’re unwilling, take it to the pound. Yes, he’ll be euthanized at the pound. But he won’t starve to death or be eaten alive be a coyote. I thought you had some feeling for this animal. To die a slow painful death isn’t what I’d wish on any animal.
Catch it and take it to the vet. It’s the humane thing. Can you imagine spending your last few days with a broken leg and hungry? Can you imagine much worse? Take care of the kitty. I’ll paypal $5 towards the euthanasia if you need it.
Sorry I’m late getting back my computer dies right after I posted - literally! That’s another story. Brynda - I think the cat eating sparrows is this cat’s dad…
Anyway - I’m going to grab him tonight, if I can and bring him to the vet. His personality is great! I don’t want to see any harm come to him.
