found an injured cat

drkshdw · 10:15 AM

Long story short, my roommate and I found a lost cat in a parking lot that we're pretty sure has been hit and injured. Found it this morning and no responses to the local FB lost and found groups. We made sure to not mention the injured part to prevent a shady owner from not claiming it. In the meantime, we've both been on the phone.

The problem is, we can not find help for this cat. He can walk if he needs to but scurries along the ground. If you poke and prod his back hips and legs he tries to bite and growls.

A handful of area county animal controls will not take him as they are all full. A dozen area humane societies will not take him as they are full. My vet is booked and says to take him to the emergency hospital an hour away. No other vet around has an opening to even look at him.

What do we do? He is fat and older so someone has been taking care of him. He's been neutered but does not have a microchip. One animal control officer even told us we should've left him in the parking lot and let nature take its course.

Ideas or suggestions before we make the trek to the emergency hospital and spend the night in the parking lot waiting to get in?

Zeke · 09-17-2021, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drkshdw

Long story short, my roommate and I found a lost cat in a parking lot that we're pretty sure has been hit and injured. Found it this morning and no responses to the local FB lost and found groups. We made sure to not mention the injured part to prevent a shady owner from not claiming it. In the meantime, we've both been on the phone.

The problem is, we can not find help for this cat. He can walk if he needs to but scurries along the ground. If you poke and prod his back hips and legs he tries to bite and growls.

A handful of area county animal controls will not take him as they are all full. A dozen area humane societies will not take him as they are full. My vet is booked and says to take him to the emergency hospital an hour away. No other vet around has an opening to even look at him.

What do we do? He is fat and older so someone has been taking care of him. He's been neutered but does not have a microchip. One animal control officer even told us we should've left him in the parking lot and let nature take its course.

Ideas or suggestions before we make the trek to the emergency hospital and spend the night in the parking lot waiting to get in?

That azzhole should be fired. Be sure to notify his employer.

Sorry about the problem. If the cat is eating and can walk only if it has to, it may heal on its own. One question though, can you tell if this is a senior cat? That would tell a lot.

abisel · 09-17-2021, 05:23 PM

Take the cat to the animal emergency hospital. Be prepared to pay a bill. He needs to get xray to diagnose any broken bones, etc.

HobieMarty · 09-17-2021, 05:35 PM

Sounds like you now have a pet cat, so take him to wherever you need to to get him some help. Keep him hydrated and as long as he is eating and drinking, it sounds like he may be okay.

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Steve Carlton · 09-17-2021, 06:12 PM

Good on you for helping the cat!

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

If you are going to drive an hour to be seen, see if you can find a rural large animal vet who can take a look at your ‘barn cat’. It will be 1/2 the price and the meds will be cheaper.

If he is just sick, give him a 1/2 ml of duplocillin injected intramuscular and he will clear up.

flskala · 07:18 AM

Put up flyers and go on the lost paws website and post pics of him there. It’s used a lot around here. Someone is probably looking for him.

As for the let nature take it’s course advice…. See if that might happen to him if he’s injured on the road one day.

About a year ago a neighbor found a feral cat with a compound fracture. Three of us split the 7K bill to have her fixed up. She’s good as new now and living with the neighbor who found her.

Halm · 09-18-2021, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abisel

Take the cat to the animal emergency hospital. Be prepared to pay a bill. He needs to get xray to diagnose any broken bones, etc.

Yes, please. Pay this one forward.

TimT · 09-18-2021, 06:56 AM

Yes, pay it forward.. a really good friend of mines kittie lost her life earlier this week.

pwd72s · 09-18-2021, 09:11 AM

Your kindness will be repaid...

Steve Carlton · 09-18-2021, 10:31 AM

There won't be any money. But, when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness. So, you got that going for you...

fanaudical · fanaudical's Garage

You might also look for any no-kill cat shelters local to you as many have their own onsite vet.

Thanks for taking care of the cat.

vash · vash's Garage

oh no.

im not gonna guilt anyone into taking on that level of financial load. do what you can bud...but no guilt from me.

poor cat.

drkshdw · 09-18-2021, 12:37 PM

Well, there was no trip to the emergency vet last night. Called ahead of time and they were booked up until 11am this morning at the very earliest. They are the only emergency place around so they are booked solid and require you to wait on premises which was a little long for me.

I did get some ideas from them though and was told to keep him confined in a crate (which we're doing anyway) and make sure he's at least drinking and using the litter box. If he's peeing then his back is most likely fine which is good. If he had a broken leg (or legs) he most likely wouldn't be able to get in or out of the litter box so that's another positive.

They agree though that he still needs to be seen. So for now he's alone, away from my other cats and resting. I'll make an appt with my vet on Monday and hopefully I can get in quickly.

Still no word on the FB or CL lost ads. Called the store we found him at to see if anyone had asked about it and nothing. So I guess we have another cat. I live in Michigan which is a no-kill state so humane societies and shelters are at capacity and above. Many of our animal controls around here won't even deal with cats. They only deal with dogs because of the limited resources.

Thanks for the suggestions. I hate to see pets just left and hate it even more when people just stare and go on with their day like nothing is amiss. I realize not everyone is a dog or cat person but being a decent human being isn't hard. I could say a lot more but won't. Anyway, /rant.

And an obligatory pic for the cat lovers on here:

g_vaxed · 09-18-2021, 12:43 PM

That you for helping him. Hope he recovers completely!

Pawboost.com

rfuerst911sc · 09-18-2021, 12:51 PM

Does the cat allow you to touch it ? If yes at least do a preliminary touch/feel of all four legs to feel for obvious breaks . If the cat goes nuts at any point you can at least provide some data to the vet. I am a dog person but good on you to help the cat . Good luck 🤞

drkshdw · 09-18-2021, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Does the cat allow you to touch it ? If yes at least do a preliminary touch/feel of all four legs to feel for obvious breaks . If the cat goes nuts at any point you can at least provide some data to the vet. I am a dog person but good on you to help the cat . Good luck 🤞

He will let you touch his front end. Back end, not without a fight. We did wrap him up in a couple towels and I did feel around and he gets very angry when you mess with his right back leg up towards his spine. Nothing is broken that I can feel but you can tell there is swelling in his back end. He has quite the strength to keep his rear legs under him and he does have feeling (reflexes) in both rear paws but that's the extent of our exams. I don't want to do more damage than good by messing around with him. He sleeps fine and isn't screaming or meowing in pain so I take that as another positive although they are quite good at hiding their feelings.

Seahawk · 09-18-2021, 01:43 PM

No advice from me, but thanks for what you are doing. Cats are often haughty but they are not bullet proof.

Well done.

pwd72s · 09-18-2021, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drkshdw

He will let you touch his front end. Back end, not without a fight. We did wrap him up in a couple towels and I did feel around and he gets very angry when you mess with his right back leg up towards his spine. Nothing is broken that I can feel but you can tell there is swelling in his back end. He has quite the strength to keep his rear legs under him and he does have feeling (reflexes) in both rear paws but that's the extent of our exams. I don't want to do more damage than good by messing around with him. He sleeps fine and isn't screaming or meowing in pain so I take that as another positive although they are quite good at hiding their feelings.

Your kind heart will be rewarded. What a beautiful cat..hopefully he'll blend in well.

I'm taking the above as a good prognosis. Any chance of a pellet gun wound? Hard to spot those...but an xray would reveal more. Too many sick individuals out there...

Baz · Baz's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by drkshdw

And an obligatory pic for the cat lovers on here:

He's a cute little bloke!

Adding my respect and gratitude Dark Shadow for taking care of the little dude.

It's what we were put on Earth to do - take care of the little innocents.....