[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

799.0. "Another Lost Kitten" by 30188::TAG (Becky R. - Whirlwind Nightmare Life) Mon Sep 28 1987 16:28

    
    There seems to be an epidemic of abandoned cats in Marlboro lately!
    Just the other day I was telling a friend of mine that I wanted
    to get a kitten.  She told me that I should just hang around a while,
    cats have a habit of appearing when they know you are looking for
    one.  Sure enough, the next day a sweet little stray wandered into
    my yard.  I was moving furniture into my new place and noticed the
    little guy just as I was about to step on him!
    
    He looked up at me as if to say "I'm here!"  Well, he's a beautiful
    tortise long hair with one green eye and one grey.  They grey seems
    sightless and he has a habit of tilting his head slightly back and
    to one side as if to see you with his "good eye".  This morning
    is the third time he has appeard on my front steps.  He's very vocal
    and I could tell he recognized me tho its been more than a week since
    I last saw him.  He started to purr loudly when I opened the door
    and invited him in.
    
    Now my problem...Morgan [new name] is half starved!  I can feel
    all his bones, he has no real flesh at all.  I have given him a
    good meal the three times he's appeared and he seems content to
    sit in my entryway but I can't coax him up the stairs inside.
    He also gets restless when I close the front door behind him.
    What should I do?  Should I wisk him off to the vet for a check
    up?  I don't have the supplys yet to keep him indoors and I 
    really don't know if he wants to stay.  He seems content to just
    visit and get a good meal now and then, but I'm still worried.
    
    Any advice?
                                       
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
799.1AKOV11::FRETTSShine your Spirit!Mon Sep 28 1987 16:3411
    
    
    Becky,
    
    How old does this kitten look?  If it were me, I would take him
    in.  And a visit to the vet will probably do him a lot of good.
    Even though it looks as if he is happier staying outside, I think
    he needs some indoor TLC!
    
    Carole
    
799.2HiHo, HiHo to the Vets you GoTOXMAN::MECLERFRANKMon Sep 28 1987 17:2111
    Becky,
    
    First, he's a she (tortoise). Secondly, if you are going to keep
    her get to the vet have her wormed and shot up with all the good
    vaccines.  Good food and love will fill out the form.  Might as
    well start getting her used to staying in (don't want to activate
    the old in/out argument but I believe there is no reason for the
    cat to go out).  At this point it serves to establish a new home
    territory for your new addition.
    
    Frabk
799.3Where and when it willSALES::RFI86Mon Sep 28 1987 17:4518
    I think that if you let the kitten stay out where it wants to be
    for awhile but keep feeding it, it will decide that it wants to
    come in once the weather starts getting cold. This happened to us
    a couple of years ago. This black hairy kind of animal started hanging
    around the house but wouldn't let anyone near it. Well it was really
    hungry so I started putting out food for it and it would eat the
    food and then take off. as summer turned to fall and then fall to
    winter the cat(Tiptoe) started to get a little less skittish and
    then one night when it was supposed to go below 0 degrees I opened
    the door and Tiptoe skampered through the door and right to the
    fireplace. Once he does decide to trust you and come inside you
    can take him to the vet for shots and worming. However if you try
    to catch him and take him to the vet he might lose his trust in
    you and take off to find another home. I wish you and the kitten
    the best of luck.
    
    							Geoff
    
799.430188::TAGBecky R. - Whirlwind Nightmare LifeMon Sep 28 1987 18:2018
    
    Thanks guys!
    
    Ok....I'll see if she's [I'm glad she's female...Morgan WAS a girl
    and I've always wanted a cat with that name] there when I get home 
    tonight.  Has any of you had experience with cats that have been
    starved for a long period?  I don't want to feed her too much and
    make her sick.  Any recommendations on WHAT to feed a young cat
    as well as what I should buy to start with?  I hope she knows what
    a litterbox is.  I have NO idea how to house train a cat.  I grew
    up with a mother who hated cats and loved dogs!  Now that I'm on
    my own I have the chance to love as many as I can.  :-)  
    
    I think she has um the runs at the moment.  Probably some decent
    food will help that...but I'm still a little uncertian.  I guess
    the first step is to win her trust and THEN make sure she's healthy.
    
    More advice?
799.5free that critter of crittersMASTER::EPETERSONMon Sep 28 1987 19:077
    The runs could be caused by round worms.  Most cats are born with
    them and they are east to get rid of.  I vote that you get her trust
    slowly, but remember that she is in her formative months right now
    and it is best to have her parasite free and well fed during that
    time so don't play too coy with her.
    
    Marion
799.6You've been hookedTOXMAN::MECLERFRANKMon Sep 28 1987 19:1419
    Becky,
    
    You want to avoid rich foods to start, particularly if she is showing
    signs of diarrhea.  Stop at the market and buy a small box of Gerber
    Baby rice cereal.  Mix this with water to make a slurry and heat
    it a little to thicken.  Mix this (a bit of it) into a half can
    of can food (avoid Kal Kan just now - very rich).  It helps prevent
    diarrhea.  Right after the kitten eats pick her up, pet her, place
    her in the litter box and tell her how wonderful she is.  If you
    put the litter box on an easily cleaned floor so much the better.
    For some cats who take longer to get the idea, you close them in
    a small room with the litterbox.  Sometime worms cause the diarrhea.
    Try to check her for fleas before you let her near rugs and furniture
    or you will haveto deal with fleas and eggs shortly.  Another reason
    for the vet trip.  The vet should check for worms, fleas, and ear
    mites at a minimum. Clip her claws.
    
    Good luck,
    Frank