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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

Abandoned, injured cat

30 replies

CatIshoo · 06/05/2014 14:37

On Saturday we heard a cat who sounded extremely distressed. After having a look round we found a poor little thing who was skin and bones, with fur missing and who couldn't walk properly due to dragging one of his back legs.

After phoning the rspca they asked us to take it to a local vet. The vet said that it it's hip is either dislocated or broken and with the other injuries it looks like the poor thing has been hit by a car. He hasn't been chipped or castrated but doesn't seem feral as he is friendly (Even with being in some much pain) and she thinks he is about a year. She then said rspca policy would be to give him pain relief and then put him down as the rspca would not pay for the necessary operation.

She then said that if we were willing to take him in then the vets practice would pay half and we could pay half. Which will mean about £300 for us to pay. My husband is a big softy and said yes straight away as the thought of putting a healthy cat down fills him with horror. Now £300 is a lot of money got us, and I would presume that we would then pay for him to be de-fleas, jabs, castrated etc.

We also have a cat that we took in because our neighbours had abandoned (they stopped feeding her, she wasn't allowed in the house anymore, they got a dog etc)

I'm concerned that it will be really difficult to introduce another cat who will need lots of care. Is this even possible with already having one who has the run of the house? We can get the money at a push and my heart says yes but my head is saying we need to look at the practicalities especially with a cat whose temperament we don't know.

Reading this back I sound like a bitch, for being in two minds. I'm not honestly!

Has anyone got any advice please?

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isseywithcats · 06/05/2014 16:19

for straight after the operation if you go for that option the cat would need cage rest for a while, so main care from you will be feeding and changing litter tray the vets will probably lend you a cage for that, so the cat would be in a safe place where your resident cat would be able to see him and get used to him, might be worth asking if they will castrate him while hes under the anesthetic (about £40) so killing two birds with one stone, defleaing isnt that expensive a big bottle of spray frontline costs around £30 but lasts ages, worm tablets, milbemax are around £4 each, and if you go for operation and dont want to keep him put him on all the local rescue waiting lists as there is usually a wait for a place and by the time he comes to the top of the lists he will be a lot better and as only a young cat will get rehomed quickly especially a male who is neutered and friendly

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timtam23 · 06/05/2014 18:25

Oh the poor creature. How kind of you to take him in and get him to the vet. Secretly I really really hope you can keep him although I have no practical advice to add (except that we unexpectedly took in a tiny stray kitten last summer and we already had 2 other cats - one has since died but the remaining one now tolerates the younger cat well, including being groomed by him, and they even curl up together. There was a bit of hissing and biffing at the start but nothing too awful. This was the best outcome we could have hoped for & I hope you are able to be in a similar situation and keep your new arrival)

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Fluffycloudland77 · 06/05/2014 21:39

Tbh I wouldn't worry about the temprement, the ones who claw-you- soon-as-look-at-you are the ones you lovingly take care of from 12 weeks and nurse through cat flu.

Your dh sounds lovely.

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CatIshoo · 07/05/2014 08:39

Thank you for the replies. Dh is lovely and is a big softy. When we found him, the cat hobbled into our garden and started sunning himself and Dh wouldn't leave his side.

We find out today how the X-Ray has gone so we will have a better idea of what is wrong. Would it be best to ask about his vaccinations too?

I don't know why some people are so mean and why it is acceptable for people to just stop looking after and feeding their cats? It's so cruel.

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cozietoesie · 07/05/2014 08:49

I would just ask the vet about everything so that you have a good idea of what the prices are going to be - chipping, neutering, shots ....the lot. It might be that your vet can do things cheaper if he has to have a GA anyway for his leg (any GA being the big basic cost and the other things being to a degree 'marginal costs') and they would certainly make him much more rehomable if you couldn't keep him. (If you did keep him, those things would be necessary anyway of course.)

And I agree - your DH does sound lovely.

Let us know how things go today?

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ditsygal · 07/05/2014 08:55

Introducing another cat into a household with a cat already should be fine, you might get a bit of hissing etc to start but they soon get used to each other. Infact we have my mums 2 cats come to stay when they are on holiday, and I have 2 cats and apart from the occasional hiss they are all fine with each other. Cats are more adaptable then you think!
Its best to keep one in one room for a while so they can get used to the smell through the door etc, but that will probably be the case with the new one needing cage rest for his leg anyway.
If it was me, I would keep him, but obviously you need to know about all the costs etc.

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cozietoesie · 07/05/2014 09:25

PS - your vet actually sounds like a pretty decent sort as well. (Offering to meet half the costs.) The reality may be that the vet is offering you everything at pure 'cost' .....but still. They have a practice to run and bills to meet. The little chap must have touched their heart.

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CatIshoo · 07/05/2014 09:35

The vet was lovely! I know she didn't have to offer only half costs, he was very pitiful and when she saw he as a Tom, she said that they were her favourite. When he was on the floor he tried to clean himself but obviously couldn't due to the pain, but he gave it a damn good try. He didn't go for her once, even when she was examining him and he peed due to the pain. Poor mite.

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CatIshoo · 07/05/2014 14:40

I've just heard back from the vet. He has broken his pelvis in 3 places but she is pretty confident that 6 - 8 weeks of cage rest will heal him. She has neutered him, and treated him for fleas and tested him for diseases.

So we are picking him up tomorrow!

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cozietoesie · 07/05/2014 14:59

Oh great. Is she to rent/lend you a cage for the cage rest? (They sometimes have them around if you don't have one yourself.) I bet she's pleased.

Oh - and have you named him yet?

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cozietoesie · 07/05/2014 15:23

PS - we'll have to have a picture of the wee soul when he gets home, even if it's through the bars of his cage. (It's the law.)

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Fluffycloudland77 · 07/05/2014 16:28

Poor lad.

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Lovethesea · 07/05/2014 18:47

Lovely to hear you can help him. Best stock up on the dreamies then if he has a quiet few weeks ahead and needs to put on weight!

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timtam23 · 07/05/2014 20:36

How lovely that you are going to keep him. We definitely need photos when he's well enough to face the cameras!

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CatIshoo · 09/05/2014 08:02

He's at home and all settled in his cage. He is very vocal and has the funniest voice!
Our female cat (who's called Cat) isn't very happy though. When we brought him home she came downstairs looking rather pissed off. When she saw he she acted very spooked and ran outside. She has spent most of her time out and hasn't even come back this morning, which I am worried about.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 09/05/2014 08:10

I'd get her in if you can. She can sulk with you indoors as well as she can outside.

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CatIshoo · 09/05/2014 08:28

That's exactly what she is doing...sulking! She's in now but still skittish and put out.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 09/05/2014 21:27

There's a mner who's cat sulked in the shed for months after her Pfb came was born.

I'd imagine its a bit like that at your house now.

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Corygal · 09/05/2014 21:55

Congratulations! What lovely people you and your DH are. Hope you have a peaceful weekend with your new friend.

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Bluestocking · 09/05/2014 22:04

What a lucky little cat to find his way to such lovely people - and that includes your vet. I hope he has a comfortable night, and that your DCat can find it in her heart to make a little space for the new arrival!

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Madratlady · 09/05/2014 22:09

What a lucky cat. What have you called him? Can we see a photo? You and your Dh are lovely for taking him in.

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timtam23 · 09/05/2014 22:10

Great news that he's home. I hope Cat gets a bit more used to him being around. Hopefully the cage should help.

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hellymelly · 09/05/2014 22:21

Photo please...
Your other cat will adjust. I took in a kitten and my cat who was quite a lot older, and missing his brother who had died, took one look at the kitten and bashed him repeatedly about the face in a gangster sort of way. Then he ran off and sulked. A month or so later they were curled up together, arms linked, purring away.

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CatIshoo · 09/05/2014 22:55

We've called him Arthur. I have taken some pics so just need to upload them -when I find the lead- it's ds birthday tomorrow so we are going to move him, very carefully, upstairs so he still gets some peace. He made a run for it earlier, well tried to, but it just took some food to get him back in. As soon as he smells food he starts crying for it, which would probably be due to him being half starved before, wouldn't it?

He has a lovely little nature and I am completely in love. We took in Cat when our neighbours kept going away for weeks on end without feeding her. Eventually they left and she stayed. (Which is why we called her Cat, we didn't know her name so used to say "the cat" and it stuck. How imaginative are we lol. We've decided to officially call her Catherine so we don't seem too ridiculous!

I'm hoping she gets used to him soon. She is definitely less sulky but is refusing to come and sit on one of our knees or next to us on the sofa which is where she normally spends her evenings. She'll come round soon I hope, as she has a really sweet nature too.

Dh is smitten, if he isn't sitting with Cat outside (so she doesn't get jealous), he is next to the cage talking and stroking Arthur. It's handy as I work from home so Arthur isn't by himself during the day.

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thecatneuterer · 10/05/2014 04:06

That's lovely to read. What a lucky cat he is to have found you (and Cat too come to that - and I'm sure she'll come round soon). I wish there were more people like you in the world. I'm looking forward to seeing the photos.

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