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?