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Original poster

Stray has broken my heart

35 replies

Papergirl1968 · 01/03/2017 21:44

Was driving home from an appointment yesterday and saw what I thought was a scruffy kitten on the footpath. I went back for a better look and it had crossed the busy road and was hiding under a parked car.
After a couple of minutes of talking to it, it came out and let me pick it up and I realised it was skin and bone and had a poorly eye. Took it to the vets who said it is not a kitten but actually about 15 and with a number of health problems.
It is eating and its eye is improving but it has loads of fleas, has a fast heartbeat and appears to have lumps and bumps on its kidneys. So vets are saying prognosis doesn't look good.
Local branch of the RSPCA are paying but say it would be impossible to rehome at that age. If it survives and will get on with my cat and cope ok with my very noisy kids, I'd love to have it, and a man has seen it on Facebook and said he would take it in as well.
It just breaks my heart to think of what this poor cat has been through, and that it might be too late to save it. I'm trying to tell myself that at least if it does have to be put to sleep, it has spent its last few days warm and fed. But I'm sitting here crying.
I don't know what I'm asking really. I guess I just wanted to offload...

OP posts:
MollyRedskirts · 01/03/2017 21:46

I think I'd be feeling the same. You've done a lovely thing though. I hope it pulls through, or at least has a comfortable last few days. Flowers

PastysPrincess · 01/03/2017 21:48

I once found a tiny little rabbit wandering in the road. Ww took it home, borrowed a hutch and fed her until we could get to the vets. Unfortunately she had miximatosis and had to be put to sleep. Like you I feel better knowing that at the end they were fed watered and warm. I cried for weeks.

timtam23 · 01/03/2017 21:48

At least you have given it a chance to be fed, warm and be checked over. See what the vet thinks about its ongoing prognosis...it was kind of you to stop and help it.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/03/2017 21:54

I'd feel the same. I hope he pulls through and can have some time with you or the kind man on FB. Whatever happens though at least he is being taken care of. I was adopted by a stray a few years ago and he ended up living with DM. He only had 5 months but he was warm, dry and loved during that time. I still cry when I think of him though.

Please let the RSPCA know you will take him if you can as my friend rescued a cat and they were going to PTS due to a heart murmur. My friend was eventually able to adopt him and it turns out he doesn't even have a heart murmur.

Fingers crossed for him, and thank you for caring Flowers

Puffinsareblackandwhite · 01/03/2017 22:09

I can sympathise. We rescued a stray last year. I spent ages phoning around trying to find a rescue place for her and the kittens I thought she was about to have. We were making plans to adopt her if she couldn't stay in the shelter, trying to figure out how to convince PuffinCat to accept a mate (even bought the Feliway). We found a small rescue that agreed to have her checked out, but at that point she didn't look PG anymore. They took her to the vet and it turned out she had advanced peritonitis and had to be put down Sad. I was really sad when I heard and I'm still sad I didn't get a better picture of her and that she didn't have a name. I'm sorry, this isn't a happy story! I just wanted to say I can understand how a poorly stray has wormed its way into your heart! Hope it all works out better for you! And remember, you did a lovely thing for this poor abandoned scrap, no matter what the outcome!

Original poster
Papergirl1968 · 01/03/2017 22:11

Yes, I have told the RSPCA that she would have a home one way or the other.
I hope they have some arrangement with the vets (it is the vet they always use) otherwise treatment costs are going to be extortionate and I don't want her to be put to sleep just because it's cheaper.
Poor old girl. I've already called her Shelley in my head as she's a tortoiseshell and was referring to myself as "mommy" as I chatted to her in the five minute car journey to the vets. I've fallen hard.

OP posts:
Trustyourself2 · 01/03/2017 22:58

That's absolutely heartbreaking. You've done a lovely thing in looking out for her. Poor wee thing. She's in a good place now & I really hope she gets better for you.

I did something very similar. A very poorly looking cat was hanging around a cafe I was at with a friend of mine. She was staring at everyone looking for help and I just couldn't bear it, so I picked her up and took her to my car. To make it even worse, it was a bank holiday & I didn't want to bother the vet, but I called her & she's so lovely, she told me to meet her at the surgery and she'd see what she could do for the little puss. She kept her for 2 days but sadly she didn't survive. I was devastated, she was a real dote. My vet didn't charge me a penny, bless her.

I found my little cat in the middle of the road when she was 4 weeks old. She was at death's door as well but with lots of TLC she pulled through and is still with me 5 years later.

Wishing your little friend well and hoping that she pulls through.

Toddlerteaplease · 02/03/2017 13:33

Any news?

Original poster
Papergirl1968 · 02/03/2017 18:47

No change really. She's hanging on in there and eating, so I hope she will gain in strength. The vets have agreed with the RSPCA to continue trying for a few more days so I guess they must think she has a chance.
Thank you all for your support. You're all lovely!

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 02/03/2017 19:47

Hope she has a lovely life with you.

Toddlerteaplease · 02/03/2017 19:47

Hope she has a lovely life with you.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 02/03/2017 20:09

Harry and I are keeping fingers and paws crossed for her and sending positive thoughts x

littlemissM92 · 03/03/2017 16:39

I wish the world was full of people like on this thread what a better place it would be. You have done an ultimate kind thing I really hope he pulls through and can come and retire with you Smile

Weedsnseeds1 · 04/03/2017 21:57

Any news?

Original poster
Papergirl1968 · 04/03/2017 22:53

Vets said this morning that they think she can't see very well at all, and the eye isn't improving. On Monday they will decide whether to carry on, but it's not looking very positive.
Really hoping the little one gains some strength and turns the corner over the next couple of days.
I rang the local branch of the RSPCA to offer to fund a couple more days of treatment myself if they would be making a decision on Monday on financial grounds. Not sure if it will make any difference but had to offer. If she won't have any quality of life, I agree it's better to let her go and I have to comfort myself with the thought that at least she's had a week of being warm and fed.
If on the other hand they decide to put her to sleep just because they think no one will want an elderly cat who can't see very well, I need them to know there are options for her. I would love to have her and I don't work so am around a lot but not sure this is the right household for her as my daughters are very noisy and we have a boy cat who is about ten times her size. I'd be happy to give it a go and see how we get on though. Two other people have come forward to offer homes as well.
Fingers and paws crossed everyone for Monday...

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 05/03/2017 01:03

I'll be thinking of you on Monday. Let us know how it goes.

Comingupcabbages · 05/03/2017 01:11

You are lovely, she has now known some kindness in her life.
I have a cat as a result of a similar thread on mumsnet about four years ago.

A similarly kind poster stopped to pick up a starving, flea ridden cat that had been run over.
She told the rspca that she would have it and they gave it a chance.

She couldn't keep her, posted on here and I offered to take her, she is the fattest, happiest cat now who rarely leaves the house, she knows she is on to a good thing.

The poster even paid to have her spayed after I had taken her in. Some wonderful people in the world.

Original poster
Papergirl1968 · 06/03/2017 16:19

Just spoke to the vets and they're giving her till tomorrow but it seems very likely she will be put to sleep. She is disorientated, falling into her food bowl etc, suggesting she can't see and they think she may have a tumour behind her eye.
It doesn't seem that she'd have any quality of life so it would be the kindest option. I know some blind cats manage ok but I guess with her age and other health problems, and the fact she is probably in pain with the eye, it's just too much.
Considering I only spent maybe ten minutes with her, she has had a huge impact on my life.
Poor little cat.

OP posts:
Vinorosso74 · 06/03/2017 16:28

Oh bless her. She does sound poorly, you have done what you can for her and the vets have tried their best. She's been given a chance, kept warm and cared for which wouldn't have happened if you hadn't rescued her.

Trustyourself2 · 06/03/2017 16:54

Poor wee thing.

cozietoesie · 06/03/2017 17:08

Poor lass. You've all tried though.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 06/03/2017 17:45

The same happened with William, my stray. We knew he was blind but he started falling over and the vet said he probably had a tumour and we decided the kindest thing was to PTS. DH and I stayed with him and stroked him and, as much as it broke my heart (and still does, I still cry for him over 2 years later), he knew more love at the end than he'd probably done in his entire life.

It's thanks to you that the poor girl has been shown love and, whatever happens now, she will be treated with dignity. Thank you for caring for her, people like you go a long way to restoring my faith in human nature Flowers

Original poster
Papergirl1968 · 07/03/2017 11:29

Rang the vets first thing for an update and she had already been out to sleep. She had enlarged lymph nodes in her neck which were bigger today, so they think she had cancer.
I thought long and hard about paying for her to be cremated, but decided instead to donate to the local branch of the RSPCA, so that they can continue with the wonderful work they do.
Hope this little cat is playing somewhere in the warm sunshine, happy and healthy. I won't forget her.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 07/03/2017 11:34

Achh. Sad

She died in an envelope of love I'm sure. Think how it might have been if she hadn't found you all. Poor lass, though.

NotAPuffin · 07/03/2017 11:34

You did a good thing. She had a peaceful, safe last few days thanks to you.