catsarama
September 22nd, 2008, 03:03 AM
Hi everyone,
A few days ago a stray cat walked up to me outside of a store and meowed incessantly. Within a few minutes people were gathered around asking me if I was going to take her home, I said "I can't, I've already got 4 cats and 2 dogs and I can barely afford them!" But, no one else was willing so of course she's with me now. I've posted her picture on websites, put up signs and gotten no response. I've checked every local "lost cat" ad I can find and I don't think anyone's looking for her. I volunteered at a humane society for a year, so I know that, more than likely, she would be euthanized if I took her there. Once I get her back to health, I'll try to find her a home.
Here's the Situation: She's an adolescent, frighteningly skinny ( I can feel every vertebrae), no fleas (strange huh?), box trained, friendly and seems to have no interest in going outside. So I'm assuming that she had a home once but was on the streets long enough to lose a lot of weight (and has sleeping under cars judging by the grease smell that I washed off of her).
Here's the Problem: What if she has worms? Her belly is not distended. I know that most kittens are born with them and kittens are usually dewormed early on so she may have been too. I don't have the money to take her to the vet. I'm feeding her kitten formula, cat sip milk, chicken, tuna (in water) and canned food that says it's 95% beef and beef liver. I've peered at her rear end long and hard, looks totally healthy, I'll try the masking tape in the dark trick tonight and see what I get.
Here are my questions: Should I assume that she has worms? Would worms interfere significantly with recovery from starvation? Are there any over the counter dewormers that will actually work ( for say; round and/or tapeworms)? If so, should I wait until she reaches a healthy weight before giving her any medication?
I'll try to post a pic of her on my profile, I'm a newbie here.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading.
-Tuesday S.
A few days ago a stray cat walked up to me outside of a store and meowed incessantly. Within a few minutes people were gathered around asking me if I was going to take her home, I said "I can't, I've already got 4 cats and 2 dogs and I can barely afford them!" But, no one else was willing so of course she's with me now. I've posted her picture on websites, put up signs and gotten no response. I've checked every local "lost cat" ad I can find and I don't think anyone's looking for her. I volunteered at a humane society for a year, so I know that, more than likely, she would be euthanized if I took her there. Once I get her back to health, I'll try to find her a home.
Here's the Situation: She's an adolescent, frighteningly skinny ( I can feel every vertebrae), no fleas (strange huh?), box trained, friendly and seems to have no interest in going outside. So I'm assuming that she had a home once but was on the streets long enough to lose a lot of weight (and has sleeping under cars judging by the grease smell that I washed off of her).
Here's the Problem: What if she has worms? Her belly is not distended. I know that most kittens are born with them and kittens are usually dewormed early on so she may have been too. I don't have the money to take her to the vet. I'm feeding her kitten formula, cat sip milk, chicken, tuna (in water) and canned food that says it's 95% beef and beef liver. I've peered at her rear end long and hard, looks totally healthy, I'll try the masking tape in the dark trick tonight and see what I get.
Here are my questions: Should I assume that she has worms? Would worms interfere significantly with recovery from starvation? Are there any over the counter dewormers that will actually work ( for say; round and/or tapeworms)? If so, should I wait until she reaches a healthy weight before giving her any medication?
I'll try to post a pic of her on my profile, I'm a newbie here.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading.
-Tuesday S.