[acerlt]

A little red and white neutered male showed up in my yard today. He has a tatto in his ear. He's painfully thin so has been lost for some time but I would think if someone goes to the trouble to neuter and tattoo, they would be looking for him. I've checked the paper and craigslist for lost cat ads, nothing. I've called my vet, nothing on their list either. I'll call the shelters and the other local vets tomorrow (all are closed now).

I fed and watered him, and he's very very sweet. And very sad. It breaks my heart leaving him out there, but of course I can't bring him in here. I say he is young because his teeth are white and shining. He's obviously been lost for some time, he's emaciated. I put a rug out under the wood pile where he's hanging out, with his food and water, as long as we have dry weather tonight at least he will have a protected soft bed.

I printed up some flyers and stuck them in mail boxes up and down my road. I've also posted a found ad on craigslist. I'm going to take him to my vet in the morning to be scanned for a microchip and hopefully get him tested for FeLV/FIV, and maybe get him deflead and de-wormed also. If no chip is found I will start calling the shelters.

If I can get one of the shelters to agree to take him I will not leave him out there very long, I can't bear it. The shelters around here are 'no kill' so he will be okay if I can get him in. I won't have any trouble getting him, he is starved for affection.

Please say a prayer for him. I can hardly rest easy knowing he's out there.



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[AK49BWL]

Awwww, he's beautiful!!! Definitely keeping him in my thoughts! The poor guy... Hopefully he stays there in your yard instead of going off somewhere else....

[acerlt]

Thank you Brandon.

When I went out this morning he wasn't around, but five minutes later I looked out the window and saw him trying to hunt something in the grass.

It appears as if he is hard of hearing or deaf. He doesn't respond to voice, but when I stomped my food he looked up and then followed me, with the dish of food, back over to the wood pile where I fed him. I also put a frontline plus application on him as he ate, since I had one in the house.

I'll be calling the vet shortly to see if I need an appointment or can just run him in (for the chip scan and FeLV/FIV test)

He's very loud and talky, and would almost rather have love than food, but I am afraid to touch him too much. He's got a redness at the 'bald spot' in front of his ears, it could be sunburn I suppose but I am very paranoid about bringing anything in to my cats.

Tolly was watching him hunt from the downstairs window and thinks I should adopt him. I told Tolly four cats is our limit.

[acerlt]

I've been calling vets this morning. One of them suggested I call the radio stations, they plug lost pet ads free of charge on the air and on their website, so I have done that too.

I have an appointment for him at 1:00 this afternoon to be vetted. I just went out to put him in the carrier, to keep him contained, but he's wandered off again. Fortunately I can be home this morning so I can keep watching for him.

More food or the prospect of more loving should keep him around I hope.

[alleygata]

Were you able to find him to get him to the vet? I'm glad he found a kitty angel to help him. It's so sad to think of what he's been through being lost and hungry and scared. Poor, poor baby. Thank you Gail for being there for him.

[acerlt]

Well I am a terrible judge of gender and age, LOL!

She is female. The tattoo in the right ear, (we are hoping) means she was part of a TNR program, but it indicates she is older, as tattoos are not done anymore. She has severe stomatitis, the poor little thing.

She was just as sweet as she could be at the vet, soaking up all the love. Severe flea dermatitis (we hope that's all it is) Negative for FeLV/FIV/Heartworm.

Her name is Blue. I don't know why, it's just what came to me, when I thought she was male, I was calling her Little Boy Blue as we drove to the vet. Well she's not a little boy, but she is Blue.

Now comes the spooky part. I don't know what's going to happen to Blue. I can't take her in, and while I would be willing to pay for her dental work and pre-surgical blood work (vet thinks most would have to be extracted) it's not a decision to make lightly, because where will she go while recovering from her surgery? Who will take care of her? I cannot.

We decided to at least put her on an antibiotic to maybe help her mouth clear up a little, while waiting to see if anyone claims her. After discussing the pros and cons of liquid vs pills (vet felt I might cause her too much pain pilling, I was afraid she wouldn't eat food with liquid antibiotic mixed in) I agreed to the convenia shot.

However.....their water sterilizer went on the blink just at that time. So they couldn't make up the convenia. I couldn't wait around. They offered to keep her overnight, give her the antibiotic shot when they could make it up, feed her up, love her up. Coincidence? I think not.

There is something bigger than us working here for this kitty.

(by the way, with all that going on, we forgot to scan her for the chip. I called and asked that they do it while she's there over night, though, because of the old tattoo, I doubt one will be found)

So I have a night I won't have to worry about her, and who knows what tomorrow will bring. I spoke at great length to the Shelter manager where I adopted Mazy from, she remembers Mazy and was delighted to hear about her. Her suggestion is that I wait a few days to see if anyone makes a claim. If not, I am to call her back and she will try to find a place for Blue at the shelter.

I'm glad she's safe tonight, and I hope they gave her something for pain, poor little thing, she screamed when the vet gave her the drontal tablet her mouth hurts so bad.

Keep the vibes and prayers coming for Blue.

[alleygata]

It's heartbreaking that there are kitties out there in pain and suffering and no one to help them. I'm so glad she found her way to you!! She was drawn there, I really believe that. When I was in a better situation I had several cats show up for help over the years. Thank you for helping her, Gail!!

[acerlt]

Originally Posted by alleygata

It's heartbreaking that there are kitties out there in pain and suffering and no one to help them. I'm so glad she found her way to you!! She was drawn there, I really believe that. When I was in a better situation I had several cats show up for help over the years. Thank you for helping her, Gail!!

I, too, believe that things happen for a reason Allie. This little girl was put in my path for me to save her from any more suffering. There may be another path out there waiting to cross hers, when she meets up with her special person at the shelter. Can't take the time to get more philosophical now, but might get into it later.

Here is the good news update:

I've got good news!

This morning I spoke to the Shelter manager. She has agreed to take Blue, if I have the dental work done on my end. My vet is going to work up an estimate for me, and get her on the dental surgery schedule as soon as possible. In the mean time Blue will remain at the vet, being doted on, fed and given pain medication. I didn't ask how much the boarding will cost me, because it doesn't make any difference, I can NOT put her back out on the street.

The Shelter Manager has even offered to pick Blue up at the vet after her surgery, when she is ready to go to the shelter! The shelter may end up being her forever home, but on the other hand she is so incredibly sweet, there may be a special person out there just waiting for her So pray there is one like that for Blue, but no matter what, what she's going to is better than where she was.

[alleygata]

That's wonderful, Gail!! Little angel Blue will be touching many hearts. I'm so glad she is somewhere safe and warm. Poor little girl.

[acerlt]

Thanks for the support everyone. I'm not really cut out for rescue, so I am truly amazed that I am able to do this, and not have my heart broken for wanting her. But I truly believe there is something bigger than me at work here. I am the vessel to save Blue, but she is meant for someone else.

I love this sweet little cat, and I know she was put in my path for a reason. Sure, to save her any more suffering. But I may never know the full extent of it. Just like Mazy was meant to be with me, and Jennie, and Queen Eva, and Tolly, I feel very strongly that there is a "meant to be" fate waiting for Blue.

I feel no desire to keep her. I am quite content with my little feline brood the way it is.

You know, you could even look at what I've done and am doing as self serving. I wouldn't have had a seconds rest had I left her out there. I did what I had to do when she was sent here, for her yes, but also for my own peace of mind, and MY gang's safety.

It doesn't hurt at all to know that she is not going to live out her life with me. I thought it might, but it doesn't. With Tolly, Mazy, Jennie and my dear little baby girl, I knew from the moment our eyes met that those cats were meant to be mine.

I felt crazy those four weeks after I met Queen Eva and didn't know yet if I was going to be able to bring her home where she belongs. I don't feel that with Blue. I feel sure that whatever comes, it is going to be nice for her, because I was able to rise to the challenge of saving her.

It doesn't bother me in the least to "spend all that money on a cat I will never see again". I'm just grateful I can. If I had been able to adopt her, I would have spent all this money, plus had the expense of her for the rest of her life.

I am at my limit with cats now, so Blue really isn't going to cost me much, in the long term of things, at least that's how I see it. Yes, it is a lot of money. But...Blue is worth it.

She'll be having her dental surgery this morning, and tomorrow the Shelter Manager will pick her up and take her to the shelter where she will, I truly believe, meet up with her soulmate.