Last Wednesday morning, I found a small, yellow-striped cat on my back deck, eating from a dish of cat food I'd put out for my cats to have as a snack if they got hungry during their daily outdoor "rounds." He was pretty sick... sneezing and coughing, but still trying to eat. I immediately knew something was wrong....this cat looked like he had an upper respiratory infection and a high fever.
I got my cats inside, scooped up the food dish and tossed it into a sinkful of hot, soapy water that had a bit of Clorox in it, and took the little stray to our vet. Sure enough, he did have a respiratory infection, he was suffering from being dehydrated, and his temp was so high, the vet immediately said he'd have to keep this little begger if I wanted him to live. Of course I said yes. I also asked the vet to do a leukemia test, other shots, worm check, and to neuter him.
That was then...today I picked the cat up from the vet's, and brought him home through Dennis's rainshowers. He's still pretty sick, but I've got an antibiotic he's to take twice a day. He's in the basement bathroom, with food and water, a nice cushy bed to sleep on, a litter box (I'm not sure if he'll use it....I don't think he's ever been inside except for the time he's spent at the vet's), and one of my granddaugher's stuffed toy animals to keep him company. I checked on him a few minutes ago and he was sound asleep, but purring.
What am I going to do with him? I have three already, two males and a female, and they're about all I can afford to keep in the style to which they have become accustomed. If he belonged to someone in the neighborhood, tough cookie... that owner wasn't caring for him.
Any suggestions would be very welcome. I haven't named him yet, because if I do, I'll have to keep him.
Catherine