Can't afford vet care

Home The Daily Kitten Cat Chat Forum Cats & Kittens Can't afford vet care

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #868243
    Saige
    Participant

    Hi, I’m wondering if anyone could help me with some info. I have 14 stray cats that I would feed outside and eventually convinced my boyfriend to let stay in the house. I wasn’t thinking anything other than food and shelter, completely oblivious to all the care that they would need. They are flea ridden and we give them baths but we just can not seem to get rid of them all-ever. We’ve tried flea treatment but with 14 cats each needing a new treatment each month it’s become unaffordable. Not to mention we need to get them all fixed/vaccines/shots.. etc. And they’ve also come down with conjunctivitis that we used a home remedy to treat them with, consisting of apple cider vinegar heavily diluted in water and it really worked for the older ones but the youngest kittens are still sick and now I’m afraid one of them has gone blind in one eye, it’s open but incredibly swollen and has a whitish mass on it. I don’t think it’s pus because it won’t come off or move:( it’s not like there’s anything we can cut back on expense wise, it’s not like we even have internet or cable or anything like that were barely making it from paycheck to paycheck as is..:( My heart is too big for my wallet and as much as i am attached to these cats I can’t stand to see them suffering ? so I was wondering if anyone knew of a site to re-home cats to someone who can afford their care, or maybe even getting funding to take them to the vet or a way to get funded to become a shelter. Thanks in advance ? ps I’m in Jacksonville Alabama if that helps.

    #868247
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Saige,

    You have a big, loving heart but I think you’ve taken on more than you (or most people) could handle. Food and shelter are at the top. When you have this many kits, once a infection or infestation occurs, most if not all will get it. The smart thing is to surrender a few to a no-kill shelter. There’s no reason why you can’t keep 2-3 as your pets though. Please use the contact information below.

    Thanks so much for caring about these kits.

    Good Luck
    PG

    https://www.nokillnetwork.org/d/Alabama/

    If your area needs additional spay/neuter services, request Spay/USA’s packet of materials to distribute to local vets and organizations. http://www.spayusa.org

    ALABAMA
    Feral Cat Coalition
    Fairhope AL
    251-510-8585
    For feral and stray cats.

    Baldwin County Humane Society
    Baldwin County AL
    251-928-4585
    For pets.

    SNAP
    Huntsville AL 35811
    256-539-8163

    Humane Society of Etowah County
    1700 Chestnut Street
    Gadsden, AL 35901
    256-547-4846

    Humane Society of Shelby County
    Columbiana, AL
    205-669-3916

    #868249
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    My hat is off to you and your boyfriend for your loving care of so many cats! Somehow, someone has to help you because the problems only get worse with overcrowding.

    https://www.facebook.com/jacksonvilledogsandcats/

    http://www.leaguepets.org/

    https://www.yellowpages.com/jacksonville-al/no-kill-animal-shelters

    If you could search (I Googled) Jacksonville Alabama no kill shelters there are a LOT of places with phone numbers and actual reviews about the places. You could call for help getting these cats cared for and spayed/neutered and even rehomed. I posted a couple of links you can try before you search. Keep us posted on your progress! Good Luck!!

    #868250
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    In checking my first link…I think it’s Arkansas instead of Alabama. Forgive me for not checking it better. For some reason, even when you type in the state it wants to go to other states with the same city name as you are located in for Georgia and Florida too. Just a heads up when you are searching.

    #868252
    Saige
    Participant

    Thanks so much guys, you’re always so quick with the responses ?
    I considered going through a TNR program for them but they wanted to clip their poor ears! I just didnt know if it’s worth it..and I explained to them that they’re not feral.. two hot dogs and a bowl of water (before we took them in) and they were my best friends:-)And then they wanted to charge me socialized fees..:(
    But today was the real eye opener that I can’t provide them with the help they need…
    So I’m sure you’ve gathered by now that there are alot of strays in my neighborhood and it’s not just cats, dogs too coming in all sizes from Chihuahuas to German Shepherds. I don’t know if they’re actually strays or if they’re owners just don’t pay attention to them or what.. I feed them outside but don’t let them in because they stress out my kitties and don’t know if they’ll be violent towards them. I try to keep the cats indoors but when it’s 12 trying to get past you it’s a little hard to stop them all. (If I had it my way, I’d have a big fenced in back yard with a little kitty door in the house so they can come and go as they please. But since I see so many stray dogs I get too worried about letting them out since we don’t have a fence but we only let them out if we’re going to be supervising) but today a pitbull came to visit, I was outside with the cats, he strolls right up onto the porch,the cats are freaking out and I’m struggling to get the cats into the house, I left the door just cracked while I grabbed the next cat, but the door is heavy and not in place rights, so by leaving it cracked it’s still stuck in the door jam and needs a hefty push to open.. the dog just jumps on the door, opens it and walks in like he owns the place! He has no collar to tug on so I lead him out with some food..all of my cats are inside by now except my baby gray who is pregnant and ready to pop she’s hissing and afraid, I lead the dog down the steps with food and shut the porch gate. And he just busts through the wooden posts making up the edge of the porch. my freaked out cat still hissing, the dog starts barking and makes a lunge for her. My poor baby, frightened and in a panic, trying to get away, climbs up the wooden post leading up to the roof, and tries to get in between the TINY space between the post and the roof, she doesn’t fit with her swollen belly but that doesn’t stop her from trying… she slips, her legs are dangling down, the dog jumps up, grabs her leg and Yanks her down, she gets free for a second, jumps to the ground and he’s in pursuit after her, I’m shaking, worried for her babies when she tried to fit up where she couldn’t, worried for her as she’s about to become dog chow and worried that even if I can get her out of his grasp if I’ll even be able to outrun him to the door. I run down the porch and he’s dragging her by the neck, underneath the neighbors porch, I’m trying to scare the dog off and gray is just fighting with everythings shes got, and in the short breaks when he let’s go I’m just thinking run gray, run, why arent you running?.. he pounces on her and I finally get the courage to jump in and grab her and make a bolt for the door, I got my hand chomped on by the pit and then my cat sunk her teeth into me and wouldn’t let go during the entire mad dash to the door. After getting inside I don’t see any open wounds on gray, just my mangled hand.. I’m just worried for her babies now :'(

    #868255
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Oh Saige,

    Please get some help. That pitbull could have killed you. You may already have an infection which will need doctor’s attention. Animal Control may come around because if it.

    Here’s information on the TNR program:
    https://bestfriends.org/resources/ear-tipping-cats-what-it-why-it-done-it-humane

    https://www.alleycat.org/resources/why-trap-neuter-return-feral-cats-the-case-for-tnr/

    I know you think having an ear tipped is cruel. It is done just after the neuter/spay and doesn’t hurt the kits. It allows animal control and other feline rescuers know the cats are fixed/vaccinated/colonized. That way, if someone finds one cruising around, they will know it is cared for.

    Please take care of yourself. You love for these cats has already put you in danger. You can’t help the kits if you’re injured or worse.

    PG

    #868258
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    You had me reading fast hoping the best for you and gray in the encounter with the pit bull. I wouldn’t worry about the ear tipping, it’s necessary like PG says to be able to identify cats that have been spayed/neutered, etc. You do not need this dog or any dog terrorizing you and these poor cats. They know where they can get food and you are it. I’d get something like an air horn, pepper spray, etc. to make it very uncomfortable for these dogs so they quit coming around. Seriously, they could just be lost and need someone to scan them for a microchip and they can be returned to their owners, or if the owner can’t be found then put up for adoption.

    I hope your little gray cat is okay, and you too. If your hand swells or you feel ill, get to the ER or Urgent Care because cat bites can be very serious and you don’t want an infection that can make you very sick. Please keep us updated on your situation.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.