Michael, First I have to tell you, I love the pictures! You can tell he feels safe , loved and secure...maybe, for the first time in his life? I think it is wonderful that you and Jeff are helping him...I'm sorry , but when I see any animal, obviously neglected or in a dangerous situation, I consider the animal first and never the people who OWN the animal. Remember when Caroline was going through her thing, trying to figure out how to resolve her issue about the "lost" cat she found with the tags...that had the collar so tight around her neck and was so skinny and ratty? Well, she was trying to find the OWNER, but scared to give the cat over...It ended up being an amazing story, with a good ending , I hope??? I was all for Caroline just keeping the cat and I guess that was the wrong answer for that case, but if you actually do feel this cat has a home and is so neglected...oh well...I am always for the welfare of the animal...You guys have to be the best thing that ever happened to this cat... Feeling as you do, if I were you, I might go meet the people and have a talk with them...You can just say the cat kind of adopted you and Jeff and this is what you have done for the cat and discoverd about their cat... Nine chances out of ten they will be happy someone is doing all this...and you will then be able to do this in the open...It is a wonder Whitey is negative for diseases...maybe he was never even vaccinated and obviously is wandering around...I think everyone that knows cats knows that cats are always looking for that better home or that extra home...My neighbor's cat likes to hang at my house and my cat Bruno is crazy about my friend Beth's down the street...He eats and naps there, in the day and gets praise when he catches moles in her yard, they let Bruno keep what he catces...I rescue the moles and release...Bruno spends his day at Beth's and is home to eat dinner and sleep in my house at night...Bruno is a survivor...came from Maui Hawaii where he used to hustle the workers, men, at a sugar factory at lunch hour for handouts...ended up at the Maui Humane Society...carefully delivered by a worker, who later called to say what a great cat he was and to please find him a good home...I'm knowing some cats are better at hustling than others. Whitey might be such a cat...My friend Beth and her family are justs crazy about Bruno, especially her elderly father...Bruno is particularly fond of men...I always figured it was because of all those lunch hours at the sugar factory...Between lunch handouts, Bruno hunted rats...The bigger the rats the better...always left rat heads everywhere...Maui has zillions of rats...Where I lived we had over fifty avocado trees, lots of rats...I just am giving you a case study of my little survivor...thinking Whitey has picked you now for his life, because you are what he needs...As far as mixing your positives with Whitey...I just do not know what to say...I know you have vaccinated him...and being older he may be pretty immune to all the diseases out there ...One reason I mentioned maybe talking to the people you believe own Whitey is to gather history on Whitey and maybe just see if they would be able to offer him a little better attention at their house while he is with them...especially, since they will be aware someone is noticing...If you had a situation where everyone was negative at your house I would not even sweat it...I'd just take Whitey in...end of story...I do see where you are a bit stuck here, thinking about mixing your guys...You are the best...You and Jeff...Others will weigh in and probably say, since Whitey is already pretty old, just let them mix and give him tons of love. From what you have done for Whitey, so far, you guys have already saved his life once...no kidding...Best wishes , Glenda and family --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> > > > > View full size > > ??? > > > > View full size > > > > For those of you without the history, Whitey came to > me about six months ago relatively permanently.? She > showed up and just sort of stayed.? When she came, > she was boney (You could feel its ribs) and her long > white fur was literally in huge mats all over her > body. After months of feeding and brushing, I got > her fur cleaned up and she put on a few pounds.? > Last night I went? to feed her and found her so > disoriented she couldn't even stand up, so Jeff took > her to the vet this morning, and this is where the > story picks up... > > Ok, guys.? Jeff just got back from the vet with > Whitey.? Here's what we learned. > (Pictures Attached.) > > ? > > "She" is a "He"? LOL > > ? > > He is about 10-12 years old. > > ? > > He has not been neutered. :( > > ? > > He has a severe inner-ear infection. > > ? > > He has a grade 3 heart murmur > > ? > > He has advanced/severe gingivitis.? Needs several > teeth pulled. > > ? > > FeLV/FIV NEGATIVE. (Thank God for something!) > > ? > > He also has hyperthyroidism.? They found a benign > tumor on his thyroid. > > ? > > We're starting with oral antibiotics to get the ear > infection cleaned up.? They drew blood for a thyroid > and kidney check, as well as a fecal sample.??? Doc > wants to get the ear infection cleared up before we > start with thyroid medicine and such to make sure > its not the infection causing all those other > problems.??? He also wanted to wait on vaccines > until we get everything else cleared up.? They > cleaned his ears and clipped his nails today.? He's > going back for vaccines/teeth pulling when we get > the infection cleared up. > > Now here's the dilemma.? First of all, I'm starting > to feel bad about "taking" someone else's cat.? He > just wandered to the house and sorta stayed, but he > does go "home" from time to time for a few hours, > but is always at teh house at night and in the > morning for food.? I *think* I know who he belongs > to, but I'm not certain.? The vet says he must stay > indoors (at least for now) due to the severe > infection and his imbalance, otherwise they said he > couldn't run from cats/dogs or cars, he's very much > at risk right now, so he's going in my Sun Room, > which I suppose will become the "kitty suite."? What > do you guys? think?? I don't think I should feel bad > for taking him, for the simple fact that if someone > is so irresponsible a pet owner that they'd let him > get in that shape, do they really care or deserve to > own an animal?? I really do think its in HIS best > interest that he stays with me, but again, he > doesn't technically "belong" to me, so its a > dilemma.? What do you guys think?? > > Another issue I'm having is his FeLV negative > status.?? With two positives in the house, what do I > do?? For now he's going to be isolated in the > sunroom where he's safe, but if I keep him long > term, should I let him back outdoors? I just don't > know what to do.? I really don't feel good about > mixing him with the positives and exposing him to > FeLV.? My other negative had already been exposed > before I knew.? But this is a totally different > situation.? I could keep him isolated til he's > better, then let him back out, that's one option. > Another option is mixing :(? I really can't see > leaving him in the sunroom the rest of his life, > that just wouldn't be fair.? I'd appreciate > input/opinions, guys. > > > Michael > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check > out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Check out the hottest 2008 models today at Yahoo! Autos. http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html
