There is a stray cat in my neighborhood that I can't quite figure out. He has a healthy appetite and drinks water. He jumps up and down off of things. He's very affectionate, but there are concerning signs as well. He's fairly thin. Seems to have high anxiety, runs whenever anyone or anything comes around. But he'll come up to me. He does seem to have some pain though that I can't quite pin down. It seems to be around his hind end or tail area. He also spends most of his time lying down, like walking bothers him. He limps sometimes too. I just don't know. Sometimes it seem something is wrong with him and other times it doesn't. I feel bad for it and I do the best I can to keep him fed and watered. Just wish there was more I could do. Is there someone I can call? The ASPCA maybe?
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Are you positive he isn't a pet that is just outside way too often? Ask around your neighborhood or talk to your local animal control officer. They usually know who owns who, and who is homeless in the cat world.
Once you verify no one owns him (or as in the case with cats) that he owns no one), see if your town has a group that specializes in feral cats.
They will work to humanely trap the poor thing and get it to a vet. They may ask for donations to help defray costs. They will also spay/neuter and then if truly a feral, they release them back after they are better.
If you have a website like Next Door or use Facebook you can ask locally who can help.
Your borough/township/city offices/animal control officer should be able to give you a list of approved or recommended feral cat services/groups.
Personally I am leery about taking a cat to a shelter as many are kill shelters and if someone is truly wrong, they don't work to make the cat better...especially if they are at capacity.
Unless you have lots and lots of experience with feral cats, I do not recommend you trying to trap it yourself, as you can easily get bit or scratched.
I do encourage...if you work with an feral cat organization....to offer some help with the costs...even if it is a small amount. Most of these groups work on shoestring budgets and any little bit of money helps them keep up their good work.
Good luck! Hope it all works for the cat! It is lucky you are looking out for it!!
Call the animal control unit in your town. They will pick up the cat.
i would be really concerned about diseases, unfortunately. Odd behaviour might eventually develop into full on rabies, or he might have toxoplasmosis, Feline infectious peritonitis, or feline immunodeficiency virus, many which could prove lethal to your own pets (if you have any). Toxoplasmosis also affects kids.
I'm not sure there's anything to be done for it save call animal control, or at least go to your local pet shop and get contact info for the person in your neighbrhood who fosters cats (theres always someone) and see what they say
Good for you for taking an interest in this cat. He does sound like a stray to me. Being thin, anxious and wary of strangers sounds to me like it is pretty typical for a stray. If he has no collar that is another thing to consider. As to taking a bug home to your own pets, feline infectious peritonitis is not contagious, feline immunodeficiency virus is primarily passed from one cat to another by deep bite wounds. Toxoplasmosis is passed through contact with the feces of an infected cat. And rabies of course is pretty dramatic and hard to miss.
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