***Jesse (my sick feral) is IN THE HUMANE TRAP!!!***

[Flaxbee]

OK, folks, now we're cooking with gas. I have funds, and I have a cat.

Now I just need to call the emergency vet and see if I can afford their care. If they just do a surcharge to walk in the door - an extra $50 or so, I'm there... but if everything they do is 50% more, Jesse baby's gonna have to wait.

He's got a can of tuna in the cage, and the cage is sitting (partially) on a heating pad so he can stay warm. There is a fleece blanket over most of the cage so he can feel secure (but with plenty of air circulating).

Thank you so much for all of your help. Here's hoping this cat will be fine and live to roll in the grass and chase mousies for many more years....

[HopeHoops]

1. Fuck tuna. Get some thinly sliced turkey from the deli.

I'm glad you caught him, but at least give him a treat. Cheese is good too. Cats like cheese. Good luck on the cuddles side. Feral cats aren't big into that, but my kittens are both from a feral mother (barn cat) and they can't get ENOUGH cuddles. Keep trying.

[Flaxbee]

2. you think I should keep him in the trap overnight?

I mean - duh - not let him loose, but see if I can finagle the emergency vet into a decent fee?

He's not in good shape - this isn't just a feral with a runny nose - he's sick; do I leave him in there for the next 12 hours?

I feel like a shit even asking this; I just have to run the finances I've got now and see what I can do...

[LoveMyCali]

3. I absolutely understand the financial worries

it has been a consideration even with my own beloved fur babies.

It can't hurt to see if they will give you a deal since you are trying to help a feral cat and it's not your own pet. I really wish I could contribute but things are just too tight right now.

Good luck with the emergency vet, hopefully they will wave at least some of the walk in fee.

[Flaxbee]

5. Believe me, I understand tight finances. Thank you for just sending vibes and

keeping him in your thoughts.

[HopeHoops]

4. Yes. But bring the trap inside so he'll be warm. And give him treats. He might be a nice pet.

Just because they start feral doesn't mean they're domed to that life. My mom's taken in a number of ferals that have become wonderful pets. Wipe his nose with a tissue and feed him. I've used OTC drugs with cats before. Just follow the age/weight guidelines. Hell, the vet recommends children's aspirin for the dogs. Closeness is the first step to gaining a respectful relationship with another critter. Do NOT leave him outside. Take him in, put him next to you in bed, and cuddle him. That's what he needs.

Just my point of view on it, but I do have some experience in this arena.

[Flaxbee]

8. I'm afraid to bring him inside because of our indoor babies -- three of whom are

overdue for their shots... I don't want any exposure to my babies, and I have no garage... it's only going to get to 50 tonight, and he's got a heating pad to sit on ... I'm going to go fix it up really well here in a bit once he's quit hissing and spitting at me.

HopeHoops, I'd love to wipe his nose but I think I'd lose my hand. We have adopted ferals before; our three girls were wild kittens brought to us by Novi, their mother (who is also with us still). I was able to handle them (initially just because of their size) but Jesse is definitely a force to be reckoned with, even tho he feels like crap.

I'm going to care for him until one or the other of us is no longer... I just hope that's a ways off for both of us.

[HopeHoops]

12. It's so hard not to. Some people really don't care, but for those of us who do they all matter.

[riderinthestorm]

7. YES!!! Of course you leave him in the trap OUTSIDE!

Do NOT expose him to your other cats!! And he's feral! He's used to way worse conditions than this.

Wait til tomorrow. Maximize your windfall for him He'll be exactly the same in the morning.

You done good Flaxbee!


Congratulations!! And keep us posted!

[Flaxbee]

9. thank you, riderinthestorm.

He wasn't going into the trap - I think he's got a stuffed nose and couldn't smell the tuna.

So, I scooted the trap toward him (it's a big thing - probably 4 feet long) and cornered him against the wall by his bed, and then I was able to shoo him in with the help of a clear plastic storage lid.

Will post an update some time tomorrow.

[darkangel218]

6. Omg i wish you best of luck with the kitten!!

Maybe you could post a pic of him when he gets better?,

Hugs!!!! X

[Flaxbee]

10. I will.

He looks like this, but with less gray down his sides -

I'll get a photo of him as soon as I can. He looks like hell now, and I don't think it's fair to take a photo of him feeling so bad.

[darkangel218]

11. Aww poor kitten! just keep him close to you tonite like others sugested

Cats are very sensitive but strong willed too. I know Jesse will pull through this.

X x

[Kali]

15. I disagree

get a "before" photo, even if you don't want to post it now. It will be nice documentation for his recovery.

[riderinthestorm]

19. Agreed. He's kinda become a lounge lizard himself already. Need to add his photo nt

[TuxedoKat]

13. So glad to hear this

and I hope all goes well at the vet today. Be sure to give an update.

[Arugula Latte]

14. Yay! So glad he took the bait so quickly.

Step by step ...

[hamsterjill]

16. Very anxious for an update.

Please let us know as soon as you know something! Sending good vibes!!!!

[Alleycat]

17. I am worried sick about this little guy!

I keep checking back to see it there is an update.

[ceile]

18. wonderful news!

any updates?

[LoveMyCali]

20. I hope that no news

about the vets trip doesn't mean bad news. Any updates on Jesse?

[Flaxbee]

21. Update, and it's sad news.

Jesse was an old man for a feral, about 8-10 years old. He had FIV, and a significant mass in his abdomen that was creating some other issues for him. He had an upper respiratory infection and his mouth was in bad shape (one tooth was broken and looked like it had been for a while, his lower gum was infected).

I looked at his sweet little furry body on the table as he was sedated; it was the first time I'd had a clear, good, long look at him in bright light, and I was able to pet him as I cried all over him.

I decided that the kindest thing to do was to have him put to sleep. If it had just been the abdominal mass, I'd have gone for it and had exploratory surgery done, but with the FIV and his general overall condition which was really quite ragged, I thought that it was not the right thing to do for him.

I'm really just devastated and I keep thinking I hear his distinct yodel/yowl call, the sound he'd make (before he got sick) to announce he was here and wanted his dinner.

He had almost three years of good food and clean water and a clean bed on my porch; I'm glad I was able to support him as he was aging and growing ill. If he'd been healthy, I wanted him to be with me for many years to come and try to integrate him into my cat-family, but with his FIV I couldn't bear the thought of him getting older and sicker throughout the winter with limited hunting ability... I had no way to find him when he left our house every night and I did not want to let him die alone, ill and possibly injured.

Thanks to all of you for your kindness, concern and generosity. Please PM me if you have any questions.

[LoveMyCali]

22. So sorry Flaxbee

You did what was best for poor Jesse. Actually I shouldn't call him poor Jesse, you gave him so much over the past three years and made his life much better. I'm sure Jesse would not only thank you for all you have done for him but for making the hard decision at the end and being there for him.

[Flaxbee]

30. thank you, LoveMyCali

I do believe it was the best thing for him, the kindest thing, but still - damnit - the hardest thing to say goodbye.

[meti57b]

23. I'm very sorry to hear the sad news ...

We did sort of realize that things were not good. You certainly made his life better in his last years. And yes, his remaining time would have been in sickness and pain. You did good!

[Flaxbee]

31. I know ... I knew he was in bad shape, but I hoped it was just a bacteriological thing that

antibiotics could knock out. That's how I got one of my cats, Ivan, the monster tuxedo boy. He showed up in 2004 right after Hurricane Ivan, wet and soaked with bloody snot bubbles coming out of his nose. He was not feral, though, and let me pick him up and take him to the vet. I thought for sure he was a goner, but it was just a really nasty upper respiratory infection, and he's been with us ever since.

You can try and hope for the best. My sweet Jesse boy just looked so worn out, worn down and it broke my heart. I couldn't put him through any more. Thanks, meti57b.

[Curmudgeoness]

26. Sad news indeed.

You did right by Jesse. Poor old man/cat. I wish it was possible for someone to be this compassionate to me when that time comes.

[Flaxbee]

32. Thank you, Curmudgeoness.

I know, my poor thrashed old man. I loved him; well, still do, he's in my heart.

[Arugula Latte]

27. I'm very, very sorry to hear that. But the most important thing is he's not suffering.

You did the right thing. You helped him. Thank you!!!

[Flaxbee]

33. Once I got a good look at him, and he had the FIV diagnosis, plus whatever was in his

abdomen I knew I couldn't ask him to endure exploratory surgery, etc. It was the right thing to do, but man, it sucked.

[myrna minx]

28. I'm so sorry. You're a kind soul to do the right thing.

[Flaxbee]

34. thanks, myrna minx

[marzipanni]

29. Thanks for letting Jesse float over the rainbow bridge

instead of painfully dragging himself over it.
I looked up Jesse's age in human years, and he was about my age. If I'm ever in his condition I would want my husband and son to let me go, but unfortunately we'd have to go to one of the few states that allows humans to die without suffering a prolonged downward death spiral.
Thank you for caring.

[Flaxbee]

35. That's what I was thinking of when I got a good look at his worn out little body

He'd had a long life that was no doubt rougher before he found my porch and the unending supply of kibble and canned food... so at least his last years were stable. And he was really in very good shape until maybe mid-September when I noticed him slowing down and not singing quite so much... the October 11 incident, though, I think was a breakthrough in his decline, and I'm just glad I was able to help him on his way.

[840high]

39. My deepest condolences. You

gave him shelter, food and love. An exit with no pain was a good thing you did.

[TuxedoKat]

24. So sorry to hear this

about sweet Jesse. I was hoping for a better outcome. (((HUGS)))

[Flaxbee]

36. thanks, TuxedoKat. I'm really going to miss him, I loved his singing

We've only had one other cat who was so vocal ... and they're a joy to have around -- he never yowled just to make noise, he conversed.

[Alleycat]

25. Oh Flaxbee

So sorry to hear this. I was hoping for a better outcome. You did everything you could. Sorry you had to make that tough decision.

[Flaxbee]

37. Alleycat, I was too.

He's not going to suffer an undignified, painful or fearful death, though, which would probably have been his fate if I hadn't been able to catch him.

[meti57b]

38. That is very true. We all wish that our ending will be gentle and peaceful............

You provided that for him.