Took my sweet abandoned munchkin cat to the vet today...results are mixed

[joeybee12]

First of all, he's old...really old. I sort of knew that. Explains the missing teeth and also the arthritis. Good news is he doesn't have feline AIDS or leukemia, which I doubted since he was obviously an indoor cat before he was dumped. Had more blood drawn as the vet seems to think there is a thyroid problem, which, even if there is, is probably manageable...the results come in tomorrow. Also will have results on kidney and liver functions, which could be an issue at his age, but, again, manageable. So, all in all, not too bad, but it's really maddening that someone would abandon such an old cat who obviously wouldn't make it on his own...the teeth, having been declawed, the mobility due to the arthtritis. He was upset with me when I brought him home, but he's over that and is lounging around like he owns the place...yet again!

[LoveMyCali]

1. What a lucky kitty

to have you! He's gorgeous, I hope the rest of his tests come back with good results and the two of you have a good long time together.

[joeybee12]

5. Thanks...in a way it's a good thing he's old...my other cats accepted him

quickly because he stays to himself, loves affection though, but doesn't interfere with them and their territory...he has few needs at his age.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Poor old kitteh. :^( Glad you had him checked out.

[joeybee12]

6. Yeah, I'd talked to the vet previously, and he suggested waiting to bring him in...

...he was pretty dehydrated and malnourished when I found him...wasn't much you could do at that point excpet let him eat, drink, poop and sleep!

[Pool Hall Ace]

3. I'm glad that kitty found you!

:loveya:

[joeybee12]

4. I am too...he's got the sweetest disposition...

only had him a month...had spoken with the vet but was letting him recover and feel better (he wasn't in great shape) but already I can't see being without him...he was an angel at the vet's too...obviosuly wasn't happy, but didn't fight anything they did.

[sammytko]

7. did they scan him for a microchip

maybe he wasn't abandoned. maybe he got away or got scared by something and took off. We almost lost our cat twice while traveling. We'd take him out of his crate on a leash, but both times got scared by a loud vehicle and wiggled out. We were able to catch him. From then on, no more getting out of the car. He stayed in the crate til we got home.

[joeybee12]

8. No, they didn't...I found him on the patio of one of the units here where people

had moved out...didn't think anything of it until he was staying there night and day, not leaving...I asked around, and you would think that someone who was looking would have called the HOA...the complex I live in is huge...no way could a cat get here without having been owned here...again, it's huge and bordered by busy, busy streets...this is Vegas...no one knew anything about him so I just picked him up and took him inside. Abandonment is a huge problem here in Vegas with unemployment at 14%

[gvstn]

19. You did a wonderful thing!

It is hard to imagine how people can just abandon a domesticated animal. Doing it to a de-clawed cat should be criminal. You would think they would take him to the SPCA even though he would probably be euthanized rather quickly. Better than letting him die of malnutrition. Sickos.

Thanks for saving him and giving him a good home. :)

[joeybee12]

20. Yeah, this guy would not have lasted long...part of the reason he wouldn't

leave that patio is because he couldn't defend himself at all...declawed, can't jump or move quickly, missing teeth...yeah, hate to say it, but he should have gone to a shelter even if it was just to die...he lucked out though...found himself a real chump!

[Orsino]

9. Best wishes. There are a few options for hyperthyroidism (common in old cats).

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=243&topic_id=39743&mesg_id=39743

[joeybee12]

10. Thanks for the link and info!

[applegrove]

11. Oh! Poor cat. Who would do such a thing.

[joeybee12]

12. What amazes me is after being dumped he trusted me right away...

...animals are much more forgiving than us humans.

[applegrove]

13. I have a cat that was abandoned near a highway. My cat was unneutered and had a tendency to attack.

I can see wanting to fix that situation or get rid of him but to do that by leaving the poor guy near a highway defies belief. Why not just drop him off at the cat shelter? It doesn't cost anything.... some people.

[joeybee12]

14. Some people is right...

Did he stop attacking when neutered...males are much less aggressive after being fixed.

[applegrove]

15. He kept attacking but is much better now. I don't know what he was like before

he was fixed because the vet's office I got him from did the procedure before I was in the picture. But yes he hardly attacks me at all anymore. And only when I really annoy him. 99% of the time he is very loving and cuddly.

[joeybee12]

16. Yeah, it would be hard to say...probably better because he trusts you...

...I assume cats, when they feel secure and loved, and much more docile.

[applegrove]

17. We are really quite close. He hovers around me all evening. He sleeps at my armpit.

I love him lots. He seems very happy. But never as happy as when, unusually, I came home mid day today and had a nap. It was like we shared the same values: sleeping during the day. He purred like crazy.

[joeybee12]

18. Oh yeah, my cats love it when i take a nap on my day off...

...when I'm later than usual when taking it, one, Melanie, starts yelling at me and jumping on the bed so I get the hint!

[Curmudgeoness]

21. What a sweetie. Thank you for your kindness. nt

[joeybee12]

24. He's a sweetie alright....

...not a mean bone in his body...how could someone bear to part with him?

[Rhiannon12866]

22. Awww. Both of you are lucky. I had a tougher time...

When I rescued an abandoned kitty, it took me four months and a have-a-heart-trap to finally bring her inside. Mine was, believe it or not, a spayed female, and she'd been out there too long, was pretty skittish. I fed her outside in my side yard, was lucky that she came to me, but when the weather turned cold and she was still eating and running, I got desperate and resorted to the trap. I'd sit there and talk to her, advice from a local woman who feeds and rescues ferals, but she'd still take off... :(

It is so wonderful that you've given a home to a needy older cat. Mine was 12, my vet's best guess, and when I finally tracked down her records (turned out she was left behind by a neighbor who moved... ;( ) it turns out that he was right. :(

When I finally got her to my own vet, it turned out that she had bad teeth, must have been in pain. After necessary dental surgery, she almost became a lap cat, though only with me. I felt guilty that I didn't get that done immediately, but she was still skittish, even inside, and I had to get a friend who has caught cats for the SPCA to catch her in my house and get her into the carrier... x(

I only had her for a little over two years, but it was worth every minute. Kudos to you and your lucky, pretty cat. He is so very fortunate to have found you... O8)

I now stop most nights on my way home to feed a group of ferals. I know that I'm not the only one doing so, met a woman who brings food and showed me shelters her group has constructed, back in the woods. But it's near a major road and I wish I could do more... :(

[joeybee12]

23. Yeah, when a cat gets acclimated to being outdoors, it's hard to

get them back inside...good for you for being so dedicated. Her teeth must be worse than this guy's...theyre not great but the vet said it might get to necessary surgery later. There's also another abandoned here that I feed, and while she's very friendly, she just won't come inside...she does from time to time, but she's not really happy indoors. Not sure what to do about her...she's fed and heatlhy, but I'd like to get her inside, although that would mean 5 cats indoors!

[Rhiannon12866]

31. My cat had no problem indoors, it was getting her there that was tough.

But once she was finally inside and got used to her surroundings, she was fine, liked to look out the glass door and the big window, but never had any inclination to go back there. She'd already been through way too much. ;(

I got advice from "The Stray Cat Handbook" and sent for articles from Alley Cat Allies. Her problem was really just that she was scared. I got her a little cat igloo where she could hide when she wanted and she eventually was pretty content. :)

I wish you luck with your remaining outside cat. I certainly can sympathize with your frustration. I have never let my cats go outside, since it's much too dangerous, cars, predators in the woods, and we have bad winters here in Northern NY. Thank you for all you do for the kitties... O8)

[hippywife]

25. I just wants

to snuggle him, he's so adorable.

Thank you for taking such good care of him, joeybee.


One of my pampered pusses sends her love and healing vibes. Can you tell she's into heavy meditation? ;)

[joeybee12]

28. What a sweet kittie...yup, she's pondering the ways of the universe!!!

[Lil Missy]

26. He adopted you!

:D

[joeybee12]

29. Yup, that's the way it usualy works!! nt.

[MilesColtrane]

27. That just burns me.

Dumping a declawed cat is the same as handing him a death sentence.

I'm glad he found you.

[joeybee12]

30. Yeah, if you're gonna declaw a cat, you damn better well make sure you keep it for life! n/t

[kimi]

32. Aw, blessings to both of ya!

Adopting an older kitty can be a challenge sometimes but he sounds like he's found just the right servant :). Wishing both of you many more happy times together!!

[flvegan]

33. Lucky cat.

Thanks for taking good care of her.