Abandoned Cat, malnutritioned and dehydrated. what can i do to help besides bringing her to a vet?

Question

She is willing to eat and drink. But has fleas and has wat appears to be minor cuts (she was being attacked by another cat when found). She is extremely underweight.

1st thing done was she was givin water after we chased the other cat away. Gave her dry food-wouldnt eat, gave her wet and she ate about 1/2 a tablespoon. .. went to the store, bought some flea shampoo, flea collar, and ear mite treatment... gave her a bath (loved the bath), dried her, used q-tips cleaned under eyes and nose(full of gunk), gave her a blanket on indoor porch w/ water and fresh food;; wat else can i do? suggestions please

Answer 1

a vet is recomended but personly i think yor doing a great job just keep feeding it ut donk force the cat to feed it and make shur the cat allways has food and water

Answer 2

just dong it on the back of the head its is the most humane thing to do  

Answer 3

The only extra thing I would have done is worm her.  When you take her to the vet, ask for some liquid worming syrup for her.  If you have other cats keep them seperate as she may have cat flu/feline aids or feline leukemia.  Always wash your hands as well after handling her.

Answer 4

Make sure she's comfortable and that she's not to hot or cold. And she's in an enclosed indoor porch? That's good. She doesn't need any disruptions while she's healing.

Since you've already shampooed her, give her a few days to allow her cuts to heal before you start getting more physical again.

You say you gave her an earmite treatment - did that include cleaning her ears out with Q-tips? If you haven't done that, do so. Also, do it again in a day or two. Earmites can become a SERIOUS problem (even for indoor cats, like I experienced with mine).

Make sure she gets a lot of food and water - but don't give her too much or it could make her sick. If you can get her to have a tablespoon of food five or six times a day, that's good. And make sure she has plenty of water. Once she's hydrated, she'll probably be more willing to eat.

You're doing a great job and a very kind thing. <3

Answer 5

I think you did very impressive actions with this poor thing.  Kudos to you for being a cat lover, and can't see taking her to emergency vet, since it does not appear to be an emergency.  She is fed, has been given water and is safe.  I would keep her warm, since when they're that low in body fat, they can't control their body heat.

Sounds like you did an amazing job with the poor thing.  You should be commended in your actions.  I believe you can put neosporin on the cuts, but a good wash would do more than anything I would think.

Just keep the food, water, warmth and loving care coming and she should feel much better to endure the vet visit.

YOU ARE AN ANIMAL HERO; probably not the first time either. I wish there were more people like you out there.  

Answer 6

Just read your additional details - otherwise, it was advice about going to a vet.  If the cat is eating, fleas are mostly taken care of - and she seems comfortable, it can wait until Thursday, but if she is in bad condition, you really need to move that appointment up, or go in as an emergency vet.

Also, if the shelters are full, why not offer to foster the cat for them - that way, they might be willing to pay for the vet cost, and give you food, (or not, depends on rescue or shelter), and when a space opens up, you can bring her in.  

Answer 7

id use some disinfectant on the cuts and try different types of food and see if she likes a certain type.

Answer 8

Of course get her to vet.  If Thursday the soonest the Thursday it is!  Gryffindor was found like that (except the fighting, I think he was sick and his mom abandoned him) so my friend and gave him a dawn bath to get fleas off.  Surprisingly we also discovered he was dark black not slightly brown black.  When we tried feeding him he turned his nose up at food so she put a little wet food on her finger and put it in his mouth.  At first he resisted then suddenly he reached out and bit her finger trying to get the food off!  I used Little Noses (child saline nose solution) on him to clear up nose until I could get him to the vet.  Careful w/ flea collars, sometimes they really irritate the skin rather than helping much.  Keep her warm, it sounds like you're doing a lot already which is more than some people would do.  And maybe look online for other vet clinics besides emergency that have more than one doctor and see walk-ins.  That's where my cats go, a walk-in, affordable clinic and they can usually see pets the next day.  But I had to search to find them and luckily it was a non-emergency thing.  Good luck w/ her, you're doing a good thing.

Answer 9

For now, nothing, but if the gunk in the nose and eyes continue you will need antibiotics from the vet.  

Answer 10

If she wont eat, you can give her tuna. No cat will ever deny tuna fish. But other than that it sounds like youre doing a great job! I found a young stray cat when I lived in the city and I took it in. I didnt have too much trouble getting it to eat, but at first a stray cat might not find cat food so appetizing compared to what food they ate from garbage cans on the streets. The cat I found even used the litter box as soon as I bought it! Cats are so smart. Good luck.

Answer 11

Why besides a vet?

A vet needs to be your very first step after the immediate stabilization care that you provided.  What if she has an incurable, communicable disease that would harm your other pets (and not just cats)?  What if she has an illness you COULD fix if only a vet found it?

Flea collars are junk, they don't work and can even harm a cat.  Ear mite treatment over the counter is risky and the flea prevention that stores sell can even be deadly.

Please consider using a vet.  If you cannot afford one, try finding a low cost or even free vet (you might need to visit a larger city).  Or contact a shelter or rescue and ask for their help in getting your new friend healthy and pet ready.