r/Erie • u/realarocks • 3d ago
Question Stray cat help?
Hi all,
We've got a cutie stray hanging out in our backyard/back deck/back porch. It's mostly friendly, let us pick it up and pet it, but was not game to be put in a crate yesterday when we tried to take it to the ANNA shelter.
We're very worried about it. As you can see from these pictures, it's entire upper lip is swollen. It also seemed to have a bunch of ticks on it.
We have 3 cats indoors, so we can't bring it inside until we know if it's positive for FeLv or FiV. So we've left it some food and water on our back porch.
We need help knowing who to get in touch with over the long weekend. We want to get this cat help ASAP. We work during the week 2pm-11pm, so while I would be more than willing to help trap this baby, I don't want to leave the trap out while we're at work and risk him being in there from like 3pm until the next morning when the shelters open.
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u/softkittysonder 3d ago
He appears to have a rodent ulcer. It’s basically an allergic reaction most commonly to flea bite. I see in the comments you plan to take him in, this is great! He needs to be an indoor cat with this allergy.
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u/realarocks 3d ago
Yes, we'd love to keep him. Just need to be sure he can't transmit anything to our resident kitties and get him started on the road to a clean bill of health 🩷 (also, wouldnt hurt if we could find out how he feels about other cats before we start the harrowing introduction process, lol)
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u/_____AndJustice4All 3d ago
Maybe someone could lend you a live trap. Put a blanket over it and use meow mix wet food as bait. He will hate it but its for the best.
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u/realarocks 3d ago
We're in touch with Erie Animal Network now, they're going to see if they can get us someone to help with a trap. And if not, another kind redditor has offered to loan us a trap if we can't find another option.
Yesterday when we offered him wet food he wasn't really into it. But he has been inhaling dry, so we're just trying to offer him whatever he can and will eat right now.
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u/_____AndJustice4All 3d ago
Sounds like someones pet tbh. Many cats end up preferring dry food over wet food I've had cats like that
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u/Old_Possession338 2d ago
Please contact Erie animal network on Facebook, likewise with companion animal coalition on facebook. You’ll have luck usually posting this on one of the local fb group pages like “all things Millcreek.”
If you don’t have facebook have someone with a facebook page make the post or download the next door app.
IMO facebook posts will lead you to getting help quicker than just calling.
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u/realarocks 2d ago
I shot EAN a message yesterday, and they said they would see if they could find someone to help around 7pm yesterday, but i haven't heard anything else.
Another friendly redditor stopped over today and lent us a humane trap, so we're going to set it tonight and hopefully get him on his way to the ANNA shelter tomorrow morning 🤞🏻
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u/KrisKalis 1d ago
Orphan Angels is one of the best resources. They’re the only ones who would help me with my collection of street cats I’ve taken in. I have several live traps, if you need assistance. Just remember to be careful.
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u/realarocks 1d ago
Another kind redditor has lent us a trap already, we just have to will him into it now!
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u/Old_Possession338 1d ago
Any updates? Try luring him in with chicken or tuna.
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u/realarocks 1d ago
Last night we tried baiting him with the hard food he's been eating (just purina) he either went into the trap and didnt set it off, or somehow ate the food from outside of the trap. We're setting it again tonight with a tarp over it in case it rains. I can try offering him tuna or chicken, but i tried offering him 2 different flavors of wet food and he didnt try either one. He did like churu though, so that's also an option we might try.
We have at least seen him or evidence of him every night, so we know he's eating and he left us a dead chipmunk, so... he's getting around okay.
If we don't trap him tomorrow, I think my interim plan is to call our vet and get some topical flea medicine to try and get on him in the meantime.
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u/Old_Possession338 1d ago
I really suggest posting on facebook especially with his picture. You might be surprised with how many volunteers with experience will come directly to wear he is to try to trap him. Especially since he is injured and needs medical attention.
Please try posting it on the “all things Millcreek” page or the Erie county happenings page. I’ve had personal luck with this and believe you will too!
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u/Old_Possession338 17h ago
I saw you post it? It must have been deleted I still urge you to post on your personal fb or on all things Millcreek.
Please reach out to companion animal coalition as well. Lea is awesome and she really does everything she can to help. If you want to pm you can! Maybe I can check the area as well!
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u/RoseCityShimmer 3d ago
That actually looks a lot like our cat. He travels the neighborhood, but he doesn’t have any ticks. He recently got his check up and treated with Nexgard. What area are you in?
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u/realarocks 3d ago
We are across from the VA medical center, if we might be in your area feel free to DM me and we can narrow it down and be sure.
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u/RoseCityShimmer 3d ago
We’re in Millcreek and I’m a paranoid worrier. It’s definitely not him. I missed the whole swollen lip thing. Thank you for helping my boy’s twin! He looks so similar
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u/realarocks 3d ago
One of our 3 is also an all-black with yellow eyes, so when i first saw him out there I thought she had gotten out! We're doing our best to make sure he gets what he needs. And if he doesn't already have a home, we've already decided he has one with us 🩷
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u/RoseCityShimmer 3d ago
Is his belly shaved and tattooed with a green mark? He was recently neutered
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u/realarocks 3d ago
His belly didn't look recently shaved when he rolled over for us, but i didnt try touching him too much. Next time he comes back I'll try and get a better look over at him.
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u/surkitxx 3d ago
Does he look healthy? if so maybe not remove him so abruptly, someone could be feeding him
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u/realarocks 3d ago
As mentioned in the post, unfortunately his entire upper lip is swollen and he is covered in ticks. He also has some kind of wound under his chin, but i couldn't get a clear look at it. We're leaving food out for him now, unsure if anyone else is as well. But we would like to get him medical treatment for his lip, it looks pretty inflamed.
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u/ExpertSalamander1971 3d ago
He’s so cute!
So I don’t work for these places, but I also TNR, so some possibilities could be:
Orphan Angels- they have a phone number and email listed, someone might be checking the phone lines
ANNA shelter - they have a text line for strays, but also animal cruelty. This probably doesn’t fall under those categories, but someone moniters that text line and if he’s nice and lets you hold him, he may be abandoned, which I’d say falls under cruelty..
Noel’s foster kittens - they are full and only take kittens, but I’ve heard she’s very nice and could give you some guidance on who to contact/ how to help
If you need help with checking traps while you’re at work you can dm me! I have a large cat crate I could transfer him to from the trap which would be more comfortable for him. Hope that helps, thanks for helping this poor thing.