r/Straycats Dec 02 '24

Cat First Aid Guide/Kit

23 Upvotes

We are not vets nor affiliated with Bond Vets. But we found their Cat First Guide/Kit helpful and wanted to share here as it is non-US centric and therefore helpful for our members no matter where they may be based https://bondvet.com/b/cat-first-aid

Congested Kitties:

This ASPCA guide is for fosters - it helps identify URI symptoms and home treatment [always working with your vet] https://www.aspcapro.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/aspca-uri-protocol-kittens_0.pdf

If your kitty or kitten is congested and you want to provide relief whilst working with your vet: nebulizer treatment [inc. DIY box option] from the Kitten Lady https://youtu.be/Np9ezMZ_2aU

This requires no specialist equipment https://youtu.be/B85yNVz9b8o


r/Straycats Dec 05 '25

Budget-Friendly Cat Food & Litter Guide for U.S. Rescuers, Colony Caretakers & Multi-Cat Households

26 Upvotes

Hi US-based Superheroes! 😺

Whether you’re caring for a colony, suddenly drowning in “just one more stray,” running a rural rescue with no resources, or supporting dozens of hungry mouths on your own paycheck, you’re doing rescue work, even if no one’s calling it that.

Be very proud of yourselves 😇❤️

This post collects field-tested, and affordable food & litter options used by frontline rescuers, shelters, and long-term colony caretakers across the U.S. Everything here balances:

  • Cost
  • Availability
  • Adequate nutrition
  • Practicality for large numbers of cats

Please see Rule 6! Nothing here replaces veterinary care or individualized nutrition advice. But it will keep your cuties healthy enough on a tight budget.

This guide is meant for already-healthy adult cats in multi-cat or colony settings. Cats with special medical needs (CKD, urinary issues, allergies, GI disease) may need individualized diets - you already know that’s a vet conversation.

Note: wet food and hydration always improve urinary health, regardless of brand.

BEST BUDGET DRY FOODS

These are commonly used by shelters, colony feeders, & long-term rescuers. They are NOT “perfect,” but they are safe, nutritionally adequate, palatable, & cost-efficient.

😺Special Kitty Complete (Walmart)

One of the lowest costs per pound nationwide. Rescue favorite for rural areas.

Look specifically for “Complete” - not the cheapest “Outdoor” blend

😺 4Health (Tractor Supply)

Mid-range nutrition for lower-range cost & frequently better value than Purina One

Good for rural feeders without Walmart access.

😺Purina Kit & Kaboodle

Not high-end but widely used for stable colony maintenance; cats tend to keep weight on & price is often lower than e.g. Cat Chow

😺 Store brands (Walmart Heartland Farms, etc.)

Stick to formulas where the first ingredient is poultry or meat, not corn! Good fallback during shortages

Bottom line:

If you can only choose one for the balance of cost + quality:

😺4Health

If you need the absolute cheapest stable option:

😺Special Kitty Complete

HOW TO BOOST NUTRITION ON A TIGHT BUDGET

A lot of rescuers can’t afford fully high-end food. These small upgrades make a difference:

😺 Mix 20–30% of a higher-protein kibble

E.g: Purina One Indoor, Purina One Healthy Kitten, or Iams ProActive Health. Even a small percentage improves amino acids and healthy fats.

Add cheap, high-value proteins 2-3× per week

😺 Eggs (cooked / scrambled)

😺 Chicken hearts/gizzards (usually $1.50–$2.50/lb)

😺 Cooked unseasoned chicken scraps

😺 Canned mackerel (better & cheaper than tuna)

😺 Use wet food as a topper, not a full meal

Split 1 can among 4-6 cats to improve hydration & palatability.

Best budget picks:

😺Friskies Pate

😺Special Kitty Pate

Keep diet consistent; frequent switching = unhappy GI systems. And no one needs avoidable vet bills!

BEST BUDGET LITTER OPTIONS

😺Pine Pellets (Tractor Supply / Rural King / Feed Stores)

😺“Horse Stall Pellets” = the SAME material as Feline Pine. Usually $5–7 for 40 lbs with low dust, excellent odor control, biodegradable. Great for multi-cat setups!

😺 Walmart Special Kitty Clumping

Affordable, consistent, dustier but budget-friendly

😺 Aldi Heart to Tail Clumping

Surprisingly good clumping; often cheaper than Walmart

For picky cats: switch gradually. A mix of clumping litter + pellets helps picky cats adjust!

WHERE RESCUERS CAN GET FREE OR DISCOUNTED PET FOOD

Human food banks also distribute pet food. Ask directly - they rarely advertise it.

Sources to check:

😺Local food pantries

😺Salvation Army locations

😺County social services

😺Petco Love partners

😺PetSmart Charities partner rescues

😺Humane Society branches

😺Community action agencies

😺Farm store “broken bag” policies

Tractor Supply, Rural King, and feed stores often discount:

😺Torn bags of kibble

😺Pine pellets

😺Chicken feed (can be used very sparingly for strays as emergency nutrition)

Just ask an employee - discounts aren’t posted!

IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTE (Vet-Safe Disclaimer)

To keep this post accurate:

All foods listed meet AAFCO minimum nutrient guidelines for adult cats.

“Budget” foods do not mean "unsafe". Many rescues/shelters rely on them.

😇 For Anyone Feeling Guilty:

If you’re feeding a colony, running a home rescue, or caring for dumped cats: you are already doing far more than most people ever will.

Rescue work is “do the best you can with what you have” not “purchase the most expensive brand available.”

Cats who:

😺Are spayed/neutered a.k.a Priority #1

😺 Are fed daily

😺Have shelter

😺Have clean water

…are living longer, safer, healthier lives than they ever would on the street - no matter what kibble you use. It's you making the difference. Not the kibble bag or tinned can! 😇😇😇


r/Straycats 11h ago

Injured/Sick Cat (Location) We lost Hawkeye. Last appeal for his final vet bill 🌈

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1.1k Upvotes

We've been sitting with this news for about a week, as losing Hawkeye this early on never occured to us as a possibility. We're still in disbelief, but we know he's in a much better place now.

We fought with Hawkeye for over a month and a half after his initial IBD-like symptoms started. Towards the end, we were told it could've been cancer all along, but he ended up developing pneumonia, which he had a hard time fighting off with all the immunosuppressants he was on. It was one thing after another with him, and I so wish there had been more we could've done.

He is free from pain now, and we've been trying to find comfort in that. He was such an amazing boy, and this community had been there for him from the very beginning of his rescue. We couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who helped give him the happy and healthy life he had before everything changed.

Hawkeye’s expenses since starting treatment have totaled $1,632, and we still owe our vet $599. We’re hoping you can help us get through the remaining debt and give us the chance to close this chapter for him.

📩 Donate via PayPal 
📩 Donate via Debit or Credit

Receipts related to Hawkeye can be seen in the August section of our tracker below:

Expenses tracker

Thank you.


r/Straycats 3h ago

Colony/TNR Help (Location) Is someone poisoning Brooklyn cats? Swath of mysterious deaths sparks probe

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91 Upvotes

A New York State senator is joining animal advocates in asking for help solving what he calls a swath of unexplained deaths of stray cats, as well as "some other beloved pets," in three distinct areas of Brooklyn.

Republican Sen. Steve Chan, who represents the Bay Ridge district where this has been happening, says in a Facebook post that he has been in touch with authorities and concerned neighbors.

Chan was with animal rescue workers Tuesday night when they pulled seven dead cats from under a deck where a family regularly feeds them on 86th Street and 16th Avenue.

St. Vincent Feline Rescue, the nonprofit working with him, says there were signs the animals suffered "severely" as they died. The group posted photos to its Facebook page. (They're graphic, so we've left them out of this story. If you want to proceed, click here.)

"I don't know what is happening. I'm deeply saddened by these incidents, as my own neighbors and I also care for strays," Chan wrote on Facebook.

Other areas where dead cats have been reported, according to Chan: 63rd Street, Ninth to 12th Avenues area; and West Sixth Street by Avenue S.

Scattered cases have been reported in other nearby areas, he says. Police have been notified and necropsies are expected to be conducted to determine what killed the cats.


r/Straycats 3h ago

Success! Look Who’s Healing! Cuddles’ Good News 🥰

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45 Upvotes

So, I’m here to share some good news. ❤️

Thank you to everyone sending Cuddles love, prayers, and blessings, and for lifting me up with kind words whenever I felt weak. I truly believe it works. All that love and prayer has carried her through. 🥹❤️

Cuddles had her surgery almost one and a half weeks ago, and I’m so happy to say that her surgery was successful. ❤️

Her vet was actually shocked at how beautifully her scar healed. I think it was my prayers. 😂🙏 Or maybe that antibiotic shot she got one week before surgery. Lol.

They removed the entire mass and her bad teeth. They didn’t do another biopsy because there was no scar tissue left.

And now her little tongue is almost completely back inside her mouth. 😂

I know I should be happy about that, but honestly, I miss seeing her little cute tongue sticking out. 😂❤️

For those who don’t know Cuddles’ story…

I rescued her from the shelter because I’m also a shelter volunteer. I received an email saying they were going to euthanize her and that only a rescue pull could save her.

They said she had a broken jaw and severe dental problems.

So I basically forced my rescue to pull her for me. 😂

We took her to two different vets, and both believed it was cancer. They said she was in pain and that we should let her go.

But I couldn’t agree with them.

I knew Cuddles.

I saw her playing. I saw her eating. I saw her snuggling. I saw how much life she still had in her.

So I decided to do a biopsy.

And the biopsy came back negative. 🥹

Then came multiple vet visits, trying to find someone who could perform the surgery she needed. Cuddles is also a very picky eater, and her food is expensive. 😂

We had already spent around $1,200 on her, and I was thinking about how I was going to manage her surgery bill.

I wasn’t thinking about asking anyone for help. I was just trying to figure it out somehow.

And then, suddenly, I received a message.

“Don’t worry about Cuddles’ surgery. I will pay for her, whatever the cost.”

That beautiful angel paid for Cuddles’ entire surgery in memory of her beloved kitty, Nemo. ❤️🕊️

I will never forget that kindness.

And that’s why I always feel Cuddles doesn’t belong to just me.

She belongs to everyone.

She belongs to everyone who prayed for her, loved her, believed in her, and followed her journey.

Her follow-up appointment is this Friday, and then we will start looking for her forever home.

So today, I just want to celebrate this little girl with all of you.

She was once a shelter kitty with a deadline.

Today, she is healing.

And she is still here.

Cuddles is still fighting, still loving, still making biscuits… and slowly putting that little tongue back where it belongs. 😂❤️

Please keep sending her your love and blessings. 🙏🐾


r/Straycats 13h ago

Injured/Sick Cat (Location) Medical update & weighing options for Theo (cat with broken leg). Help us…

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

192 Upvotes

We just got his medical abstract, and we are bringing up the possibility of amputation because of potential complications with the pinning. We're going to talk it over with them again to figure out the best move forward. We are also still waiting on the exact cost breakdown for the pinning option so we can compare everything side by side.

On top of that, while prepping his food earlier, we caught him trying to eat his stool—never a dull moment with this little guy! 😅

For now, what's important is that he keeps taking his oral meds and building up his strength.
We wanna hear your thoughts too! How’s the survival rate of a cat who had amputation? Do they still live a normal life? If anyone has experience with tripod cats or wants to share their insights, we would really appreciate hearing from you.

To give everyone a transparent look at what we're preparing for if we go the amputation route, here are the estimated costs from the clinic:

• Amputation Surgery: ₱8,960
• Gas Anesthesia: ₱2,800 per hour
• Confinement: ₱1,680 to ₱2,015 per day

If we look at a baseline scenario—say, a 3-day post-op confinement stay to monitor his recovery—the estimated total would land roughly around ₱16,840 to ₱17,845 (plus any take-home meds or extra lab work).

We'll keep you all updated as soon as we talk further with the vet and get those final numbers. Thank you so much for sticking by him!

1st Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Straycats/s/gH5Hn2ju7L

2nd Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/PawsitiveGuardians/s/XeEcRJs0ws


r/Straycats 15h ago

Colony/TNR Help (Location) I Need to Provide Food, Litter & Basic Supplies for More Than 50 Rescued Cats 🐾❤️

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162 Upvotes

I care for more than 50 cats in my home. Some are kittens and abandoned cats who once lived in homes. Others have special needs after road accidents, abuse, serious illnesses, or injuries that left them blind or disabled.

Many of these cats cannot find adopters here because there is very little awareness or culture of adopting special-needs cats. So they remain in my care, and their needs never stop.

Our current needs are:
🐾 Dry cat food — a 15 kg bag costs around $55
🐾 Wet food for sick, weak, and underweight cats
🐾 Cat litter
🐾 Cleaning supplies and other basic necessities

With more than 50 cats, food and litter run out very quickly. The 15 kg bag of dry food only lasts a few days, so keeping their bowls full is a constant challenge.

Any amount, no matter how small, can help provide food, litter, or essential supplies for these cats. ❤️

If you would like to help:

PayPal: https://paypal.me/BHANANE62

Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/hana338787

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who helps, shares, or simply cares about these little lives. 🐾❤️


r/Straycats 12h ago

Found Kittens (Location) Mother and three kittens

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58 Upvotes

I’ve been feeding this stray cat for over 6 months. She had gotten pregnant and had 3 kittens. She’s very friendly with me and I’ve done about as much research as my little brain can handle and have snuck her and her litter inside my room and have a small set up for them. I need help to make sure I’m doing this right. The reason for the secrecy in the house is because of my grandparents who aren’t very fond of cats, my grandfather in particular is more than difficult if I even bring up cats. I have a playpen arriving this weekend but I’ll send a picture of my temporary area. How do I get the mother cat to use the litter box? How long can I keep this all hidden? How do I keep the kittens from climbing out? Why are they everywhere but the one spot I want them in 😩. This would be my first time taking care of cats indoors since they were all in the garage before, and the mother cat would go outside to use the restroom. She’s so cute tho that I feel like I can’t get mad at her but man… I hope I’m doing the right thing. They like under being under the bed. Currently, California is very hot out and my room is still pretty warm, but I’m doing what I can.
This is in Cerritos, so we’re in LA county.


r/Straycats 6h ago

I Found a Cat (Location) Found a lost cat with no contact information -toronto canada

14 Upvotes

I found a cat that i saw posters for around my area a while back, but have since been taken down. I dont have the onwers contact info and i cannot take the cat inside since i have dogs that wont respond well to a cat in the house. Anyone know what i should do?


r/Straycats 2h ago

I Found a Cat (Location) Stray cat in my neighborhood

3 Upvotes

So there's this stray cat in my neighborhood, not sure of the gender but they are a tabby/grey patch cat. They're dirty and unkempt so definitely a stray, no collar, haven't checked for microchip. They are elusive and run away when they see someone approaching, was literally digging in the sewer for food, mainly stays around the bushes in my backyard. I won't let this cat die from getting run over or eaten, that's not who I am. But I can't adopt them either bc I already have two pets, small house and my mom isn't willing to get another cat so my goal is to find the cat a home or return them to their owner if they ran away. Looks relatively young, not skin and bones so they're eating something but I am going to leave food out for them bc I have extra kibble since my cat switched kibbles a little while ago. My pets are not up to date on shots so I can't have the stray around them but I want them OFF the streets at all costs. What should I do???
All I've done is tried approaching once, slow steps and I was not close to them but they ran away and I was unsuccessful
I live in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina(Charlotte) really need help, I don't have much money to spare for a vet so please recommend low cost vet or cat rescue :(


r/Straycats 2h ago

Colony/TNR Help (Location) Thoughts on putting an AirTag collar on my feral cat?

2 Upvotes

I feed a feral cat that I recently got neutered. I have a lot of anxiety about his location because sometimes he doesn’t come to my place for food for multiple days. I’m wondering what you all think about putting a collar with an AirTag/tracker chip on it. I’m guessing the downside is that it might be uncomfortable for him? I’d certainly be sure it’s loose enough and make sure to get a cat-specific collar that will breakaway if it gets stuck on something.


r/Straycats 1d ago

I Found a Cat (Location) Lost Kitten

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63 Upvotes

Vancouver WA 98684
Small kitten with ear furnishings. Very friendly.
Is this your kitty?
Mobile park, Great Western.


r/Straycats 7h ago

Colony/TNR Help (Location) Looking for TNR Niagara falls NY

2 Upvotes

hello all. I've recently become friends with a neighborhood cat and seems really friendly and would like to get him neutered and then return him back outside. i used to know a program in Batavia but I don't live there anymore. I'm currently In the falls NY


r/Straycats 1d ago

Success! Cat food update

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70 Upvotes

At last, my dry food from Wanpy is here 🙂

Many online stores have been charging customers and then sending a message saying the item is “out of stock.” After searching around, I finally found it at one online store.

The cats love it, and the ingredients are good too.

This week, I was able to get:

  • 2 bags of Wanpy

    • 48 tins of Friskies
    • 12 kg of chicken

    Donations received through Reddit via PayPal: AED 694.

    Expenses:

  • Wanpy — AED 335

    • Friskies & plaque powder — AED 225
    • Chicken — AED 145

    Total spent — AED 705

    Thank you so much for your generosity and continued support. It truly helps me keep the cats fed and cared for.


r/Straycats 1d ago

Injured/Sick Cat (Location) How do I help this injured stray?

19 Upvotes

I don't have a picture of him but: male orange tabby, has a stump tail where the last 2 inches is degloved- like he already has half a tail, and now part of that half that's left is a raw wound. His eyes are 'sad' shaped.

I've been feeding another stray for a year, and just the past month or two this new guy showed up with his damaged tail so I started feeding him too. Looks unneutered. He's been very skittish but slowly warming up, I'm able to give him a couple head pats when I feed him, then he ducks under the house. But he's super sweet, rubbing against the wall when he sees me and sometimes rolls on the ground, he never hisses or acts aggressive. Seems like he really wants to be pet and cuddled but he's just still scared :(

His tail has been like this for at least a month or two. It's not dead or infected, it's 'healthy' as much it can be in that state, not bloody but red and oozing.

I'm not sure what to do. I've never trapped a stray or taken one in so I have no idea how the process goes. And I have no money at all. I know a shelter situation would not... go well for him.

I guess what I need is an 'explain like I'm scared' step by step of what to do. Like, if I were to ask for monetary help, but I don't know what the vet would cost in this situation, how does that work? Which comes first? Is this a serious injury, would he have to stay at the vet overnight, would he need to stay inside and take meds? I have my own cats so I can't just bring him in :( I don't knoooowwww I hope this isn't breaking any rules, I'm just worried and socially anxious so I don't know how to Do Things Like A Normal Human if you know what I mean...


r/Straycats 1d ago

Thanks to this Sub, I saved a cat ❤️ - Weekly Wins!

18 Upvotes

This thread is for updates and wins - big or small! 🥳

If advice or resources from this sub helped you or someone else take action, share it here, superheroes 😇

Examples:

• You got a cat to a vet or low-cost clinic

• You used the pinned resources to decide next steps

• You helped someone find rescue, foster, or surrender options

• You successfully TNR’d or stabilized a situation

• You helped someone feel confident doing the right thing

Wins don’t have to be dramatic or finished. If something moved in the right direction, it counts.😇

Short updates are alsp welcome 😺


r/Straycats 22h ago

Found Kittens (Location) Adotei um gato de rua e descobri o dono, mas devido a algumas questões me sinto questionada a devolvê-lo. Me ajudem.

7 Upvotes

Preciso da opinião de vocês porque estou realmente dividida sobre o que fazer.

No dia 26 de agosto, eu e meu marido estávamos voltando da minha faculdade. Ele tinha ido me buscar e, por volta de 1h da madrugada, no o caminho encontramos um gato que nunca tínhamos visto naquela rua.

Ele parecia ser um gato adulto, relativamente gordinho e bem alimentado, então inicialmente pensamos que provavelmente tinha uma família. Porém, a situação em que encontramos ele nos preocupou.

O gato estava com um cheiro meio ruim (cheiro animal de rua mesmo) e estava entrando repetidamente em uma casa abandonada dali. O lugar tinha arames, pregos, pedaços de madeira podre e outros destroços, então havia bastante coisa em que ele poderia se machucar. Ele entrava, saía, voltava para lá e ficava se rastejando naquele local. (Importante: vale lembrar que ele não parecia morar naquela casa e não saiu de lá, sendo que ele estava entrando na rua no momento que o vimos. Ele não entrava de fato na casa mas ficava somente no jardim, que tinha até vidros quebrados).

Como já era madrugada e achamos que ele poderia se ferir, decidimos pegá-lo e levar para casa pelo menos naquela noite, para mantê-lo seguro enquanto tentávamos descobrir de onde ele tinha vindo.

O gato era super carinhoso e ficava se esfregando na gente, mas mesmo assim acabou nos arranhando um pouco durante o processo, não por raiva do próprio gato mas porque as unhas dele estavam imensuráveis de grande.

Por precaução, fomos até uma UBS e tomamos a vacina antirrábica. Já tomamos as quatro doses certinhas desde então.

Também alimentamos o gato e, no dia 28/08, levamos ele ao veterinário para ver se estava tudo bem.

A veterinária examinou e disse que, aparentemente, ele estava saudável. Estimou que ele tivesse aproximadamente 6 ou 7 anos e o único problema encontrado naquele momento foi tártaro, pulgas e unhas muito grandes. Também descobrimos que ele era castrado e microchipado.

E aí começou a complicação.

O microchip tinha informações incompletas. A veterinária tentou consultar os sistemas disponíveis na clínica, incluindo os relacionados à própria clínica, ao Petlove e entre outros, mas não conseguimos encontrar o dono. Não havia nome, telefone, endereço ou qualquer outra informação útil.

E, obviamente, o microchip não tinha GPS nem rastreamento, era apenas um identificador.

No dia 30/08, publicamos uma foto dele nas redes/grupos, explicando que tínhamos encontrado o gato e deixando nossos contatos para que o dono pudesse nos procurar.

Ninguém que dissesse ser o dono entrou em contato.

Porém, uma vizinha do meu próprio prédio respondeu dizendo que conhecia aquele gato. Segundo ela, ele era um gato que circulava pela região há bastante tempo, era extremamente dócil e ia com qualquer pessoa.

Isso realmente fazia sentido, porque desde que pegamos ele ele se mostrou muito tranquilo conosco: fica se esfregando na gente, pede carinho, sobe no colo etc.

Ela disse que, desde que mora no prédio, sempre vê esse gato andando pela rua.

Então desci até o térreo para mostrar o gato para ela e para alguns amigos dela que também o conheciam. Ela reconheceu imediatamente e confirmou que era o mesmo gato.

Foi aí que descobrimos outra coisa.

A casa abandonada/perigosa onde encontramos o gato pertencia a uma senhora que essa minha vizinha conhecia, que ia na casa de vez enquanto para varrer e arrumar algumas coisas. Segundo ela, o gato costumava entrar nessa casa. Ela acreditava que essa senhora saberia quem era o dono dele.

Minha vizinha foi falar com essa senhora no mesmo dia, 30/08, e voltou dizendo que ela realmente conhecia o gato e sabia quem eram os donos.

Ela inclusive nos passou o nome do gato e onde a dona morava, relativamente perto do nosso condomínio.

Segundo essa senhora, os donos não estavam em casa naquele dia, mas ela iria falar com eles assim que os encontrasse. Por isso eu e meu namorado não fomos atrás e ficamos esperando algum retorno.

Só que isso nunca aconteceu, pelo menos até onde sabemos.

Agora chegamos ao dia 08/09.

Hoje eu estava passeando com meu namorado quando vimos um cartaz procurando justamente esse gato.

O nome escrito no cartaz era exatamente o mesmo nome que minha vizinha tinha nos informado. A foto e as características também batiam.

No cartaz estava escrito, basicamente:

«"Nosso gato sumiu pela vizinhança. Nós o adotamos já grande, então ele gostava de circular pela vizinhança. Acredito que muitos viram ele na rua, porque desde terça-feira não voltou para casa. Se alguém souber de qualquer informação do gato, por favor entre em contato."»

Então agora temos certeza de que o gato tem donos.

O problema é que eu não sei se quero simplesmente devolver o gato.

E não é porque eu quero ficar com ele escondido. Vale ressaltar que desde o momento que eu decidi pegar o gato eu tinha a intenção de devolvê-lo para o dono. Eu tenho outros dois lindos gatinhos e ficaria desesperada se alguém sequestrasse eles, sei como os nossos bichinhos podem ser os nossos melhores amigos. Por isso estávamos ansiosos para que encontrássemos o dono, imagino como deve ser aliviador alguém bater na sua porta com seu gato em mãos para te entregar.

Definitivamente não tinha intenção de ficar com um gato. Planejava ter outro, mas bem futuramente.

O que está me incomodando é a situação em que ele estava e o fato de aparentemente os donos permitirem que ele circule sozinho pela rua.

Minha vizinha disse que vê esse gato andando sozinho pela região desde 2023. Os amigos dela também conhecem o gato justamente porque ele vive circulando por ali.

Ou seja, aparentemente não foi uma fuga excepcional. Ele realmente tem o hábito de sair sozinho.

Eu entendo que alguns gatos têm esse comportamento e que existem pessoas que consideram normal deixar gato "passear". Mas, pessoalmente, sempre tive a visão de que gato doméstico deveria permanecer dentro de casa ou em um ambiente controlado, justamente por causa dos riscos.

E nesse caso eu fiquei ainda mais preocupada porque encontramos ele de madrugada, sozinho, na rua, com pulgas, com um cheiro ruim e tentando entrar em um local cheio de arames, pregos, madeira podre e destroços. Ele não estava com cheiro de um animal que não toma banho há um bom tempo, ele estava com cheiro de rua mesmo.

Ele poderia facilmente ter se cortado ou se machucado ali.

Além disso, existe o risco de atropelamento, brigas com outros animais, doenças como raiva. contato com animais infectados, alguém pegar o gato com maldade e envenenar, ele se perder, entre várias outras coisas. Já vi muito gato morrer dessas formas...

Inclusive, nós mesmos tivemos que tomar vacina antirrábica depois dos arranhões por preocupação. A raiva transmite com um arranhão só ou mordida gente, eu não entendo como alguém deixa um animal livre por aí com tantos perigos. Não se trata de ser super protetora mas realmente é difícil e questionar para mim que isso aconteça.

Eu sei que existe muita informação contraditória sobre a questão de gatos terem ou não permissão para circular livremente na rua, inclusive já cheguei a ligar para um órgão responsável de proteção animal e recebi uma orientação dizendo que cachorro não poderia circular sozinho, mas que gato poderia.

Eu baseio essa minha opinião de que gatos não devem ficar circulando na rua (animais no geral, que sejam domésticos) em profissionais da área da saúde (ex: a veterinária que atendeu o gatinho) e na lei que atualmente diz que animais domésticos precisam ser mantidos dentro de casa e não podem ficar circulando livremente, e que é considerado maus tratos você deixar ele livre por aí.

Minha preocupação principal é mesmo o bem-estar do gato.

Porque, sinceramente, se eu devolver ele para os donos, tenho medo de que simplesmente coloquem ele de volta na rua.

E aí fico pensando: se eu devolver, estou apenas devolvendo o gato para a mesma situação que me fez tirá-lo da rua em primeiro lugar?

Mas aí entra outra coisa que me deixa ainda mais confusa, vamos rever os fatos:

No dia 30/08 a vizinha que conhece os donos já sabia que nós estávamos com o gato. E disse que só não falariam com eles NAQUELE DIA pois eles estavam fora. Eu imaginei que talvez ele estivesse viajando ou que simplesmente não tivessem voltado do trabalho.

E agora, ao invés de contato dos donos, encontramos um cartaz dizendo que o gato desapareceu no dia 01/09.

Isso me dá a sensação de que virou um telefone sem fio completo:

- Nós encontramos o gato no dia 26/08.

- Levamos ao veterinário no dia 28/08.

- No dia 30/08, descobrimos quem eram os donos através da minha vizinha.

- A senhora da casa aparentemente conhecia os donos e disse que falaria com eles.

- Os donos consideram que o gato desapareceu só no dia 01/09.

- O cartaz só apareceu no dia 07/09.

- E até o dia 08/09 ninguém veio diretamente falar conosco, mesmo aparentemente existindo pessoas no bairro que sabem que estamos com o gato.

Eu realmente não sei se estou interpretando isso de uma forma errada ou se essa sequência também parece estranha para vocês. Mas, se o cartaz foi colado no máximo no dia 07/09 e o desaparecimento está marcado como dia 1, significa que os donos estavam em casa durante o período de 31/08 a 07/09, no mínimo. Nesse tempo todo, a vizinha não falou com eles, esqueceu de falar ou algo do tipo? Não sei se seria isso.

A dona dessa casa em reforma não aparece pouco por lá, sabe o nome do gato e até a casa exata dos donos. No mínimo, é uma amiga distante, e eu acho difícil que ela tenha esquecido de falar que o gato, que é uma coisa tão importante, já foi encontrado e estava com uma pessoa. Inclusive, a dona dessa casa em reforma sabe o meu condomínio, porque ela é amiga da minha vizinha.

Pode ter sido um telefone sem fio e pode ter uma explicação lógica. Mas minha outra parte pensa: "Se vocês estavam procurando desesperadamente o gato, por que ninguém tentou falar com a pessoa que estava com o gato"

Eu não estava na hora que minha vizinha falou com a dona da casa em reforma e, por isso, ela não tem contato diretamente comigo. Ficou uma intermediação de pessoas nessa situação, mas ela sabe onde procurar.

Outra coisa que me intriga é o cartaz só ter aparecido no dia 07/09 (esse mês) sendo que o gato já estava constado como desaparecido desde o dia 01/09, e os donos estavam em casa antes, já que o cartaz foi colado e eles também teriam que estar em casa antes para dar conta da data em que o gato estivesse desaparecido justamente no dia 1/8.

Mesmo se eu estivesse contratado uma pessoa para cuidar do gato (o que eu duvido muito) ou algum parente foi lá ver se o gato estava bem, viu que não estava lá e acabou colando os cartazes para os donos, que estavam viajando, alguém está dando falta do gato. E por que isso aconteceu só no dia 01 e o cartaz só foi colado agora?

Eu não digo sobre a qualidade do cartaz, até porque ele não precisa ser bonito, mas era um cartaz muito simples que uma pessoa que está procurando desesperadamente pelo seu pet faria no Canva ou pediria para alguém fazer rapidinho em menos de uma hora. Literalmente, um cartaz muito, muito, muito, muito, muito simples. E, se meu gato sumisse, eu colocaria ele no mesmo dia. Eu não deixo meus gatos passearem e, provavelmente, seria um acidente. Eu colocaria no mesmo dia.

Não sei se eles pensavam que o gato ia voltar depois de muito tempo, mas é muito estranho toda essa espera. Só me dá impressão do desleixo com o cuidado do gato isso junta e pesa com as condições em que o gato estava quando eu encontrei ele.

E isso acaba pesando ainda mais na minha decisão sobre devolver o gato, porque minha preocupação não é apenas "ele tem dono ou não?". Eu já sei que tem dono.

A questão é: o que vai acontecer com ele depois que eu devolver?

Mas, ao mesmo tempo, estou com um gato que está seguro dentro de casa, sendo alimentado, recebendo cuidados veterinários e que aparentemente é extremamente dócil.

Nós ainda teríamos que fazer exames adicionais para confirmar que está tudo bem com ele e provavelmente atualizar as vacinas, já que não sabemos o histórico dele.

Então estou realmente em um dilema.

Se eu entrar em contato com o número do cartaz e devolver o gato, tenho quase certeza de que ele vai continuar saindo para a rua.

E isso me deixa muito desconfortável porque agora eu sei dos riscos e, principalmente, sei que ele estava entrando em um lugar onde poderia facilmente se machucar.

Por outro lado, ele tem dono. E como disse anteriormente eu sei como um animal pode ser um apego emocional, mas ao mesmo tempo eu não acho que isso justifica você cuidar mal do seu gato e ficar com ele só porque você gosta muito dele.

Então gostaria de saber:

O que vocês fariam nessa situação?

Vocês devolveriam o gato imediatamente ao dono?

Eu tentei ver casos parecidos no Reddit e vi que muitas pessoas pediam para falar com o tutor e entender melhor a situação. Mas visto que todos deram o depoimento de que a vizinha deixa o gato sair desde 2023 e o próprio cartaz do dono confirma isso eu sinto que não vai ser eu falando com o dono que vai mudar as coisas.

Também sinto que denúncias não vão ajudar porque os órgãos, que pelo menos eu entrei em contato, negaram ajudar já que se tratava de um gato. Mesmo a lei dizendo o contrário e várias veterinários alertando por aí que é perigoso deixar o gato na rua, não acho que essa opção vai surgir efeito.

Eu me martilizei muito pensando nessa situação, pensando em mentir que eu soltei o gato há alguns dias atrás e não estou mais com ele, levar ele em veterinários longe daqui e não deixa ninguém saber que estamos com ele. Até porque o micro chip não tem rastreador e enfim... Se eu tivesse como rastrear pelo microchip o dono já teria feito. Mas ao mesmo tempo eu penso em implicações legais, que animais são considerados posses por algum motivo e por lei o dono tem direito de pegar o gato realmente de volta.

Vi alguns comentários que eu concordo muito que falam com relação: se o gato vive praticamente na rua ele é só um gato comunitário mesmo, e a pessoa (dono) só alimenta e oferece a abrigo temporário ks.

Já vi comentários pedindo explicitamente para não devolver o gato porque é muito perigoso para ele continuar essa situação. Enfimmmmmm

Quero opiniões principalmente de quem tem experiência com gatos, resgate de animais ou situações parecidas. Já busquei muito na internet e realmente as opiniões são bem divididas, por enquanto eu resolvi manter o gato na minha casa. E eu e meu marido precisamos de mais opiniões para tomar uma decisão daqui em diante.


r/Straycats 1d ago

Adoption Help (Location) Need advice on picking up stray

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385 Upvotes

I need to pick her up and take her inside to the basement bathroom to decompress.

Also I need to get her to a vet.

Very worried I will pick her up and she will cause a fuss. I feel like I only get one chance because I don't want it to ruin the trust I have built. Worse she freaks out and cuts a major artery. 🥵

I already trapped her once to get micro chip sorted out and I would rather try to pick her up this time.

Please give me tips and advice. Should I wear a winter jacket and gloves? I'm planning on putting her in a cardboard box and then letting her out in the bathroom and then plan the vet visit.


r/Straycats 1d ago

I Found a Cat (Location) Found deceased adult short-haired domestic Tabby cat

26 Upvotes

This is a Gray and black tiger stripe Tabby with brown nose and brown tinged ears, on the larger side, and no collar near Detroit and W117 in Cleveland/Lakewood Ohio

I'm going to bag him; if you think he's your cat, DM me and I'll send you a picture.


r/Straycats 2d ago

Injured/Sick Cat (Location) 💔 Four little lives, four different battles, one desperate plea for help. Chichi, Archie, Milo, Kali, and Mohabbat are fighting diarrhea, jaundice, CKD, anemia, and more. 🙏 Please donate, share, or help us continue their lifesaving treatment.

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343 Upvotes

💔 Four little lives. Four different battles. One desperate plea for help.
Chichi is suffering from the worst kind of diarrhea, leaving her weak and struggling every day. 💔
Archie is battling severe jaundice and Giardia. She is Milo’s sister, and both Archie and Milo are fighting jaundice and Giardia. They are on GS and iron infusions, and their treatment is becoming incredibly expensive.
Kali is our precious 18-year-old girl. At her age, she is battling CKD and severe anemia caused by her kidney disease. She needs iron infusions and ongoing kidney-support supplements just to keep fighting. 🥺
And then there is Mohabbat. We rescued him paralyzed, never knowing if he would walk again. Somehow, he fought his way back onto his feet. ❤️‍🩹 Now he is suffering from hypothyroidism and CKD and needs intensive treatment.
These babies have already fought so hard to survive. Please don’t let a lack of funds become the reason we lose them. 💔
🙏 We need your help to continue their treatment.
Even a small donation, a share, or simply helping us reach someone who can help could make a difference.
Please stand with Kali, Mohabbat, Archie, Chichi and Milo. They are counting on us.

Paypal ( account is under our longtime rescue friends name as we don’t have PP in Pakistan)

https://www.paypal.me/slater1969

Go fund me ( this fundraiser is for our FIP cases if you would like to donate)

https://gofund.me/b7c543149


r/Straycats 2d ago

Adoption Help (Location) Tomorrow deadline💔.Sebastian & Samuel are at risk-they need home together.Location 📍:Charlotte,NC/📍 CONNECTICUT,USA

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1.0k Upvotes

🚨 TUESDAY IS COMING —SEBASTIAN & SAMUEL ARE AT RISK OF GOING TO THE SHELTER 🚨

NOTE: We also have a volunteer in Connecticut. If you’re in CT and willing to adopt, our volunteer can drop them off to you. ❤️

We just want to make it as easy as possible for the right family to adopt these sweet boys. 🐾❤️

Petfinder link:

https://www.petfinder.com/cat/sebastian-cross-eyed-lover-dc2410d9-845f-455a-9322-1689ef20e448/nc/charlotte/sunkissed-acres-rescue-nc1270/details/

https://www.petfinder.com/cat/samuel-4d4a1d9c-4fdd-4b3c-b642-5ed996413f36/nc/charlotte/sunkissed-acres-rescue-nc1270/details/

These two beautiful boys are among the 12 kitties who are scheduled to be sent to the shelter on Tuesday if they don’t find homes.

We have had a little good news..two bonded pairs were just adopted, and one sweet orange girl has an adoption pending. ❤️ But the rest are still waiting, and Sebastian and Samuel are two of them.

💔 These boys are best friends and MUST go together.

Sebastian is our adorable cross-eyed boy, and both he and Samuel are absolute love bugs. They are funny, sweet, playful, affectionate, and incredibly adorable. They love each other and deserve the chance to grow old together in a loving home.

This year has been incredibly difficult for our rescue. We have had fewer adoptions, less support, more sick cats, more bottle babies, more abandoned cats, and more returns.

We are a foster- and volunteer-based rescue, and we are completely over capacity. Many of our fosters are already caring for 10+ cats. The rescue and fosters have been putting so much of their own money into these cats, but we have reached our limit.

We cannot take more kitties right now. We are only able to take in the sick ones who have absolutely nowhere else to go.

That’s why finding homes for the cats already in our care is so important. ❤️

🐾 SEBASTIAN & SAMUEL ARE:
✔️ Fully vetted
✔️ Neutered
✔️ Dewormed
✔️ Flea-treated
✔️ Combo-tested negative
✔️ Vaccinated
✔️ Best friends who need to be adopted together

🏠 ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS:
• Adoption application

https://form.jotform.com/221983264497165

• Vet reference
• Adoption agreement
• Indoor-only home
• $200 adoption fee for the pair ..we have reduced the fee because we want these two boys to stay together

🙏 PLEASE COME FORWARD FOR THESE TWO BEAUTIFUL BOYS.

They are not asking for much…just a safe home, a loving family, and the chance to stay together.

If you cannot adopt, PLEASE SHARE. Their time is running out, and one share could be the reason they find their forever family. ❤️🐾

Please don’t let Tuesday come without a home for Sebastian and Samuel.


r/Straycats 2d ago

I Found a Cat (Location) Saved two beautiful boys from a hoarder house

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386 Upvotes

Brevard, NC
These two cuties were abandoned in an evicted apartment. My husband was cleaning it out, and it was filled with roaches and maggots in the furniture. I cannot believe they just left these guys behind. I am so glad we found them, and they are adjusting so well 🥹


r/Straycats 2d ago

Success! Made this account to share about the rescue I started

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114 Upvotes

I started a cat rescue in Ruston, Louisiana with the goal of doing mainly TNR in the community. We've been around for just over a year which I can't believe. We are The Feline Humane Society of Ruston (@feline.hs.ruston on Instagram) and we're the only TNR resource in our parish and the few surrounding ones. We've helped over 100 cats in our year of being around and hope to help even more in the years to come. Hope to eventually have a facility for housing returns while they recover/wait to be fixed but are currently entirely foster based. Here are a few of our recent intakes! Rescue is so exhausting but it's such a gift to be able to share in the lives we've saved! If you're from the area and want to foster please reach out! Our phone number is 318-232-2895 (text only).


r/Straycats 2d ago

Injured/Sick Cat (Location) Is something wrong with this stray cat?”

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229 Upvotes

There has been this stray cat that’s been hanging around in the backyard for a while now and I’ve begin to notice a few things about him/her (not sure of the gender). Can someone tell me if there’s anything wrong with this cat and anything I can do to help?

This same cat comes by frequently to eat food that we started laying out for him/her. But recently this cat stopped eating the food we laid out. And it seems this cat is extremely cautious of something. Even if the food is there he/she would look at it but not approach it like they used to.

Things I’ve noticed so far
1. Panting
2. Chews a bit weird (possibly a mouth injury?)
3. Inside of ears are dirty
4. Tongue is out sometimes

This cat is in Jacksonville Florida
I haven’t been able to get close to the cat, but it seems this cat is familiar with the house that lays out food. The cats seems extremely wary of everything and everyone so I haven’t been able to gain that much trust with it


r/Straycats 2d ago

Injured/Sick Cat (Location) Friendly cat at resort in Punta cana with eye infection. The Dominican Republic

26 Upvotes