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Dear Pussophiles,

Near my wife's place of work is a group of stray cats whom she has been feeding.

One of them appears to have a damaged front paw.

I've contacted a vet here who specializes in fixing up stray cats, but he won't, of course, catch it to bring it into his clinic.

These could very well be feral cats.

Should I venture to try and catch this cat via a trap? Could I wind up hurting it more?

We've been pussy-footing around with this for a while, but I'd hate to think the little feline is in constant pain . . .

This sort of thing does give one paws to think . . .

Alex

Dear Alex:

As a precaution, you should consider that, by now, the stray cat has become accustomed to being regularly fed by your wife.

Any act distinguishable from this routine might be taken as a purr-fidy by the cat, and it might bring out its feral nature and fight back!

Amado

Dear Amado,

Fur-sure!

I think I'll go out and investigate the possibility of tailing that feline myself.

It could have its paw fixed and then released back into the wild.

As for the fees for the services, I guess I could approach my wife's boss for a claw-back . . .

Alex

Alex - fur sure you've met this problem befur I seem to remember.

how did you catch the wee thing last time ?

Can't the vet give you a wee something to put in food fur it and then catch it ?

Anhleyna

We have many cats that I also give food to. None have really come close enough to let me pet them and I worry they might have disease and I don't want to bring that upon my own two cats who are indoors only. However one day last summer when I sat outside to recite the rosary, I worried about all these strays that people leave when the move, because they are "too much extra baggage" to take along! I was startled when I opened my eyes to see this old, but proud male cat sitting three feet in front of me! My first thought was "WWSFD?" "What Would St. Francis Do?" I talked to the cat and yes I talk to any animals around here! I came in the house, got a rubber glove and Neo-Sporin! After 30 minutes, this old cat let me put the Neo-Sporin on him, his wound is better, he is healthier and he waits eagerly for our recitation of the rosary and our "talks" that has been the only time I have touched him, and it seems he trusts me and for me that is good enough! Every cat is different! This was my experience.

Dear Alex,

I was back tracking on posts and see this one got buried before this ole cat whisperer could see it.

Feral cats can be diseased and can attack easily, but your compassion for the wee one (as Anhleyna calls it) is commendable.

If you haven't already taken action...might I suggest that you do try to pick up the kitty especially if he/she seems to be having the same injured paw trouble? But do this quietly, swiftly, and wear heavy gloves (leather is best) and a good thick coat even if it is 90 degrees outside.

It works best to pick up the cat grabbing the skin on the back of the neck like you would a kitten. This sort of makes the kitty temporarily immobile. Don't try to hug kitty toward your body even though you are wearing armour. Kitty may well bite or scratch or may be too weak to do much but a quiet hissing. Then you will have to have some kind of carrier available close by...maybe some cat owner can lend you one unless you have your own. It may be good to ask your wife for back-up help in this operation.

Put the kitty in carrier and transport to a vet. Pick one not too far away. Kitty could make lots of noise to disturb long drives through traffic. Kitty will need treatment and if the vet there is like those here they will also insist it receive shots before you can return it to the life to which it has been accustomed. Perhaps there is a humane society there where you can get free shots. My prayers for kitty and you and ....

Cheers,

Mary Jo