Expert: Ali - 1/23/2009

Question
QUESTION: I rescued this cat after it's owner abandoned it for about 4-5 months I believe it was outside in "the wild" so to speak prolly as a kitten till I found it. When I found him he was skin and bones and shaking and meowing VERY loudly once I fed him and took care of him he seemed to warm up to me and have been feeding him regularly cat food out of cans mixed in with dry cat food. He hasn't been nutered or spay'd as far as I know he still has his testicles. he has been very demanding in the mornings with his sometimes very loud boesterous (can be annoying he meows a lot) meow. Recently he has been acting odd meowing mor frequently lodly as if he needs something. I know to take him to a vet but I can't afford to take him to one. I found him this morning laying on top of a car Meowing very loud so all the neighbors could here. He was covered in mud on his face. the other day I found him in the house eating a dead mouse (wild look in his eye) I washed him and fed him and he selpt most of the day. then woke up again at 3pm meowing very loudly, kinda sounding like a female cat in heat like a low rumbling meow, sad kinds but oud. He meow's at me demanding to go outside. It seemed to help like usuall petting him trying to sooth him but it seems like maybe he lost some trust in me. He got back up and meow'd again like as if HE was in heat. I let him outside. Any answer back would help me out, Very concerned friend. Thanks.

ANSWER: Tobach,

If your male cat hasn't been neutered that would be a good place to start. Intact male cats don't experience heat cycles but they can become more aggressive and vocal if there is a female cat in heat nearby because the only thing that's on their mind at that point is breeding. There is also a distinct possibility that something serious is happening medically with this cat so I think that an assessment done by a vet is very important. I wouldn't suggest postponing this exam because the cat could have serious issues like a urinary tract infection or crystals in his bladder or urinary tract among other possibilities. Since this cat kills and eats small prey animals I suspect that he is probably hungry, unfortunately a diet of prey animals virtually guarantees that this cat has a significant amount of intestinal parasites and possibly external parasites like fleas and ticks dependant on where you live. If I have a general idea of where you are I can possibly offer some resources that may be able to help cover the cost of this cat's treatment as there are organizations that are committed to helping pet parents who rescue stray/abandoned pets afford necessary medical care.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK I live in Santa Clartita, C.A. and would appreiciate any help I could get for him. Thx :)

Answer
Tobach,

You may want to check out the following resources:

- Voice for the Animals Foundation, Helping friends program vftafoundation.org

- Helen Woodward Animal Center, http://www.animalcenter.org

- SF SPCA Animal Hospital, http://www.sfspca.org

- SHARE Marin Humane Society, http://www.marinhumanesociety.org/programsservices/SHARE.html

- PAWS San Diego, http://http://www.pawssdc.org

- PALS - Pets Are Loving Support, http://www.sonic.net/~pals/index.html

- PAWS Los Angeles, http://www.pawsla.org

- PAWS San Francisco, www.pawssf.org

These resources are only for those pet parents that are in need of financial assistance to provide appropriate veterinary care for their animal companions. I do hope that these resources offer some help and are able to meet your needs one way or another.