Expert: Jessica - 9/23/2010

Question
I have been caring for 6 cats for the last 6 months.
I want to get their shots and spayed. They are finally letting me pet them as they eat. But not let me pick them up, yet. How can I get them. And 2 cats came around with their heads titled to the side and I afraid they my have something.  Also is there any way I could get help to pay for shot and spay?  I am on a very limited income.  And want the cats shots before getting FIP or rabies.  I love my cats.  Help

Answer
Hi Terry,

On behalf of the cats, thanks for stepping in to care for them!  As far as getting your hands on them to spay and neuter them, you will likely need to trap them with a humane trap.  These have a door that you prop open using a latch on the top of the cage on one or both ends.  It has a trigger pedal inside, and you place some food beyond the trigger pedal inside the cage.  When the cat enters the trap for the food and steps on the trigger, the doors close.  You should set the trap in a sheltered area, such as underneath a tree or around bushes, to protect the cat from sun, rain or wind (or with a towel on top if it’s winter), and be sure to set it only when you’ll be there to check it frequently.  Also, I advise against setting it at night so that you don’t catch a raccoon, skunk or opossum.  Traps can usually be borrowed from an animal officer or shelter, or if there is one in your area, a TNR (trap-neuter-return) organization will certainly help you.  If no one has a trap they can lend you, they’re available at feed supply stores or lawn and garden centers for around $60 (you want the size for skunks and raccoons).

Regarding helping you with the costs, your best bet would be to contact the TNR group I mentioned earlier.  They’re not available everywhere but are becoming more popular.  TNR organizations are encouraging people to do just what you’re doing – to feed feral (unsocialized) cats, trap them, neuter and vaccinate them, and then return them to where they found them.  The people who found the cats continue to feed them and monitor the cats for their well-being.  The point of the TNR organizations is to raise awareness and funds to encourage people to become involved and help the colony monitors get their cats neutered.  Volunteers with the TNR group can help you trap the cats and arrange cost-free or low-cost appointments with the vet when the cats are trapped.

Because local vets often perform the spays/neuters and vaccinations at discounted costs to the organizations, they usually know if one exists in the area.  I would call around to all the vets in the yellow pages in your phone book.  See if any work with a TNR org in your area.  They should be able to give you a contact number if they do.

If one does not exist, visit your local shelter.  Many of them have applications for assistance with spays and neuters if you meet financial requirements.  And if that doesn’t pan out, check with local vets themselves.  A lot of vets offer discounted spay/neuter and vaccination services for stray animals.  These are the vets you know are still in business because their hearts are in it!

As for the vaccinations, unfortunately, there is no vaccination against FIP.  There was experimentation with one, but vets have agreed that it is a poor vaccine and have abandoned it.  It’s also such a rare disease that the vaccine is not worth the risk.  There is, however, one against FIV.  For outdoor cats, this may be worth the risk if you vow to take responsibility for the cat forever.  However, the vaccine will make him/her test positive for FIV indefinitely, and for most cats, this is an automatic death sentence if they are picked up by an animal officer or are going into a home.  Since the majority of cats will fight off FIV naturally, and most neutered cats don’t engage in the high-risk behavior that results in FIV (serious fighting), you should think carefully about whether or not the FIV vaccine is really required.  The leukemia vaccine is probably a very good idea for all outdoor cats.  However, it does need to be repeated yearly.

The cats with their heads tilted to the sides may have something contagious.  This could be FIP but may be something such as a very bad case of ear mites, which are quite contagious, or a protozoan infection called toxoplasmosis, also contagious.  A topical flea treatment called Revolution, which you need to apply monthly, will protect your cats against ear mites.  This is available only through vets.  An antibiotic will be required to cure your cats of toxoplasmosis, should they come down with it.

Best of luck!

Jessica