What To Do When A Sick Feral Barn Kitty Can't Be Caught / Treated

[grey_mare1]

Please, no criticism, just looking for ideas. A very contagious upper respiratory infection (chlamydia) got spread among the barn kitties. I took the friendly ones to the vet and got meds, although eventually another vet told me that unless ALL the ferals are treated, they will get re-infected.

Most seem to have strong immune systems and are ok. One little guy has a snotty nose and eyes. I know he’s too shy to catch, much less treat for 4-5 weeks with eye drops and antibiotics. I called the rescue group that I got him from. I’m going to ask the rescue group lady to take him back and treat him, (and then he can get the vaccination for chlamydia). But I’m not sure she will (taking a contagious cat is no small risk). My vet who does medical board wouldn’t agree to it.

The rescue group lady has a lot of experience rehabbing/medicating all sorts of ferals. I most certainly do not. I can medicate my indoor calm, saintly kitties, but that’s it.

Thanks.

Just wondering what people do in this situation.

[trubandloki]

If he is not treatable, but catchable (must be if you are going to give him back to the rescue), maybe euthanasia is the answer?

[endlessclimb]

Really you’re down to euthanasia or keeping him in a crate where he can be caught on a daily basis. Wear your welding gloves, and keep the crate in a bathroom or similar so if he escapes, it’s not a full-blown escape.

[grey_mare1]

To be honest here, I’m concerned that if I bring him to vet(s) for euthanasia, they won’t agree. Because for them, with a team of vet techs and superb feral kitty skills and facilities, the kitty could be medicated for a few weeks, then vaccinated. I’m calling around looking for vets that do medical board AND will take a contageous kitty.

[beowulf]

Does he come around regularly for food?

If so see if you can either get him into a Have A Heart trap or see if you can get him into a tack room, or some other enclosure like a dog kennel.

Is this a cat that you adopted, or is it a stray that showed up?

If it is a cat you adopted, I think you are obligated to try and treat him. No judgment in that, just remembering that many shelters have this as a clause in their adoption contract.

I hope you can get the little guy. My best barn kitty was a small, snotty little thing that fought like the dickens when I first trapped him and turned around in a matter of days. Sometimes when they are really sick they will surprise you by how quickly they turn around to being handled once trapped.

Reading between the lines here, you are concerned they won’t agree to euthanasia? Bringing him in may be an upgrade for him than your barn home, if he ends up with a tech. Just putting that out there as a possibility that sometimes these things do work out in the cat’s favor. Are you overwhelmed with cats?

I got five, so I commiserate.

[grey_mare1]

Thanks, I’m not overwhelmed, I just hate seeing a barn kitty with a snotty nose and eyes. I’m only a medication-giver for calm, confident kitties with ragdol-ish personality I could trap this one in his heated box, but otherwise he won’t let me get near him.

[2DogsFarm]

You’ve got a good heart
Trap & contact a local shelter.
One I’ve adopted from has Isolation for FIV/FeLu+ surrenders & a mini clinic setup to treat contagious illnesses.

Jingling for snotnose to be trapped&treated

[luvmyhackney]

I trap and house them in a dog crate until meds are done.

I can’t do eye meds alone, takes two people and a pillowcase. Other meds just add with food and call it a day.

I fed mine in the bathroom so I can catch them in there as needed. They will let me pet, but picking up brings out the inner demons.

[jherold]

I’d leave him be or crate him in the barn if he will eat antibiotics in food. If I understand correctly, your friendly cats are now immune and you can vaccinate whenever your vet recommends. The stress of forcing treatment might be worse than the discomfort of the disease. The cat doesn’t understand that you are trying to make him more comfortable.

[4horses]

Trap him and put him in a crate. Take him to the vet for an injection of antibiotic if he has infected eyes or whatever else he needs Keep him in the crate and monitor his condition until recovery. A bathroom or other small room works well. Set up a cage with litter box and maybe a tunnel to transfer him to a different cage. A bird cage works well (with the vertical slide doors) rather then the swing open doors.