Caring for Ferals.

When is a cat too sick to take to the TNR clinic?

 This post is just an opinion of what has worked for me, please always consult a vet when you have a sick animal. This is not meant to be professional medical advice 

When doing TNR you are bound to run across the occasional sick feral. Summer is the prime time for URIs. (upper respiratory infection) , ringworm, flea allergies, and cats having infections caused from bite wounds. Spring and summer is prime mating time and with it comes a lot of fighting and biting which can cause the spread of disease if the cats have not been currently TNRed. It is your responsibility as the caretaker, to see to it that your colony remains healthy. If you are the one trapping for the caretaker, then you should assume the responsibility to make sure the cats are healthy before being return. 

If you are performing TNR you are going to need the help of your vet. In Baltimore, the MDSPCA can only offer a Penicillin G shot (last two days) to treat all illnesses. This is not going to be effective in some cases and it is up to you to seek additional medical help.  If you are using the CCMD clinic, they can sometimes, have a convenia shot (2 week antibiotic) available, if you let them know ahead of time you will be bringing in a sick cat. If so, it is important that you know the exact weight of the cat to be sure the medication is effective. Convenia is an expensive drug at $300 a bottle and only last a few days under refrigeration. But it works at healing most infections. Please check with both of these TNR clinics in advance before bringing in a sick animal. Sometimes they will wish for you to treat the animal at home before bringing them in to be spayed/neutered.  

Never bring in an animal who is suffering from hair loss due to possible ringworm. CCMD uses space at the Baltimore city animal shelter, A ringworm outbreak in the shelter could result in the needless euthanizing of several otherwise healthy cats and dogs. Any cat having hair loss should be taken to a vet to determine if it is ringworm prior to exposing them to other animals.  


Cats with colds, runny eyes, mild sneezing can be spayed/neutered. If you see yellow/green mucus and discharge from the nose, and the cat is obviously having difficulty breathing, you should take the cat instead to your vet to be treated. Most often they will offer convenia injection, or give you another form of antibiotic. Please let the staff know at the TNR clinic that the cat is sick. A sneeze is airborne and can travel for four feet, infecting all other cats. A cat with even a mild cold the staff will want to keep covered and separated from the other animals. 


Sign of limping or broken bones can not be treated at TNR clinics. These are high volume spay/neuter clinics only. Again take the cat to a feral friendly vet office who can sedate and treat the injured animal. Ferals should be taken to the vet in a trap, please remember to bring the divider. 


Remember, your TNR clinic staff are angels, but they can not perform miracles. Somethings you are just going to learn how to care for the cat  yourself, In the next few days I will continue with the blog post, offering ways to treat common illnesses in cats. Whether prior or post care from the TNR clinic.