Advice needed on caring for VERY weak stray cat I just found?
There is no vet available until tomorrow morning - I'm in a rural area. I found a cat sitting along the side of the road in the snow. The cat was too weak to struggle, and I took it home. The cat is eating and drank about 1/4 cup of water. It is too weak to stand up or walk very well - flops over very easily - it can stay upright, though. This cat appears to be starving. In addition, there is a LOT of mucous coming out of its nose. The cat appears uninjured - at least, there is no visible blood. In addition to food and water, I have put in in the warmest room in my home, which is about 75 F. Is this warm enough, or should I turn up the heat even more? The cat has labored breathing, due to the mucus, and I have no idea if this cat has pneumonia or bronchitis. I have 3 cats of my own, and this cat is much too weak to go sniff at my cats under the door. I have been changing my shirt when I go in and out of the room, and got some sanitizing wipes out of the bathroom to vigorously clean doorknobs after washing my hands very thoroughly with soap and water. Is this sufficient isolation, in case the stray has a communicable disease? I will take the cat to the vet in the AM, but I need to know if there is anything I've missed. This cat is VERY VERY thin and weak and has a disease. It is clearly a PET cat, though - it purrs when I pet it. The cat appears to be under 5 years old, but really, I have no idea. tx for advice!
Are people less allergic to calico cats?
The first few replies need to learn how to read. You never said that a calico was a breed of cat. Only someone lacking rudimentary reading skills would ever think you were implying that, as anyone that knows cats, knows that it is a coat pattern. Also, back to your question, most allergies arrive from either dander or what is in a cats saliva that cause them. from the website http://www.uabhealth.org/17589/ "Contrary to popular belief, people are not allergic to cat's fur, but rather, to a protein found in the saliva, dander (dead skin flakes), or urine of an animal with fur. These proteins are carried in the air on very small, invisible particles, which can land on the lining of the eyes or nose, or be inhaled directly into the lungs. Just why darker coat color would make cats more allergenic is not known, but the researchers speculate that dark-colored cats may produce more of this protein." I hope this helps,
Why do cats don't like people to touch their paws?
It's probably because their paws are more sensitive to touch and feeling, just as our hands are. Their paws have special padding on them to help them walk around, just like the heel of our feet. It's not that it hurts them to be touched,it's just not a part of their body where they would rather be scratched. Try behind the ears next time. That usually produces a loud purr from my kitty. Lauren :)
My cat prefers my roommate?
I adopted a 1 year old stray last year. He acts like a puppy (he greets me at the door every time I come home, is extremely vocal, super playful, etc.) He used to sleep on my bed every night right next to (and sometimes on top of) my face. But then when my roommate began leaving her door open at night, he started sleeping with her instead. Over the summer, that roommate moved out, and for 3 months I lived alone with my cat. But he still did not resume sleeping with me. I buy him lots of toys, play with him a lot, feed him every day, groom him, etc. Yet he still never let me pick him up, and he playfully attacks my hand every time I try to pet him. In August, a new roommate moved in and keeps her door closed at night and is barely ever home. Yet he will greet her at the door, cry at her bedroom door until she lets him in, and then jump onto her lap and fall asleep right there, purring as she pets him. (He RARELY purrs with me.) He even lets her clip his nails! His food is in my bedroom and I am the one to feed him. He still sleeps in my room, but under the bed or behind the curtain (not snuggling with me.) He no longer greets me at the door and sometimes even HISSES when I try to pet him. How do I fix this?!