Took in a stray cat. Now I can't get rid of it...

[Anonymous]

I took in a stray cat almost two weeks ago. She was wandering outside my house - we almost never have outdoor cats in our neighborhood so I assumed she was lost and that someone would claim her right away. I have put up flyers, posted on Nextdoor, facebook, Pawboost, and reported her missing three county animal shelters. She doesn't have a microchip and has not been claimed. Humane Society is full. FFX Co. animal shelter doesn't take healthy animals (according to them). I have been in touch with a couple of rescues and would serve as a temporary foster, but the only one that has gotten back to me is located an hour away and I'd need to travel to them for vet care, etc.

I think I will most likely end up working with a rescue, but I need to get her to a vet in the short term. She's in my garage because we have two indoor cats who are due for shots, etc. (appt for them is Friday).

Any ideas or does anyone know of a vet that will examine her and give shots and advice if it's safe to let her in with my cats?

Really wasn't anticipating this when I took her in. In no way do we want or need a third cat.

[Anonymous]

You're a great person. Contact the Humane Rescue Alliance if they're local to you and see if they'll help with veterinary care.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took in a stray cat almost two weeks ago. She was wandering outside my house - we almost never have outdoor cats in our neighborhood so I assumed she was lost and that someone would claim her right away. I have put up flyers, posted on Nextdoor, facebook, Pawboost, and reported her missing three county animal shelters. She doesn't have a microchip and has not been claimed. Humane Society is full. FFX Co. animal shelter doesn't take healthy animals (according to them). I have been in touch with a couple of rescues and would serve as a temporary foster, but the only one that has gotten back to me is located an hour away and I'd need to travel to them for vet care, etc.

I think I will most likely end up working with a rescue, but I need to get her to a vet in the short term. She's in my garage because we have two indoor cats who are due for shots, etc. (appt for them is Friday).

Any ideas or does anyone know of a vet that will examine her and give shots and advice if it's safe to let her in with my cats?

Really wasn't anticipating this when I took her in. In no way do we want or need a third cat.

You are taking your cats to a vet, why not use him or her?

[Anonymous]

Do not let it inside with your cats until it’s been tested at the vet. We tried to take in a stray once, but it tested positive for feline leukemia. They can’t live with uninfected cats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not let it inside with your cats until it’s been tested at the vet. We tried to take in a stray once, but it tested positive for feline leukemia. They can’t live with uninfected cats.

There is a vaccination for Feline Leukemia which, I understand many people don't give to their indoor cats. It will also cause a positive result on the antibody test from what I was told when my cats were vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

The comment about the Fairfax county shelter doesn’t make any sense. They are an open-access shelter. Why would they NOT take healthy animals. Either you misunderstood or you spoke with an idiot. Since it’s a county shelter, a good portion of their funding is likely from taxpayers. This is a service taxpayers would expect in return.

[Anonymous]

PP again. More info about the Fairfax shelter: “DAS manages the Fairfax County Animal Shelter , the county’s only open-access municipal shelter. The shelter accepts all companion animals from Fairfax County who need care, regardless of health, age, temperament or history.”

So yeah, you spoke with an idiot. Try them again (unless you want to keep the cat). If you get a similar answer as before, ask to contact the director. I had to do that with my county shelter. The director didn’t know the front-of-house staff needed a bit more training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The comment about the Fairfax county shelter doesn’t make any sense. They are an open-access shelter. Why would they NOT take healthy animals. Either you misunderstood or you spoke with an idiot. Since it’s a county shelter, a good portion of their funding is likely from taxpayers. This is a service taxpayers would expect in return.

I was also turned away by Fairfax county shelter when I tried to help a stray. They suggested I let them go again or find a rescue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The comment about the Fairfax county shelter doesn’t make any sense. They are an open-access shelter. Why would they NOT take healthy animals. Either you misunderstood or you spoke with an idiot. Since it’s a county shelter, a good portion of their funding is likely from taxpayers. This is a service taxpayers would expect in return.

I was also turned away by Fairfax county shelter when I tried to help a stray. They suggested I let them go again or find a rescue.

Heres their policy: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/catintake

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The comment about the Fairfax county shelter doesn’t make any sense. They are an open-access shelter. Why would they NOT take healthy animals. Either you misunderstood or you spoke with an idiot. Since it’s a county shelter, a good portion of their funding is likely from taxpayers. This is a service taxpayers would expect in return.

I was also turned away by Fairfax county shelter when I tried to help a stray. They suggested I let them go again or find a rescue.

Heres their policy: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/catintake

OP here - yes, this is the policy that they provided to me.

All the rescues are full too. The SPCA can't take her, but I may register as a foster with them. As to providing vet care on my own - it's really not a part of my budget and I'd rather do it under the guidelines of whichever org I end up working with so everything is in order for the cat to be adopted. And the cat is not ill.

[Anonymous]

Put her back outside and just leave out some food. The cat will make friends with another nice neighbor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The comment about the Fairfax county shelter doesn’t make any sense. They are an open-access shelter. Why would they NOT take healthy animals. Either you misunderstood or you spoke with an idiot. Since it’s a county shelter, a good portion of their funding is likely from taxpayers. This is a service taxpayers would expect in return.

I was also turned away by Fairfax county shelter when I tried to help a stray. They suggested I let them go again or find a rescue.

Heres their policy: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/catintake

Then they are not operating under DAS guidelines, and should not be funded as such. I would contact Fairfax county government and challenge them on this. I would, but I don’t reside there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The comment about the Fairfax county shelter doesn’t make any sense. They are an open-access shelter. Why would they NOT take healthy animals. Either you misunderstood or you spoke with an idiot. Since it’s a county shelter, a good portion of their funding is likely from taxpayers. This is a service taxpayers would expect in return.

I was also turned away by Fairfax county shelter when I tried to help a stray. They suggested I let them go again or find a rescue.

Heres their policy: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/catintake

Then they are not operating under DAS guidelines, and should not be funded as such. I would contact Fairfax county government and challenge them on this. I would, but I don’t reside there.

What is DAS? I may do just that.

[Anonymous]

if you post on NextDoor (or Craigslist, although that seems more sketchy) I am sure you'll find someone willing to adopt her pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

You shouldn’t feed strays unless you are prepared to have them stick around….