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Posted: Oct/16/2006 10:08 PM PST
my neighbor Mike on the lower terrace has been feeding the stray cats in the neighborhood. he's a great guy and has pet cats of his own. he told me last week he's been finding 'his strays' with their hind quarters paralyzed and withered. shortly afterwards they die. he said he had seen them the previous day and they were fine. one young cat had actually managed to crawl up to his porch but died soon after. now one of the neighbors across from him has lost one of his pet cats to the same symptoms and another is very ill. so far mine are fine as are the pet cats of another neighbor next door to Mike. all the pet cats go outdoors during the day and i'm sure most hunt. Mike called Animal Control and they made their obligatory pass thru but nothing was done. Mike's banged on doors and has even taken food he's found left out and thrown it away for fear someone is poisoning these cats. after a talk i had today w/Mike i did some research online and found a poison w/symptoms matching those mentioned> [B]Malathion[/B] came up as a mild insecticide, sprayed around for mosquitoes. it's also used on corn crops and grass seed. secondary poisoning was the culprit. mice eat the corn and birds eat the seed. the cat eats the mouse or bird and gets the poison thru ingestion. has anyone had anything similar happen? i tried to reach my vet today but it was after hours so i'll try again tomorrow. i asked Mike if his neighbor was taking his sick cat to the vet but he didn't believe so. the man didn't have much money and can't afford a vet bill. |
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Posted: Oct/16/2006 11:14 PM PST
My mom's dog died that way several years ago. Pretty sure on him it was quick lime though since a neighbors cow had died and they put quick lime on it. May not know for sure without taking one of them to the vet or taking a body in to have necropsy on. It could be something they are getting a hold of that a neighbor could have sprayed around not realizing it could hurt a cat, the secondary poisoning or it could be someone poisoning them. I think if I had the money I would be finding out what it is to narrow down how it is happening so that it could possibly be stopped. |
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Posted: Oct/16/2006 11:23 PM PST
i agree w/you, kozy. i'm tempted to take that guy's sick cat into the vet myself even if i have to pay the bill. i'd really like to find out what's going on. i told Mike to save the next dead cat he finds but i don't think he has. |
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Posted: Oct/17/2006 1:36 AM PST
Sounds like what happened to my MIL cat she took it to the vet someone had put out antifreeze and the cat drank it . |
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Posted: Oct/17/2006 2:07 AM PST
Yeah, there are several things that can cause them to end up being paralyzed in the back before death. I really doubt it is possible without a trip to the vet with either a sick or passed away cat. I would hope that it is a accidental poisoning, but there are some sick people in this world. If a vet can identify the exact cause then it may be possible to determine how the cats are getting it. |
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Posted: Oct/17/2006 2:39 AM PST
There was one sicko in a neighborhood where I lived who would toss bits of hamburger poisoned with snail bait to the local cats. I lost two that way. Your cats may be getting into regular snail bait though. I hear it's a fairly common way that cats get poisoned. |
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Posted: Oct/17/2006 3:05 AM PST
I am very sick to hear about things like this..There is one way to be sure they will be safe and that is "Keep them in the house" I have 7 cats (4 at home and 3 at the store) and they have never seen the great deadly outdoors..And please don't buy into the crap that cats need to go outside, because they do not. Mine are all happy HEALTHY (not obese) and full of fun..I wouldn't think of letting the outside..Besides all the obvious dangers(dogs, cars, owls, cougars, coyotes and STUPID people ) we live on a very busy road. |
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Posted: Oct/17/2006 3:19 AM PST
Sometimes it does depend on the cat. I have a cat that was raised in the house, put out for one day because we had to spray the house. From that day on anytime you carry her near the door to bring her in, she will tear you up. She wanted nothing to do with the inside. On the other hand I have a inside kitty that is paranoid if you so much as leave the bathroom door open (she likes to be in the bathroom and she does not like to leave it or have the door left open). Go figure. We don't have neighbors close enough to poison ousr, but there are coyotes and things that could get them if they stay away from the house too late at night. |
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Posted: Oct/17/2006 3:22 AM PST
my cats have been allowed outdoors during the day for 11 years. i doubt i'll be able to keep them in 100% of the time at this point. Digby in particular. he'd go crazy if i tried to keep him in. that's why i want so badly to find out what's going on. maybe there's something that can be done about it. i also feel bad for those strays. we also live approx. 30' from a busy U.S. hwy and they've never tried to cross the road once. they all have fear of cars and there's too many interesting places to go in the park..woods, lake, etc. |
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Posted: Oct/17/2006 10:06 AM PST
my kitites used to go outside until my male got lyme disease so they are now indoor kitties, it took them awhile to get used to being inside all the time but it's been 3 yrs now, they try to sneak out once inawhile. it was rough for the first few months, they were out door kitties for the first 3 yrs of their lives and they loved the outdoors, chasing things,etc, but i was nervous with coyotes, etc around. the male got chased by a rabid coon and i was so glad i was home that morning so i got him inside quickly and called the police to shot the coon as i tried but kept missing |
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