Conference misery::feline

    I don't know where you found this cat, but...
    
    Recently (w/in the last month) there was an ad in the paper for a
    missing cat that had a purple collar!  I don't remember whether the
    area was Nashua or Merrimack.  
    
    Is is possible for you to call the Nashua Telegraph (882-2741) and 
    ask if they could look back in their ads.  They may still have the
    cats description (and owner's phone number).   
    
    I'd run home at lunch and go through the papers but we just went to
    the reycling station on Saturday (figures!).
    
    Let us know if you have any luck.
    
    Sharon
    
     
    one that you found?  (

    Sharon had a good idea.  I've called our local paper before and
    asked them to look at some lost ads that had been posted for
    the entire year.  You can also place an ad in the paper saying
    your "found" a cat and give a description.   You should also
    contact any local shelters or vets offices to see if a lost kitty
    was reported.
    
    I personally would continue to feed it. try to find it's original
    home...and if all else fails try to find her a new home.  It's my
    guess that kitty is definitely loss or abandoned.....and has
    showed up at your doorstep for help.  Hopefully she has been spayed...
    and you don't have to worry about her being pregnant.
    
    Keep us posted...
    Sandy

    Thanks for that info Sharon.
    
    I did call the Nashua Telegraph and they checked their records but
    couldn't find any with a cat with a purple collar.  However, their
    records only go back for exactly one month.  So, if it was just before
    that, it won't be on file.  Darn!  Their system also only let her
    search for one word, such as "lost".  I asked her to check for
    "missing' as well but no luck.
    
    What I did, though, was place an ad.  Hopefully, this way those people
    who lost her will see the ad in the paper.
    
    Thanks again for the tip.
    
    Donna

    if your town's library get the Nashua telegraph? If so, it might be
    worth your effort to stop by and check the back issues. You may have to
    ask at a reference desk to see their "archive", i.e., those that are
    over a few weeks old and not out of the shelve any more.
    
    good luck,
    Deb

    I specifically remember the ad saying that the cat had a purple 
    collar.  Hmmm...
    
    Did you call the Nashua Humane Society?  Whenever I find a dog or
    cat I call them to see if anyone has reported a pet missing.  One
    time we actually located the dogs owner.
    
    One other thing, I'd recommend mentioning in your ad that the cat 
    has a purple collar.  I believe that the telegraph will run lost and
    found ads free for 3 days.
    
    Good luck!
    
    

    Just be sure that if anyone says she's their cat, that you
    make sure she is -- withhold some item of identification to
    ask them about, for example.  You don't want her falling into
    the hands of the cretins who claim animals in order to sell them
    to medical research places.
    

    Also, if she is FIV and FeLV negative and otherwise okayed by
    your vet, you could let her into your house...  (heh, heh...
    plan afoot :-)
    

    also, call the dog officer and all of the vets in town. (Usually they
    keep lost and found lists).
    
    Deb

    I am going to make more calls later today.  I had called the Humane
    Society in Nashua but they are only open Tuesday-Saturday.  I will
    definitely call the local vets.  I will also go to the Nashua Library
    and see if I can look back in the Telegraph.
    
    Re:  905.6
    
    I definitely agree about withholding some info.  The ad I put in the
    paper will say "Found: small female cat with purple collar in Nashua
    area."  I purposely didn't put what color so that if someone calls me I 
    can make sure she is theirs.
    
    Re:  906.7
    
    I thought of that already!  Unfortunately, both my boyfriend and I are
    softies.  I really hope I can find her original owners.
    
                                                                   

    Another question...
    
    I noticed that when she eats, she eats all of the food I give her.
    I gave her as much as I give my kitty and she gulps it all down.  I am
    wondering if maybe she has worms?  

    Re: .10
    
    Maybe, but maybe she hasn't eaten in quite awhile and figures she
    can't let any chance go by.  It took one of my rescued cats about a
    year before he stopped going thru the kitchen trash can for every tiny
    scrap of food, butter wrappers, etc., even when he'd just eaten :-(
    
    As long as she isn't throwing it up, if she seems underweight, I'd feed
    her extra for awhile, but then taper down once she's put the weight
    back on.
    
    

    It could be as Karen states...or it could be worms...or worse
    case she could be pregnant; therefore she is eating more.  If you
    can afford it...it might be best to bring her to the vets for
    a quick check up.
    
    I am currently feeding a very small, young undernourished momma
    kitty who had her kittens somewhere (I can't find them yet).  This
    little Momma probably only weights 5 pounds...but she is eating close
    to 12 oz of wet food a day.
    
    Sandy
    

    Before letting her come into contact with your cats you may want
    to quarantine her on the porch or spare room for approx. 10 days 
    (assuming you have her for that long).  That way if she is carrying
    any kitty germs (colds, etc.) yours won't be exposed.
    
    Also, it is recommended for lost cats that the owner search in a 
    10 mile radius around their home.  It's amazing how far they can
    travle.  You may want to expand your "Found Cat" posters beyond
    your immediate neighborhood.
    
    Good luck!
    
    Jan
                                                                

    I went to the Nashua Library last night to look back in the lost/found
    section of the Nashua Telegraph.  I looked from April til now.  The
    only thing that I found that said purple collar was one that was in
    there from mid-end of April.  However, it said purple collar with
    rabies tag and it was in the Sanders/Raytheon area in Hudson.  She
    doesn't have a rabies tag (not that it couldn't have come off I guess) but
    we're also in Nashua (not that she couldn't have traveled that far).  
    It also said female calico cat.  She is more of a tiger cat I think.  
    
    I called some local vet offices yesterday and am going to call the rest
    today.  I'm also going to call the Humane Society.
    
    I'll keep you posted.
    

    Geez - all the way back to April?  Time flies...  It seems like it was
    within the last month that I saw the purple collar ad.
    
    Well, she certainly picked the right house to be "found" at.  If either 
    of my cats ever gets out/lost I hope that somebody like you finds
    her!  You're certainly doing all of the right things.
    
    Good luck and keep us posted.
    
    Sharon
    

    Any updates on this cat?  I've seen the ad running for a few days
    now - I've been waiting to hear some good news...
    
    Sharon

    No one has called yet from the ad.  I called all the vets and animal 
    hospitals in Nashua.  I also called the Humane Society and the Animal 
    Control Officer.  No luck. 
    
    We're going to bring her to the vet.  I was just looking in this notes
    file for a recommendation for Nashua and found Dr. Leo Bishop at the
    Animal Hospital of Nashua referenced a few times in here.  We want to
    just have her checked out and see if she's pregnant, etc.
    
    This morning there was this big white and brown cat hanging around my
    house and I noticed him yesterday.  He seemed to be really *curious*
    about her.  I usually let her out during the day and we keep her on the 
    porch at night.  She didn't seem to like him too much so I put her back 
    on the porch.  Maybe I'm being a little overprotective but the last thing 
    we/she needs is to get into a scuff with a big cat.
    
    I'll keep you posted.
                                               

    Both of my cats go to Dr. Bishop - while I'm sure they're not too
    fond of him, I like him a lot.  The folks there took good care of
    my previous cat Nikita before she died of kidney failure.
    
    There is also another (newer) veterinarian who is a woman that I
    like a lot as well.  I cannot remember her name off the top of my
    head.  (As a matter of fact, I brought a stray female in to be checked 
    out a few months back and she was the person that saw us.  Geez, these
    cats know who to pick to move in with :*)

They're Dr. Nena Grossius & Dr. Judy Surdam

		Trace (AHN employee in my other life)

    The person I was thinking of is Judy.  I have friends that see
    Nena and like her alot.  It sounds like you can't go wrong
    with any of them!
                      
    

    We took the kitty to the vet last Friday.  Dr. Bishop examined her and
    we found out that she wasn't pregnant.  He also shaved some fur off 
    her belly to see if she had been spayed and we saw a scar.  We were
    feeling positive about all this --she wasn't pregnant, she had been
    spayed, no worms, etc.  But then we had them do the blood test for FIV
    and Feline Leukemia and she ended up testing positive for Feline
    Leukemia.  Dr. Bishop called himself and told me.  He also told me that
    they did the test twice just to make sure.
    
    I was really sad by the news.  Dr. Bishop told me he has a client who takes
    in feline leukemia positive cats.  I told him I was going to call a 
    shelter too who I thought may take her.  I called the Pat Brody Shelter 
    but the recording said they will not and cannot take any more cats.  I 
    left my name and number asking them for a referral.  I also called 
    Dr. Bishop's office on Saturday and Monday asking them about that client 
    who takes these cats in.  I have not heard back from either one yet.
    
    Anybody have other ideas?  I really feel bad because she is such a
    sweet cat and we were probably going to keep her if everything checked
    out OK.  I also am very concerned about my cat (even though they have
    not come into direct contact with each other).  Also, what are the
    symptoms of this disease?  She seems to be pretty healthy.  She has a 
    good appetite etc.
    

    
    re .21
    
    If your cat has been vaccinated against Feline Leukemia, it should
    be ok. I know that cats that tested positive, if well taken cared
    of, can still enjoy a good life. Maybe your vet can tell you what
    to expect of the disease.
    
    
    Eva

    My cat has not been vaccinated against Feline Leukemia which is why I
    was concerned.  My regular vet (Dr. Merrill at Wilton Animal Hospital) 
    told me that the shots are only 60-80% effective and since my kitty is 
    indoor that he was at very low risk.  Hence, this is why I didn't have him
    vaccinated for that in the past.  Dr. Bishop thinks that I should
    vaccinate my cat now even though they have not been in contact with
    each other at all.  I am calling my regular vet in Wilton to ask for
    their advice as well.  I guess it can't hurt to vaccinate even though
    I've read differing opinions on that subject.

    I have mine vaccinated;  you never know when one might accidentally get
    outdoors if there's a burglary(sp?) or who knows what.  My first cat,
    Pussycat, died of FeLV;  it is unclear how long he had it before
    symptoms appeared as he had been an indoor only cat for eight years
    with no apparent symptoms;  symptoms only appeared in about the last
    week of his life.
    

    Before vaccinating the cat that was "possibly exposed"
    I would contact Cornell or UC Davis.  What I would want to 
    know is if the vaccine, given to a cat in this situation, would 
    actually improve the chances of the cat coming down with the 
    disease or not.
    
    This is messin' around with the immune system in a serious way.
    Check with the big guns first!
    Karen

    Karen,
    Is the vaccine a live virus; mild version of the actual disease
    intended to bolster the immune system and hopefully survive a stronger
    version of the virus?
    Sarah

    Sarah,
    I don't remember if it is a modified live or killed vaccine.
    What does happen is that when given any vaccine, the immune system
    responds.  If the cat was exposed to a live virus it's immune system is
    already compromised.  If it is again compromised by the vaccine all you
    will end up with is a very strong chance that you will in actuality get
    the disease.  It is not a question of a stronger version.  Just how
    much can the immune system take at any one time.
    
    BTW, modified vaccines can mutate and become "un-modified".  Scarey
    thought, isn't it?  Proper handling by the manufacturer, in transit,
    by the veterinarian or caretaker can all play a part in the quality
    and effectiveness of any vaccine.
    
    A particular cats immune system can vary at different times and not all
    cats are alike "pure" or not.
    Karen
         

    Re: .27
    
    I'm not sure that that is true for the FeLV vaccine.  I dimly
    recall hearing that it is the contrary...  I even more dimly
    recall that .27 is correct for the FIP vaccine...  I would
    ask the vet.
    

    There is some great stuff on the internet about both of these
    vaccines.  I don't know how to copy it here, or even if it is
    permissable.  I suggest that if anyone has access, to try it.
    Karen