I found it caught in a loose string wrapped around it’s leg and released it. After a couple days I’ve noticed it’s been chewing through it’s leg, now, and it’s in a lot of pain I’m sure. The mother won’t care for it either.

These cats are wild and I can’t seem to catch all of them before they start reproducing, for the past 2 years I have been spaying and neutering these cats, but more keep showing up.

I live out in the country in the US, and I haven’t been able to get anyone to come take the cats, it’s like I’m just stuck with them. A few of them are outdoor family cats, and we don’t want to lose those.

I don’t know what to do about any of it, I can’t afford another pet bill right now, especially a bill for a kitten needing so much care. Any recommendations are appreciated. I live in KY, United States

  • GrumpyGramps@beehaw.org
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    2 years ago

    I just want to make sure that at least one person tells you this. You have no obligation to care for these animals. Wild animals get injured and die all the time. You can’t save them all.

    It already sounds like these animals are putting a major stress on your life in both time and money. People can get really weird about wild house pet animals, and will assume you care about them as much as they do. Which I am sure you do.

    The TNR advise is solid if you want to get involved, but please for the love of God do not go into debt ‘saving’ this kitten.

    You sound like a great person. Don’t do anything you are not comfortable with, but sometimes the best thing to do is let nature take it’s course.

    • reric88🧩@beehaw.orgOP
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      2 years ago

      After communicating with a lot of people today, this is what I settled on. I let it go. Hopefully she survives, which I’m pretty confident she will, but she’s going to have a rough time with pain and infection for a while.

      All but two females out of the cats we have are spayed and neutered. We’ve got around 15. Those two females have been hell to catch.

      An old cat lady used to live a half mile down the road, and apparently she passed recently. Left us a gift that just keeps giving lol.

      • hazel 🤷🏻‍♀️🏳️‍🌈@beehaw.org
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        2 years ago

        It’s heartbreaking but that was the right choice I think. There’s an island in Greece where cats are an invasive species, they are everywhere. If I ever want I wouldn’t be able to leave without taking every needy cat I saw :(