Sick, stray cat on my porch
Damnit all.
As many of you know, I have taken care of many cats over the years, and now have 5 of my own.
2 of the last 3 males that have come around here seeking food and some warmth in the winter (courtesy of heating pads) have been gravely ill. One male was healthy and not feral, I had him neutered and vaccinated and he now has a wonderful home.
The other two, the kindest thing once I caught them, were euthanized.
And here is a beautiful white male (I call him Cory) with sort of latte-colored markings on tail and along his paws. He's been coming around since winter and just now has gotten friendly enough so I can pet him (with gloves on, gloves that stay outside locked in a cabinet). He's got a horrible, deep, rattling wheeze, and runny eyes, and an oddly rounded belly (he's eaten well for 6 months - I always leave out kibble and a can of moist every day). However, his appetite is gangbusters, and he has enormous energy. He is a total love.
But he's sick. I have antibiotics I'm giving him but won't know for a few more days if they'll help at all.
He hangs out on the porch late at night and while I want him to have food, it stresses me out because some of my kitties go outside for a few hours each day in the mornings - mostly, in this heat, they just hang on the porch, too. Cory only comes by at night (my cats are never out past 2pm or so, when I usually head to the office) so they haven't ever really "met" (though my male cat did chase him off a few months ago when he saw him out and wandering around).
Anyway. I'm going to catch him early next week when it isn't so damn hot out (because he'll have to stay overnight on the porch in the humane trap and I don't want the temps to be too high - there is shade, but it's really hot now and supposed to be much cooler next week). Maybe the antibiotics will have helped by then.
But I think sweet, affectionate Cory is very ill. And that means I have to decide, again, to have a cat euthanized. Like I said, the last two who were put to sleep were so sick it was the only way to stop their suffering (and they were suffering). But Cory is so full of life right now. I know, if he's got FiV or FeLV, the kind thing to do is put him to sleep so he doesn't spread it or start to suffer (aside from his chest congestion) once the disease progresses.
I just feel so damn sad. But I have to protect my cats, and all the other cats out there who aren't sick. I just wanted to write this out. Thanks for reading if you've come this far.
= new reply since forum marked as read
with good reason. I wish you all the best with Cory...once he's been diagnosed, you'll know what's the best course of action. At least he knows a human touch.
he is so eager for affection. Breaks my heart.
Plus, he's getting great food. If he does have FIP (which based on comments downthread and my reading is what I think he has) I'll have to have him euthanized. I just hate being the executioner. I hate doing it with ferals, and hate even more doing it with this loving sweet cat who deserved a good home. 
If so, I'll care for him until he gets a home.
Or when we move, which hopefully we'll do before the end of the year, he can come with us. I want a place with a barn so I can help shelter wayward animals, and Cory can just do his Cory-kitty things wherever we are.
But I think poor baby is really sick.
This decision sucks. Though I'm trying to be positive.
So sorry, Flaxbee. Sometimes it is not easy to make a merciful decision.
Thanks for being you and for being there for the kitties.
Since he's eating well and has energy...the antibiotics should take care of it...once they have it, it sometimes never really leaves, but once they're older and their immune system develops, then they can live well even with recurrences...hope this is all it is.
You didn't steal his life, you let him go before things got bad for him. You saved him needless suffering.
