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More Larry news and I could use some help (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 days ago by to c/cat@lemmy.world
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I've posted before about Larry. I thought he was a stray or more likely abandoned and I've been feeding him for over a month now and trying to find a home for him (my wife is allergic so I can't bring him in). I found out today he has a home. One of my neighbors owns him. The problem is he's very thin and not neutered and is allowed to roam around the neighborhood. It seems at least as far a I can tell he's not being taken care of. I'm really torn as to what to do. I've thought about confronting the neighbor but they don't speak English. Any advice would be appreciated.

Larry the cat in cat mint
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[–] 9 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

I took in a stray male cat a few months back. I tried to find an owner but no luck.

I got him neutered a few weeks after I took him in and got a few lbs on him. He was half starved when I took him in.

Anyway.

He's had some health issues. I had him tested for FIV at the vet and he was positive.

FIV is like HIV but for cats. Same progression.

Virus slowly decimates the immune system until there is no immune system and cat dies from some common infection that usually their body could easily fight.

It shortens their lifespan considerably. And even minor health problems often persist and get worse. Dental. Skin problems. Lung and heart. Often they lose a lot of weight once it progresses.

It's just a bad situation.

I mention this because it's actually a very common virus in outdoor unneutered males.

It's often spread from fights with each other.

Neutered males don't get in fights as much. Significantly lowering their risk.

Even if the cat already has it, neutering him will reduce chance of him getting hurt from fights. And of spreading it.

Plus street kittens have low life expectancy. Best to help prevent those sad deaths.

Also. Google translate. I've used it to talk to people. It has a voice option. It's clunky but you can use it to talk to the owner.

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  • [–] [S] 4 points 4 days ago (1 child)

    I had no idea about FIV to be honest I'm learning about cats as I go (I never took care of one before). That is the saddest thing I've heard in awhile.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 days ago*

    Yeah I was pretty upset when I learned he had it. I think a lot of people don't realize it's out there and common.

    So neutering isn't just to prevent street kittens but could help reduce the infection rate.

    There are other viruses that are pretty bad for cats. Like the lukemia one. I'm not sure if it's transmitted the same. But probably since it's a virus.

    There is an adolescent male with a collar on that comes up to my porch some times.

    I've been trying to figure out who the owner is. Let them know that local outdoor cats around the neighborhood have FIV. They need to get him neutered and should honestly keep him inside.

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