Extreme Cold Weather Causes Cat to Get Frostbite

Where I reside the winter has been bitter cold and our city had notified the pet owners with newspaper posts and on the nightly news about keeping cats and dog indoors during the extreme cold weather. So  I was surprised to see a neighbors short haired tabby going into the neighborhood sewer for shelter.  The cat spent 2 nights in the sewer and on the following night when it was extremely cold (5 below zero) we rescued the tabby from the bitter cold weather and brought him indoors.  We dried him off with warm towels and then brought the cat to our heated mudroom where we have cat crates set up. 

Rescue Cat in Crate 

The rescued cat was behaving badly.  He meowed loudly and when he was not meowing he tore up his disposable litter box, knocked over his water and food.   My husband held the cat and I cleaned up his crate.  Lined the crate with newspaper, filled anew disposable litter box and then folded over a towel for cat to use as a bed.

Put the cat back into the crate and he again tore up his litter box, knocked over his water and made another mess.  Once again my husband removed the cat and when I went to clean up his crate I found that the cat had diarrhea and suspected that this could be a symptom of frostbite or stress.

We examined the cat’s ears, nose, scrotum, paw pads and toes, all areas where there is not thick covering of hair.  The skin appeared to be pale and blotchy white on his paws this I knew was a sign of frostbite. 

Learn more about this rescued cat at Pet Owner Leaves Cat out in Extreme Cold Weather

Saving Community Cats - Rescue Photographs

Saving cats in your community protects the feral, stray, or abandoned cat from living a life of hardship. 

 I have been saving cats for the last 10 years with the help of my husband and two of my neighbors.  We watch all cats to find out if they have a home, if we determine if they are feral or a stray and then we will bait a live animal trap. When the cats are trapped we will take them to the veterinarian.

Image credit:  Alley Cal Rescue

 All cats that have been trapped, are examined by the veterinarian.  They are also tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline immunology virus.  They receive all preventative shots, including a vaccination for the prevention of feline leukemia.  The cats are wormed, treated for pest infestation; with a dosage of revolution and then they are spayed or neutered. We also have all cats tagged with microchip and all ears are clipped to help us to identify the cats.

As feral cat colony caregivers we  try to rehabilitate all cats.  Feral cats that are willing to be socialized will start a socialization  program.  If the feral cats are unwilling to give up their wild ways then they will remain in the colony and will be watched daily by the colony cat caregivers.

Here are some photographs of the cats that have been spared a life of hardship. I saved these cats with the help of my husband and two neighbors that volunteer their services to watch for feral kittens in the community and to care for the cats in the colony in the forest on a daily basis.
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All photographs by Susan Golis© Please do not copy.

Abandoned Siamese Cate, rescued when he was skin and bones. We call him Sam he is a FeLV survivor

De-clawed cat was abandoned in the woods by my home.  She had been in a fight and could not defend herself because she had no claws.  We call her lucky Lucy as we were able to trap her and save her life.

Baby feral cat trapped at 7 months old, socialized and living with family

Daisy feral kitten trapped at 12 weeks old socialized. She lives with me

Bob adult male, knows his name will come if called, lives at the feral cat colony

Rescued when she was 8 weeks old, took her out of a tree

Black feral kitten born 6/2009 he was killed by neighbors dog on the day I set up the trap. Tabby kitten saved, socialized and adopted.

Adult Woodland feral cat comes to winter feeding station occasionally

Stray cat at winter feeding station

Gracie was rescued;  she was left on bitter cold day (9 degrees) Gracie was rehabilitated and adopted

Lucy, fought off wild animal to save her kitten.  Trapped and received medical care.  Lives in Colony

Rescued abandoned kitten and adopted into a forever home

5 month old kitten comforted after her miscarriage.  My husband rescued her.

Wounded feral kitten trapped for medical care

Feral cat and kitten at feeding station.  Both were trapped spayed or neutered and kitten socialized.

Lost Bengal mix cat reunited with master