what to do if a stray gets sick

I am so stressed right now. I found this little tabby kitten last week and he is named Taco. He was really sick when I got him, but I thought he was turning the corner. Today he is not eating and is just lying in his blanket. I am scared he is getting sicker.

I have Kiki, my other cat, who is fine, but I am worried about isolating Taco properly. What do I do if he gets worse? I feel like I am failing him.

Oh honey, do not panic. You are doing a great job caring for him. If he is not eating and is lethargic, that is a sign to call your vet today. Do not wait until tomorrow. Kittens can go downhill fast when they stop eating.

You can read more about what to look for in recognizing sickness in kittens early. It helped me when my Hazel was a kitten, though she was not as dramatic as this. But the signs are the same. Keep him warm and try to get some water into him if you can, but the vet is the priority.

I agree with calling the vet. However, I would also look at the financial aspect before you rush in, unless it is life or death right now. I know it is a cold thing to say, but emergency vet costs for unowned cats can add up quickly. If you are not sure if it is an emergency, a phone triage is usually free or low cost.

Also, make sure you are not exposing Kiki. I have a shy cat named Kira, and I keep her separate from my other cat, Kiko, just in case. Isolation is key. See isolation protocols for new strays for the specific steps on how to set up a separate room so the germs do not travel.

kelly91, you need to catch him properly first. If he is loose and you are trying to feed him, you are stressing him out which makes the sickness worse. Use a trap. I learned this the hard way with my cat Rango. Read trapping a shy stray without stressing them. Once you have him in a carrier, you can actually get him to the vet without him running into the wall.

Also, check his gums. If they are white or very pale, that is bad. If they are bright pink, he is still okay for a few hours. But seriously, call the vet.