Prince
Georges
Feral
Friends

Standard of Care for P.G.F.F. Cats
(including Kittens)

This document outlines some of the important principles under which P.G.F.F. operates. The authority for these statements, or research supporting these positions is beyond the scope of this document. This is a work in progress and should not be considered to be complete.

Trapping

Cats shall be trapped using humane traps which do not result in injury to the animal.

Cats shall have water available at all times.

Cats shall not be fed solid food after 10 pm on the evening before the veterinary appointment.

All unknown cats shall remain in traps and shall not be handled until the results of FIV/FeLk tests are obtained.

No cat that tests positive for FIV/FeLk should be released to a colony.

Initial Veterinary Care

Female cats that can be determined to be pregnant shall not be spayed.

Cats shall be vaccinated for rabies only, due to the current law. No other vaccinations shall be given.
If at some time the rabies vaccination should be legally optional, no vaccinations shall be given at all. It is preferred to vaccinate at a time other than when the cat is anesthetized for spay/neuter, but due to the feral nature of the cats, this may not be possible.

Thuja 30C may be administered to cats being spayed/neutered and/or vaccinated.

Guidelines for Fostering

Feeding

P.G.F.F. cats shall be given a highly nutritious diet This is the first line of defense against illness. P.G.F.F. cats shall not be fed any food that contains any form of by-products, BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin.

Click here for more information about how to select pet foods

New arrivals shall be given supplemental vitamins as necessary for a period of time to be determined by their state of health. After this period, a high quality food may be sufficient.

Litterbox Care

Newly arrived feral cats shall be given NON-clumping litter in their litter boxes until they become acustomed to their new environment.

Healthcare

P.G.F.F. cats shall be given a highly nutritious diet This is the first line of defense against illness. If illness should occur, treatment of chronic contitions may be given by a competent volunteer. Acute contitions should be referred to a qualified holistic veterinarian. All treatment shall be of a holistic nature using the appropriate natural modality as described in this document or as determined by a holistic veterinarian.

Antibiotics shall be given ONLY in serious chronic conditions where there is no natural alternative. Broad spectrum antibiotics shall be avoided if at all possible. Under no circumstances shall an antibiotic be administered as a prophylactic.

Should an antibiotic be required, steps shall be taken to compensate for the damaging effects of the antibiotics.

Acidophilus should be given to replenish beneficial flora.

Fleas

Be sure that the food that the cats are given complies with the Standard of Care.

Use a flea comb to remove fleas and flea dirt.

Add brewers yeast and garlic powder to the food.

Ear Mites

Be sure that the food that the cars are given complies with the Standard of Care.

Administer a mixture of olive oil and vitamin E in each ear. Repeat on the third and fifth day. Re-evaluate by watching for scratching behind the ears or rubbing the ears. Mullein tincture can be added to the oil mixture to soothe and expedite healing of tissue.

Upper Respiratory Infection

Upon detection of an upper respiratory infection, the cat must be isolated from other cats in the same location. The following measures should be taken:

• Put the cat into a steamy room (like a bathroom with shower) for about an hour several times per day.
• Clean the eyes of mucus and apply a drop or two of mild saline solution with goldenseal tincture in each eye. (Goldenseal is an antiseptic.)
• Alternate Goldenseal with Eyebright drops at every other application
• In the case of a Herpes virus, which is similar in symptoms to a URI, add one quarter tablet of L-Lysine and 500mg of Vitamin C to the food daily.
• Drop one drop at a time of saline solution into the cat's nostrils until the cat sneezes. This will help clear the nose and soften the tissues. This can be the same saline solution as used in the eye.
• Increase supplementation of the diet, to include high doses of vitamin C. Echinacea and/or Goldenseal can be helpful, too.
• If the eyes are vey irritated or sensitive, or if the cat's nostrils look raw, you can apply a drop of Cod Liver Oil to them daily. Cod Liver Oil lubricates and will nourish the eye tissues.
• Isolate the cat from other cats in your care until symptoms subside.
• If the cat will not eat, offer chicken broth or soup after cleaning the eyes and nose.

Adoption

All cats that are adopted from P.G.F.F. shall have already been altered. Under no circumstance shall an unaltered cat be adopted out.

The application for adoption must include the following provisions:

- The cat will not be declawed.

- The cat will be kept indoors 100% of the time.