Found: Orange and White Cat in South Orange

There's an extremely friendly orange and white cat found in South Orange around Irving Avenue near Grove Road. Please contact Melanie Troncone if you know anything about this cat. Her number is: 973-378-7715 X7711

Here is a link to photos of the cat: https://www.facebook.com/groups/547507072078678/

Where is the cat, since Livingston said they could only house dogs? Finding a pet in South Orange is a little like ............

In case there's someone who doesn't have a Facebook login, you can see a photo of the cat without logging in here: https://www.facebook.com/essexcountynjlostpets/

When our similar-looking ginger and white Comet went missing and was found on Irving Ave near Self Place last June, this cat was sitting on someone's doorstep. I thought she lived there.

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As the cat has a broken jaw, there is some negotiating going on to have the surgery cost assessed. There is a rescuer who will take her once this is resolved. I believe the town paid for surgeries when cats were brought to the JAC injured.

Apparently the cat has been held at the South Orange Animal Hospital but no surgery had been done.

The town pays for dogs only at Livingston but Linda Frese of the State Department of Health claims the garage which has a few cages should not be licensed. An attorney for Best Friends of Animals made the case at South Orange Town Hall last week. Anyone interested in reading her presentation can go to FB SOMA for Animals page. I can try to post it here or on the shelter thread.

The point is that S O has no solution for cats and rescues can't always step in, particularly with kitten season beginning. Actually it has no legal solution for dogs. Maybe the $70,000 a year profit from the old JAC can be used to get a new space, or to follow Maplewood and join St. Hubert.

I would not be happy with a vet that lets an injured homeless cat sit around for days until someone pays up. At least they didn't put it down. But, if that were my vet, I would be going elsewhere. In my profession, I worked with kids sometimes from bad homes. I put my own money out for things they needed...diapers, food, clothing, school supplies.

When I fell on hard times, my vet would give me medications at cost. If I were the vet, I would be doing what I could to raise money to cover costs...gofundme, etc and at least give a discount. I would even try to secretly do the surgery while waiting for funding through something like gofundme and not be upset if the cost wasn't covered. I would have a social network such as a FB page where I could post the gofundme....

If I had the money now, I would donate to the cost.

And next time someone finds a cat in SO, drive it into Maplewood and claim you found it there.

No one can take the cat into rescue yet , as it is on the 7 day hold. I believe Monday the cat will be sedated and examined to determine what is needed. I don't know why it wasn't done already. Of course the town could step up and pay out of the 70,000 they are making from the old shelter now that it is a gym.

Linda Frese of NJDOH demanded that Dr. Kimani Griffith, the vet that South Orange used to use, take an injured cat from the East Orange pound to his office. He answered that he would wait until the next day. The cat had been in the pound for days. Despite his coverage on News 12, he is still running the East Orange pound and his office in Mine Hill. And despite killing 4 of the Furry Hearts' rescue cats that he was supposed to be boarding. He claimed South Orange gave the order.

Nothing surprises me any more.

Morganna, you need to address what jmitw said. How can you skip that? That is an excellent office full of caring people. Have they not helped you with care before? But now they should be trashed for not being able to accommodate every need for free? Keep that up and no local vets will help.

+1

Yesterday was a big day for the cat. He was given his distemper and rabies shots and passed his FeLV test all of which were covered by South Orange. I'd like to thank VP Sheena Collum for tackling my request for South Orange to help.

When I picked up the cat I learned he did not have a broken jaw but was suffering from a severe mouth infection which is why his tooth was compromised and removed. He was given an injection to fight the infection. I brought him to the rescuer in East Hanover, who put him in her home office. He was friendly, curious, and affectionate; by the end of 30 minutes, she had him purring in her lap. He is a large, handsome cat, but quite thin.

This guy was clearly someone's pet. His neck fur bears evidence of a collar. He is neutered. And friendly. He is also not a young cat; likely a senior. As such, the rescue will request a blood workup to determine the status of his health, and he will also need to have his teeth cleaned, and possibly some extracted. The rescue (based on recent experience) expects the charges to range between $400 and $1000. They will eventually ask for $140 as an adoption fee.

So, I am coming again, hat in hand, to pass the plate for someone who has taken on the responsibility for finding a safe home for a cat from our community. If you are able to help out this cat, you can make a donation via Paypal to danniwhiskers@optonline.net. If you would like to contribute money for his care in some other way, please contact me privately. Thank you.

Would it be possible to set up a GoFundMe page for the cat? I don't want to use PayPal.

Great news! So relieved to know that his jaw wasn't broken. Thank you, Morganna and Bigben, for your efforts on this kitty's behalf. Thank you, too, to DanniWhiskers, and to Sheena Collum and South Orange for doing right by him. Happy to help with the cost of the cat's care.

The rescuer named him Raymond. Here's his Gofundme: www.gofundme.com/raymonds-veterinary-medical-fund.

Thank you for your generosity. At the moment she is also caring for a cat with a mysterious illness affecting his white blood cell count. He's been hospitalized for about a week and with testing and drugs, has now amassed a bill of 2 grand and counting. So anything you can contribute to Raymond's care is very much appreciated.

I donated through Paypal, but I'll try to add to the Gofundme too. There's something about his face that I find irresistible. (I think it's the nose.)

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Raymond's fund is growing nicely and we have just a little more to go to reach the goal. The rescuer is THRILLED for your financial support. I happen to foster for that rescue and she specializes in motherless days-old kittens (bottle babies) and those with special needs (ones who need eye surgery and other 'round the clock care), so your donation helps stretch her budget that much further.

Thank you for your generosity. Between the PayPal and Gofundme accounts, the goal was achieved. The rescuer is very grateful for your support.

Raymond had a few teeth removed and during surgery the vet saw some suspicious doings in Raymond's mouth. A biopsy confirmed he has cancer. Because Raymond is an old guy estimated to be around 12, surgery to remove that part of his jaw and chemotherapy is risky and would impact his quality of life. The rescue is going to provide hospice care and make sure he is comfortable for his remaining time. Thank you again for your support.

mauras said:

I donated through Paypal, but I'll try to add to the Gofundme too. There's something about his face that I find irresistible. (I think it's the nose.)

I donated even though the payment processor in the GoFundMe is PayPayl.   

bigben_again said:

Raymond had a few teeth removed and during surgery the vet saw some suspicious doings in Raymond's mouth. A biopsy confirmed he has cancer. Because Raymond is an old guy estimated to be around 12, surgery to remove that part of his jaw and chemotherapy is risky and would impact his quality of life. The rescue is going to provide hospice care and make sure he is comfortable for his remaining time. Thank you again for your support.

Sad. But we're happy to help.

Poor little Raymond.   There's consolation in knowing that he is in a place where he is receiving comfort and care.  Thank you to all who have helped him and will continue to do so.