Over the summer, a cat adopted our backyard as her home and starting sleeping under our deck.  In August she even had kittens, which mysteriously disappeared.  We felt sorry for her and started feeding her on the deck.   But she is totally wild and won't allow us to come near her.  We would like to have her checked by a veterinarians but can't catch her.  How can we help her?

They also can leave behind their feces in your flower beds.  These droppings may contain parasites like roundworms or toxoplasmosis, that can infect people.  As you see, your problem is complex and will take effort to solve.

The best solution that I can suggest is to call your local animal shelter or humane society.  Ask them if they have a "catch-them-alive" trap.  As the cat enters the trap, it triggers a mechanism that closes the trap door behind the animal without harming it.  Once in the cage, the animal can be safely transported to a veterinarian.

If you choose to give your 'tenant' the best help, let her be vaccinated, examined and spayed so that your population of cats can be limited to one.  Vaccinations should include rabies, feline distemper, upper respiratory diseases, and possibly feline leukemia.  A stool sample should also be checked for worms and your cat given an initial dewormer.

I know this sounds like a lot of effort and medical attention for a stray cat.  It is a major commitment that some people are willing to make.  I wish you luck in trying to help.

This information, prepared as a public service by the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association, answers problems Rhode Island veterinarians currently are seeing in their practices, as well as new developments in animal care.