 -----> IMO
You should be able to contact a local BIG Human Society and see if they will do a low cost (maybe $20 per cat) spay/neuter. When they do the spay/neuter they have to examine the cat (by law) prior to the procedure. When they do the exam, they'll discover the problem (since the cat is displaying symptoms of having issues) and advise you from there. Further, if you take this cat to any shelter (even most no kills, do eventually kill-HONESTLY. What do you think they do w/ their overflow? They send those animals to a local shelter that most likely doesn't hold the same policies they do!) it will most likely be put to sleep. In some states it's illegal for you to dump an animal at a public facility (like a vet's office) that is deemed yours. And most states consider a stray that is picked up by a person and is in their custody for more than 72 hours, that animal belongs to them. That is why there is a waiting policy for animals that go up for adoption. So, by law, if she's feeding it; watering it; and giving it some form of shelter it's her cat and she's responsible for it.
Due to her personal situation, I think she should not spend that money she has for herself the bills and the baby on this kitty. AND I LOVE cats! Oddly, I'm more of a cat person than a dog person! But she's really gotta do what's right for her. If she can't raise the money (sound like she's only got a small window her for this cat's sake) then I would probably have her take it to an emergency room vet office and tell them that if they don't take the cat off of her hands that she's just going to let it go outside their office. Personally.
What are they going to say?
(oh, and she'll have to say something to the effect that she JUST found this cat and explain the fishing pole issue.) |