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Sick or Injured Outdoor Cat?
Here’s What To Do.

Finding a sick or injured cat outdoors can be distressing, but knowing who to contact and how to describe the situation ensures the cat gets the fastest, most appropriate care.

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First — Is This an Emergency?

Indy Neighborhood Cats (INC) provides medical treatment to community cats during Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) surgery. We are not emergency medical responders or an open-admission shelter.

For urgent situations requiring immediate intervention or animal control pickup, the City of Indianapolis (through Indianapolis Animal Care Services / IACS) is your best and fastest resource. Follow the instructions below to file your report, or check out our step-by-step guide for a more detailed walk-thru on how to fill out a RequestIndy Report.

How to Submit a RequestIndy Report

Report acutely sick or injured outdoor cats directly to the City portal for fast officer dispatch.

Submit RequestIndy Report Detailed Step-by-Step Guide
1
Select Report Category Choose Stray Animal → Stray Sick/Injured in the portal options.
2
Select Current Location Choose Garage / Basement if contained, or Yard if the cat is loose outdoors.
3
Be Detailed About Physical Symptoms Officers prioritize dispatch based on symptom severity—be specific!
Helpful Description
“Cat has thick green discharge from eyes and nose, eyes are crusted shut, breathing is labored/panting, highly lethargic.”
Unhelpful Description
“Cat looks sick” or “Cat has a cold.”
Want status updates on your ticket? Email communitycats@indy.gov with your RequestIndy ticket number.
Emergency Symptoms (Act Immediately)

If you observe any of the following severe conditions, submit a RequestIndy report right away:

  • Respiratory Distress: Open-mouth breathing, panting, or gasping for air.

  • Unresponsiveness: Unable to stand, lying on side, or non-reactive.

  • Severe Discharge: Heavy eye/nose discharge with eyes sealed shut by crust.

  • Major Trauma: Fractures, degloving wounds, active bleeding, or limb paralysis.

  • Extreme Emaciation: Body Condition Score (BCS) under 3 (visible ribs, spine, and hip bones).

  • Severe Infections: Tissue necrosis, foul odors, or large open/maggot-infested wounds.

  • Labor Complications: Kitten stuck in birth canal or mom in visible birth distress.

  • Extended Anorexia: Unable or unwilling to eat for 72+ hours.

  • Blockages: Inability to urinate or strain/blockage in bowels.

  • Organ Failure: Visible signs of advanced kidney, liver, or cardiac failure.

Evaluating Non-Emergency Medical Needs: Watch, Wait & Assess

When an outdoor cat isn’t experiencing an immediate life-threatening emergency, taking a step back to observe and evaluate their symptoms is often the best first course of action. Many mild issues—such as occasional sneezing, minor scrapes, or slight weight loss—can stabilize on their own with a consistent feeding routine and shelter, or can be comfortably treated with long-acting antibiotics during a scheduled Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) surgery.

To help caretakers accurately assess community cats in the field and determine whether to monitor, schedule TNR, or file a city service report, use our three field evaluation guides below:

  1. Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) Severity Chart: Evaluate sneezing, nasal/eye discharge, and breathing sounds to gauge respiratory health.

  2. Physical Injury & Trauma Evaluation Chart: Assess limping, wound depth, abscesses, and mobility to determine the urgency of physical trauma.

  3. Feline Body Condition Score (BCS) Guide: Track weight, rib visibility, and muscle mass to identify malnutrition, dental pain, or underlying illness early.

Evaluating Symptoms: Upper Respiratory Infections (URI)

Some mild upper respiratory symptoms can resolve on their own with a consistent feeding routine and shelter. Use the reference guide below to determine whether to monitor or seek veterinary care:

When to Seek Care for a Sick Community Cat

Upper Respiratory Infections (URI)

Mild

Continue to monitor, no care is needed at this time
Nose: Occasional sneezing, clear liquid around nose
Breathing: Normal
Eyes: Normal or clear discharge from eye, minimal redness
Appetite: Eating normally

Moderate

Unless improving, seek care within 1–2 days
Nose: Frequent sneezing, clear, thick, cloudy or yellow liquid bubbling from nose
Breathing: Sounds slightly congested or raspy when breathing, barely audible
Eyes: Clear to yellow thick discharge from eyes, some redness and swelling
Appetite: Normal to slightly decreased

Severe

Unless improving, seek care within 12–24 hours
Nose: Constant sneezing, large amount of yellow/green nasal discharge that is plugging up nose or bloody nasal discharge
Breathing: Very raspy or congested breathing (can hear across the room)
Eyes: Redness, so much swelling the eye is barely visible, large amount of yellow/green mucous discharge, eyes may be crusted shut, eyes closed most or all of the time
Appetite: Not eating

Emergency

Seek emergency veterinary care immediately if:
  • Open mouth breathing
  • Gasping for air, and/or abdomen moving more than chest
This chart is meant to be used as a guide and should not replace regular veterinary care or advice given directly from a veterinarian.
Quick Guidance on Upper Respiratory Infections (URI):

  • Mild Symptoms (Monitor at Home):

    Occasional sneezing, clear liquid around the nose or eyes, normal breathing, normal appetite, and active behavior. No emergency care needed.

  • Moderate Symptoms (Monitor 1–2 Days):

    Frequent sneezing, clear or cloudy/yellow liquid from the nose or eyes, slight congestion.

    👉  If symptoms worsen or do not improve within 48 hours, submit a RequestIndy report.

Evaluating Symptoms: Physical Injuries & Trauma

When an outdoor cat suffers a mechanical or physical injury, assessing mobility and wound severity helps determine whether TNR treatment or emergency city dispatch is required:

When to Seek Care for Physical & Trauma Injuries

Wounds, Mobility Issues & Field Trauma Evaluation

Mild

Monitor during daily feeding; treat during TNR if unfixed
Mobility: Slight limp or favoring a paw, but fully weight-bearing while walking
Wounds & Skin: Minor superficial scrape, dry scab, or small patch of matted fur
Behavior: Alert, active, grooming normally, and eating well with the colony

Moderate

Schedule for TNR with medical add-on or seek vet care within 1–2 days
Mobility: Noticeable limp or stiffness, putting partial weight on leg when moving
Wounds & Skin: Small closed swelling/abscess, minor bite wound, flea dermatitis, or matted fur dragging
Behavior: Slightly guarded or slow movements; normal to slightly decreased appetite

Severe

Submit RequestIndy report or seek vet care within 12–24 hours
Mobility: Completely non-weight-bearing (holding paw up), severe limping, or dragging tail
Wounds & Skin: Open draining abscess, deep puncture wound, degloving injury, or foul odor/discharge
Behavior: Hiding, lethargic, noticeably thin (BCS under 3), or refusing to eat

Emergency

Contain if safe & seek emergency vet or RequestIndy immediately if:
  • Visible bone fracture, exposed tissue, or severe active bleeding
  • Inability to stand, limb paralysis, or unresponsiveness
  • Hit-by-car trauma, severe head injury, or active seizures
  • Maggot infestation (flystrike) or large areas of necrotic tissue
This chart is meant to be used as a guide and should not replace regular veterinary care or advice given directly from a veterinarian.
Quick Guidance on Physical Injuries & Trauma:

  • Mild to Moderate Injuries (Monitor or Treat During TNR):

    Slight limping while bearing weight, minor scrapes or dry scabs, small closed swellings, flea dermatitis, or matted fur.

    👉 If the cat is unfixed, INC can often treat these manageable conditions during their scheduled TNR appointment.

  • Severe Injuries & Trauma (Act Immediately):

    Non-weight-bearing limping (holding paw up), open draining abscesses, deep puncture wounds, visible fractures, severe bleeding, or trauma from being hit by a car.

    👉 Submit a RequestIndy report right away or contact Indianapolis Animal Care Services for urgent intervention.

Feline Body Condition Score (BCS) Assessment

Evaluating an outdoor cat’s overall weight and muscle mass helps caretakers catch hidden medical conditions early:

Feline Body Condition Score (BCS) Guide

Field Assessment & Visual Evaluation for Community Cats

Underweight

BCS 1 – 3
Evaluate for medical issues, dental pain, or severe parasite burden
Visual Appearance: Ribs, spine, and hip bones easily visible under thin coat; severe waistline indent and deep abdominal tuck.
Touch Test: Bones felt immediately with no protective fat layer; obvious muscle loss over lower back and shoulders.
Field Action: If BCS is under 3, submit a RequestIndy report or seek vet care. If stable, increase feeding portions and treat for internal parasites during TNR.

Ideal Body

BCS 4 – 5
Healthy weight! Maintain current colony feeding schedule
Visual Appearance: Smooth proportioned body; subtle waistline visible behind ribs when viewed from above; slight, normal abdominal flap (primordial pouch).
Touch Test: Ribs easily felt with a slight protective fat layer over top; spine and hips identifiable but not bony or prominent.
Field Action: Ideal condition for spay/neuter surgery and winter survival. Continue regular colony feeding routines.

Overweight

BCS 6 – 9
Adjust daily food portions; ensure food isn't left out constantly
Visual Appearance: Broad, rounded back with no visible waistline from above; distended abdominal fat pouch; fat deposits over lower back and tail base.
Touch Test: Ribs difficult to feel under thick fat covering; requires firm pressure to feel bony structures underneath.
Field Action: Avoid free-feeding or leaving dry kibble out 24/7. Feed measured daily meals to prevent wildlife attractants and health issues.
This body condition chart is a field assessment tool for colony care and does not replace professional veterinary evaluation.
Quick Guidance on Body Condition Scoring (BCS):

  • Underweight (BCS 1–3):

    Ribs, spine, and hip bones are easily visible or prominent with minimal padding.

    👉 If a cat is severely thin (BCS under 3) or showing signs of illness/lethargy, submit a RequestIndy report or seek veterinary care. If stable, increase feeding portions and treat for internal parasites during TNR.

  • Ideal Body Condition (BCS 4–5):

    Well-proportioned body with a subtle waistline behind the ribs and a slight abdominal tuck. Ideal condition for spay/neuter surgery and winter survival. Maintain current colony feeding schedules.

  • Overweight to Obese (BCS 6–9):

    Broad, rounded back with no waistline and heavy fat deposits over the abdomen and tail base.

    👉 Adjust daily food portions and feed measured daily meals rather than leaving dry kibble out 24/7.

     

Non-Urgent Medical Needs (INC Can Often Help)

If an outdoor cat is not yet fixed (spayed/neutered), INC can often diagnose and treat manageable conditions directly during their scheduled TNR appointment.

Conditions treatable during TNR surgery include:

  • Flea, tick, worm, and ear mite infestations

  • Minor wounds, superficial cuts, or small abscesses

  • Mild to moderate respiratory infections

  • Minor dental issues or broken tip teeth

  • Mild limping (that may resolve with rest)

  • Moderate matting or fur tangles

These issues are typically addressed using single-dose long-acting injectable medications or antibiotics administered while the cat is under anesthesia.

Request Medical Assistance
What INC Cannot Provide 

To maintain our primary focus on humanely reducing cat overpopulation across Marion County, INC cannot provide:

  • Emergency dispatch or urgent same-day medical pickup

  • Ongoing, long-term medical management for chronic illnesses

  • In-home foster care for cats requiring daily medication

Examples of chronic/unmanageable field conditions include:

  • Feline Diabetes

  • FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) / FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) complications

  • Advanced kidney, heart, or liver disease

  • Chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs)

  • Irreversible neurological conditions

How INC Fits In

Indy Neighborhood Cats operates as a specialized community partner alongside Indianapolis Animal Care Services:

  • We provide Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) across Marion County.

  • We treat manageable, treatable conditions at the time of spay/neuter surgery.

  • We help reduce the number of free-roaming cats entering the municipal shelter.

  • When appropriate, IACS officers may also loop INC in to assist with spay/neuter and follow-up care for stable community cats.

Why This Matters

By directing critical emergencies to RequestIndy and non-urgent TNR medical cases to INC:

  • Emergencies get faster medical attention from municipal responders.

  • Community cats get spayed, neutered, and treated for manageable issues.

  • We protect vital TNR surgery capacity to help more cats overall across Indianapolis!

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