The cat in the neighborhood's park may die

Contact your local animal society or shelter. Sounds like she needs to see a vet asap.

Other than that, let nature take its course IMHO. Can't save every animal in this world.

Edit: On second thought, she might be wounded but not badly. You can always take her in until she recovers if nothing isn't broken or she doesn't need stitches. A limp can be just a sprain, whiskers are replaced all the time, and being thin is natural for feral cats.

Also, give her canned cat food. Milk can be pretty bad for them--especially since most cats are lactose intolerant.

As they say, "Where there's life, there's hope." She may die and it's important that you be mentally prepared for that, but I've also seen animals pull through some incredibly bleak situations.

Osulagh has the right idea about contacting an animal shelter. That's definitely the best option.

If that's not possible for some reason, there are a couple of simple things you can do to improve her chances a bit. If she'll let you touch the wound, see if you can smear some neosporin (or generic equivalent) on it, twice a day if possible, but anything is better than nothing. It's OK if she licks it off, at worst it might upset her stomach a bit. Infection will kill her.

Don't try to bandage the wound. A bandage on an outdoor animal is nothing but trouble. It will get wet and dirty and gross, then press all that grossness into the wound (and that's the best case scenario).

Instead of milk, I'd feed her kitten food (as opposed to normal adult cat food, although that's the second-best option). Pregnancy and birth are hard on a cat. If the kittens are alive somewhere and she's feeding them, nursing will also take a toll. Even the most well-fed house cat will lose weight while they're nursing. Kitten food is calorically dense and will help her regain some of the nutrients she lost during the pregnancy. If she's nursing, it will be doubly helpful since those nutrients will be passed to the kittens.

Good luck.

I just wanted to send a hug your way. It's always very hard to see an animal in pain.

I second the suggestion on kitten food, and add moist kitten food or mixing the dry food with water -- it helps get her liquids, and most sick cats don't drink enough. Actually, most sick cats curl up into a corner, alone, until they either recover or pass away. In one way, it's good that's she's drinking and meowing for help. In another, it just makes it harder if she doesn't make it.

I hope she does.

Hug.

~ Anna

There has to be a vet somewhere. That animal was abused. Take it to get help!

Milk isn't really good for cats. Get her help, she's in pain.

jaus tail said:

It did curl up in some corner. The wound is an open one, there's blood behind the knee. it was licking it.

it drank the milk quickly. even earlier i had a tomcat, i would give it milk for a year until i realized it would attack the other neighbor's cat's kittens.
why would milk be bad for this cat?

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Milk is just generally not very good for cats. They like the stuff, but their bodies don't handle it well. It typically gives them gas and diarrhea, which is the last thing you want to deal with when you're already injured and miserable.

jaus tail said:

when i tried to lift her, she tried to bite my arm and began shivering and crying. how do i take her to vet, if i cant even lift her? her body is shivering, as if she might break apart. her skin has become rough, her back is arched.

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You get a large towel or blanket, fold so it's thicker and wrap her in the towel or blanket to be able to pick her up and carry her - this will also help keep her warm; she's having trouble regulating her temperature because she's injured and lost blood. Be GENTLE. She's trying to bite because she was abused, she's terrified, and in pain. She doesn't know you're not going to hurt her worse.

I don't know where you are, but I'm guessing an ambulance isn't going to pick up a cat, unless it's an animal rescue ambulance.

Take her to a vet, first thing. Do NOT go buy food first, get her to a vet, as soon as you can. She shouldn't eat if she's going to have anesthesia soon after.

Never mind. Cornflake said it all.

Vets typically have emergency lines, or you can call them and tell them it's an emergency and they'll do what they can.

Generally down here we'd say don't try to move an injured animal, Jaus, unless you really know what you're doing and you're moving it for treatment. You don't really know just by looking what the damage is. Poor little thing. Perhaps google animal rescue? It might be a place to start - even if they're not close enough to you, they might know someone who can help.

Distressing for you, too. I hope it gets resolved quickly.

ETA: Cornflake's advice re feeding is great. Hadn't thought of that.

ETA2: Hate to be rotten, but do remember to ask who will pay for the vet or the treatment and if it is you - set a really strong cut-off. It can be hard to say "that's enough" when options are presented. It's likely that only thing you can do is to minimise the cat's suffering. That's still a kindness.

If the cat is still mobile, there's very little you can do, as expert catching techniques will be required. Milk for cats is bad, as mentioned above. Water for ill cats (any mammal, bird, or reptile) is better; electrolytes are ever better, but good luck dosing that without proper equipment and medical supplies. If nothing else, then cream, or half and half, would be better than straight milk for felines. The rough physical appearance you described is indicative of typical feline fights, or ectopic parasites (fleas and whatnot). Possibly, most likely, there are internal parasites as well. The eye situation is probably a bacterial infection, or possibly a feline virus. I would recommend a warm, protective place—at the least: a cardboard box with a towel as a temporary shelter. If the cat is still alive when the vet's office opens, take care that you're not scratched or bitten in the off chance that other viruses are present (rabies). PM me if you have any other questions.

I would check again at a later time. Just because you can't see the cat now doesnt' mean that she has died. Cats are masters at hiding - especially when they're in pain/sick. My cat is the most friendly, social, outgoing little cat I've ever met - he walks on a harness, greets everyone with licks and purrs and gets totally mentally excited at the sound of my car coming up the driveway. But, when he was sick, he would hide under my bed. Cats by nature are less domesticated than dogs and I think nature tells them that when they're sick/in pain they're vulnerable and should hide. I think this would be especially true for a cat who is feral anyway.

jaus tail said:

I went to the park in the morning searching for the cat but she wasn't there. I guess she passed away and the park maintenance guy must've dumped her body in the bin.

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Extra hugs. I hope she's just hiding, but if you can't find her in the next day or three... I just really feel for you.

It's a very sad thing to lose an animal you care about.

And know that you did what you could. I'm glad you reached out for help -- I only wish we could have helped more.

~ Anna

I have nothing else to offer you, jaus tail, except a big hug to you for your caring and kindness.

Wow, fascinating. Thank you for the update, jaus tail. I'm relieved this one seems healthy and happy. I feel for the other cat. With all hope it's out of its suffering.