Sometimes I just don't know about people... (pics of kitty pg2)

you can get a dewormer called safeguard over the counter - usually from a feedstore. It's the same as panacur - and totally safe. Normally deworming with sg is 3-5 days.

you can TRY to bathe him... usually allowing ANY type of soap to sit on him for 10 minutes will suffocate the fleas. however... cats do not like water - and I'm not sure how easily that will be. one of my cats tolerates baths well... the rest... do not.

Don't feed him too much at once - if he hasn't eaten for a while, his system will not be used to food and he'll end up doing more harm than good to his insides.

He's going to need some place to potty too - if you don't have a litter box around, you can use a shoebox or some sort of pan or tuperwear. shread some newspaper for him to work with - cheaper than litter. newspaper wont help with any odors - so it's not a good long term solution - but it'll be good enough.

 A lot of places have Capstar. That will kill the fleas. He'll probably *need* a bath, honestly, to get the dead fleas off and the flea poop, but you wouldn't *have to* bathe him if you could get a Capstar down (crush it, and put it on something wet and tasty), and put some Advantage or Frontline on him.

 Ok, I was thinking I'd have to give him a bath, but I'm a little nervous of making him wary of me or mistrusting me.  I'll see if I can find somewhere to get the Capstar and the dewormer.

I had put some Yesterday's News (what I use for the rat cage anyways so luckily I had it on hand) in an old recycling bin that I guess will work as a litter box...I did place him in it just to let him know where it was, but he hasn't done much besides flop out over the chair out there (we've got one of those round basket chair things and he's in high heaven on it hah).  I have the litter box next to the chair so he can just jump down into it rather than jumping up over the side from the ground which I feel he's probably a little less inclined to do.   I just fed him the one time and I probably won't give him anything else until tomorrow because I don't want to overload his poor stomach.  I don't know if I should be letting him outside (I feel super weird about doing that because he's not neutered, even though he's been out there all along), but I also don't know how desperate he's going to be to get out if he feels he needs to in the middle of the night.  Also don't know if he's going to start spraying out there cause he's intact, which could be an issue with the roommates.  Blerrrgh.

 Also thank you both :)  I just found a feed store real close to me that I'll be paying a visit to first thing tomorrow.

 Poor kitty :( I don't have any cat knowledge, but wanted to send you big kudos for looking after the little guy.

 Thanks Cita!

 'Nother question - was just reading about Safeguard and it looks like it's mostly sold for dogs and livestock - I presume it's safe for cats too?  Don't see any that's specifically catered toward the feline persuasion, so would I just get the stuff that's good for dogs up to 10 lbs?

As far as bathing and keeping him happy, I used a wet wash rag to rub/wash/clean my kitten who was flea infested when I brought him home. I just held him on my lap, and rubbed the cloth over and over again till he was clean. I added some Zodiak flea stuff and soap to a bowl and would refesh the rag to get the fleas off and clean him up. I did this outside on the porch so the flea's would not come in.

Good luck.

Safeguard what?

Some products for dogs cannot be used on cats.

 Yeah I'd rather not buy it unless I know for certain it's safe to use on cats.

 I was looking at some of the Zodiac things in the store but didn't get them because they were right next to the Hartz and I know that Hartz can be poisonous (my mom's cat is negatively effected and I just heard today about a Pomeranian that had to go to an e-vet for it).  I'm so paranoid about that kind of stuff  :\   I might try that method of bathing him though, at least to start out with... he does really like to be pet so hopefully it'll be close enough.

I have used Adams and zodiac with fleas in the beginning. Hartz is for the un educated.

I used the sponge on. For a quick fix it's not bad. Since your not sure of the age and I was using it on a kitten I diluted it with soapy water.

http://www.zodiacpet.com/products/01-powders.php

If you want, PM me your address, & I will mail you some Advantage, & de-wormer.  I have extra & would be happy to help you out. 

Thanks for taking him in.  It sounds like he really needed someone to look after him.

Gosh Nik, I haven't seen you around in FOREVER!!!  *hugs*  The amount I know about cats you could put in a thimble. 

If you can somehow get your hands on an old window screen, sometimes that helps with the bathing.  Put it in the bathtub or sink at an angle and put the cat on it.  Being able to grip the screen with their nails, and not be standing in water, is sometimes all it takes to keep them relatively calm during a bath.  If you attempt a full-fledged bath w/o a screen, just wet him, don't even think about letting water fill the tub or sink so that he has to stand in it.

Myra

If you can somehow get your hands on an old window screen, sometimes that helps with the bathing.  Put it in the bathtub or sink at an angle and put the cat on it.  Being able to grip the screen with their nails, and not be standing in water, is sometimes all it takes to keep them relatively calm during a bath.  If you attempt a full-fledged bath w/o a screen, just wet him, don't even think about letting water fill the tub or sink so that he has to stand in it.

^^ This is a good suggestion.  Also, if you happen to have a small harness, that helps with holding on to them and not getting scratched. :)

PM me and I'll send some money to help with a neuter for him.  I can't send a lot but I can help.  :)  I can't have my own kitty as BF is allergic.

Holy cow you guys are helpful.  Thank you all for all of the advice, suggestions, and helpful offers...you are all fantastic people!

Here's what's happening for now.  I can't keep him in the house b/c one of my roommates is allergic and doesn't want to worry about flea/parasite/stray germs etc.  There's like no way I can weasel any give out of the situation and as much as it pains me to do it, I think my only option as of right now is going to be letting him back outside and then just making sure he knows that I will be caring for him.  I don't want to leave food out b/c of the wild things and the other neighbor's cat, but I think I will try to go out at a very set time every day and call for him and then offer food so that he knows to be around during that time.  He's stuck around the area for 2+ weeks so I doubt he's going anywhere.  My primary concern right now is the parasite issue, which will soon be in the process of being taken care of due to some incredible generosity, and the unneutered issue.  Even though he's been out roaming around ever since I moved in here, I still feel like it's on my back now if he goes and reproduces with some female.  I know that logistically doesn't make much sense, but it's still making me uncomfortable.  I know there's a program in MA called the Spay Wagon that offers super affordable neuters/spays so I'm going to be looking into something like that around here (or maybe they even have a location close to the NH border - I did just hear an ad on the radio for it yesterday).

 I'm also going to investigate the animal shelters in the area.  I know the one closest to me is dark, dingy, and frightening and I wouldn't want to bring him there because I'm so afraid he will be continuously overlooked because of his plain appearance until his time is up.   There is another one that is super fancy but I suspect it's a no-kill place and they're always so full that I'm wondering what the chances of them actually having room to take him in are.  I'll contact them in any case.  I'll also poke around for other potential places but my hopes aren't too high honestly.

I'm willing to pay for food/basic care for as long as he needs it.  For now I'm concentrating on resolving the parasite and hunger issue and then next on the list will be deciding if I'm going to be bringing him somewhere that will neuter/hold onto him until a home is found or if I need to take care of the neutering arrangements myself.  I'll be doing some research today (as well as casting about to see if anyone I know is interested in taking in a wonderful kitty).

 Once again, thank you all for your support/help!  I will take some pictures of him today.  He's so sweet, he popped right up from his bed when I went to check on him this morning and climbed into my lap to headbutt me in the face, which just about broke my heart.