S.O.S. Need some advice...as soon as possible!

I can NOT believe the last two weeks or so. I hope I do NOT offend any cat lovers around here. I assure you I do NOT have anything against kitties. I am partial to dogs, but do like kittens and cats. I recall when my cat died several years ago, I thought I would cry my eyes out.

A good two weeks ago, a cute, small female cat showed up at my side garage door. We keep the garbage cans there. My dh wanted to feed her. I said "NO!" I said I would not have a cat and surely it would either find its way home or another family would adopt her. Besides, I have a dog AND I have a "THING" about kitty litter boxes.

To my surprise, the kitty just kept hanging around.

Several days ago, I was gone all day and pulled into the drive way and the poor kitty was laying in my front yard, barely moving, in the sun...and looked to be half dead. I was sick!
Filled with despair! I thought it had been hit by a car...but there was no blood. It's back hip looked distored, boney, and she was doing this weird thing with her head...almost like she couldn't lift it up well.

I put a throw rug in a basket, but the cat in it and took it to the vet. She took a blood test for feline leukemia and feline aids...negative. She examined it and said it did not seem to have anything broken. She said it was dehydrated and practically STARVING. We fed it and it ate like crazy. It could NOT stand up. She said its back legs had atrophied and was not sure it would make it through the night!

We kept in the basket over night and she did very well.

This weekend...I've been in a seminar all weekend. We put the cat on the back porch for the past several days. We've been giving her food and water. After the first night, it stood up and walked around. The second night, it was walking much better. Today, she looks real good...just a little wobbly. She does seem to have some problems with her vision...although we are not sure.

The porch is NOT screened in. We have lots of shade trees and nice weather. We have a very tall wooden fence more or less protecting the back yard.

I am at a loss as to what to do next.

We are keeping the dog (little dog) away from the cat. She appears to be very young and petite...perhaps one or two years old. She is also underweight (obviously). She has white paws, a pink nose with white around it, and her body is mostly black and gold.

Her hip looks a little boney and she walks a little funny...but again...every day she looks significantly better. Every day, she walks better...faster...more self assured.

What test should I opt for next? What she we feed her? We are feeding her a high caloric canned food from the vets office...need to go w/ something less expensive. Should I get her vitamins? She is filthy. Can I bathe her? The vet said NO! Too traumatic. What about wipes of some kind. What should I concern myself with regarding a very sick cat???

Is it humane to keep a cat in the back yard? Is it safe? What about those electrical collars/fences? They seem creepy to me.

I did not anticipate this situation. She is rather cute...I am getting attached. I am at a loss. Frankly, I can tell my DH is falling head over heels and I am soon to be there...



HELP!