Topic: Stray cat . (Read 4114 times)

alisonandarchie · « **Reply #23 on:** January 07, 2008, 21:57:51 PM »

HiBecky

Just wanted to briefly tell you what happened to me. Nearly two years ago a cat started coming into our garden. It was a long hair very thin, nervous, with matted dirty fur. I assumed it was a stray and started feeding. It began to put on weight and started grooming. One day I was shocked when she turned up with a collar, a message, Do not bath this cat! Without going into details the owners are very strange. We now have a lovely warm cat kennel OH built and the cat is with us most of the time. She now looks absolutly splended.

Saying this your visitor is probably a stray, but there are some odd owners about. I wonder if the paper collar idea does not work, you could either trap puss or think about a cat kennel like us.

ccmacey · « **Reply #22 on:** January 07, 2008, 21:43:55 PM »

Here, here Barney

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #21 on:** January 07, 2008, 18:45:43 PM »

What agood job you did Barney , well done

barney · « **Reply #20 on:** January 07, 2008, 18:37:48 PM »

This was my experiance from last year, February last year, what I thought was a stray cat was coming in and eating my cats food, it was no big deal to me. Then for 2 or 3 days I never saw her. Then one day I arrived home early to see this cat leap a 6ft fence with what was obviously a broken leg. I contacted the RSPCA who suggested I take it to my local vet where they would pay to have it put to sleep. My vet said he could fix it but it would be costly (£1200+) so it was agreed for this to be done. A week later she came home where she was suppose to be confined to one room, this lasted 10 minutes and I let her have the run of the house.
After a month it was decided to let her out in the garden, a neighbour then sticks her head over the fence and said it was her cat, I said great you can have her back but here's your bill

All I got from her was a load

and more. She picked up Mollie and took her to her own house after an hour she came back to me, all year we have been argueing over a cat. My arguement being is (1) she stated to me, she knew the cat had a broken leg and decided to do nothing and (2) I haven't forced the cat to stay here she is free to come and go as she pleases. the reason I tell this is because it has taken the best part of a year for Mollie to come to me of her own free will to be stroked or to play with, also expect ructions with neighbours if it is owned by one of them, but my view of them is, if it blatantly obvious to yourself and mum that the cat needs medical attention, then it must also be obvious to the actual owner and if they can't be interested in dealing with him then they don't deserve to have him.
In the process of all the above, which did become a financial and time consuming nightmare, she ended up having 6 gorgeous kittens and fortunately they all went to good homes and I kept 2 (Barney and Toffee) You can always take him to the PDSA or Blue Cross if finance is an issue, If you are going to do it, don't do it half hearted and you will reap the reward of seeing a neglected cat turning into a healthy homely cat.

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Angiew · « **Reply #19 on:** January 07, 2008, 17:20:55 PM »

if he has a home somewhere and is going there on a regular basis, he may be happy to pinch food from you but not too keen for you to get close.
most lost pets are quite keen to find a new warm home and therefore quite friendly but then if he's been around so long he may have turned a bit feral if he's not lived somewhere for a while - especially if most people have just been shooing him away (or worse). As people still look for there lost animals sometimes many years down the line, I'm sure if he is someones long lost cat they may well be pleased to get him back even if they have to work on him behaviourally.

Millys Mum · « **Reply #18 on:** January 07, 2008, 17:13:11 PM »

Paper collars are great but not when you cant touch the cat.

If he is entire he will go off on jaunts looking for ladies

bexxy · « **Reply #17 on:** January 07, 2008, 17:11:13 PM »

Ok Thankyou.. and if he is a lost pet why is he so scared of humans ?

Angiew · « **Reply #16 on:** January 07, 2008, 16:59:01 PM »

the other thing to try is to see if he has been reported as a missing cat. Do you have a local petsearch? If you look at the section on lost and founds there is lots of information on what to do on there. He might actually 'belong' to someone who has already got him at the vets and under medication - hence the mention of using a paper collar with your contact details in case he is owned. The cat might just be a lost pet with a home somewhere.
If you try to 'rescue' him yourself without involving a rescue then there may be a hefty vet vill to pay. Its easier to try and get a rescue on board and they will be more willing to help out if you tell them you are prepared to look after him until a home can be found for him.

bexxy · « **Reply #15 on:** January 07, 2008, 16:47:36 PM »

Now I havnt Seen him For 4 days

blackcat · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2008, 17:12:26 PM »

Yes, of course there is plenty you can do for him. But if he has had an injury he needs to see a vet. You can't get him to the vet cos he won't let you catch him. A local rescue can get involved as much or as little as you want them to. Getting involved a little might be lending you a trap so you can get him to a vet, and perhaps giving you a voucher so you can have him neutered (which you need to do, not only so he doesn't father any children, but also so that his chance of getting diseases is significantly reduced. They can do this, right up to taking him away and finding a new home for him. If you want to take responsibility for his care they will be delighted as it is one less for them to worry about. Glad you have your mum on side - dad doesn't stand a chance now!

It is important to get him to a vet soon because, as you say, he has been sick a bit lately, and with a sore leg, he probably can't hunt for food as well as he might have been able to do in the past. Do keep up up to date with your adventures with him, because you sound like you really like this boy and want to do what is best for him

bexxy · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:56:17 PM »

my parents like cats and my mum is trying to tame him too. i guess he's just meant to be a wild cat. but aslong as i keep him well fed does that mean he will be ok ? oh i forgot to mention that he has a broken leg but its been like that for ages like its set that way. because he cant put his paw on the floor on that leg. but he seems to be used to it now. i just get worried about him sometimes espically now its getting colder. i have a porch where that cat bed goes and he sleeps in there alot and i think he stays warm in there ( well i hope so ). is there anything else i can do for him without getting a rescue center involved ?

blackcat · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:47:36 PM »

Hi Bexxy, when a cat is living wild, it can develop some pretty strong self-defence mechanisms, even ones that do not act in their interests in the long-term. They are used to humans supplying food (intentionally like you, or by throwing it away), but they are also used to humans who do some pretty terrible things to animals. So they develop a habit of trusting no-one so as to protect themselves. It is really only when you are able to confine them so they see you several times a day and they learn you are not going to hurt them or threaten them that they start to loosen up and come for cuddles. It depends on how long he has been a stray and if he ever had a meowmy to look after him. If he has lived wild since he was a kitten, he will not know that there are nice humans like you around. Definitely talk to your parents. Unless they hate cats, they will probably be pleased that you want to take responsibility for this small life - I know i would have been thrilled if I were a parent.

bexxy · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:39:27 PM »

thanks for all this advice its great but as im living with my parents as im a teenager its not really my decsion to make on this. But i dont want to leave him homeless. I might try keeping him in the house if im alloud and see how it goes but he does seem happy outside as a stray but im sure he would have a better life with owners and somewhere warm to live. He has got more tame over the year but i still cant stroke him. i dont understand why he isnt tame yet. :S

ccmacey · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:28:00 PM »

Yes I know. I dont know how they dare call themselves that (not going to state the name) but every cat in need I have come across, they just didnt want to know

blackcat · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:27:09 PM »

Good point HK - Bexxy whereabouts are ya hun? we can probably tip you off on some good places to contact (and some good places to avoid) to get a happy outcome!!

Hippykitty · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:24:55 PM »

cc that really depends on the rescue. Some specialise in ferals.

ccmacey · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:22:59 PM »

The rescue will probabily not want to know, they say if you cant touch the cat it will be no good in their pens as they will be unrehomable, obviously we know different.

My local rescues, 2 of them didnt want to know and were quite happy for me to leave him on the streets.

ccmacey · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:19:58 PM »

BTW- Thats not always how it works out. Blackie, a stray was caught over a year ago and he still sits in his room and has never been out to investigate, but he's happy though. And I wouldn't say he is much fun either, he will never be a lap cat

Saying this he has taken to the other cats in the house.

Do you have other cats Bexxy?

blackcat · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:17:05 PM »

What Hippy kitty says is right. If you don't feel you can devote that amount of time to him, you might consider contacting your local rescue who might be able to provide you with some support in the short term, and provide him with a home in the longer term. They can not take in cats without some notice though, so probably better to do that now, so that you can make up your mind in your own time, but know there is a safety net for him if you decide not to take him on yourself. Good on you for caring for this wee mite, and good luck whichever decision you go with.

Hippykitty · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:12:13 PM »

First, consider whether you really have a home to give to this cat, and are you prepared for the months it could take before he's any 'fun'? During that time he'll hide behind your furniture and look at you with suspicion.

If you're sure you can offer him a home, make certain that he is a stray. Get a paper collar and put your details on it, asking his/her owner to contact you. If you have no response, you'll need to borrow a feral trap from a local cat rescue.

When you have caught him/her, keep the cat in for at least two months, longer if necessary. During that time pusscat will hide and hiss at you. He's not being nasty, but defending himself. Give him peace and food and a litter tray. To begin with, you may have to put him in a unused room while he gets used to your feeding and litter changing visits. Don't attempt to stroke, fuss, or pick him up.

After several months, this cat will creep out from his hidey hole and start to investigate. Let him go at his own pace, don't lunge at him.

One day he'll come and sit himself on your lap. But this could take months. However, when you achieve this, it's a wonderful feeling.

bexxy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:09:29 PM »

Im not sure if we will be keeping him, i think were not the only ones feeding him as sometimes he doesnt come to our house for months and i start thinking that he may have died then afew months later he appears again. i dont know how he's surviving but he tends to sleep in our cat bed/basket we have outside. but he just doesnt seem to like humans so im positive he's a stray.

ccmacey · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2008, 16:03:41 PM »

I think you need to get him trapped, if it's been over a year and he still will not tolarate you touching him, something else more needs to be done to get him inside.

Will you be keeping him yourself?

How on earth did he survive the winter?

bexxy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 06, 2008, 15:58:45 PM »

Well this stray cat comes and eats are cat food and he has been coming for about a year and a half. he's no problem to feed but last week he looked ill ( sneezing, strange breathing and bad eye ) and we were going to take him to the vets but as he is very timid we couldnt get him into the cat box. but he seems better now and hasnt come for a day or two. but i just wondered if i could have any advice on taming him . because he will sit near you but as soon as you go to stroke him he either hisses or runs off.

Rebecca . x

Author Topic: Stray cat . (Read 4114 times)

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