I have a cat in my heating vent!

Who would shave their cat to a lion cut and let it outside in winter?

I'm going to try and take some pics next time I see him and put up some flyers. Maybe he did escape and his owners are looking for him. It would take a very dense person to let their shaved cat outside on purpose. I'm not rulling that out, but I am hopefull that maybe he's just an escape artist.

He's certainly not feral since he was so willing to let me carry him around, he seems like a very sweet kitty. So obviously someone had once spent time with him.

I don't like the idea of outside cats. It makes me very sad to think of him living outside in the cold. I've put out some food for him and I think he'll probably be back tonight. He seems to like to make my house is nighttime hideway.

I would try and trap him to be neutured if he's not already but I doubt I can find a vet who will do it free of charge. I'll call around though. Cross your fingers that he's got a worried owner somewhere looking for him.

He must have an owner with that haircut..I hope they are looking for him.

Mr. Kitty did in fact tell his friends about the new place. I left food out for him last night and while I didn't see him, the food was gone this morning. So I went out again just a few minutes ago to refill the dish, I shook it to signal that dinner was ready and a little orange and white head peeked out from under the house at me.

I now have two kitties calling the guts of my house home. Orange kitty wasn't as friendly as her Grey friend had been, but she didn't seem afraid of me. Just waited paitently untill I left the bowl and went back inside before coming out and chowing down like food was going out of style. Didn't even have the courtesy to leave some for Grey Cat.

This one, is chubby and adorable. She's got the cutest little pudgy face.

I'm really worried now that I might in fact find kittens under my house someday since there seems to be more stray (or uncared for) cats in the neighborhood than I first thought. I'm going to try and gain the trust of these two by feeding regulalry and then hopefully, someday I can get them into the vet for neutering.

I have no doubt that orange kitty is getting food elsewhere as well, since she's quite plump. But somehow I doubt that she's spayed. (don't ask me why I think she's a "she" I haven't a clue) And I''ve decided to adopt the "if it's on my property it's getting neutered" philosophy. There has to be a vet somewhere that will give me a discount.

Haven't seen grey cat at all today. I hope he comes back too if he's hasn't gone home.

I would put up some flyers around the neighborhood to see if anyone owns these cats. Sounds like they do have homes though, especially the lion cut guy. Maybe he's lost?

I put up two flyers at the closest intersections this morning. I haven't been able to get any pictures yet though so I'm just hoping that if lion guy does have someone looking for him that they'll see it and read it despite the lack of picture.

Meanwhile, he was just here to have dinner an hour ago.

Well, at least you saw him for dinner.......

What a great story!!! I've been glued to my screen, following this thread closely!

Anyway, there's a possibility this pair could be littermates, or...ahem, girlfriend/boyfriend. Or, they could be a pair from the same household that were simultaneously outside, and have chosen to stick somewhat together. If girlfriend is a bit chunky, and not neutered, she may be "in the family way" if you know what I mean. I would hope if she is, she doesn't select your heating vents as the perfect place to have some kittens.

Personally, I'd set up a safe room in your house, away from the dogs, make some posters, and hang them up everywhere. If no one claims them in 2 weeks, they're yours! If you choose to keep them in the event that no one claims them, read all you can about introducing cats to dogs. There's lots of info on that on TCS, and elsewhere too.

Anyway, good luck...I wish all three of you the best!

Apart from clicking on the SaveSamoa pic in my signature line (which will take you to links to search for low-cost spay/neuter services), you can also try this link: http://www.pets911.com Here you can type in your zip code and search for local Rescue and Shelters. You may find one (or some) that may have a trap they can lend you, they may have or know of low-cost (or no cost) spay/neuter services.

You can also go to www.bestfriends.org and go to the No More Homeless Pets page. From there, look for the feral resources. You can contact the Best Friends network to see if there's anyone in your area that can help. They have an e-mail on there to contact them. I think it's like [email protected] - but they have instructions there.

We were feeding just a few kittens.... and ended up TNRing and rehoming over 20 cats in just that one area. They ALWAYS have friends!

Laurie

You know, that's what I'm afriad of. That Peaches (Yes, I've named the orange girl) is in fact in the "family way". She's quite shy though so I'm not sure how long it'll be untill I can catch her. Lion Guy seems more hesitant of me then before now, probably because he remembers what happened last time I tried to feed him, he was tricked and almost fed to the dogs.

I think they'll come around though. I thought about closing up the hole to under the house completly to prevent them from having kittens up there, but I also don't want them to freeze. I have a feeling both Lion Guy and Peaches are snuggled up under the house right now. And it's COLD outside.

We'll see what happens. I may have to see if anyone will lend me a trap if it seems they're not coming around more after a week or so. I'll check out those links.

I'm not too worried about introducing them to the dogs. I've got eight cats already so we've been through that routine plenty of times, I just don't really need another two cats. I was so tempted to keep Lion Guy if he would have let me bring him in, but after thinking it over more it's probably best if I don't. Otherwise I'll be that crazy cat lady soon with a gazzillion cats!

I can set them up in my bathroom though untill I can find them homes, or neuter and release them. I suppose it's up to them really, if they turn out to be somewhat tame I don't think it would be hard to rehome them.

Still crossing my figners that someone sees the flyers. I'd be so happy to see these two find their owners and go back to a nice warm house.

I know you don't really mind having them live in your heating vents but I would consider covering the openings with chicken wire. They could reak havoc in there and then it could start to smell. Plus if they do have kits you never know. I would be afraid one would get lost or worse in the vents. That could end up costing you in the end.
Could you set up a dog house or something close to the opening and try to get them to use that?

Bless you for taking this on and good luck.

The dog house is a good idea! I think they are in fact an item, I heard them crying like only mating cats do last night. That sound is unmistakable, so...yeah, they've decided to use my house as their love shack. I think kittens are on the way pretty soon.

I went to put some food out just a few minutes ago and two little heads peaked out at me. Peaches and Lion Guy. They're shacking up together.

I'm going to see about getting a small dog house, I only worry about closing them up inside the house on accident when I do attempt to block them from getting in. I don't ever really know when they've left for sure as I don't see them leaving.

Originally Posted by Silverpawz

I only worry about closing them up inside the house on accident when I do attempt to block them from getting in. I don't ever really know when they've left for sure as I don't see them leaving.

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I see how that is concern. Maybe on your next day off do a kitty stakeout. Set up the dog house, put food and blankets in it. Make it warm and inviting. Then sit and wait. When you see them leave move in and cover the holes.
I may take a few attemps but I am sure if she is in the motherly way a soft spot may be nicer for her than a heating vent. Plus we all know how men are. They will follow a girl anywhere

Good news, I found someone on craigslist who is giving away a free dog house. I'm going to go pick it up tomorrow. Cross your fingers that the kitties take to it.

I've been so worried about them today, it's snowing a lot and is so cold outside. I don't know if they're actually IN the vents or just in another part of the house. I almost hope they are in the vents for now because then they'd be really toasty.

Good luck with the doggy house I'm sure they'll love it.

I find bubble wrap a very good insulator to line the boxes with Or
polystyrene sheets.

Cut a hole in the back of it - cats are FAR more likely to use a shelter if there's more than one way out of it. And the best insulator, actually, is a bunch of straw. You don't need to pack the house full of it, but put a good amount in there. They'll work their way in.

You can replace it as often as you need to, they can snuggle into it, it doesn't attract bugs like blankets do, it requires no maintenance, and, most importantly, it keeps them warm and snuggly.


Laurie

BTW - if you can find a no- or low-cost spay/neuter service, many places will spay pregnant cats. Some vets have a problem with this, some people have a problem with this. But we spay pregnant cats because there are just so many homeless kitties already.

I noticed this post and follow-ups just now as I think there might be a cat in the attic and/or heating vent here at my dad's place too. I woke up in the middle of the night to hear what sounded like a large cat, too big for a squirrel running like crazy behind the wall at the head of my bed. No noise though, no meowing, no crying, and then earlier last night I heard this scratching, pawing, light no other noises at the vent downstairs and thought it was a mouse maybe. 

My dad got the ladder out and went up on the roof when I told him. I got scared and only made it to the top of the ladder .  My dad said no need to take any of the vent covers off as they all had traps, but I'm like you all I can think of is mine or somebody else's cat is or has suffocated in that vent shaft somewhere and I didn't tear the house apart because of money. 

I'm glad to read that so many understand and are upset for you too. Hopefully, I'll try tuna too, although like you, without many noises now it's hard to not worry. 

Thanks for sharing.

A cat that can't get out of a place becomes very vocal calling for help. The fact that you don't hear anything now may mean the cat was  not in distress and made it's way out again. It could have been a squirrel. The date on the above post was from 2007,  if you do end up hearing a cat call out I hope you start your own thread by clicking on 'Start a New Thread' at the bottom of the replies. Bless your big heart for trying to help a creature in distress! Please keep us posted, I am curious now what it is! 

Raj Mootoo said:

I noticed this post and follow-ups just now as I think there might be a cat in the attic and/or heating vent here at my dad's place too. I woke up in the middle of the night to hear what sounded like a large cat, too big for a squirrel running like crazy behind the wall at the head of my bed. No noise though, no meowing, no crying, and then earlier last night I heard this scratching, pawing, light no other noises at the vent downstairs and thought it was a mouse maybe. 

My dad got the ladder out and went up on the roof when I told him. I got scared and only made it to the top of the ladder .  My dad said no need to take any of the vent covers off as they all had traps, but I'm like you all I can think of is mine or somebody else's cat is or has suffocated in that vent shaft somewhere and I didn't tear the house apart because of money. 

I'm glad to read that so many understand and are upset for you too. Hopefully, I'll try tuna too, although like you, without many noises now it's hard to not worry. 

Thanks for sharing.

Click to expand...

Could be a raccoon.

thanks, yep, not sure. terrible smell still in dishwasher, called Pest Away again, and called Saucier's plumbing...
 

Jeff  the plumber came out and checked around, said he couldn't smell the 'dead animal' smell in the dishwasher, and said that he def didn't think we had raccoons or squirrels, just a lot of mice and that that was probably what might have been running around the vents. 

He said if the cat was trapped in a drain somewhere, 'that wasn't his job...just plumbing, call Pest Away and they'll charge you a lot of money to get it out of there."

Said that there was nothing left for him to do...my dad asked him if there was a  charge, he gave me a bill for $101.00 dollars and still no answer from Nuisance Nabbers (an independent trapper) and Pest Away said they can't come out until the end of the month. 

It's making me nauseous thinking that it could (have been...pretty quiet no scratching anymore, no running around behind my wall, my cat never cried out loud when he was really scared, he would just move his mouth open but not make a sound...very upsetting), my cat or anything else a lot bigger than a mouse and I can't get one person to help me even look for him or get whatever it is out before it suffocates. 

the woman at Pest Away said that if the smell in the dishwasher was lasting for longer than a couple of days then the animal's much bigger and until it finally melts and is washed out from water use in the house the dead animal smell in the drinking water will remain. 

Any suggestions for where to look for this drain?