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Outdoor Cat

post #1 of 11
10/14/09 at 6:44pm
Thread Starter 
There is a stray a neighbor left behind. Male, about 2 yrs. old and very friendly. He has been an outdoor cat most of the time. Since they left him I have beem feeding him.
My ? is: Is it possible to make him a strictly indoor cat?
I have 2 adult males that have been neutered and are only indoor cats.
If I have him neutered will he still spray because of my cats and will he ever adjust and get along with mine?
I have seen him spray outside.
Friends have told me once an outdoor cat always one and that he would probably spray too. Thx
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post #2 of 11
10/14/09 at 7:00pm
That he is spraying may increase the odds that he may continue to, but it's no guarantee that he will. Lots of cats stop.

You do need to get him to the vet. Get him FIV/FeLV tested, dewormed, treated for fleas, vaccinated if healthy enough, and make that neuter appointment.
You also need a separate room to put him in for now.

As for him becoming an indoor cat. That's unknown, for now. Some cats take to it and never look towards the door again, they're happy with the life of a spoiled indoor kitty. Others may try the door or cry to go out, but that can usually pass in time.
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post #3 of 11
10/14/09 at 7:56pm
Just hearing about him being left behind just breaks my heart. He deserves better. I hope you can give him a chance. I took in a male that was unneutered and he sprayed. I had him neutered and it did take some time, but he stopped and now is integrated with my other cats. I kept him in a separate room for quite a while. Once you take him to the vet and have him checked and then neutered hopefully he will be able to join your group. I wish him and you the best.
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post #4 of 11
10/14/09 at 8:26pm
Thread Starter 
Thx you guys.
Right now I am letting him sleep in my garage at night. I put a litter box which he is using, I don't know if he even knew what one was. A balnket and food and water. I let him out in the morn. and he comes back like he knows thats home now. This has been only a week so he adapted to that pretty quick. Here in MI its cold at night now.
I am laid off due to the auto industry and I called my vet and it will cost 264. for shots, neutering and front declawed. Mine are declawed so he will have to be too so he can't attack them. I just hate to spend the money if it don't work out, as far as spraying goes. I have seen him doing it to the neighbors bushes during the summer.
She just got evicted a week ago and the worst is she had 6 other cats and she left them locked in her SUV for 4 days. A neighbor managed to get his key to unlock her door so we could put food in there for them.
Then on the 4th. day she found out she was ticketed and she came and took the car and cats. They were all young, 6-9 months old. It was a mess.
Animal Control was here and everything but w/out police they couldn't break in. We did but we couldn't tell her that. Police never came either.
Chance always hung out at my house and my neighbors, he just took a liking to me esp. I love him to death but I got to look out for my 2 also.
I just don't know what to do. My vet said he may adapt and may not, its a tough call.
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post #5 of 11
10/14/09 at 8:31pm
Please do not declaw him! Even if your cats are declawed, that doesn't mean he has to be. Rule #3


Quote:
3. This website considers declawing a drastic way to curb cat behavior. A painful ordeal for your kitty we would suggest that declawing never be considered for any behavioral issue. Health issues are entirely different. It is up to you as a responsible pet owner to explore all the different options available instead of declawing. Your cat is dependant on you to make wise choices for her, and not put her into any more stress or discomfort. Please be a responsible pet owner and research this subject thoroughly. Understand that if you are pro-declaw in your posts, you will encounter opposition. Please learn more about alternatives for declawing here in our forums as well as on our website itself. Declaw - More than Just a Manicure. Hopefully those of you with claw-related problems will find solutions by spending time in our Behavior Forum.
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post #6 of 11
10/14/09 at 9:55pm
And its waste of money for an unneeded procedure. If you're wanting to save some money, unneeded procedures aren't the way to do it.

Fighting cats do not do much with their front claws, those are only to grip with and they can still grab another cat quite well with no claws. It's the back claws and teeth that do damage. Were your other cats truly ever in need of defending themselves against another cat, they could definitely do it.

If you are in a tight bind money wise, look around. There are organizations that can help you get a cat spay or neutered for less or provide vouchers/coupons that can be used at specific vet clinic.
You may still have to cover shots and tests, but it could save you a little money.

If he keeps spraying you could always build an enclosure or cat proof your back yard (if you have one), or at the very least keep a similar set up for the cat that he has now. But getting him vaccinated and neutered is very important.
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post #7 of 11
10/14/09 at 10:03pm
I currently have 10 cats and all of them have been strays, either adopted or integrated into the household from outside cats. Many times the attitude of the household depends a lot on the owner. If you make time for all the cats and help them see it is ok to get along, most of the time they do. I have 3 girls and 7 boys w/ no spraying problems and no fighting. They are aged 3 months to 17 years. Give the guy a chance, give them all lots of love, and enjoy! I agree with not declawing. I will admit, I have some that are declawed, but they were before I got them. I had decided to have one declawed after I adopted him in Alaska and I regret it. He had a really hard time with it. I have 5 that are not declawed and they will stay that way.
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post #8 of 11
10/16/09 at 9:58pm
Thread Starter 
Thx everyone for your input. Thurs. it was so cold and I couldn't stand it anymore watching him all curled up out there trying to stay warm. Called my son and he helped me give him a bath. He was great, just stood there and let us scrub him down. We get neutered next Wed. and all checked out. He is doing great with my other cats, I have 2, one is great, the other one hisses a little but is already coming around. I just love this guy and am sure he will do fine. I opened the door today and he came up to it so I hope he will choose not to want to go out in time. He has the luxury of a indoor cat so he better learn to love it. LOL I am not letting him out. I think he will in time.
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post #9 of 11
10/16/09 at 11:27pm
Thread Starter 
another ?
I have always had 2 bowls out for my 2 cats, always keep dry food in them as they eat when they feel like it. They never eat enough at one time to empty it. Should I put a third bowl out for my new guy? They never eat at the same time and when they do its only for a couple of minutes.
They just are used to it being there and they go get a few bites and leave.
Just wondering if 2 bowls would still be ok?
Like I said they are never there all at the same time. Just don't want anyone feeling left out. Plus they don't have assigned bowls, one day, one will eat out of one bowl and the next day, the other one.
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post #10 of 11
10/17/09 at 1:08am
You are so kind to take him in after he was abandoned. I would put out another bowl.

If there is a concern about him staying inside or spraying and possibly being put back outside, declawing is not the thing to do. Declawed cats may not be able to grip trees to climb out of harms way.

Put a few scratching posts out for him. Instead of buying one if money is tight, you can bring in a 3 to 4 inch diameter log. I often hear that declawed cats still like to use the posts because of the need to stretch.

I wish you and all your fur family the best.
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post #11 of 11
10/17/09 at 5:38pm
I agree on the de-clawing....such a HORRIBLE thing to do, it should be illegal here in the U.S. like it is in most of the rest of the world. Plus, at his age he quite likely would suffer serious complications and may never adjust (if someone simply MUST de-claw their cat---because they value their inanimate furniture over their cat's well-being---it should be done as young as possible; older cats can get seriously depressed over the loss of their toes). I knew a cat from similar circumstances who died from being de-clawed. Check out the links in my signature for more info.

Once he's neutered, give it a few months. Once the hormones leave his body, he may never spray again. Most don't. And, if he does, there are hormonal treatments you can look into.

Good for you for taking him in! Hopefully he'll be glad to stay in and that won't be an issue.
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