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Very happy day!!!!

post #1 of 15
12/22/09 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 
i would have NEVER believed this.. even with everyone telling me it happens and to be hopeful... but Im like 90% sure my "buddy" - a cat that let me pet him and would follow me all over - has come back......
AFTER AN ENTIRE YEAR!!!!!

He went missing like last november and a few days ago I noticed a new cat - he was getting closer to me and then i just put out my hand and he sniffed it. Tonight I went out and he was there (theyve ALL been in hiding due to the snow). I knelt down - he came over and that was it - he was like a house cat - rubbing against me etc. But because its been so long - I cant remember exactly what he looked like. I took notes and he does match the description (but a lot of hte cats do).

Ive JUST in the last couple months gotten the tom cat to let me pet him - but thats it - most of these cats still run off if i get too close. This HAS to be him - MOST importantly - he has his ear clipped so i know hes in this colony and not a lost house cat.

The only way I could be 100% sure was to see if he is a male.

My house cat was neutered but he still has his testicles.. I dont know (obviously) if they are sometimes still intact... what im asking is - if these cats are neutered is there an easy way to tell the sex??? I took a peek and it didnt look like my cat - but im going to check again. I just need to know if NOT seeing testicles definitely means its a female...

THANKS

PS
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post #2 of 15
12/22/09 at 4:18pm
To me, neutered males look like females.
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post #3 of 15
12/22/09 at 5:01pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah that would make sense - right?? Ive only had ONE cat in my life and all i know is - he has testicles. Hes been to several different vets and no one ever mentioned it... i just figured... they were empty (ew).

Anyway... so in reference to this feral - i wont know for sure his sex then... but im still going to guess its him.
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post #4 of 15
12/22/09 at 11:30pm
My boys do have some sacks left (emptied of course). Especielly the older one (=father) looks still quite male in his body structure too. Someone not skilled on cats could surely believe he is intact stud.


But as a rule of thumb, it is apparently common it can be difficult to see a female from a male. There are numerous cases of males unespecting giving birth to a litter of kittens. Or breeders who just days before delivery of a kitten discovered it was not a prince but a princess or vice versa.

So it may surely be difficult to see the dif between a neutered male and female, especielly if she too is neutered...


M935. In your case, you shall be 100% sure. It is either him in his own person. Or his personal representative coming to you in his name.

It is Christmas time, a time of magic and wonders.

Dont ask, do accept the gift and be happy.
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post #5 of 15
12/23/09 at 3:33am
Billy still has his testicles (empty) but my nans cats look like females. I am sending you . You never know it may be him. xx
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post #6 of 15
12/23/09 at 4:03pm
Thread Starter 
OMG - this cat is SOOO friendly and loving.

I didnt feel this way before - but I HAVE to bring him in. It would be difficult being my cat has been the only cat for 6 years. But I have to try... at some point - i wont do it tomorrow.

This cat had his shots 2 summers ago. But should I wait for my cats next vet appointment so he will be up to date with his... in case.
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post #7 of 15
12/23/09 at 7:38pm
What you should do - when you do it - is take the kitty straight to the vet to get a check-up. He'll need to be de-wormed - and be checked for fleas/ticks (though its not the season) and ear mites. If the vet gives him the all clear, he can be released into a separate room. Just make sure to wash your hands any time you visit kitty, and it's not a bad idea to have a pair of socks or slippers or something you keep inside the door - and take off whatever you've got on your feet before going in and using whatever you keep in the room.

Because your kitty has been an alone cat for so long, you'll want to make intros really slow.
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post #8 of 15
12/30/09 at 6:14pm
Thread Starter 
Just want to double check on this...

I have an appointment with the clinic to get him his distemper shot and the leukimia/aids test in 2 weeks... but that seems SOO long - every time i see him I just want to grab him and bring him in.

From LDG's last post I gather I also have to be worried about ear mites etc.

Now... if I put my cat and dog in another room with the door shut and let him wander in JUST to see how he does in a house... is that safe???

All 3 animals are protected for fleas (diatomacous earth)...

Thanks... I KNOW i should wait - but its sooo hard and would like to get an idea of whether he wuold even do well indoors.
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post #9 of 15
12/31/09 at 1:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by m935 View Post

Now... if I put my cat and dog in another room with the door shut and let him wander in JUST to see how he does in a house... is that safe???
The risks arent big as I understand. Especielly as you have seen him now about a week, and he still seems to be healthy. Or?? So prob no distemper and also hopefully no other major sickednesses.
Most of the nasty letters-sickednesses we always are afraid of arent very contagious. So a quick passage through empty rooms shouldnt be dangerous.

I dont sign on it is safe and sound practice, but...


Next two questions: Why make this fuss? Cant you just take him in into his waiting quarantene-room?? If living inside is OK he will manage just fine there. He will even feel more safe in 1 prepared for him room, then bevildered in an unknown apartament, full of strange smells of resident cat and resident dog.

Next question: Cant you get a quicker appointment than in two weeks??

Such appointments are OK with your own pet for his yearly check up, but it is long for a stray to wait outside...
Let them at least help you with the parasites and vaccinations, and let him be in this quarantene-room waiting for the big blood analysis while the vaccinations are building up and the parasites die off.
If it is perhaps blood analysis which is the difficulty for the vet?.
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post #10 of 15
12/31/09 at 9:44am
Thread Starter 
I dont really have a separate room - i live in a 2 bedroom condo and the 2nd room is used by a roommate

I was just going to bring him alone and let him sniff around. Maybe do that a few times... then let him in with my cat in a crate - do that a few times. and then eventually let them meet...

Im taking him to the clinic because they will do this for me at half the cost. If this doesnt work out - I cant afford to spend 100 plus on a cat that is going to remain outdoors anyway...
There are 20+ cats outside - so hes not alone and hes at least 2 yrs old.

I want to give him a home because he is so friendly and loving and I THINK he will make a great house cat. Although I gave him a few treats this morning and he swatted when another cat came over....
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post #11 of 15
12/31/09 at 10:11am
I've never had to do a cat/dog intro, so I have no advice there. But even kitties that were house cats are often scared at first in a new territory, so he may not sniff around as you expect, but may go hide under a sofa or the bed or something. Do you have your own bathroom or do you share it with the roommate? If you have your own, is it large enough for a kitty bed, a litter box, and food and water? If so, I'd consider letting him go in there and keeping him there for a few weeks. Gives him time to adjust - and your other critters to get used the smell of the "new guy."

Cats are very territorial, and so opening the door to let your other kitty see the new kitty and watch reactions may be better - if it's an option. Some people get large dog crates to do this... but that's expensive too.

If the bathroom or a dog crate isn't an option, then I'd just stick with your plan and see how it goes!

Just be prepared for new kitty to be scared, existing kitty to not be happy about a cat invading its territory, and I have no idea what to expect with kitty and the dog.

...but having his scent in the place without him there (would you take him back outside again?) may help ease the intros too.

for whatever you decide to do!
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post #12 of 15
12/31/09 at 1:13pm
Thread Starter 
Well, my dog loves EVERYONE. of course the cat may not be so happy... but im more worried about my snobby cat over the other 2.

Yeah, I would just take him back outside. Im considering on HOW to get him to my door. He lets me pick him up - but after a few seconds - hes ready to be put down. I dont think doing this every day will get him used to it to where i could carry him .... 200 feet to my door.

I really dont want him to follow me... because then he could make his home outside my door (if this all DOESNT work out) and that cant be. Of course he coudl do this anyway - Im just assuming htat a cat would have to physically walk the route to know it...

My last option- is to get him in a carrier. however... he wont like that so then getting him to the vet may be an issue... if he fears the crate.....

As i write this out now i realize I really dont know HOW to do this....

I guess getting him to follow me sounds liek the only option... huh???

OR i could just let him be with his family and adopt a kitten from the shelter.... (so confused - just want to do the right thing for us all)

I would still take him to the vet btw...
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post #13 of 15
12/31/09 at 5:53pm
I just remembered - one of the other members who has a TNR site does this when really friendly kitties show up - she gets a breakaway collar for the cat, writes a short note - I guess letting someone know the cat has turned up - does he have a home? And puts her phone number on it. This way if he does have a home, you'll know.

...but it can't hurt to try the crate method. He may not be happy about the crate, but if he likes being inside, then the crate means a good thing, not a scary thing.

I'd definitely wash the crate with a light bleach solution if you last used it to carry your other cat to the vet, and then spray it with a good amount of Feliway.
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post #14 of 15
1/5/10 at 9:47pm
I hope all has gone well for you and your new kitty.I adopted a new kitten(we are now almost half a dozen)from a bad home .
We can not let our babies outside...as a result, they have to deal with one another.






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post #15 of 15
1/6/10 at 8:14am
Any update?
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