Riff Raff

Street Cat!

OK, well, a while back (a little over a month ago), I got really close to catching her.
I never actually touched her though.

I hadn't seen this kitten in quite a while, and was worried that something bad had happened to her. (Recently discovered that it is indeed a girl.)
So today Glenn saw her outside under my car, so we decided to sit out there and get it to come to us. She was rubbing against the car tires and just looked so sweet. She'd cry every once in a while, which I'd answer.
I got a handful of dry food and we threw it to her, getting her to come closer and closer. Then I went and got some canned food from the pantry that I had left over and she really perked up. She was letting us pet her! I mean, even rough pets! I was sitting cross legged and she'd come up and rub against me and then lay down by my leg and just purr while I pet her. She was rolling on her back and trying to play, but then she'd get nervous and watch us from under the car for a minute before coming up again and eating food out of Glenn's hand while I petted her. She was just the cutest thing. I realized today how skinny she really is, and her coat just feels oily and dirty and gross. She doesn't come when I say "kitty kitty kitty", but when I say "pretty girl", haha! At one point I was sitting petting her while Glenn, Brooke, and Maggie stood around me and talked. She started rubbing on Brooke's leg, even though Brooke wasn't being quiet or careful or anything, just talking, and being quite animated as any self respecting southerner is when they tell a good story.
But I don't have my cage with me! I brought it home and accidentally left it there! So if I do manage to catch her, she'll have to get locked in my bathroom i think.
Glenn and I aren't sure about how to do it. He keeps pushing, picking her up lightly and putting her back down, walking around her, talking loudly, trying to get her less shy, but I'm scared it'll be forever before I get this chance again, and wanted to just traumatize her and grab her and put her in the bathroom. I dunno...

I just went outside and saw her again, she's figuring out that my apartment means food! I pet her and gave her a handful of kit and kaboodle.... She purred and purred and purred, and then my cat pushed the door open and ran at her!
But she didn't go far, just under my car again, so I called her out again and pet her more before going inside.


I dont know that I want her for me, but it hurts me to see her like this, I at least want to get her happy and healthy and tamed and bathed. I have some advantage, in case she has fleas, but I'd have to look up the dosage for a kitten her size, if you can even give it that young.

CRAP!

I poked my head outside to see if it was still there, and it was asleep in the bushes below my window.

So I figured my luck would run out soon, so I started petting her again, and picked her up, which she didn't mind at all this time. And then I brought her in!!! OMG! She's in my bathroom, hiding behind my toilet. I put food and water and made sure Riot's box was clean. Why did I do that? I feel like I should have waited, but she's there now and if I let her out she'll never let me near her again. I'm like freaking out. What do I do now!? Do I leave her alone or do I sit in there with her??? OMG! WHY'D I DO THAT?!?!?! My heart is like pumping so hard! I feel so bad for her, I know she's scared, but I know it's best for her in the long run....
HELP!!!!!

Here's a video from before I decided to go ahead and catch her today:

Originally Posted by Krickette

CRAP!


I poked my head outside to see if it was still there, and it was asleep in the bushes below my window.

So I figured my luck would run out soon, so I started petting her again, and picked her up, which she didn't mind at all this time. And then I brought her in!!! OMG! She's in my bathroom, hiding behind my toilet. I put food and water and made sure Riot's box was clean. Why did I do that? I feel like I should have waited, but she's there now and if I let her out she'll never let me near her again. I'm like freaking out. What do I do now!? Do I leave her alone or do I sit in there with her??? OMG! WHY'D I DO THAT?!?!?! My heart is like pumping so hard! I feel so bad for her, I know she's scared, but I know it's best for her in the long run....
HELP!!!!!

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You did the absolute right thing! Poor baby was starving. She seems like she must have been someone's pet. Anyone in the complex missing a cat? She may already be preggers and if not, you just saved her from that fate. Yes, go in and talk to her, read a book out loud, get some Feliway and plug it in... She is young and obviously likes human attention. She should come around rather quickly. Just make sure she is vetted before you let her meet your resident cats in case she is carrying any diseases. Also - is there any rescue there that can help you with her?

Edited to add: get her some kitten wet and dry. That will help put some meat on her bones.

Thanks!
I'll make a poster and find out, but there was a loose pregnant cat a couple of months back (not sure how long ago).

She's still going back behind my toilet, but no longer hisses at me. She lets me hold her and just purrs and purrs.

Riot however, is not impressed. I went to pet her after handling the kitten and she spat at me, and when she sniffed my hand she went to bite it and swat at it. I'm thinking I'm just going to get them used to each others smells now.


And like I said, I want to rehab it for sure, as much as I can, but I don't know if I'll keep her. If she and Riot don't ever get along I'll ask around, I know that there were some girls down the way that have been trying to catch her, but they were just leaving out bowls of milk. If they don't realize that's a bad idea I'm not sure I want her going to them. They'd have to learn a bit before I trusted them with her, you know? I mean I know I'm not an expert, but yeah.

Originally Posted by Krickette

She's still going back behind my toilet, but no longer hisses at me. She lets me hold her and just purrs and purrs.

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Give her something "legal" to hide in. Say a cat igloo if you have. If you dont have, an sideturned cardboard box is also fine. With something nice to lie on.


Her purring isnt necessary pure joy. It is prob half pleasing herself in, half trying to calm herself in this potentially dangerous situation.

But of course, your work is much easier than if she were an shy semiferal.

So who complains!?

I agree on with your plans... Take it easy and slowly, including fostering, everything will be solved with time.


You can also have some soft, calming music while you are away. Classical is good, but probably almost any soft, calm music is good.


Good luck!

I agree that you did the right thing hun! I would have done the same. I can't wait to hear how this all turns out. Sending lots of vibes!

Thanks!

I honestly think her mother was very tame. I hate to think she belongs to someone around here because she's in such poor condition, and has been loose for so long, but I'm still going to check on that.
She's very happy!
She's eating right now while I sit in here, she has been purring and rubbing on my legs for a good while before she got up to eat. She's rolling over and playing some. She loves shoelaces haha!

My door came open and Riot peeked in and was steadily growling, with random hisses thrown in. Kitten just kept purring and playing at my feet, not a care in the world. I closed the door though, I feel bad for poor Riot, someone has invaded her home! I think she will like her eventually, hopefully they will be playmates and friends!

She's used her potty once to wet, but no poo yet.

I am considering giving her a bath, but not sure if that's a good idea or not.... It has to be done, but I hate to traumatize the poor thing. Should I wait until later and give her even more time to settle or just get it over with now?

Ah, what a sweet tabby kitty. Love the vid. You did the right think to bring her in. She will be a little frightened for a while but if she's left outside too long then you could have some kittens on your hands.

Last summer I brought in a semi-feral kitty into my basm't cages and six days later she had 4-kittens, not something you might not want to deal with at present.

As mentioned above, keep her quarentined from your other cats if you have any until the vet gives the all clear. Good luck with your pretty little tabby kitty.

I would have done just what you did. Obviously she has belonged to someone at some point in her life, maybe still does. She is a pretty little thing.

Nice video. I see she is no shy semiferal trying to manage. She apparently once was a homecat.


There is something a little odd about her, I dont think it is only her being so skinny because of semi-starvation.

I wouldnt be at least surprised if it is much of say, oci-cat or some bengal with tabby-strips, in her.
Im no expert on these fur markings and these breeds with fur-markings.
Something is there, I think.

Proceed to keep her in quarantene. And dont forget your resident, Riot. Cuddle her much and so. So she ddoesnt feel she is abandoned now... Very important. As long as the resident is happy, chances are better she will accept the new one.

I really enjoyed your video. She's a doll.

Household harmony takes time. It will happen.

Thanks! She's adorable. No name yet, open to suggestions though !


Today we had a big uh-oh!

Kitten has been in my bathroom for the past few days, and sometimes the door doesnt shut all the way. Well, today that happened. Kitten came out of the bathroom and into my bedroom, where Riot was. Kitten got cornered while Riot hissed, and then they went under my bed. I heard hissing and ruckus, and finally kitten came out. I picked her up and she started hissing and growling, and I threw her back in the bathroom. I reassured Riot and tried to pet her, but she wasn't happy with me. Then I went in to see the kitten, who started purring as soon as I opened the door. Then I had to go to lab, which I just got out of. Kitten got litter everywhere, spilled her food dish, put her toys all in her water bowl, and managed to rearrange my bathroom rugs. I think she's tired of being cooped up in there. Poor thing used to have the whole outside to herself.


On a more pleasant note, Kitten has just discovered my puffer tank, and is batting at the glass. It's really cute.

Them not wanting to cuddle with you and even doing some growling is surely because of the adrenaline being sky-hight.

But if they had their ruccus as you say, and yet no scratches nor bloody bites, so I suspect strongly it was rather a very rough play then serious fight.
Thus, I think and hope it is going forward.

Thrue, it is mostly boys who are known for ability for rough wrestling matches, but apparently girls can, too...


Vive le equality - as our french friends would perhaps say.

Riot wasn't happy because you smelled like the new kitty. Cats are all about territory and smell.

THANK YOU FOR RESCUING THIS LITTLE ONE!

...and actually, that doesn't sound too bad for a first intro! I'm pretty sure when new kitty is able to be out of quarantine (health wise), it'll take a little time - but sounds like it shouldn't take too long. Start with scent swapping to get each kitty associating the other one with GOOD things (rub several rags on one cat and several rags on the other cat, and put Riot scented rag under new kitty's food dish and put new kitty scented rag under Riot's food dish - and then when you play with them, leave treats down for Riot on another rag that smells like new kitty & etc.).

The idea is to help Riot thing having the new cat around is great - he gets more attention, more treats.... Always give Riot attention first. I know it's hard not to feel bad for the new kitty, but resident kitty MUST feel secure and not jealous.

Originally Posted by StefanZ

Thrue, it is mostly boys who are known for ability for rough wrestling matches, but apparently girls can, too...

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Definitely the female alpha contest can be every bit as bad. Just give Riot a large number of "escape options" where she can jump up and look down on the action below. Making sure that your current cat has a "safe" place to get away from the new cat will go a long way towards making the transition easier.

And thank your lucky stars she isn't a calico or tortie (as I was blessed with ) in this situation as they tend to have a lot of power struggles. For me it has finally ended on its own, thankfully, after 20 months....

There really isn't that much of a difference between male and female cats. Individual personality matters a lot more, but usually male/female pairs do get along better than male/male or female/female....Unfortunately these factors aren't something you get to choose with a stray. Which is also the challenge.

Originally Posted by elayman

And thank your lucky stars she isn't a calico or tortie (as I was blessed with

) in this situation as they tend to have a lot of power struggles. For me it has finally ended on its own, thankfully, after 20 months....

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Haha, Riot is a torbie! She's alpha cat, too. She is testing this new one every time they see each other.

Just a short update on how the stray is doing now!

I kept waiting for the attack - but it never came! Your new little one looks soooooooo relaxed!