Stray Cat Question...Please help!

Hello everyone,

I just found this website...and it is fantastic! Here is my dilemma:

Yesterday afternoon I went out to my back patio and found this beautiful cat playing and rolling around. He kind of startled me at first as this was unexpected. I know about feral cats so I was a little cautious, but as soon as he saw me he ran up to me...rubbing against my legs, wanting to be petted etc. I have to admit I used to be a dog person but I immediately fell in love!

Anyways, the cat seemed to be really clean, it looked well fed, and I did notice that its two front paws were declawed. I was stumped...I did not want to leave this cat outdoors, but then again I didn't want to take the cat in because the cat is extremely loveable and I can only imagine someone's heartache who finds the cat is missing. I decided that I would let the cat decide for himself what he would like to do so I opened my back door and the cat immediately went inside.

Again, I would LOVE to give this cat a home but not if he already has a loving home. I figured that I would talk to my neighbors to see if anyone is missing a cat and then take it from there. None of my neighbors are missing a cat so I bought a litter box and some cat food. Even though the cat looks extremely well fed, he ate ALOT!

I put up an ad on Craigslist advertising that I found this cat and put up a picture. I received one response and it was from a cat lover thanking me for taking him in and advised me that this cat is a Bengal. I did some research online and the cat is definitely a Bengal! I described to friends on the phone that he looked like a tiger...what I actually found out is that he has leopard coloring. I decided that the next day (today) I would take him to the vet to see if he has a microchip.

Well the cat definitely wants to go back outside. At various parts of the evening, he was scratching at both doors, and jumping on the windows making a crying sound. I felt soooo bad! I mean what if the cat knows his way home and just wants to go there?

I decided that I would wait until I went to the vet and deal with the crying. After going to the vet the cat has no microchip. After taking the cat back home, he still clearly wants to go outside.

Here's my dilemma...I don't know what to do. I would love to keep this cat but with the cat crying I feel like I am torturing him by keeping him indoors. He goes through spurts of this...maybe an hour or so then he wants to be with me and sleeps. I even bought toys and cat nip (which he loves) but it breaks my heart hearing him cry.

Should I let him back outside? He seems well taken care of like he has a good home. My dilemma is I would love for him to find his home if he came from a loving one. On the other hand I don't want him to get hurt.

Any advise you can give would be great...I really don't know what to do.

You might try some posters, etc. Check with local vets. Check with your local shelter, to see if they have a lost cat report.

It would be very careless for an owner of a Bengal cat to allow it outdoors. They are notorious roamers. The fact that it's declawed would lead me to believe that it might be someone's indoor cat that escaped.

There are Bengal experts on this forum (check the Breeders section) who can tell you more.

Do NOT let him back outside. The fact that he's declawed indicates that he was, at least, at one time exclusively indoors. He is relatively defenseless. He can't climb a tree to get away from an attacker.

The bad news, of course, is that Bengals are also often vocal cats. Again, check with the experts.

Oh yes I have learned that these types of cats are extremely vocal...LOL. I would keep the cat for myself...it's breaking my heart hearing him (or her) cry every time he's awake.

Make some posters and report it to your local newspaper (if any), just keep him indoor until he get use into it...I wish I could see some pics of him,

Unfortunately, some people DO let their declawed kitties outside. It is very dangerous for the cat because he cannot defend himself properly.

Some things that may help you, help him acclimate easier inside.
You can get something called Bach's Rescue Remedy at a health food store. Some people have great success with a calming a cat by putting a drop on his paw or rubbing some on his ears.
Feliway is also an option. It is a plug-in diffuser that omits something into the air that emulates 'friendly cat pheromones' that help cats to be more at ease.

Make some high places for this kitty to get (cat trees, if you can). And get an interactive wand with a string and toy on the end, so you can do your best to distract him, when he starts crying to go outside.
Try to make inside more fun and entertaining than outside.
And get him some high quality wet food, to entice him to want to stay.

You are a good person to help this kitty.

Is he neutered?

Such uneasy - wanting out, is typical for toms... The best remedy is a visit to the vet and his little knife...

Originally Posted by Pami

Unfortunately, some people DO let their declawed kitties outside. It is very dangerous for the cat because he cannot defend himself properly.

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Just a little info, cats do not defend themselves with their front claws nor would one last long against a dog if it did have claws. (sadly, I've seen fully clawed cats attacked and killed because no one ever kept any of their animals up in the town I grew up in)

Declawed cats can get up trees. My neighbor cats jump my 6 and 1/2 foot fence - I can't keep them out of my backyard (except for the part that MewMew is in - and that's only because she scares them). The smaller one of the two also caught himself a mocking bird from the tree next to my deck a few days ago - the lowest branch is above my head. The larger of the brothers has explored my roof...

Should a declawed cat be roaming loose outside, though - no. But then, no cats really should.


Be very careful advertising this kitty anywhere. If anyone comes forward to claim him you better demand proof.

Thank you all so much for your wonderful replies. He is staying inside and if I can't find the rightful owner then he is going to be mine (or I will be his I see alot of posts say :-).

I was petting him today and he is definitely male - it looks like he is not neutered so if noone claims him this week then to the vet he will go! Hopefully that will end the urge to go out.

This is day two and he is much less nervous and anxious than yesterday. I had plans tonight and had to leave for five hours (I felt horrible but I can't stay home with him 24/7). He was fine it was so nice to be greeted when I for home.

Don't mention that he's an unneutered bengal anywhere, you might get less than scrupulous people attempting to claim him.

Adult cats often do fine with some time alone. You'll discover, if you keep him, that his daily schedule involves a lot of sleeping. If you ever feel he gets bored or lonely with your absences, a cat or dog companion could help.

Though I honestly have to wonder what type of person would have a intact bengal with no microchip and declawed.

If you have any doubts whether he is an intact male, post a photo here and we'll tell you.

As someone said, a breeding male can be worth money, although without papers, technically he's just a DSH cat.

Living with a cat is different from living with a dog, but they can be an amazing amount of company.

Originally Posted by mrblanche

As someone said, a breeding male can be worth money, although without papers, technically he's just a DSH cat.

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Some breeds, even without papers, are unmistakable (though really nice spotted tabbies can be confused for bengals if a person doesn't know what they really look like). You wouldn't mistake a persian for anything but a persian, for example. While they're no good to real breeders, your BYBs just in it for money will still use them since they rarely have registered cats - or at least the ones around here that advertise in the paper never do.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Be very careful advertising this kitty anywhere. If anyone comes forward to claim him you better demand proof.

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I love this advice. Worth repeating. Photos to start. I don't know what else.

I'm new to this site can someone please tell me how to add pictures? LOL sorry I tried to find out how to do this with no luck.

icklemiss has a small tutorial here http://www.freewebs.com/icklemiss21/postingaphoto.htm

I'm pressed for time, otherwise I'd look a little more for a step by step guide or explain it myself. Maybe someone else can help if that link isn't enough info for you.

Brian, thank you for rescuing this kitty!

I agree - when you advertise trying to find his owners, do not mention he's not neutered. This will help you identify the real owners. Demanding pictures will help. Also, asking which vet they see, and bringing the cat to that vet could help confirm the true owner.

I'm not sure what to recommend on the neutering - it is something we always do as soon as possible. This will calm down the cat, provide long term health benefits, and stop his demands to go outside. If this cat is a pure bred Bengal, I find it impossible to believe that any responsible breeder would declaw their cat (if you read up on it in the health forum here, you'll find it's illegal in many countries and some cities around the U.S. because it IS cruel to the cat- if you'd like to know more, happy to oblige). I also find it impossible to believe a responsible breeder would sell a cat to anyone that would have it declawed. So either this cat is not purebred, or someone violated their adoption contract with the breeder - or the cat previously escaped its home, and was previously rescued. Some strange shelters are out there and either declaw or allow people to declaw adopted cats.

Anyway, all of that said - we'd probably get him neutered right quick. He probably ought to see a vet ASAP to make sure he doesn't have parasites (which you don't want in your home anyway). Cats that have been living outside and not treated with Frontline (ticks and fleas) at a minimum and Revolution or Advantage Plus (includes internal parasities like round worm, which are very common) will likely have any or all of those.

...and if he's intact and has been mating, there's the possibility that he's now contracted some other disease - not one that can be communicated to you - but potentially Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), for which he should probably be tested.

Places to put up "posters" are local vets, local stores, and local shelters. You can also list a found pet in the classifieds (I think) at http://www.petfinder.com

If he has very destinctive markings, you may not want to include a picture of the whole cat - that way some part of his markings can be described by his real owner (if one steps forward).

As I'm sure you've find out, Bengals are VERY active cats! You are going to want to provide vertical space for him, a LOT of interactive play - and I'd definitely PM Nial (Kai bengals) or ask in the Breeder's Forum about keeping your boy happy.

Originally Posted by LDG

If this cat is a pure bred Bengal, I find it impossible to believe that any responsible breeder would declaw their cat....I also find it impossible to believe a responsible breeder would sell a cat to anyone that would have it declawed.

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Many local BYBs do de-claw their breeding stock. I have no idea where they get them, but I doubt the BYB they got the cat from had any kind of contract, much less a no de-claw contract.

I do wish vets would at least refuse to do de-claws on unaltered cats (since most won't refuse to do de-claws at all). There's just no reason for it.

Yeah I have no clue why he is declawed...it seems pretty cruel. I have included a few pictures of "Tigger..." that's what I've been calling him. I don't want to officially name him as that would mean he is mine and I still don't want to get my hopes up. Every day that passes I wish more and more that he can be mine but we'll see what happens and I'll keep everyone posted.

P.S. Thanks for the website telling me how to include pictures...I haven't used a message board in a long time.

Wow, are his eyes blue? I bet he's not pure Bengal. Bengal/Siamese mix maybe. Only lynxpoint snow Bengals have blue eyes, and he's too dark for that.

Are you sure he's not neutered? His neck doesn't look "boofy" enough for him to be a tomcat. He seems like a real cool cat.

Yes his eyes are definitely blue...a real nice cat. I am not 100% sure about being neutered I think I need to take him to a vet to be definitive. All I know is that he is definitely male and there appears to be testacles...sorry I'm not too familiar with cats.

My hope is that the crying to go outside is because he is not neutered...that way when he is neutered my hope will be that will subside.

P.S. Yes he is DEFINITELY a cool cat. He just plays, sleeps, and wants to be petted. He follows me EVERYWHERE and when I leave he makes this horrible cry. I'm officially a cat lover now :-)

If he's not microchipped and you can't find his owner... perhaps you ought to consider getting him a friend.