Stray Cat Question...Please help!

Originally Posted by brian446fsu

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 :-)

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The oriental side of catdom, which would probably include the Bengals to some extent, are often described as "doglike." They are likely to be extremely loyal, desirous of human contact, etc. They may not be a "lap cat," but they will probably want to be near you.

Brian - we have a retired Bengal breeder on this site - Kai Bengals. His name is Nial Thomson. You could send him a private message and ask him about the stray's markings. I am no expert. He is gorgeous by the way. Nial has a web site - Meridian Bengals. http://www.bengalshowcats.com/

Hello everyone! Let me give you an update on the stray who is becoming a part of my family :-)

He seems to be adapting pretty well. I am being extremely patient with him - he is not wanting to go outside as much as when I first found him. He still wants to go outside anywhere between 3 and 5 AM, but hopefully when he is neutered that will end. I did notice something strange - when he lays on my bed at night he will "nip." It's only at night and I haven't bled but I find it a bit odd. Is this a characteristic of an unneutered male?

I posted an ad on Craigslist and I did have one response. I mistakenly posted a picture at first so the person knew he was a Bengal. At first my heart sank because it sounded like she was the rightful owner. She sent a picture and the resemblence was uncanny. There were two discrepencies which make me know that this cat was not hers. First, her cat is female. Tigger is DEFINITELY a male. Second, she said that her lost cat was not declawed, but were cut extremely short. Tigger is definitely declawed on all fours. So I responded that I do not have her cat and wished her the best. Since that I have adjusted the ad on Craigslist and removed the picture.

Hopefully Tigger can remain a part of my home - he is an AWESOME cat.

Personally, finding a cat with a 4 paw declaw.... I would stop posting about him being found and just look in your area to see if anyone posts that he is lost.
You can look in the paper and on craigslist.
I would go ahead and set a neuter appointment, too. You do not want him to start spraying and develop that habit.

Its a very good thing you found him.

There are very few vets who will 4-paw de-claw an unneutered cat. My money is on that he's already neutered. I have a couple boys who still look like they have "something" back there. How's the litterbox odor? Tomcat pee is horrible, and I think you'd know real fast. Oh, well, the vet can tell for sure.

Yeah, I'd stop posting found ads. Unless they just say "found--male cat, call this number". He's the sort that people will try to claim even if he's not theirs.

Wow you were right! I took the cat to the vet so he can be neutered and I found out he already is! Not only that but he DOES have claws on his back paws, and he has been declawed in the front. The back claws were just trimmed down alot.

I did put signs in my neighborhood that just say "Found Adult Male Cat, Is it yours? Call me." I have not received one phone call.

One woman emailed me on Craigslist and she is devastated. She just lost her female Bengal cat a week ago (the same time that I found this one). The pictures she sent look identical. However, the cat I have (I think and the vet didn't say anything different) is a male. I feel bad, she lives close to me but this cat is a male...I think?

Anyways, the cat still wants to go outside at all hours of the night. He seems to do well in the daytime when I'm at work. I just wish that I could find his owner or he would settle in.

If his back nails are cut so short, he cant have been alone outside especielly long. A few days, not more. They do grow up...

So it is another detail to ask about...

Originally Posted by brian446fsu

However, the cat I have (I think and the vet didn't say anything different) is a male. I feel bad, she lives close to me but this cat is a male...I think?

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If you are the slightest unsure, phone the vet and ask.

Sometimes it is not easy to see. Even fairly experienced cat owners have been known to be unsure.

More than one Thomas come back home with a big belly, to deliver a litter of cute small kittens in proper time.
It happens time and again.

Did she say her cat was declawed on the front paws? I would call the vet again, too. If they look identical, then .....

Originally Posted by Pami

Did she say her cat was declawed on the front paws? I would call the vet again, too. If they look identical, then .....

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Originally Posted by brian446fsu

she said that her lost cat was not declawed, but were cut extremely short.

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Anyway, good thing he's already neutered. Last thing you need is a tomcat around. Nice that at least he has his back claws, too, poor guy. Bad enough to have the front ones cut out.

He may have had a close call with a car....that's a common reason that back claws may be worn down. They scramble to get away and this can wear their claws all the way to the quick.

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while. Let me give you an update.

After talking to this poor woman on the phone, I decided that I would take this cat to her house and look at the woman and the cat's reactions. She took one look at my cat and said, "This is not my cat." Also the woman has about 4 other cats and a dog and my cat did not like them at all.

It's been 2 weeks. I have done everything I can to find this cat's owner...I have found nothing! This cat is officially adopted! I thought I would name him Tigger, but decided to call him Bennie (short for Bengal).

It's amazing how accustomed he's become to the indoors. He no longer paws to go outside and sleeps all night. I have become attached to him and am very thankful that my patience came through and now he is a part of my home.

If anyone decides to adopt a stray just be patient! I'm very glad I did and I love my cat!

Yeah!! Congratulations on your new baby Bennie.... and welcome to TCS!!

Originally Posted by Willowy

Anyway, good thing he's already neutered. Last thing you need is a tomcat around. Nice that at least he has his back claws, too, poor guy. Bad enough to have the front ones cut out.

He may have had a close call with a car....that's a common reason that back claws may be worn down. They scramble to get away and this can wear their claws all the way to the quick.

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Thank you... I missed that part.

Originally Posted by brian446fsu

Hello everyone! Let me give you an update on the stray who is becoming a part of my family :-)

He seems to be adapting pretty well. I am being extremely patient with him - he is not wanting to go outside as much as when I first found him. He still wants to go outside anywhere between 3 and 5 AM, but hopefully when he is neutered that will end. I did notice something strange - when he lays on my bed at night he will "nip." It's only at night and I haven't bled but I find it a bit odd. Is this a characteristic of an unneutered male?

I posted an ad on Craigslist and I did have one response. I mistakenly posted a picture at first so the person knew he was a Bengal. At first my heart sank because it sounded like she was the rightful owner. She sent a picture and the resemblence was uncanny. There were two discrepencies which make me know that this cat was not hers. First, her cat is female. Tigger is DEFINITELY a male. Second, she said that her lost cat was not declawed, but were cut extremely short. Tigger is definitely declawed on all fours. So I responded that I do not have her cat and wished her the best. Since that I have adjusted the ad on Craigslist and removed the picture.

Hopefully Tigger can remain a part of my home - he is an AWESOME cat.

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I have a cat (a former stray) that gives love bites (nips). So far it's only taken a couple of my firm "Noes", with a pointed finger, and he seems to have learned that he shouldn't do it - time will tell. I am on guard, though.
I think if you do a search on this website you'll be able to find more information on this kind of affection.

I wouldn't count on neutering to end his desire to be outside - just continue to be patient and he'll conform (hopefully). He may be crying for his other family - wanting to get out so he can go home? ugh!

My inside cats are only allowed outside INSIDE a carrier - I don't tease them by letting them go out and getting a taste of the great wonderful (and dangerous) outdoors. It's like the saying "what you don't know won't hurt you" - so, if they've never done it they don't know what they're missing. Well, that's my theory anyway. (?)

The only cats we care for that are outside are the ferals, - I let the daddy (the former stray) out during the day and bring him in at night so he won't be getting into any fights - and, yes, he's neutered - but, he still is territorial and protective of his family.

It's wonderful that "Bennie" has found you.