Need help with a stray!

Normally I never take in strays, but my work called me to tell me about a young black (long haired) cat who has been a stray and has slowly wasted away. Mind you, its been averaging 112 here. They were very concerned about her.

I went to see, and she walked straight into my arms. Such a friendly girl. From her teeth/size I say she is only a year old.

I am already really attached to her, so sweet, so friendly. Let me give her a bath, yes a bath, with only a few moans.

Tomorrow I take her in for shots/tested for FeLV/dewormer. She has not pooped yet and only ate a little wet food. She did pee. Hopefully there is nothing too bad there.

We will check for any spay scars, and if not, she will get spayed and microchipped later this week.

I am also going to ask the vet but will post on here, my cat eats evo grain free wet and wellness grain free wet, along with raw chicken/liver/heart/ect. Is it okay if I just feed her the wet food right now since she is a stray? Or what should I be feeding her? If she isn't eating the wet food, should I try dry?

My biggest concern is that she is hissing at my other cat Wyatt, through the door. He is very friendly and wants to be buddies.

She also hissed at one of my rabbits (I am assuming she thought it was another cat)

Is there hope I can keep her? She is very friendly to humans, but maybe just shy of other cats? Can anyone offer advice?

Here she is Her name is Charlie Colt Cogburn (Charlie after Charlie one horse the black cowboy..my other cat is Wyatt Rooster Cogburn..I love Coowboys)

Oh what a sweetie! Aren't you wonderful for rescuing her!

You should be able to keep her! Introductions between cats that take a little time are totally normal. It's not recommended to just throw them into the mix, it's a process, because cats are territorial!

Yes, get her to the vet, have her treated with Revolution or Advantage Plus (get rid of fleas and/or ticks and internal parasites), get her tested for FIV/FeLV, have them check her out. (She will need to be treated at least one more time in three weeks with the Revolution or Advantage plus to finish eliminating internal parasites). If the vet gives her the "all clear," then you can begin scent swapping.

Rub her with a couple of cloths. Put one under your Wyatt's food dish. Whenever you have a play session with Wyatt and you finish, put another cloth down and put treats on it. Since he wants to be friends already, it's not SO important - but it is important you do the same thing with him for her. Get her associating his scent with "good" things.

Poor thing's been out there on her own, and for all we know she's had to fight with other kitties for food - or was bullied by other kitties and didn't get any food. Give her at least a few days to understand she's "home," she's safe, and she won't ever have to worry about food again. When she understands that, and she associates Wyatt's scent with "good" things, it'll be much easier.

Whatever room is her "safe" room, when she's more comfortable, let him in for a few minutes. Do NOT focus on them "meeting" so much as having a play session, or feeding them at the same time, or giving them treats at the same time. Make sure there are places she (or he) can go "up" to just watch, if he/she so chooses. Don't force anything - if there's any aggression, just take Wyatt out, and start again the next day.

Hissing, posturing - all of this is normal, and the process with slightly older kitties can take a little while. She's invading his territory, and she knows it. He may be friendly, and she may be scared.

But with love and patience, and just understanding that they have to work out who's who in the hierarchy, I'm sure you'll make it work!

They may become best buddies. They may just work out a kind of "truce" and just kind of ... share the space. But even that works.

P.S. She is really a beauty!!!!!

She is beautiful! I hope it all works out... she may just be hissing because she's scared. I know my big cat hisses at newcomers at first, but eventually they are cuddled up together.

What a gorgeous girl! Thank you for taking her in - and giving her a chance.

Most times when you bring in a new cat, like Laurie/LDG said, there is some hissing going on. I've introduced many new cats to my multi-cat household, and if they are given time they often go fairly smoothly.

WOW she is just gorgeous! AND so lucky to have found you. You are a very kind person to have saved her. She can definitely become your kitty. Oh yes!!! Very typical, the hissing. You have to do the introductions very, very slowly and over a couple of weeks or even more. The slower the better. Don't rush things. I am absolutely sure she will become great friends with your other friendly kitty.

Thanks guys! Well I took her to the vet, she is negative for FeLV and got all her shots. On wendsday I am doing a dewormer and fecal float along with a microchip.

She is a pound underweight, but seems to be good, and best news there is a spay scar! Yay!

Thanks LDG for the advice! I really hope it works out because I am really attached to her already! Once she passes the fecal float things should get rolling

I feel silly because I can tell you everything about rabbits, but only a bit about cats (the basics) and I have never introduced before.

I will reading more and hopefully everything works out! Thank you for the advcie!

Just a thought... fecal floats don't always turn up internal parasites even when they exist. When rescuing kitties that have lived outside, we stopped paying for them, and just assume they have them and treat for them.

If she doesn't have diarrhea, it's a pretty safe bet to assume she doesn't have giardia or coccidia or one of those nasties.

for you and your little Charlie! Please keep us posted, and we're always here for any questions!

I do the same. Always just treat them for parasites, all rescue kitties . YAY for Charlie that the tests were negative and she is on her way to becoming a integral part of your life.

OH, I love rabbits too!! Very sweet little animals. I had a rabbit many years ago. The rabbit and cats go along so well, it was cute to see them together. The rabbit even used a litter box. Good luck with darling Charlie

Well all her tests where negative but we still treated her She is all cleared to go, now I just have to take her in to get micro chipped. I posted another thread about her fur, but other than that she is great!

YAY So happy to hear she is doing so well. She is one lucky little girl to have found such a loving meowmy . Congratulations and keep us posted.