need help for abandoned cat

I've been working with a local cat that was clearly abandoned by her owner. When i open the door she runs to the door to wait for me to open it so she can go in. Clearly she's a domesticated cat. She also knows from across the street when I open a can of wet cat food for her.

She was horribly skinny a month ago i think, when it was very hot outside she'd lay under my car panting. but it's cooled off significantly. I fed her daily and chased off the dogs when they tried to eat her food (I've got surveillance cameras so i know what's going on). I could feel all her bones in her back when I first started tending to her. now i can't. But she's eating 3 cans of food a day. I feed her as much as she'll eat because It's starting to cool off quite a bit. It's 53 outside right now and has been rainy.

I called the local rescue group and they are over the limit and can't take her. I can't bring her in for numerous reasons so I'm stuck figuring out a way to keep her alive.

it's going to get below freezing soon, and I need to help her. I've seen a couple heated outdoor cat 'houses' but I need to know if anyone has a recommendation. The one I saw is here: http://www.hammacher.com/Product/813...cm_ven=FROOGLE but it's the only one I can find.

It doesn't have to be super sturdy. We have a covered carport and plenty of dry concrete. But I need a place for her to sleep. if she doesn't sleep in it, I'll figure she's got a home somewhere else. but I can't stand the thought of her freezing.

Any suggestions?

Yeah, it's that time of year. BTW, you can easily boost her calorie intake with a great protein for her by mixing a raw egg yolk in with her wet food. (Either forget the egg white or cook it).

That heated house looks really cute! The problem is that it only has one entrance. Our ferals haven't ever used any house we've purchased/constructed for them. But we live in an area with a lot of options naturally, so they must have places, because they all survived the winter last year.

That said, the experience of people who have had ferals use things they've purchased / put together for them is that the cats tend to use shelters that have two openings. Of course... ferals are different than strays. But there are some really warm options, especially if you can find some straw. It's a fabulous insulator, and the cats nestle in there. If you go with a shelter that uses it, just replace it every week or two, it gets matted down. FAR superior to blankets or whatever - not only a better insulator, but it doesn't retain the moisture, and it doesn't make the same great home for various bugs that blankets do.

Lots of people have cats that love the Feral Villa.

But here's a thread with a discussion of winter shelter options: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=220795

One thing you will want, if you've got an outlet outside, is a heated water bowl to prevent water from freezing.

Thanks for the reply LDG!

You made a really good point I hadn't even considered. They might not like a cornered setting. So a dual entry shelter is the right idea.

I just don't have a ton of room for that big one you linked. I may just build my own. I don't know. I have to do something though

Originally Posted by LDG

BTW, you can easily boost her calorie intake with a great protein for her by mixing a raw egg yolk in with her wet food. (Either forget the egg white or cook it).

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Right, raw yolk is very useful. The problem is in most countries there is some danger for salomonella bacteria. Cats arent as sensitive as humans for salomonella, but who dares to experiment?

Although it is possible to lessen the risks.
The salomonella bacteria are seldom inside the egg.
If they are there, so usually on the outside of the shell.

So. Lay down the egg in the sink. Pour on it boiling hot water for a while. You may have some soap in the water, esp in the first wave.
Dont pour so long the eggs becomes cooked, but so long you may be somewhat sure most of bacterias are either washed away or killed.

Hey, I suppose if you have cheap alcohol, you can wipe off with alcohol. Use 70% concentration, not the industrial 95%.
This alcohol wipe as too, or instead.

When cracking the eggs, make sure the outside dont contaminate the inner parts, definity not the yolk.
Train on one or two eggs, before you do it for sharp.

Spread the tip if you want, everyone who reads this.

Good luck!

According to the description, the house does have two openings:

The house's front and back doors allow cats to come and go as they please.

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Originally Posted by jcat

According to the description, the house does have two openings:

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leave it to you jcat to be on the ball!

I didn't even read the whole description but you're definitely right.

The house's front and back doors allow cats to come and go as they please. Plugs into AC with 6' cord. For cats weighing up to 25 lbs. 17" L x 16 1/2" W x 13" D. (5 1/2 lbs.)

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so this is what I'm going to get. I just need to keep it facing sideway so both entrances are exposed!

I feel much better now. there's an outlet right next to where I want to put it. If I wasn't renting I'd put a kitty door in the storage door (right next to this) and build out the storage area with room for lots of cats to get warm. but since it's not mine, I can't.

Oh I'm glad I read your post jcat!

and also stfanz thanks for the tips about the eggs. I didn't even think about the bacteria possibility. But really the egg is a great idea. She sure eats a lot. I haven't been putting water out because my cats never drink water if I feed them wet food. Should I bet doing water anyway? i'm assuming she's been using other sources, or (gag) even the pool near here.

Putting fresh water out would be a good idea, even if she doesn't drink much. Ponds, puddles and pools can contain all sorts of yucky bacteria.

I really like that heated house; I don't think I've ever seen one around here, where people seem to insulate dog houses with styrofoam coolers and/or hay.

Good work Tricia!

I've made insulated cat shelters in the past but the cats would never use them. Luckily there was an abandoned garage where I used to live where the cats went in in the winter. It wasn't heated but it was better than nothing and none was hurt. Where I live now I will only have two ferals to care for this winter and I'm planning to get heated shelter for them. What I'm going to do is to get a small Petbarn dog house which is insulated and put a Lectro heated dog bed or cat bed, depending on the size of the dog house, and some straw in it. The Lectro bed should heat up the whole little house.
Since the dog house is a bit bigger than the cat shelters I've used in the past and also has a bigger opening I'm hoping that the cats won't be scared to go in it and will use it. I think the reason why they didn't use the little tote style cat shelters is because the opening is so small and the shelter is full of straw so they can't see in and find out what's in there. I wouldn't climb into a little hole into god knows what either. But with the dog house they can see the whole thing while standing on the outside. Once they get used to going in and out of the shelter I'll put a door on it so that the heat will be contained in the house better in the winter.
I'm going to put the shelter in a corner in some bushes where they will feel safe where people don't go. Of course these are feral cats. Tame cats are much easier to get them to use the shelter you've provided.

Have you tried to contact some other rescues and no-kill shelters in your area and other nearby areas? Sometimes you have to contact many organizations to find one that can take the cat. If none has space they may be able to get her on a waiting list so that she can get in before it gets really cold. You could also try to advertise her to try to find her a home or a foster home. A good, informative ad that points out her sad situation and pulls at your heartstrings with good pictures can be very helpful. Finding a foster home is often easier than finding a forever home. There are people out there that want to help animals in need.

Good luck!

I did some checking around on the cat house you linked to and apparently what it is is a little kitty house with a Lectro heated cat bed and it turns out you can buy them separately on Amazon for $109. Just thought I'd let you know. Saves you 20 bucks. http://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Kitty-..._petsupplies13

Interesting.

So after all this time, i've been feeding this cat twice a day (minimum) petting it generally just taking care of it. When i first found it it was bone skinny, so after a few weeks of heavy feeding i got him all fattened back to normal ( i could define every vertebre in his back at first)

I spent around two hours per week picking the dang tic's off him. they're HUGE. one was as big as my index finger tip. Today i found 3 more. If you've never taken tics off it's a process. a royal pain. You can do it a few ways but I've always done the generic. carefully removing it without leaving the teeth inside the cat, or the head.

A couple times in the last week i noticed he started looking freshly brushed. So i figured somone was also taking care of him. He'd fixed, i knew this because it had the clip in the left ear which comes after a TNR group finds a stray/feral

Yesterday i'm sitting outside petting my fuzzy friend. My neighbor pulls up who moved in a couple months ago. Something just clicked. I stood up and asked her if she had a cat. "Yes" she exclaims. and he pops out from around the car twoards her (he was hidden at first). "That's him" she tells me.

According to her, he's 13 years old, and I thoroughly believe this. he's got lots of hair that looks to be turning grey. I asked her about the TNR mark on his ear. She said that's not what it is. She said when he was little she was cutting something off his ear, and he moved. She said it clipped his ear, but never bothered him.

I felt relief that I wasn't going to need to tend to this cat freezing outside. She said he's allowed to come and go as he pleases through a kitty door.

Now, i've got concerns. the tics aren't shocking. there are pine trees all over (forrest). they just happened to be those nasty greenish blue ones that are just horrid. lol But here's the problem

I had to fatten this cat up from badlly mal-nourished. I also remember in the summer, it was 110 degrees outside and he was laying under my car panting HEAVILY. nobody is home during the day over there, and I don't think he can get in if they aren't there.

So the result is, there isn't squat i can do since I now know he has an owner. I just thank god I wasn't able to place him in  a foster home/ rescue shelter. But I don't think he's cared for very well. tbey have a huge dog that's locked in the house all day, he has literally shreaded their blinds in 2 months. he barks all night, and I'd be willing to bet the carpet in there is awful.

anyway, I'm relieved and bummed at the same time

If you DID apparently saw a dumped homeless cat, and he suddenly has a caring owner, I suspect she saw your protegee, and fancied she wants him.

And, with some maneuvres and some "white lies", the cat is hers...  So do I think if I understood your story correctly.

Although for you it doenst necessary matter much.  You did wanted to find him a home. Now he does has a home, your neighbour.

A little peculiar way, but who cares as long as all are happy, and you can still be his friend.  

Good luck!   *heart* *vibes*

If I were you I'd basically view him as your cat, because he obviously isn't being taken care of at "home" and needs your help. People like his "owner" simply enrage me. We once got embroiled in a court battle with a neighbor over a cat I allegedly stole - her "family" left her to her own devices for six weeks while they went on an extended vacation, then demanded her return after they got back. The judge ruled that since I had been feeding her while she was abandoned and got her vetted, she was legally mine. I don't know what the legal situation is in your locality or whether you'd want all the aggravation, but if you've assumed the bulk of his care, he's at the very least "morally" your cat.

What a tough situation and bittersweet too. . but more bitter than sweet .... You have taken such good care of this cat this summer and WHERE has the owner been :dk:....It doesn't sound like this cat is well-cared for by the owner and you might see the cat often still. But better to have found out about the owner than having the cat go to a shelter as a "senior" cat, probably never to get adopted. Have you considered talking to the owner and explaining your concerns?? Maybe the "owner" doesn't really want the cat anymore, heartless. Just infuriates me to no end nfire: the way people treat their cats. I just think I would try to talk to this person if you still see the cat coming around your place again, which I think might happen. Load of vibes for this poor old kitty

jcat said:

If I were you I'd basically view him as your cat, because he obviously isn't being taken care of at "home" and needs your help. People like his "owner" simply enrage me. We once got embroiled in a court battle with a neighbor over a cat I allegedly stole - her "family" left her to her own devices for six weeks while they went on an extended vacation, then demanded her return after they got back. The judge ruled that since I had been feeding her while she was abandoned and got her vetted, she was legally mine. I don't know what the legal situation is in your locality or whether you'd want all the aggravation, but if you've assumed the bulk of his care, he's at the very least "morally" your cat.

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I really can't do that. though I do want to. I think at this point, instead of getting mad that I'm paying to keep food (and I'm buying expensive food for the sake of the cat) and the owner isn't, i need to go back to just being happy that the cat isn't going to freeze, and I don't have to layout the 120 bucks I was going to to get that heated cat house. Though, that will aslo depend on how many times I see the cat outside when it's bitter cold.

I can't take her in. I already have to keep my two cats confined to my office due to my mother's alergies (i'm here taking care of her now).

Feralvr said:

What a tough situation and bittersweet too.

. but more bitter than sweet

.... You have taken such good care of this cat this summer and WHERE has the owner been

....It doesn't sound like this cat is well-cared for by the owner and you might see the cat often still. But better to have found out about the owner than having the cat go to a shelter as a "senior" cat, probably never to get adopted. Have you considered talking to the owner and explaining your concerns?? Maybe the "owner" doesn't really want the cat anymore, heartless. Just infuriates me to no end

the way people treat their cats. I just think I would try to talk to this person if you still see the cat coming around your place again, which I think might happen. Load of vibes for this poor old kitty

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I don't see anything positive coming out of discussing it with the owner. The cat is 13 years old. they know what they're doing. It would cause more grief, and surely make them mad. I don't think it would solve anything. Believe me I'd like to punch that lady in the side of her head for how she treats the cat, but in the best interest of the cat it's best I just keep doing what I can
 

fastnoc said:

I don't see anything positive coming out of discussing it with the owner. The cat is 13 years old. they know what they're doing. It would cause more grief, and surely make them mad. I don't think it would solve anything. Believe me I'd like to punch that lady in the side of her head for how she treats the cat, but in the best interest of the cat it's best I just keep doing what I can

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Then I would do the exact same thing you are doing..... at least the cat knows you now and knows where to come for comfort, love and food.... Unfortunately, that is probably the best you can do for this poor kitty...