How do I convince her?

One of my tenants has pretty adopted a stray cat that's been hanging around (his owner left him when he moved).  HOWEVER, she refuses to make him an indoor cat (oh, but he's so happy outside) and refuses to have him neutered (she's too broke and too busy).  I am planning on writing it into her lease when she renews that NO unneutered or unspayed pets are allowed, but what about until then?  I'm frankly pissed that she's being so irresponsible - there are feral cats in the neighborhood, and yes, I think it's disgusting that there's an unneutered cat probably spraying all over my house.

I know people here may disagree with keeping cats solely indoors - I read that thread - but suggestions relating to that are welcome too.  I've shown her the statistics, but she doesn't care - just says he's happy outside. But if I can tame a feral and make her a very happy indoor cat, anything's possible.

I am not local, so I can't go over and take him in for surgery myself.  Sent her some low cost s/n places, but again - can't help with the "I'm too busy" part.  She has six months left on her lease and I'm in fear for both the female cats in the neighborhood and my flooring/walls.

Wow, what a sad situation! THANK YOU for being willing to allow her this pet... if indoors, if spayed neutered - all things I think 99.9% of the members of TCS (and probably everyone rescuing) would recommend. I don't know if his former owner allowed him to roam or not, but cats that were not born feral and have been cared for by humans all of their lives (properly socialized) usually adjust to being indoors - some quite quickly, others it takes a little while.

That said - you don't want him in there until he's neutered! And HOW IRRESPONSIBLE of this person! The rule of rescue is DON'T FEED UNLESS YOU STOP THE BREEDING. Period.

If you've already sent her a list of low-cost spay/neuter places, and she no longer has the "I can't afford it" reason... are there any TNR organizations in your area? It is your property after all. Perhaps you can enlist someone else - even a friend - to help in this situation? I don't know what your financial situation is, but perhaps an exchange for a donation? You want the cat returned to where it was trapped (or crated?) and released - you just need help PHYSICALLY getting the cat TNRd.

Also, when people have contacted us for TNR help and there are no TNR organizations in the area, I suggest calling around to local vets. This is how we've found help for people in other states. Local vets always know who "the passionate cat people" are - if there are any. You may not hit the right vet on the first call, but the way we do it is to explain the problem, and let them know we're looking for someone who can help trap/transport/release. Leave them your name, number and email, and ask them to contact whatever person it is and ask them to please ask the cat person if they'd contact you since you don't expect the office to hand out a number to a stranger. Since it should be a local call, not a long distance call, who calls who may not be an issue.

And since you'll probably want stuff you can print out to give her regarding transitioning kitty to being indoors-only, I'll see if I can find any articles. The closest fit may be socializing ferals... but really, the key is confining the cat to one room for a few weeks, and if a social cat that's not terrified, hiding under the bed, then just giving kitty a lot of play time and things to do, proper places to scratch, using proper stuff to help the cat know what the litter box is for.... that kind of stuff. ...bird feeders out the window, for instance, are always great, especially if there's a good windowsill. If not, we suggest putting some kind of perch or furniture up to the window so kitty has comfortable, easy access to the "cat TV."

Supporting Laurie's post above :bigthumb: Most of us DO keep our pet cat's solely indoors here at TCS. The danger's of the outdoor's outweigh's the possible boredom the kitties might have being kept indoors. You have to basically - bring the outdoors inside . Lots of vertical climbing cat trees - window watching and viewing - lot's of hiding places and cat cubes - toys - and even interactive play session's with their owner :happy3:. Each day that kitty is outside is another day that you might not see the cat ever again or another day he has a chance to "make babies" :shame:. I would also take matter's into my own hand's if this person will not which is SOOO wrong. This cat will breed and more kittens will be born into a life filled with danger, hunger, and uncertainty . Please and for caring and I hope you can find a local Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR organization) to trap this cat and get him sterilized. And as always - we do tell people not to feed strays if they do not plan on following through with trapping them to see if they are microchipped and if not, getting them sterilized. Thanks for caring

Honestly, she's a fairly irresponsible person, which makes me even more irritated.  I know she's adopted cats before that she ends up "not being able to keep" and she has told me she's reluctant to adopt this cat because she wouldn't know what to do if she started dating a man who was allergic to cats (funny, that was part of my man qualification process - no way was I getting rid of my cats for a boyfriend - thankfully, my husband adores them).  I've noticed the feral problem isn't as bad as it was when I lived there, but you KNOW he's finding females somewhere.

I know there are quite a few TNR places in that area, but I'm not sure they'd be willing to help because he's not really a stray or feral - finances aren't an issue.  He does spend nights with her.  I will call around anyway.  I'll be in town over Christmas, but I'm doubtful I can find/catch him and take him in - and with my own devil cats + parent's cats all at their house, we're completely out of recovery space. :-(

On the other hand, I got her to take his flea collar off, so that's a step.  I know I can't save all of them, but it's almost worse than seeing a group of ferals, to see a cat that MAY have a chance, but can't quite get a responsible owner.

Thanks for being concerned. 

For now, I'd try a different approach until you can get the cat neutered:  the written (?) lease currently in effect with the tenant.  Read it carefully for language relating to any type of animals (wild), safety concerns (the cat presumably isn't vaccinated against rabies), liability to others (again, the rabies issue, potential bite issue, fighting with other cats--guess who is going to get sued for vet bills); damage to your property (spraying issue). 

Yeah, I know the stray cat isn't "wild"--until he/she bites someone.

And of course the minute/day she is late on her rent, think about eviction.

PS:  "oh he's so happy outside" to which you can reply "and he'll be even happier inside" and "he'll be even happier and healthier neutered". 

Good luck. 

Remind this lady also, fertile cats are more difficult for allergic persons.

so if she wants to have any chance meeting a man who is perhaps allergic - the cat must be neutered before.

- Many cat owners do have cat allergy, so it is almost always possible to copy with. First step is neutering.

Hey, you can perhaps raise some allergic in your house? Or someone willing to be pretending to be allergic??  And thus, you can both ethically and lawfully demand a neutering  

Interesting change of perspective. Many of forumists wants to do what is right, but the owner of the house forbids to have pets.

Here we do have the opposite scenario.  

Tx a lot for caring, and

Good luck!  *vibes*

StefanZ said:

Interesting change of perspective. Many of forumists wants to do what is right, but the owner of the house forbids to have pets.

Here we do have the opposite scenario.  

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YES to that . It is a nice change of pace for us to hear the landlord supporting and wanting to rescue cat's - do the right thing :bigthumb: Thank you for that

Just want to mention that many TNR organizations will still assist with "friendly stray's" :nod:.... That is their goal to assist the people in the community with any stray/feral cat. They will also support someone taking the cat in as opposed to returning the cat outdoors - the friendly ones . These organization's don't require or insist that the cat be returned back outdoors if a home can be found, they will support that. I wish more people knew this because I find that many people don't realize that TNR orgs. do support sterilization of friendly strays. If you explain the situation, they should still be willing to accept this cat into their program. This kitty is an abandoned stray by a previous tenant - and it just burns me up nfire: that someone abandoned him to fend for himself - just heartless.

lovely2011 said:

refuses to have him neutered (she's too broke and too busy).

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A very easy solution would be a reduction in her rent (for one month) if she gets the cat neutered.

Primula said:

A very easy solution would be a reduction in her rent (for one month) if she gets the cat neutered.

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That is a very good idea :bigthumb: since you are her landlord. Could you offer her a little discount in her rent to cover the neutering fee? Again, :lol3:, I think you are just awesome - and this is usually the other way around..... the tenant trying to convince the landlord to allow cat's or to allow helping strays. Just to you for caring !!

Feralvr said:

Primula said:

A very easy solution would be a reduction in her rent (for one month) if she gets the cat neutered.

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That is a very good idea

since you are her landlord. Could you offer her a little discount in her rent to cover the neutering fee? Again,

, I think you are just awesome - and this is usually the other way around..... the tenant trying to convince the landlord to allow cat's or to allow helping strays. Just

to you for caring !!

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Nope, won't work. I found her a place that does it for $45, which she can afford (even without a rent discount), but she claims she's too busy to get it done until at least February.  I guess I have to take him when I'm in town for Christmas.  That seriously ticks me off.  I don't want him in my house and spraying all over, but it's also irresponsible for her to let him out every day while she's at work.  I'm pretty angry about the position she's put me in.

I've only had female cats, so I'm unsure about the recovery time for males, other than knowing it's shorter.  Since I will have my cats at my parents house and no room for him, what can I do with him if I take him in for surgery?  I don't want to spend a TON of money "boarding" him at the vet because she's too irresponsible to take him home and watch him especially after I take him and pay.

If you're taking him to the clinic in a crate, and as he's friendly... you can keep him in a bathroom overnight. If it's not raining, you should be able to return him the next afternoon. :nod: Some people wait two days. We do for females, not males. We just don't ever release them in the rain (or bad weather, if snow or something). I believe TNR groups neuter them in the morning and release them in the afternoon - once they're sure they're not having a reaction to the anesthetic and they're over being groggy. Most people here keep them in the trap in a basement, on a protected porch, or in a garage overnight and release them the next day (when they're ferals just being TNRd).

LDG said:

If you're taking him to the clinic in a crate, and as he's friendly... you can keep him in a bathroom overnight. If it's not raining, you should be able to return him the next afternoon.

Some people wait two days. We do for females, not males. We just don't ever release them in the rain (or bad weather, if snow or something). I believe TNR groups neuter them in the morning and release them in the afternoon - once they're sure they're not having a reaction to the anesthetic and they're over being groggy. Most people here keep them in the trap in a basement, on a protected porch, or in a garage overnight and release them the next day (when they're ferals just being TNRd).

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<sigh>  I don't even have a bathroom to keep him in.  There are already going to be seven cats in the house, four of which need to be separated from other cats, PLUS family members who are taking up the rooms my own cats normally stay in.  He's obviously not been tested for anything either, so I don't want him anywhere near our cats.  Is surgery in the morning and releasing in the afternoon really safe?  I could leave him at the vet that long.

I am getting more and more mad about this entire thing.  I'm dealing with my own three, each with current health issues and I don't even live there anymore!  It seriously limits what I can do.

I totally understand your feeling frustrated and don't blame you one bit :nod:. You are going above and beyond here for this lady - thank you for doing this. You can leave him in the trap overnight - anywhere that is sheltered. Males can be released the same day - especially in your case. Of course, take every precaution to keep your own kitties safe too. Usually we keep them one night but that is not always necessary, especially for the males. Once they are awake and have their wits about them - let them go. The stress of confinement makes it much more difficult for them to recover anyway. I know this is a PITA for you, but you are really doing the best thing for this cat - and the cat's he would be breeding, more importantly. It is hard to care so much and so much work too

Since you're the landlord and presumably have keys to her apartment, can you not just put the cat in her apartment? If her only excuse is not having the time to go to the vet, then she shouldn't mind converting a bathroom or a spare room into a cat room for one night.

lovely2011 said:

 Is surgery in the morning and releasing in the afternoon really safe?  I could leave him at the vet that long.

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For domestic homeraised pet cats I wouldnt recommend this. Unless really desperate. With homeless "semiferales" it is ok, as they are survivors, ie, made of tough wood. These not of tough wood dont live on to be known as homeless, they do perish sooner or later. At the very latest in the winter season.

This cat here is formally a home pet, but I / we think in essence almost comparable to the semiferales we do talk about.

He is used to go outside. Being tom he did surely had his share of troubles, and survived them.

And with a not so good owner on that.   Yes, essentially he is surely a survivor he too.

So yes, for a male surgery in the morning and releasing in the afternoon is ok, unless he gots complications. which are rare.

Why, many home cats do begin to play again at this time.  And move on and about almost every one.

But with our home babies we want to be double safe, that is why we do take precautions.

If your vet do accept he is there, free of charge, during the day, to be fetched at the afternoon - this is a workable solution yes.  

The idea to leave him with his owner while she is at job? May be workable, but he wouldnt be supervised. 

Good luck!     *vibes!*

It's not the best, but given the options, it is done, and he'll probably be fine. :cross: And Stefan's right - he's already been a survivor, and complications are rare.