Rescued 1 year old stray, our first cat

caringncarefull

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
3
Purraise
0
Hi everyone. My wife and I were walking home in Philadelphia when a little cat came right up to us, rubbed our legs and wanted petting. She was cute but we see strays all the time in the city so we kept walking. This cat followed us for 3 blocks and walked right through the front door! She was hungry and very friendly. 

Long story short: we have our first pet. We took her to the vet for shots, fleas, deworming. We still need to get her spayed. Perfect litterbox usage everytime, one week in our house and no accidents!

This site has been so helpful with trying to understand sray/feral tendencies and we have given her space and patience. There was one major biting incident were she playfully nipped me and I stood up and yelled NO! She came after me and bit my leg hard, then hissed, moaned and looked ready to attack again. That was 2 days ago and shes been relativley sweet since the incident. Now everything is back to normal except I'm a little nervous about her now so here are my questions:

1. Will she be less nippy/ territorial after she gets spayed? She blocks my path and nips and claws (not really painfull) when I walk by. She doesn't do this to my wife so much.

2. Will wearing the cone collar (for the stitches)  after spaying make her vicious? 

Thanks for anyone who read this long post and is willing to answer my questions. 
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,648
Location
Sweden
1. Will she be less nippy/ territorial after she gets spayed? She blocks my path and nips and claws (not really painfull) when I walk by. She doesn't do this to my wife so much.

2. Will wearing the cone collar (for the stitches)  after spaying make her vicious? 
Hi and welcome to the TCS site and Forums!

1. Yes, they tend to be less territorial after spaying / neutering.

2. No not vicious. She may be bothered, maybe despaired...Probably unhappy.  But vicious? I had never heard. Must be less common.

Ok, that nipping... This baffles me a little. Although I do have own memory from when I was young, and I was taking care of my big bro´s cat, and he sometimes nipped.... I was bothered, I was, and yet into this day I dont know clear cut what should I done...    :)

In your case?  I suspect it is her try to play, although a little roughly.  Cats who were raised without litter mates, can be non-sensitive. It is their siblings and ma who teach them the limits.

So you, saying clearly NO, did right. this is the trick.  A NO and or a hiss to show clearly here is the limit. It does hurts now..

Althohough she didnt took the right view, she got on and even got more aggressive...  She perhaps got the impression the situation were aggressive?

Be consistent.  You do have perhaps more places to set the limits in a more neutral, clear cut way?  Say if she tries to go on the kitchen table...   Say No and if necessary, hiss...

Fight of will, fight for who is really the master, is common with dogs. But it is rare with cats. It happens, sure, I had seen examples. But that is rare.

Anyway, after spaying it will be better...

..................

What concerns me. She is apparently no semiferal. So she is either dumped - or got astray.

And if she got astray, it would be nice to find the old owner: chances are big they are seeking and mourning.  If you want to keep her, one thing, but at least so the old owner will know she is OK.

..............

Tx for caring and helping this girl!

Good luck!   *vibes*
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

caringncarefull

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
3
Purraise
0
 Thanks for the encouragement Stefan. Yes, we have been looking for missing cat signs from any previous owner and we'll do the right thing and call them. We haven't seen any yet. She's going to get spayed in 2 weeks. Today, she saw my neighbors cat in their window and went into crazy mode. She was scratching the carpet with her behind up in the air, and swishing her tail. Every move I made startled her and she seemed agitated and might take it out on me. 

I got her out of the room, shut all the blinds, put on nice music, and put fresh cat nip in her turbo scratcher toy and she immediately chilled out. All of these things I learned from this site. You guys rock! Thanks!
 

mrblanche

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
12,578
Purraise
119
Location
Texas
Look around here for "overstimulation biting."  It's not uncommon, especially in female cats.  It sounds like you may have some of that...but it also sounds like she might possibly be in heat (the reactions to the outside cat).
 

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
:clap::clap::clap: Welcome to TCS!!!! Glad to hear you love our site and find it so helpful :D. Congratulations on being chosen by this wonderful kitty and giving her a loving home :hugs:. Just to add a few pointer's other than the great suggestions above. Keep her confined to one room for now and only allow her out when you are home until such time as she is spayed. Have all of her necessities in that room plus lots of toys and things to climb on and scratch. Try to pick up a "Feliway" plug in diffuser - at Petco or Petsmart OR on-lline. This will help tremendously right now until her spay and after. Plug it in her room. Also, if you keep you in one room right now, then when she comes home from her spay, she will already know her "safe" room and she can recuperate in that room too. Can you get her spayed sooner? The sooner the better :nod: She is absolutely in heat if she was lifting her rear end in the air and swishing her tail..... a sign of being in heat. That is why I would suggest keeping her confined right now. Don't overstimulate her too much with petting right now which will most definitely lead to nipping. She can't be blamed or scolded for this at all. All she can think about right now is maybe being bred and with petting that will just frustrate her to no end and she will become a little aggressive. This behavior WILL go away after she is spayed. :), for sure :happy3: BTW - she might not have to wear the cone collar after the spay. I have never used this collar on any cat that I have had spayed. Most cat's leave their sutures and incision alone. Just have it on hand in case she does decide to constantly lick at it. BUT for the most part, I have never used a collar after a spay. We can help you when you get to that point too. :nod: See if you can get her spayed sooner though - that will be the best. :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

caringncarefull

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
3
Purraise
0
Thanks for the help MrBlanche and Feralvr! 
 We're going to PAWS Philadelphia. With the holidays and other appointments, we couldn't get in until January. We live in a rowhouse, 960 sq. ft. The downstairs is pretty much open, though we have her litter box in a private but open nook in the corner. If we plug the Feliway diffuser downstairs about 20ft from the box. Will she not use the box? It seems that product is for stopping "accidents" outside the box. We aren't sure about keeping her in a small room, though we'll talk about it. Thanks so much! 
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,999
Purraise
10,648
Location
Sweden
 If we plug the Feliway diffuser downstairs about 20ft from the box. Will she not use the box? It seems that product is for stopping "accidents" outside the box.
20 feet, 6 meters is quite much for the Feliway diffuser, it is true.

Although the Feliway really dont have anything to do with the litter-box and "accidents".  Feliway works with giving them feel of security, pleasant well being, etc...  That is why it helps against accidents too.  As unhappy or unsecure cats are prone for accidents...

The cat herself doesnt not in any way connect Feliway with the litter box.

And you did told she doesnt have any problems with the litter box.

So set up the Feliway box where she is most of the time (or where she feels as most unsafe), and have the litter box where it is conventient for her and you.

Good luck!
 

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
:yeah: You can plug in the Feliway anywhere, does not matter if it is right near the litter box or in another room. It will just help her to feel safe and secure. In my foster room, I have an outlet that is right near the litter box. All of my foster's have used the litter box regardless of that diffuser right there. If anything, it will help them to feel happy to be near the litter box :lol3: Much luck to you :D :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
Top