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a stray question

post #1 of 27
1/18/12 at 12:01am
Thread Starter 

Hello everyone, about 6 months ago i started watching a litter of kittens in my neighborhood and really got the urge to try and rescue one and give him a home. I have caught 2 of them, the first got away and never came back while the 2nd got away and has since came back"IDK if he was just looking for food or a place to crash in the garage". Before he came back tho ive adopted a kitten from petco giving up hope id see either of them again. And the day after kimo is home, i see schrodinger back in the garage and i got him again and brought him inside for added safety."kimo has had all his shots and vaccinations so he should be protected against any potential threat schrodinger had at the time, and he was still young and very healthy looking"

 

From day one they have gotten along great together, no fights, hissing or territory issues. and shrodinger has went from being the most skiddish kitten in the group to me most loving lil thing ive ever seen, tho he still does have his moments.

 

Now onto my main question, I was wondering after i get schrodinger fixed if i could trust him to be an outside cat at this point since hes gotten very cozy with me, or if i should not take the chance. I have gotten them harness and leash trained them and he seems to enjoy going outside, and is always sitting on the window when hes not constantly gunning for my lap.

 

Any help and tips y'all can give me will be greatly appreciated 

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post #2 of 27
1/18/12 at 12:23am

Hi and welcome to the TCS site and our Forums!

 

Yes, I think with time you could have your "Schrodinger´s cat" to be your in- and out kitty.  He will know where his home is and keep near

If you think in- and out is the optimal life for cats.

 

I myself recommend for them to be inside only if possible. that is the safest for them...

 

A cat allowed to go out do ALWAYS runs risks.  Even if in good circumstances the risks arent too great.

 

ONE example: ALL may neigbours did lost at least one cat each. Although we do live in a small place, with little car traffic.  No evil villains, no predator animals (we live in Sweden), not even loose dogs (dogs in sweden are almost always on leash, and no homeless dogs here).

Usually it is the train nearby who gets them.  Even the careful one who usually runs home when she heard the train coming.  But not this last time...  (Yes, I did weeped then)

 

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post #3 of 27
1/18/12 at 5:32am
Thread Starter 

Then i guess I'm gonna stay as "that crazy guy who walks his cats". 

 

In Sweden, do your trains have some super cool stealth tech or something? in America you have at least 2-3 min from hearing/feeling the ground shake to know its a commin. And just so you dont fool yourself, Sweden does have a few predatory animals that would make an easy meal of a house cat if they can get at them. wolves, eagles wolverines, lynx. all of witch start to get hungrier as it gets colder *ive done some camping and dog sledding a few years back at Jämtland  and studied what could be there"

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post #4 of 27
1/18/12 at 5:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kairkyo View Post

Then i guess I'm gonna stay as "that crazy guy who walks his cats". 

 

In Sweden, do your trains have some super cool stealth tech or something? in America you have at least 2-3 min from hearing/feeling the ground shake to know its a commin. And just so you dont fool yourself, Sweden does have a few predatory animals that would make an easy meal of a house cat if they can get at them. wolves, eagles wolverines, lynx. all of witch start to get hungrier as it gets colder *ive done some camping and dog sledding a few years back at Jämtland  and studied what could be there"


There is a older gentleman in his 70s that lives by my mother that walks his cats or maybe its the other way around his cats will walk beside him when he goes for a walk. My mom's cat is a out side/inside cat that has never had a problme with any of the bigger animls like dogs that get out but also she was kind of a outside cat when she claimed us a few years ago when she showed up and just never left. My cat on the other hand is a inside cat mostly because thats all she's known. I do in the summer take her out but i make sure im there becuase in my appartment complex there are dogs that roam around and a few cats have known to become meals for them around here.
 

 

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post #5 of 27
1/18/12 at 7:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kairkyo View Post
In Sweden, do your trains have some super cool stealth tech or something? in America you have at least 2-3 min from hearing/feeling the ground shake to know its a commin. And just so you dont fool yourself, Sweden does have a few predatory animals that would make an easy meal of a house cat if they can get at them. wolves, eagles wolverines, lynx. all of witch start to get hungrier as it gets colder *ive done some camping and dog sledding a few years back at Jämtland  and studied what could be there"

Most trains are local and stops here.  But a couple a days come the quick train proceeding to Gothenburg who dont stops.  I suspect it was this train which takes most of them when it comes speeding.  My old neigbour told he did found her, his little shy, very cautious cat always running home when the train come, in pieces on the rails.  

Willains doing an evil deed?  Possibly. But there is another cat. Older, thick, very friendly, laying on the way to the shop...  A piece of cake for even the most amateur villain.   I see him as the watcher, the guard of our little town and our virtue.   As long as he is with us, not abused, I do know with 100% sure there is no villain, no evil marodeur here.  There may be thieves, there may be window crashers, but no villains.

 

 

About the predators.  Yes, it is true, if you seek them enough you will find them.  I had seen a volverine very near villas in a town up North...  (i think it was volverine, it was evening and at least 200 m away. But as I did saw it it must have pretty big, no?.).

I had seen a fox in the middle of the town nearby, when I was going to the night bus to travel to our capital Stockholm.  It wasnt afraid of me, it come 5 meter near...  Must have been a danger for kittens or fresh strays.

I did saw a little weasle running across our street where I live with all our neigbours and their cats (minus one cat each).

 

Yet, these found were found at the train rail, 20 meter across us.  Of course, it is a nice part for the cats. Grass, some bushes, even trees. Surely lots of mices and other small preys for them. And no private territory of anyone.

With Death speeding across twice a day.
 

 

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post #6 of 27
1/18/12 at 9:04am
HI smile.gif and WELCOME to the site!! Thank you so very much for being "a crazy cat guy" laughing02.gif AND welcome to the club of crazy cat people clap.gifclap.gifclap.gif. I actually DO see more and more people walking cat's. Some even bring them to the pet stores with them now biggrin.gif. Much safer for Schrodinger to stay an indoor only cat. But many people do allow their cats to go outside in their yards during the day. It is just risky and I personally would not want to do that with my kitties. I bring the outdoors in with loads of vertical climbing options and many scratching posts. My house is basically all set up for the comfort and pleasure of my cats bluelaugh.gif. Hope you enjoy your time here on TCS... keep us updated on your kitties wavey.gif
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post #7 of 27
1/18/12 at 5:13pm
Thread Starter 

Then does anyone have any experience/opinions on those store bought pop-up outdoor "play areas" 

http://storesonline.com/site/785824/product/Deluxe-Outdoor-Cat-Play-Area not this specify, or ones y'all have used and recommend 

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post #8 of 27
1/18/12 at 5:16pm
Thread Starter 

Also is there a window that neutering must be done, or cant it happen w/e i can get the money? At the moment there are a few other priorities and i really havent had many problems from him in the meowing/ arm loving dept, a few sprays. But for the most part he's behaving wonderfully and becoming less and less timid. Ive even woken up a few times now to find hes come snuggle up with me

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post #9 of 27
1/18/12 at 8:33pm
I have not ever set up an outdoor enclosure but would love something like that for my cat's on a nice warm summers day. There are a few members here who have even built their own outdoor enclosures. It is a good option especially if you have good weather year round.

Schrodinger sounds like such a sweetie boy clap.gif. You have done a great job with him, he is a lucky boy. wink.gif
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post #10 of 27
1/18/12 at 9:07pm
Thread Starter 

To be honest, I'm surprised he hasent gotten a little adverse to me. Back during the first time i caught him he was garage bound in a kennel, and there was a few times he got out and the only way i could have gotten him was by the tail. and before i started to do some reading about the spraying, i did the old "bad dog" approach, since Ive only had dogs my whole life and was all i knew. He would only spray my mattress and when i saw a spot id rub his nose in it and crate him for a little while. after every incident i did give him alot of loving after the accidents/punishments and was afraid he might hold a grudge

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post #11 of 27
1/19/12 at 9:58pm
Thread Starter 

oh god... i should have never said anything about meowing... ACCEPTING NEUTERING DONATIONS ^_^ 

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post #12 of 27
1/20/12 at 10:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kairkyo View Post

To be honest, I'm surprised he hasent gotten a little adverse to me. Back during the first time i caught him he was garage bound in a kennel, and there was a few times he got out and the only way i could have gotten him was by the tail. and before i started to do some reading about the spraying, i did the old "bad dog" approach, since Ive only had dogs my whole life and was all i knew. He would only spray my mattress and when i saw a spot id rub his nose in it and crate him for a little while. after every incident i did give him alot of loving after the accidents/punishments and was afraid he might hold a grudge

Oh dear frown.gif - no, the bad dog accident training does nothing for cats. It will only make him totally distrust you.. You must get him neutered before this spraying behavior takes hold of him and becomes a habit. There is nothing you can do about spraying with an unaltered tomcat, nothing. They will spray. Neutering is the only way. vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #13 of 27
1/20/12 at 10:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kairkyo View Post

oh god... i should have never said anything about meowing... ACCEPTING NEUTERING DONATIONS ^_^ 

Here is a link to a list of low-cost clinics and hopefully one is in your area cross.gif You could also call a TNR (trap-neuter-return) organization in your area and seek help with his neuter. agree.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/203204/list-of-low-cost-free-spay-neuter-clinics-in-the-us
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post #14 of 27
1/20/12 at 1:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feralvr View Post


Oh dear frown.gif - no, the bad dog accident training does nothing for cats. It will only make him totally distrust you.. You must get him neutered before this spraying behavior takes hold of him and becomes a habit. There is nothing you can do about spraying with an unaltered tomcat, nothing. They will spray. Neutering is the only way. vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif


honestly, its seemed to work pretty well *i dont mind a few sprays, just not on my mattress. Ive only did it twice and hes since then  never hit it again. And so for the trust, day to day hes wanting in my lap more and more when hes not in his spot. even when i set him down on the floor he turns around and jumps right back up!

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post #15 of 27
1/20/12 at 6:44pm
Thread Starter 

UPDATE: well despite all of my objections since i know how those old tom cats can be "get your hopes up and run out on you and all that". schrodinger and my arm have become "good" friends

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post #16 of 27
1/21/12 at 9:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kairkyo View Post

UPDATE: well despite all of my objections since i know how those old tom cats can be "get your hopes up and run out on you and all that". schrodinger and my arm have become "good" friends


He took a good bite on you?  Puncturing?  Be easy on it, you may perhaps need to see a doc.  Them cat bites may often get nasty, tight, deep and lotsa of bacterias on them.

 

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post #17 of 27
1/21/12 at 12:15pm
Thread Starter 

he bit my hand and drug my arm into position then preceded to make it his gf. I have no problems with the bites or scratches. in fact that's whats i gage bath time by is that bites and cuts on my arms. He maybe bites once or twice during a bath, the sees it dosnt bother me. and the times that he does bite and hold, ill start pinching the base of his tail, getting harder until he lets go

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post #18 of 27
1/21/12 at 1:38pm

OK!   LOL!   :)

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post #19 of 27
1/23/12 at 12:19am
Thread Starter 

i have mastered the bathe technique, i got a small trashcan and filled it with water, and with a blind fold on PLUNGE, then i pulled them out and soaped them up, then plunge again. i didn't get a single scratch

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post #20 of 27
1/23/12 at 6:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kairkyo View Post

i have mastered the bathe technique, i got a small trashcan and filled it with water, and with a blind fold on PLUNGE, then i pulled them out and soaped them up, then plunge again. i didn't get a single scratch

You plunged them underwater completely??
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post #21 of 27
1/23/12 at 10:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kairkyo View Post

i have mastered the bathe technique, i got a small trashcan and filled it with water, and with a blind fold on PLUNGE, then i pulled them out and soaped them up, then plunge again. i didn't get a single scratch

I am appalled to hear that you do that..... That is not the way to give a bath nono.gif, I am sorry. Please do not do that to your cat again......... Poor kitty bawling.gif
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post #22 of 27
1/24/12 at 1:37pm
Thread Starter 

it was not full, nor did it go over their head, i guess plunge was the right word.  it wasnt a sudden drop, but it wasnt slow enough to let then panic

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post #23 of 27
1/24/12 at 4:42pm
Thread Starter 

WASNT****

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post #24 of 27
1/25/12 at 3:33am
That certainly isn't the best way to bathe your cat and you won't gain their trust by doing it that way. This article should help:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/bathing-your-cat-a-battle-of-wills
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post #25 of 27
1/25/12 at 4:13am
May I ask why you are bathing your cat? Most cats do not need to be bathed unless they have an accident and get into something nasty.
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post #26 of 27
1/26/12 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 

even with brushing shrodingers fut still gets tangled with stuff, and kimo seems to get irritated skin so i use an itch reliving shampoo, thats he main reason i started bathing them. i took him to a vet i know personally, and she told me some cats just have sensitive skin, as she could see nothing physical that could be causing it

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post #27 of 27
1/26/12 at 5:37pm
Well, then that explains why you need to bath them. I wonder if Kimo has a food allergy dontknow.gif Could be causing the irritated skin you are seeing. If you bath them too much that could also cause irritated skin especially of you don't get the shampoo out. And if shrodinger has some mats - bathing with the mats still in the fur will make them set even more frown.gif. Just try to keep up with daily brushing if you can. vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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