Take Blacky indoors or wait until spring

 I first started seeing this black cat in my yard off and on and he would run and leave the yard if I tried to say hi to him.  ,   I don't know if it is a girl or a boy but I will refer to it as a male.  He's all back so I call him Blacky.  I left a bowl of dry food out a couple of times but he wouldn't eat in my presence but the next day the food was gone.  I would see Blacky off and one, maybe every few weeks so I thought he was someones cat. Up until 5 weeks ago, Blacky has been coming to my back door every morning and night at the same time.  I have fed him now for 5 weeks.  I sit on the bottom step and put the food close to the bottom step and he comes over to eat it right in front of me.  When he's done he walks away, stretches and starts grooming.  He won't eat treats from my hand or let me closer than 3 feet from him other than  eating from his bowl.  

My boyfriend build a cat house for him but he won't use it.  He must be staying some where that is safe.  He comes when I call him and is at my door step religiously at 6am and 5-6pm.  

I have 3 other cats.  I believe Blacking is a TNR cat because his left ear is tipped.  I learned from reading that they clip the left ear of ferals and strays to identify that they have been trapped, neutered and released    

I am wondering if I should try to trap him and make him part of my home now or wait until spring when it is warmer so that I can let him back out if he is not happy in doors or doesn't get along with my other cats.  I live on a main street and last Thursday Blacky didn't show for his supper.  I thought it might be because it was raining out.  I saw him outside the front of my house around 10 pm and he ran across the street.  I was so scared he would get hit by a car.  I feel really bad for this cat because winter is approaching and I don't want him to get sick or die from the cold.  

I am torn whether to trap him and try to make him an indoor cat and if he will get along with my cats as well.  When my cats see me outside with him one of them just observes, the other observes and wags her tail and the other cries because he wants to go outside and gets jealous (I put him on a lease and let him stay in the yard when I garden or do yard work),  Does anyone have any thoughts on this.  Should I wait until spring or try it now and why.  I do have a spare bedroom I could keep him in if I did decided to keep him.  My other question is do cats survive the winter outside most of the time.

thanks.  

If he is an adult, he already did managed at least one winter.  If he is young adult, it may be his first winter.

Anycase, if he has food and has some sort of shelter, and are used to be outside, they do have good chances to survive winter, even in harsh climate.

That said, I think now soon, is a good time. when the cold is coming, he will be easier to convince being inside is a nice thing.  so do it now soon.  although, if you do decide it is too difficult, you shouldnt release him in the middle of the winter - his fur is no winter fur, as he was inside with you...

but you cant have everything.

another plus with taking him soon, is, if you wait to the spring, and something happens to him - you will be terribly sorry...

Bad thing can happen inside too, but then it is fate...

tx for caring!

good luck!

Thanks StefanZ, I just fed him and went down to his level almost.  He ate looking up at me into my eyes and every time I would slow blink.  I am leaning in to taking him in soon.  However, I am fearful he will not get along with my 3 cats.  One is 13 years old and I don't want to stress him out by taking Blacky in.  If he doesn't get along with them. I have no choice but to keep him confined in one room until spring when I can let him be an outdoor cat again.  Because, if I take him in, he's in for good as I fear of him getting hit by a car.  

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

I am just wondering what qualifications you need to be an adviser.  Are you a professional or have a lot of experience with strays/ferals?

Thanks,

Carla

Welcome to TCS!

I think it's great that you are taking care of Blacky.

If you are worried about the winter, in my personal opinion, you must do something to give him warm, dry, safe and constant shelter--either in your home or someone else's. In fact, I wouldn't wait that long; you mentioned your fear of him being hit by a car.

All of my 10 cats were strays. I have a spare bedroom that I use for quarantine until the stray gets its shots, check-up, etc. This protects both sets of cats. You don't know what diseases Blacky may have. I also quarantine them in order to introduce them properly to each other; in other words, to get off to a good start when they meet.

feline03 said:

 
.  I am leaning in to taking him in soon.  However, I am fearful he will not get along with my 3 cats.  One is 13 years old and I don't want to stress him out by taking Blacky in.  If he doesn't get along with them. I have no choice but to keep him confined in one room until spring when I can let him be an outdoor cat again.  Because, if I take him in, he's in for good as I fear of him getting hit by a car.  

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

I am just wondering what qualifications you need to be an adviser.  Are you a professional or have a lot of experience with strays/ferals?

Thanks,

Carla

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adopted shy semiferales are usually submissive to the residents.  No quarantees, but on average, compared with bought home raised cats, there are noticeably lesser problems with introducing to residents.

I dont think any of us in the team is professional.  Cats and helping cats and helping people having cats or helping cats,  is our dear hobby... This is what we do have in common.  The exact background may vary.

Some are or do become with time deeply knowleable, some others are more of hosts.

Also, to be around here for a long time practically every day,  to be helpsome (and diplomatic) to others  are some of the requirements. 

The official "duty description" on a adviser is a sort of host.  I myself prefer the role of the knowleable, and that is why Im mostly in the ferale and pregnant forums.

Hi Margecat,

Thanks for your reply.  I have gotten different feedback from people.  I don't know where Blacky is staying at night.  I built him an insulated house and put it outside but he won't use it.  He shows up at my back door 99% of the time to eat twice a day.  I can't get close to him yet or pat him.  He is trusting me more; not running away when I open the door and eating close to me now.  I thought I might wait until I can handle him before I try to take him in so I can take him to the vets to be checked out.  I don't want to traumatize him/her and then he is miserable inside and I would need to keep him indoors because I couldn't put him back outside in the cold as he will have shed his winter coat.  Hopefully he will be ok through the winter.  He must have survived one already because he wasn't a kitten when I first saw him over the spring.  I am going to try to cut another whole in the cat house to see if he will use it because he may feel too trapped without another exit.  If he does start using it, I will look into buying a heated pad to put in there as well.  

I don't know where you are from, but I am told that taking him to a vet would cost approximately $300 and I don't have that kind of money right now.  No vet will do it for low cost or charity.  Any suggestions?  

Thanks for writing.  Keep in touch.

Carla

Yes, they prefer two entrances in their shelters. including one backside emergency exit.

Where you do live, which country / state?  Most of our tips are for the US.

300 dollars sounds quite much, although in cities and in Canada it usually is more costly.

All the works done may be 300 with a common vet and be a OK price, but just for a check up? costly.

I would think you would be able to find a low cost vet.  I have taken 4 male cats to be neutered and vaccinated to low cost clinics for $35 total.  That included neuter and rabies shots. The last cat I took, I did a few additional shots, but it was still under $50.  My regular vet would have charged me nearly $300 as they require pre surgery bloodwork and booster shots. 

Trapping a cat and getting it neutered is not very traumatic for the cat.  I have had my cats come back after a releasing all within 24 hours except for one.  The last cat I did in July was back after the release within 8 hours of being set free.  I try to trap in the early morning so it limits their time in the trap.  I then take them right to the clinic.  My low cost clinic doesn't even require an appointment for ferals.  I drop the cat off and pick up late in the day.  I then keep the cat in the trap in my basement overnight.  The next day I release. 

If you are thinking of bringing him inside and you have a safe room that you can give up for a while then I would bring him in so he doesn't have to worry about the cold of winter.  It will be rough at first, but patience will win.  Just be sure you have everything organized ahead of time.  There is so much excellent advice here. 

If you are positive it is an intact male, don't wait to long to get him neutered.  I made that mistake 2 years ago.  I had one of my ferals show up in late fall.  By the time he became a regular it was cold outside.  I didn't want to trap him and have him go through a neuter in the winter.  I decided to wait until spring.  Well, the day I got the trap out, he disappeared.  I was too late.  His hormones were in full swing.  He left and went a wandering spree for 5 months.  I was so upset.  He did come back and I was able to trap him, but I wish I had just done it sooner.  Intact males will wander aimlessly looking for a mate.  They are completely hormone driven.  They will even not eat for long periods when they are on a mission.

Very thrue ShadowsRescue. but it seems  Blackie is already fixed, he has the cut off ear tip.

which is extra good, it will also make it easier to merge him with your residents.

Shy non dominant semiferales are seldom a problem, even if intact toms.

But beware of a dominate, territorial tom!  dont even try to let him meet your residents before at least one months after neutering!  and  begin with the friendliest, most submissive of your residents...

StefanZ said:

 
Very thrue ShadowsRescue. but it seems  Blackie is already fixed, he has the cut off ear tip.

which is extra good, it will also make it easier to merge him with your residents.

Shy non dominant semiferales are seldom a problem, even if intact toms.

But beware of a dominate, territorial tom!  dont even try to let him meet your residents before at least one months after neutering!  and  begin with the friendliest, most submissive of your residents...

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oops.  Completely missed the TNR part.  Sorry!

So true about the dominate territorial tom.  I have been dealing with one for awhile now.  It is slow going!

Hi StefanZ and Shadowsresque,

Thanks for replying.  You two are the only people that have communicated with me.  Blacky is a TNR cat.  Still won't use his house I made.  Going to cut another exit this weekend and raise it a little off the ground.  Do either of you know what it means when a cat rubs up against things near you with his tail up?  Every time I go out to feed him, he gets off the steps and goes either to the side rails of the steps or a table near by and rubs up against it.  I think he likes me.  I opened the porch door tonight to see if he would come in but he won't.  

I really don't know if I take him in now if I will have the time to spend with him.  I have a lot of personal/family problems right now; two siblings with cancer and not sure I can spend the time with Blacky.  I hope and pray he is ok this winter.  I just don't know what to do.  I miss him when he doesn't show up.  If I turn the light on outside, he will sit out there for a long time.  It breaks my heart to see him hand around.  I'm not sure what he wants from me.  

Let me know what you guys think.  I am from Massachusetts by the way.

Thanks so much

Carla

feline03 said:

 what it means when a cat rubs up against things near you with his tail up?  Every time I go out to feed him, he gets off the steps and goes either to the side rails of the steps or a table near by and rubs up against it.  I think he likes me. 

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Oh yes, he apparently likes you.  This is one of the clear signs.  Home cats do often so with their humans, too.

The rubbing is they leave their scents for spreading of their friendly hormons (compare with the diffuser Feliway), but this routine they do mostly when they are comfortable in the situation and the person in question.

I would also goess he yawns and is stretching himself out when he sees you?   If so, It is not because he was just sleeping or is lazy cat, it is really  greetings with a friend..

These adresses are for low cost  spaying clinics, but  but I guess most of these vets will also help with  cheap check up, etc, as long as it isnt complicated major chirurgy.

@ the ASPCA has an online database.  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayneuter

 Or here is a hotline number that will find you a low cost clinic in your area  1-800-248-7729."

Good luck!  

The rubbing up against you and tail up is a very good sign.  He is happy to see you!  He is associating you with good food and a happy tummy!

As for the winter shelter.  Did you stuff it with straw?  If so so cats just don't like straw.  The first winter I had Shadow I had 3 different homemade shelters for him all stuffed with straw.  He hated the straw.  I tried to use blankets but quickly discovered they get wet and have to be dried each day.  Not a way at all to keep a cat warm.  I now use electric outdoor approved heat pads.  This will only work if you have an outdoor electrical outlet.  If not you would try warm blanket and the microwave heat discs.  They will keep most of the moisture out.  Cutting a small backdoor exit may help too.  Shadows first winter with me, he slept under my neighbors screened porch.  He would eat at my house but go back there to sleep.  Yet by the following year he decided to stay permamently with me. 

Hopefully you can find a low cost vet in your area. 

Hi StefanZ, 

Thanks for the numbers.  I will call them BUT I fear since Blacky is already neutered/spayed, they won't help.  That is what I am finding.  I spoke with Alley Cats and Lowell before, but asked about socializing him/her and they said they were full.  I'll call and let you know.  

I thought he was happy to see me because my cats do that.  I CAN'T WAIT until he rubs up against me.  Hasn't yet.  I played with him this morning a little with a toy and he interacted.  He also ate a WHOLE can of wet food.  I only give my cats 1/2 can on the weekends.  

If he can get through the winter and become friends with me by letting me pat and maybe jump on my lap, I will take him him.  I don't want to traumatize him by trapping him.  I don't want him to miss the outdoors and be unhappy.  I go back and forth with this decision; I want to trap and take him in soon but if it doesn't work out I can't put him back outside because of the weather.  

Thanks so much for your reply.  I will keep you posted.  What is your name?

Carla

Hi, Blacky doesn't RUB UP AGAINST ME yet.  I wish he did.  He rubs up against things around me.   I wish I knew where he was sleeping.  See my reply to StefanZ.  What's your name?

Thanks, Carla

feline03 said:

 
Hi Margecat,

Thanks for your reply.  I have gotten different feedback from people.  I don't know where Blacky is staying at night.  I built him an insulated house and put it outside but he won't use it.  He shows up at my back door 99% of the time to eat twice a day.  I can't get close to him yet or pat him.  He is trusting me more; not running away when I open the door and eating close to me now.  I thought I might wait until I can handle him before I try to take him in so I can take him to the vets to be checked out.  I don't want to traumatize him/her and then he is miserable inside and I would need to keep him indoors because I couldn't put him back outside in the cold as he will have shed his winter coat.  Hopefully he will be ok through the winter.  He must have survived one already because he wasn't a kitten when I first saw him over the spring.  I am going to try to cut another whole in the cat house to see if he will use it because he may feel too trapped without another exit.  If he does start using it, I will look into buying a heated pad to put in there as well.

I don't know where you are from, but I am told that taking him to a vet would cost approximately $300 and I don't have that kind of money right now.  No vet will do it for low cost or charity.  Any suggestions?

Thanks for writing.  Keep in touch.

Carla

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I didn't have a chance to read your post to me, and, by the time I did, I saw that your questions had been answered by some other members, so that's why I didn't reply. Sorry.

feline03 said:

 
Hi StefanZ, 

Thanks for the numbers.  I will call them BUT I fear since Blacky is already neutered/spayed, they won't help.  That is what I am finding.
 
Thanks so much for your reply.  I will keep you posted.  What is your name?

Carla

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Yes, my idea is, the same clinic doing cheap  spaying, is probably also be a cheap  all round vet clinic...  Try.

My name is Stefan, Z is the first letter in the surname.