We've been adopted!

kpcatlady · Apr 23, 2014

Hi All,

We've been adopted by a male feral!

I suppose I should say "we've adopted", but it sort of feels the other way around.

How this fellow knew that we were going to be a food match not sure, but he sort of decided that day one.

We are a young couple living in India. When we moved to a new place, Mr. Billu (that's a local slang for male cat) came over. We were moving into a new apartment, lugging our suitcases in, I suppose he snuck in while we left the door open. But one moment we are dragging our stuff into an empty flat, next moment there is cat sitting by our dinner. Now he is quite a handsome fellow, and I am a bit of a Cat Lady, I have owned a dog before, but I really love cats, so he stayed for Lunch, and tea and dinner and the night, 6AM he wants to go out. This is turning into a routine, when we get back from work Billu is by the door, its eat, drink, sleep and then 6AM out again (I suspect its for his routines).

In India unfortunately cats aren't treaded that well. There's no RSPCA to take care of them. If I report to local authorities, he will be taken into a shelter and probably murdered(I won't call it euthanized) and he is such a handsome fellow, I can't imagine him being .....

We are a working couple and in any case Billu doesn't like staying indoors unless we are there neither is it safe. He personifies "curiosity killed the cat", day one he climbed onto a 8 feet cupboard, no handles, no other furniture near it, and then couldn't get off. He seems pretty comfy being out during the day. Adoption is not really and option, most people here want a pedigree in pet which they abandon when it seems to eat too much, or shed too much, or need to be taken to vet, basically as soon as they realize its a living animal not a soft-toy.

Any suggestions as to what we can do for him?

StefanZ · Apr 23, 2014

The most important gift is to make sure he is neutered. His life will be easier. Yours too, if you keep him.

Cant you adopt him yourself? If you cant have him as indoor only, so let him be indoor / outdoor... He is used with this.

Good luck!

di and bob · Apr 23, 2014

You will surely be blessed fro helping him, he sounds like a wonderful cat! Good luck in what ever you decide, but of course all of us here will be hoping you let him stay!

shadowsrescue · Apr 23, 2014

My guess is that he is a stray cat and not feral as a feral would not be interested in any social interaction and would not have come inside your apartment!! If you decide to keep him and care for him, the most important thing you can do for him is to have him neutered. This may stop his wanting to go outside and wander. If he is left unneutered, he will be driven by his hormones which will cause him to wander if search of a female. Wandering can take him miles and miles away which is a danger. There also may be fighting as tom cats will fight while looking for a mate.

If sounds as though he has chosen you, I hope you choose him too!!

Thank you for caring for him and taking the time to search for your options.

kpcatlady · Apr 25, 2014

He might be stray 'cause he is TOO friendly and exceptionally well behaved for a feral. We've had no furniture scratching incidents, he can sit on a leatherette bean bag without scratching it, very pet-like he's already selected HIS chair.

Unfortunately though the friendly doesn't extend to my husband.With me, he's all rubs and purrs. With DH its claws and hiss or simply walking away. Any time DH tries to pet him, he simply walk over to me, and prods my hand with his head until I pet him. I have seen him sometimes wait patiently on a cupboard for DH to come out of the bath to jump on his bare shoulder. DH is trying to be patient for now cause I am asking him, but I don't know how long its going to last. I have to occasionally travel for work, sometimes a week or two. Don't know how DH and Billu are going to get along then. Any suggestions how to get them to play nice?

Also suggestions as to how we can manage the vet trip without a carrier? Haven't found one in the nearby pet stores. He is happy in the car though. We took him for a short drive last evening to see how he feels about it. He sat on the space in the rear window for most of the trip looking out

StefanZ · Apr 25, 2014

Re your husband. The tip is to let your hubby give him the food and clean the litter, as often as possible... So hubby will soon rise in the eyes of this cat!

When you are away and hubby is the alone human to sleep in his bed and on him, and alone caretaker...his stock will rise rapidly...

Re to transport a cat loose in a car, its not the safest. Although with a stray not so bad - if he comes loose its not a catastrophe, not the same as when a indoor only home cat gets lost into middle of nowhere long far away...

You have perhaps such a plastic laundry bin with a locket?? This can be used as an emergency carrier.

shadowsrescue · Apr 25, 2014

Allow your husband to give the cat treats and play with him without using his hands or fingers as toys! Get a da Bird toy or wand toy that will keep hands and fingers away from the cat. As mentioned above, have your husband feed the cat as well as clean the litter and also offer him treats and play time.

As far as getting the cat to the vet, I would not advise doing it without a carrier of some sort. Many are available online if you can purchase through the internet. The laundry basket idea is a good one too. You can place in the cat in the bottom of one basket and take another basket to fit over the top. You can then use strong zip ties, bungie cords or string to keep it together.

kpcatlady · Apr 28, 2014

Trip 1 to Vets didn't go very well. We didn't get very far with the laundry basket. He went in without a fuss, but as soon as I put he lid on top, howling and scratching began, really nasty one. Finally we got a small harness style leash to keep hold on him. The trip itself nice, he sat on the speakers again. Once we got to the Vets he waited for me to pick him up. The vet suggested that we get his shots done now and plan the neutering later. He insisted that I let his assistant hold Billu. I wish I had never listened!

First shot and Billu gives howl and hiss, though the assistant howled louder once he was scratched, Billu gets free runs our of the exam room (door not secured) out of the building and into an out building. Smart choice, cause that building was not in use and it had a grill door, locked with no key, so he got in and I couldn't!

I was very upset, it was dark outside, this cat is about 10 miles from the place its used to, frightened and hiding in a building I can't reach him in. The very KIND vet tells me to go home, the actual word he used "It's just a stray, why are u so concerned, go home!" It was soooo... irritating. And cause he thought it was not enough he tell me "You foreign type, you pay more attention to cats than to humans. Forget the cat, go home and have kids, that way at least your retirement is secure." I mean seriously! He was soooo aggravating. DH and I have 2 Indian grandparents each, so we don't think of ourselves as foreigners and seriously is this why people have kids! If I wasn't more concerned for Billu, I might have given him a piece of my mind.

Now Billu had gone up the flight of stairs, we couldn't see him cause it was dark outside but we could hear occasional meows. I tried calling out to him a few time, but that only made him climb further or at least the meows got fainter. Finally out of sheer desperation I started imitating him. Every time I meowed, he meowed louder. And finally after 30 mins of crazy meowing(now the vet and his patients think I am totally mental), he decides to come down, put his paws up my legs, lets me pick him up. Driving home, he sat quietly in my lap all the way. He spent the night in bed with us, but he went out as usual in the morning.

I need another vet!

shadowsrescue · Apr 28, 2014

KPCatLady said:
Trip 1 to Vets didn't go very well. We didn't get very far with the laundry basket. He went in without a fuss, but as soon as I put he lid on top, howling and scratching began, really nasty one. Finally we got a small harness style leash to keep hold on him. The trip itself nice, he sat on the speakers again. Once we got to the Vets he waited for me to pick him up. The vet suggested that we get his shots done now and plan the neutering later. He insisted that I let his assistant hold Billu. I wish I had never listened!

First shot and Billu gives howl and hiss, though the assistant howled louder once he was scratched, Billu gets free runs our of the exam room (door not secured) out of the building and into an out building. Smart choice, cause that building was not in use and it had a grill door, locked with no key, so he got in and I couldn't!

I was very upset, it was dark outside, this cat is about 10 miles from the place its used to, frightened and hiding in a building I can't reach him in. The very KIND vet tells me to go home, the actual word he used "It's just a stray, why are u so concerned, go home!" It was soooo... irritating. And cause he thought it was not enough he tell me "You foreign type, you pay more attention to cats than to humans. Forget the cat, go home and have kids, that way at least your retirement is secure." I mean seriously! He was soooo aggravating. DH and I have 2 Indian grandparents each, so we don't think of ourselves as foreigners and seriously is this why people have kids! If I wasn't more concerned for Billu, I might have given him a piece of my mind.

Now Billu had gone up the flight of stairs, we couldn't see him cause it was dark outside but we could hear occasional meows. I tried calling out to him a few time, but that only made him climb further or at least the meows got fainter. Finally out of sheer desperation I started imitating him. Every time I meowed, he meowed louder. And finally after 30 mins of crazy meowing(now the vet and his patients think I am totally mental), he decides to come down, put his paws up my legs, lets me pick him up. Driving home, he sat quietly in my lap all the way. He spent the night in bed with us, but he went out as usual in the morning.

I need another vet!

Oh my goodness. I am so sorry you had such a terrible experience. Definitely find a new vet. I also would consider purchasing a cat carrier for the next visit. Maybe ask around and see if anyone could help you find a more compassionate vet.

Are you keeping him inside the house? If not since he is not neutered he may wander all about looking for a mate. I hope you can find a cat carrier. Maybe there is one to be borrowed.

msaimee · Apr 28, 2014

Wow, you sure do need another vet. I would have told him off and cussed him out while leaving his office. What a fool.

When calling around for another vet, ask specifically if the vet and his/her techs are experienced in treating cats who are ferals and who may become aggressive (it doesn't matter if your cat is feral or a stray--his behavior with strangers is basically feral). There are so many precautions that could have been taken by experienced staff that would have prevented your cat from ever leaving the building and the staff from getting scratched. Also, you'll need to invest in a cat carrier. You can get an inexpensive one online at ebay or Amazon, or locally at a Walmart. This is the safest way for everyone involved to transport and treat a cat that is going to become scared and aggressive during a trip to the vet. A laundry basket just isn't safe. My advice is to get a cat carrier and make an appointment to get him neutered by a veterinarian experienced in treating ferals. While he is under the anesthesia the vet can do a thorough exam and vaccinate him. I don't see the point in making separate trips for vaccinations and the neuter.

I just saw Shadow's post. Yes, see if a friend or neighbor can lend you a carrier until you can purchase one yourself. I've lent my carriers out to people several times. Just be sure you thoroughly clean and disinfect it so your cat doesn't smell its previous cat occupants and become stressed.

kpcatlady · Apr 30, 2014

We've managed to borrow a small dog carrier from a group who do TNR for both cats and dogs and also organize to have them rehomed. They are a local group who do it at their own cost, I found them on FB. I met one of the volunteers and really liked her. She suggested that I go to their vet, he's supposed to be very good with stray/ feral cats. I am going to go ahead and give him a shot this week.

Any suggestions to get Billu to get in and stay in the carrier? I am going to need to get the neutering done asap. There have been few cat-fights here this week at night, thankfully, Billu likes to spend his nights indoors. Also, I am going to be out of town for 2 weeks in May.

Litter box is still not used. He seems to prefer to go out for his routines. At least that's what I think cause there hasn't been any pee/ poop indoors. Toys have not a been great success. Wand toy has been de-feathered. There was a fight involving a small stuffed tiger I had, needless to say Billu won. He likes his tennis ball with a bell though, chasing it all around the house. His relationship with husband has not improved, he won't take treats from DH. Should I try making DH his only food provider for the next week?

We've been adopted!

kpcatlady

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StefanZ

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di and bob

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shadowsrescue

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kpcatlady

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StefanZ

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shadowsrescue

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kpcatlady

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shadowsrescue

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msaimee

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kpcatlady

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