Found Cat Outside

Hi everyone, new here and new to cats.

We were at my grandma's yesterday and she has had a cat roaming around her barn.  She figured it was just another cat that someone dumped off.  She lives on a hobby farm right off the highway and it has happened before, they've even left cats with their stuff or in carriers!   

We called shelters and vets around the area, no one heard about this  cat but I left my number.  Today, I brought her to the shelter near our house to scan for a chip, she has none.  

So, looks like we have a cat, at least for now.  I have some questions regarding her behaviour as to why she might be meowing like she is.  I know she is stressed and feeling lost, but I was wondering if there was a more specific reason.  

Even at my grandma's, she'd start to meow if we looked at her or walked towards her, otherwise she was quiet.  Here, she is upstairs because of my dogs: A) she has not yet been vetted, not taking any chances, B) she is already stressed without having to meet dogs, C) dogs needs to get used to the presence too.

So, she is upstairs and will meow if she hears me talking.  If I go see her, she will meow very weird, almost yeowling.  She sounds mad, but she wants me to pet her?  She does the same weird meow while I pet her? If I go towards her food, she will go to it and start eating and makes a low growly noises.  Is she afraid that I'll take it away?  She is hiding under a chair and will come out to see me.  She has a litter, but she pee'd and pooped on the chair.  I know she is stressed, but any tips to get her used to the litter?

I am assuming that he is fixed as she is declawed.  Can I vet tell for sure just by looking at her?  Her pee did not smell strong at all, if that means anything.  Her poop was nice and I saw no worms in it (I know, doesn't means she doesn't have any), her ears are very clean too and no fleas.  Will be taking her to the vet next week, soonest available was Wednesday.

What can I do to help her feel less stressed?  Also, what kinds of enrichment ideas do you have for cats?  I never had a cat before, so this is new to me.  If she stays here she will be an indoor cat, so I'd need ideas on how to make her life fun and interesting. 

Thanks for reading this long message.

Oh, forgot to say that we also talked with the neighbours and no one heard anything about a lost cat.  My grandma'a house is right off the highway surrounded by fields, there are a few neighbours but all in all, quite an isolated area.  I don't know where this cat could have come from and what else to do to try and find her home if they are indeed looking for her.  If I have the chance to go back next week, I will print some flyers to put up.  Thanks for reading.      

Poor baby.  My guess is she's in heat.  What you are describing is heat behavior.  Also my guess that she is not dumped.  More than likely an irresponsible cat owner or back yard breeder had her.  It is common to declaw females intended for breeding so they don't scar the males.  She probably got out during a heat cycle. 

I would look into getting her spayed asap.  She will constantly come into heat over and over until she gets pregnant.  Cats can have 4 or 5 litters per year and an average of 4 kittens per litter.  It's a LOT of responsibility.  Plus, it is far healthier for her to be spayed as there are a lot of health risks for leaving a female in tact. 

Bengals are active and crave stimulation with lots of jumps and flips and running.  So make sure you play with her really well.  They get aggressive if bored and frustrated because no outlet for their energy.  I suggest a cat tree, some feather wands, laser lights, just the basics needed for a Bengals play. 

Just have lots of places she can jump up and down off of and lots of toys for her to play with and make sure you are willing to play with her a lot, too.  She should be very happy.

Welcome to The Cat Site.
I don't know anything about Bengals, but can suggest some things that might help with behavior:
She's scared, no doubt. New environment, no telling how long she's been on her own. So, yes, she may fear food is being taken away from her if you stand close to her while she is eating.
I would get some Feliway, it contains a natural substance that calms cats down.
She should be kept seperate from dogs (and cats) until you take her to the vets. You want to make sure she is negative for FIV/FeLK. The vet *may* be able to tell if she's been spayed. If (and, that's a big IF) she is a pure bred Bengal, I doubt she's been spayed because the (in)human owner would want to breed her. I'm somewhat surprised she hasn't been microchipped.
Speaking of which: you might contact a Bengal cat owner's group to see if anyone has lost a cat. Have there been any cat shows in your area recently?
Regarding litter box: I'd get some Cat Attract and/or put some sand, leaves in the litter box.
Here is a short article about bringing a cat home. There is a lot of helpful information in the Articles section of TCS.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Thanks for your reply.  Yeah, I was worried about heat.  Wasn't sure because the cats in heat I've known (as in head people complain about), complained all the time even when alone enough to drive them crazy, not only when someone looked a them.  But I guess they are all different.  I also didn't know it was common for breeders to declaw females to not hurt the males.  We will for sure be getting her fixed if need be.  Thanks.        

Sorry, didn't see some other replies before replying.  I will read through and reply to those in a second.  Yes, she will be fixed, no doubt about that.  I always spay/neuter my pets.

Here are the two best pics I could get.  The color is amazing in real life, so shiny and almost gold and bronze, with orangish undercoat (if that's what you call the color when you split the fur).  The eyes are very light turquoise/jade kind of color, photo does not do justice.  I could very well be mistaken.  Tell me what you think. I will look up the cat club too. Thanks for your help.  

Wow! She's beautiful. Poor kitty with no claws! I hope you keep her or find her a home, especially as she's declawed.

Spray lots of Feliway to calm her down if it works on her. My cat I just adopted was meowing in a nasty-ish tone when I met her at the shelter. Then, when they put her in the pet carrier I got for her, she was yowling away like a feral cat. Once I put her in my car, I sprayed more Feliway and instantly the yowling stopped and became meowing. She barely cried during the car ride home. I had already sprayed Feliway in my car also before entering the shelter.

My cat was aggressive at first when I would feed her or give her treats. She tried to get me out of the way and swung her tail around a lot behind her in my direction as she ate [even though I made sure to quickly step back and give her plenty of space]. After a few days, she figured out I wasn't going to challenge her for her food and she doesn't do this anymore, although I was helping mound up the scraps of turkey breast I tore apart for her this morning when she was taking a pause in her eating, and she came running over with her paw out to get me to move away as if she thought I was going to take her food.

I can't see her hind legs... But, Bengals have long and muscular hind legs for jumping.  Also, they are spotted and not marbled, like this kitty is.  It is possible she has some Bengal in her but not of breeding quality so if she was declawed for breeding purposes, then my suspicions of it being a BYB are confirmed.  No responsible breeder would see her as a breeding queen.  She's beautiful, though.  I wouldn't be too concerned about finding her previous home.... Not to be unethical but any home that would let her get out declawed and not try to find her in every avenue possible doesn't deserve her.  I think she was meant to find your grandma so she could find her true home!

Thanks for the reply.  I will look to see if I can find some Feliway when I go out later. Funny enough, she was super calm in the car.  I sat in the back seat with her when my boyfriend had to stop to run our errand alone, lol.  She stretched out all comfy almost like she was saying "man, it feels good to lay on something soft!" and then she came and lay on my lap and also purred a little.  I will do my best to make her feel secure.  I am also not bugging her too often, letting her absorb this new place.     

I have often seen marbled Bengals advertised for sale???  Maybe they were not by reputable breeders though.  Was never really looking for a cat, so never looked into it.  Thanks for the info.   

No matter what she is, doesn't really matter to me.  Hope I am not giving the wrong impression.  I just mean, I took interest in what she might be because she didn't seem like a cat someone would just dump.  Sorry if I am not explaining myself properly. 

link said:

 
I have often seen marbled Bengals advertised for sale???  Maybe they were not by reputable breeders though.  Was never really looking for a cat, so never looked into it.  Thanks for the info.   

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Perhaps she is?  I just know that even the marbled Bengals which I was told by breeders in the US is more "pet quality" than breeding quality, but even they have areas on their body that have the trademark spots?  I don't know for sure, though, as I am not a breeder.  But, she definitely doesn't need the previous home that lost her.  They don't deserve a beauty like her!  Good find!!

Oh, I thought you meant to say that Bengals only came in spotted, that's what confused me.  Sorry for misunderstanding.   Anyway, doesn't really matter.  At least if she is from a "shady" place, she will be getting a new lease on life.  On the other hand, I would feel so guilty if a family that loves her is looking for her.  But, then again, if I lost my dog you could be sure that every vet, spca, rescue, pet store, etc in 100 miles radius would know about it!  This doesn't seem to be the case with this little one... Thanks for all your help and info and advice! 

Well, there's your answer... A loving home would do all they can to try and find her... A less than loving home would do nothing and not care. 

Marble is a normal color variation for Bengal cats, @P3 and The King.  Just google "marble bengal cat" and you will see lots of them. 

http://www.bengalbreedersukunited.co.uk/colours--patterns.html

Red Top Rescue said:

 
Marble is a normal color variation for Bengal cats, @P3 and The King.  Just google "marble bengal cat" and you will see lots of them. 

http://www.bengalbreedersukunited.co.uk/colours--patterns.html

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I know that... I was answering from some Bengal breeders I know perspective.  They told me that marbles also have places where the signature spots are.  I didn't see it on her cat.  But I don't know for sure as I am not a breeder.  They told me without the spots, they would be considered "pet quality" and not breeding quality, even with marbles.  It doesn't matter anyway, because without paperwork or proof of lineage, the kitty is classified as domestic short hair. 

So, she is getting less shy by the day.  I was not able to find any Feliway though.  She was still not using the litter box, so what I did is I took a wire crate and covered it with a blanket and put in a small litter box and some food and a soft blanket.  She went right in.  I keep the door open, but she seems to be staying in there rather than under the chair.  She did 1 and 2 in the litter small box in the cage.  Do cats tend to like a den area like a dog?  Or do you think she might have been used to being in a cage?  Not that it really matters, just curious.  She makes these really funny noises, some almost sound birdlike and some sound literally like a little girl saying "meow meow meow".  It is so cute, never heard a cat make such small, chirpy noises.  Thanks again for all your help.          

Forgot to add, I was wondering if she was used to being in a cage because she used the litter right next to where she likes laying.  Seemed a little weird to me, but maybe because I would think an animal would not want to go in their den (crate) if they can help it.  I hadn't actually expected her to stay in there, just to have a more secure place to go to the litter.  Anyway, doesn't really matter.  Just putting my thoughts on paper.