Help with an odd kitty.

qwerty3

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Hi everyone- new member here and I apologize if this is not in the appropriate area and  for not formally introducing myself.

Since about July or early August I've been visited by a cat. Originally when I first "met" it, it was sniffing around my pool and leaning over the side. I clapped and whistled to try and shoo it off, not wanting it to fall in or something, and instead it came bounding over to me, purring. I am by no means a cat person, and will admit while I am not "afraid" of them, I have trouble getting the nerve to pick up cats, for whatever reason- so I thought it odd that this completely random cat approached me so calmly. Anyways, in the weeks it's been visiting, I have become quite acquainted with this cat, and it is easily the most affectionate cat I've met. With increasing regularity, its been coming to the house and on several occasions recently it has come and scratched at the door to get let in. Twice last week it got into the house- when I opened the door he jumped up from next to the door and bounded into the house. It took a while to get him out, but it never sprayed in my house or anything, just investigated calmly, and curled up on the couch until I shooed it off. (I keep calling it a he, even though I have no idea of its gender aside from it lacking visible genitals so it's either a neutered male or a female) 

With the winter coming and the cat's increasing visits, I'm beginning to think that this cat that looks pretty well fed and seems to friendly to be a stray may need a home. Could it have been dumped?
Multiple times last week he approached me on the deck, very late in the night, when I was sitting out there. Seems like an odd time for the cat to be lurking around my house, and I think it sleeps under my deck with at least some regularity. I don't feed this cat, and I don't feed any outside animals aside from the bird feeder lol. It seems odd that this cat goes out of it's way to come to my house, claw at the door, and peek in my windows for nothing. I've asked several neighbors if they own a black and white cat, but none do. I'm considering letting the poor thing in soon- I won't be able to watch it claw the door in below freezing temperatures.

Anything I should watch out for? I apologize for my really long post as well xD
 
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shadowsrescue

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Hi @Qwerty3

Welcome to the forums!!  A few suggestions:

1.  You can take a picture of the cat and post some fliers in your neighborhood.  You also could hand them out door to door.

2.  Since the cat is so very friendly, I would get a cat carrier (buy or borrow one) and take it to the vet.  The vet can check to see if the cat has been microchipped.  You also can see if the cat has been spayed/neutered.  You could make a choice about vaccines too. 

3.  Check out the site www.petfbi.com.  You can post when you find a cat as well as look for a post about a lost cat. 

If the cat does not have a home, I think he/she has chosen you.  I will hope for the best outcome.
 
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di and bob

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Bless you for giving this little cat  some attention, even though you are not a 'cat person'! I think if you gave yourself a chance, you could become one!
You are a compassionate person if thinking of the poor kitty suffering this winter has you thinking of letting it in. Cats at least need extra food in the winter to stay warm. You'll find that cats are a nice animal, they are clean, they don't smell, and they can use a litter box which makes leaving them at home alone easier. Oh, and THEY pick the humans they want to love as you found out! Good luck and keep us posted!
 

StefanZ

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Its quite probable he is a owned cat with home, but who took fancy in you.  Its not unusual cats choose themselves a new home / owner, even if the previous wasnt really a bad one.

Are you willing to adopt him, if there is occasion for it?  As he HAD chosen you.   :)

Anyway, as you begin to suspect he may becomed  dumped or so,  the trick is:

You do help him as you can.  Including taking him in, and having perhaps in a bathroom, if you feeel a quarantine is necessary.   Such step is mandatory with bewildered, freshly dumped cats.. Here, HE is at least used to be outside, so there is not the same urgency.  Some food and water may be enough.

And parallelly you do as suggested above: seek after his owners.  Who are probably living somewhere nearby.

You will either find the owners - you may then ask them if they are willing to let the cat be yours.

Or if you dont find any owners, you know they he either IS a friendly homeless stray, or got freshy dumped.   In that case you will know what to do.

Adopt yourself   OR help him find a good adoption home.

As friendly as he is, this shouuldnt be too difficult.

Good luck!
 

ondine

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It does sound as if you have been chosen.  Cats, even friendly ones, aren't going to approach someone who does not seem safe.

If you can't adopt him yourself and can't find his owner, I hope his friendliness will help him find a new home.  Perhaps you can contact a local rescue for help or guidance?

It would be a blessing for him if you could take him to the vet for a check-up and see if he has a microchip.  I pray his owners are worried sick about him and that they have not irresponsibly dumped him.

Thank you for helping him!
 

catwoman707

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It is so common anymore for cats to be dumped, abandoned/left behind when family moves, etc rather than do the right and responsible thing and rehome or take the poor cat with them!

Still lots of people think cats will do just fine on their own, since they can hunt for mice, etc. but they are NOT fine.

They feel lost and afraid, it's very stressful to go from being owned, which he most obviously has been, to a life outside.

Although it's pointing to his being dumped because he is out there late at night and even sleeping i=under the porch, yet he doesn't cry to you for food?

He should be hungry.

Watch for times when he is away for several hours/half the day, and not asking you for food when he shows back up. He may be owned currently, but chooses to visit you.

12 1/2 years ago I wasn't a cat person, I was a dog person.

That all changed when this tiny newborn abandoned baby kitten was brought in to my shop, now Krissy, and the love of my life :)

Exposure is all it takes. You might be very surprised at how this kitty can fill something in your heart, even if you didn't know something was missing. They have a way of doing this.   
 

siriusallien

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Pretty much my story as well. I believe my kitty was cared for by a neighbor who has moved, leaving her behind. She was a regular visitor to my office and insisted on coming in and investigating. We all became fond of her; but with a NYC winter moving in- I was the best candidate to take her in.

First stop the vet for exam and routine vaccinations and flea treatment- she was a healthy kitty

Vets do check for micro chips: in this case didn't have one and one was place with me as caretaker

She has been slowly getting used to living full time with a human
 
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qwerty3

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Although it's pointing to his being dumped because he is out there late at night and even sleeping i=under the porch, yet he doesn't cry to you for food?

He should be hungry.
It's nothing amazing but I've seen this cat bat several birds out of the air in the eleven or so weeks his visits have slowly been getting more recent until in the past week or so he has become very very persistent and visits almost daily (and the under the porch thing) I think he does a pretty okay job feeding himself- he brought a robin up to the porch last Sunday. I didn't touch it hoping he'd take it away and eat it and it was gone a little while later. My neighbor's have also been complaining about raccoons  getting into their trash. We don't really have any cats outside in the area save for a large tabby I saw once a while ago and never again so there's not really much competition and I assume it can scavenge a meal from the trash as well as birds and stuff- sometime's I've witnessed it hunting in the woods behind my shed. Obviously trash isn't cat food and like you said while it can provide for itself it obviously wants some attention. I don't feed cats or any wild animals besides birds and sometimes corn for the chipmunks and squirrels, so it seems like it's trying to get someone to provide for it. I plan to take him inside next time he comes around and give it a proper meal. 

That brings up another thing- when I do let it in. It poured like mad last night, through Tuesday, and I just got home a little while ago so I haven't seen it in a bit. I worry about it, with all the predators and such, and people on my road (A sparsely housed area) drive like madmen and it'd be easy roadkill. I might borrow a can of cat food from my half sister (Who lives on the same road as me- has two cats, but they're a solid black cat and some kind of very long haired greyish cat and they don't go outside so there's no mistaking it with hers) and leave it outside to try and attract it if it's nearby and he doesn't come to me on his own for whatever reason. 

Anyways, since nobody seems to know the origins of the cat in my vicinity, I'll bring it to the vet at some point and get it scanned. I can probably borrow a pet carrier from someone. To attempt to locate an owner I posted a few fliers a while ago saying something like "Green-eye black and white cat found- he/she visits. We don't mind, just wanted to know if it needs a home" with  phone number. I stuck a few in the mailboxes of people I don't know well enough to know if they own a cat or not. Anyways, no replies on that. So I'll keep updates on whether or not I see it around today. I've grown quite fond of it, really 
 
 

rlavach

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Aww, you're so sweet for taking a liking to this kitty. I've had stray backyard cats choose me too & they're really a great fun energy to have around. I'm sure that he will be very grateful if you gave him some food. You and the kitty will have a lovely life together. 
 
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qwerty3

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I'll leave a can of tuna out near the back door in a little while- should be able to lure it out of the woods or wherever it holes up. The neighbors next door have seen it in their yard a lot too, I think it sleeps somewhere near there.
 

ondine

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If he has been eating wildlife, I would ask the vet to worm him.  Icky, I know but a fact of life on the streets for poor kitties.

He or she will need to be fixed and have their shots and then will be ready for life as a housecat!

Good luck with the flyers.  I sincerely hope his owners step forward.
 
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qwerty3

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When I do see him again I plan to invite him in the door with open arms lol. The local vet is very busy and they are open only half the week, and they often schedule things like vaccines and checkups for like a week after so that they can do things like surgery a.s.a.p. Assuming he comes inside this weekend he'd be at the vet by next weekend
 
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qwerty3

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Thanks you :)
The trap (not really, just some stinky tuna in a can I had to smash open with a stone because I lost my can opener lol) has been laid. Now, I'll wait for him to come around and work his charm.

Could be a few days though... He often steadily comes to the house and spends almost continuous time around here but then disappears for about a week then he comes back and hangs out here for a progressively longer time. I think he may have a source of food somewhere- probably just stealing from someone with outdoor cats or something. It seems odd that it'd stick around for such an extended time if it was disappearing back to a home.
 

catwoman707

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It may take a few times of leaving smelly tuna out for him, and once it gets old he won't be interested. 

The big attraction is the water it's in. You can dribble it in your backyard and the smell will travel like mad.

I love that you are growing fond of him, this kind of cat makes the very best companion cats possible, whether it's out of pure gratitude or what, he will be a nice pal for you :)

That is unless he is chipped!
 
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qwerty3

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It's a bit chilly (40's) so I think if I don't attract him by the morning I'll remove the can. I won't be home at all during the weekend so I won't put any more out until I return- don't want the poor guy sitting outside in the cold expecting me to come out and keep it company. If he doesn't show later next week, I'll assume he's vanished like he does for short periods before returning and camping out in the vicinity. 

It's a little funny to think the seemingly well fed cat I used to be annoyed with and shoo off of my porch, I now worry greatly about 
 
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qwerty3

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Haven't seen it around yet- I'll keep posted if i do.
 
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qwerty3

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Sorry for the double post.

A week and two days after the last time I saw it and about a half hour ago the cat showed up. In my house. It's like a ninja, so it could have been inside for hours before I noticed it knocking things over in a guest room- I had to open the door several times for more than a few seconds today, so it could have darted inside any time. It took a liking to my downstairs, where it has been the two other times it snuck inside till I put it out. He/she chilled right out, perched on the arm of the couch, pawing at softly but not clawing it. After like 30 minutes of very close contact, I discovered it was nowhere near as skinny as it had looked when I would see it darting around at dusk- if anything it's rather plump. 

I didn't want it to use the bathroom down there- it was marking it's scent on everything- so I opened the door and it followed me right out, hung around on the deck, then darted across the lawn and into the woods and went after something. It was a mild night, so it shouldn't be cold. I felt bad about sending it out into the night but it didn't seem to mind since it was all on it's own will. I had a plate of chicken on the counter and a bag of trash I was planning to bring out in the kitchen, and it didn't show any real interest so I figured it wasn't hungry and didn't bother trying to feed it- it also turned down water. I'm thinking it might be owned- it's so easygoing about coming in and outside.

Anyways, if it comes back again and spends a long time inside or tries coming right back in after it ends up outside I'll consider keeping it inside and bringing it somewhere. As of now I think it just visits. Maybe it's one of those cats that likes to disappear during the night but come back in the morning. I don't know. 

Below are pictures of the basement, where it would spend most of it's time if I adopted it due to a housemate somewhat fearing cats, and two pictures of it lazing about on the furniture before going outside.


 
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