Very friendly stray cat, thinking about taking her in

My girlfriend and I have been wanting a cat for a while now. We currently don't own a pet and neither of us have had a cat before, though we're both very good with dogs.

There's a cat that stays near our house most of the day though we don't feed it and until the last week haven't given it much attention. When we eat outside or hang out by the pool, the cat runs up to us, jumps in our laps, etc. It doesn't have a collar and from the way it stands outside our door for hours, watching us, we assume it doesn't have a home somewhere or else it'd be outside their door. (Not sure on this part since we haven't had cats.) The cat also still has its claws.

We're moving out of this house in 2 weeks to a place a couple hours away. Should we keep the cat? What should we do before we officially decide take it in? 

I would check for any missing cat notices around the neighborhood or Craigslist.  If there aren't any, then I'd would take her in.  Especially if she is spending time with you and hangs around your property.

The you would need to decide if she is going to be an outside/inside or indoor only cat.  Take her to a vet to get her checked out.  Fleas, ear mites, diseases, microchip, etc., vaccines etc.  She how she handles being around your other pets.

Give her a forever home! Post pics of her if you have them! =D

If at all possible take it to a vet and have them see if its got a micro chip.  Also, check around with the neighbors on the block and see if they know who it belongs to.  If no one knows and if its not micro chipped, I'd say you've got yourself a cat.

Interesting that its hanging around so much and you are not feeding it.  Have you ever fed it?

A similar situation happened to me last year.  I finally found the owner who says the cat disowned her because she does cat fostering and the cat doesn't like other cats.  I didn't mention that now she's living with me I have three other cats.  She was okay with me taking her in.

Sometimes its difficult to figure out why cats do what they do.

Dandila said:

 
If at all possible take it to a vet and have them see if its got a micro chip.  Also, check around with the neighbors on the block and see if they know who it belongs to.  If no one knows and if its not micro chipped, I'd say you've got yourself a cat.

Interesting that its hanging around so much and you are not feeding it.  Have you ever fed it?

A similar situation happened to me last year.  I finally found the owner who says the cat disowned her because she does cat fostering and the cat doesn't like other cats.  I didn't mention that now she's living with me I have three other cats.  She was okay with me taking her in.

Sometimes its difficult to figure out why cats do what they do.

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Hi! If we decide to keep it, we'll take it to the vet and if there's a chip we'll return it for sure. Checking with neighbors is a good idea. 

We have never fed the cat and the only reasons I can think of why'd it'd stay in our backyard are (1) we have a pool without chemicals, so easy water source or (2) our backyard is fenced and locked so dogs can't get in and there are lots of neighborhood dogs, maybe it likes the protection. Or maybe it likes us? Haha

smashadages said:

 
Hi! If we decide to keep it, we'll take it to the vet and if there's a chip we'll return it for sure. Checking with neighbors is a good idea. 

We have never fed the cat and the only reasons I can think of why'd it'd stay in our backyard are (1) we have a pool without chemicals, so easy water source or (2) our backyard is fenced and locked so dogs can't get in and there are lots of neighborhood dogs, maybe it likes the protection. Or maybe it likes us? Haha

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Just to agree...  Ask the neigbours - if it DOES belongs to someone, its surely somewhere near.   Also ads "Found" in the food shops around your place...  To get a somewhat wider circle than the nearests neigbours.

Dont describe the cat too close.  Let the owners identyfy themselves by mentioning the detail you didnt mention.   This important especilly if it isnt any of your closest neigbours whom you presumely know.

There ARE some weirdo, whom are happy to get a cat for free. Perhaps as sparring to their pitbull...  Or selling for experiments  (they pay up to 20 bucks for experimental animals, I have read)

If you find an owner, you can perhaps discuss to take her as your own anyways - even buying it for real money.   Or for some of the gears you are surely leaving...  Moneys value for moneys value.

What I mean - this sounds like  A GIFT from Above.  Do not go against your Fate,  do obey now when you have got a chance.

And thus, if you dont find and owner, and get her "for free", dont forget to give a donation in her name, to some worthy cause you do like.  Perhaps the local church, or the local animal shelter.   This will strenghen up your attachement to her, and hers to you, becoming a magic bond.

You can surely proceed to have your beloved dogs - cats and dogs in the same family usually do get agree, they even often become  close pals.

Tx for caring!

Good luck!

Really good advice from everyone.  Just wanted to mention that it's really good that 'the cat also still has its claws'.  If you do end up with him/her, please do keep it that way..

Declawing is an awful thing to do to a cat.

I was going to post this also. Just trim its claws. From the little I've read, it seems many declawed cats then act up after the declawing and then are dumped by their owners when it's the owners' fault for the new behavior.

Thanks all for the advice! I will not declaw the cat. My girlfriend suggested getting it declawed but I've done a lot of research on pet care for cats and understand it's a bad thing to do. 

We've decided to look around the neighborhood for a couple days before taking her in. I am freaking out just a tad because she's currently found a way under the living room floor and is meowing incessantly and I'm trying to find a way to get her out. Anyway thanks all, I will consider everything you've said and may end up posting for advice again in the future.