Our Stray Cat Update

I know most of you told me to trap her but I just hated the idea.  So, finally I got a Have a Heart trap and we got her into it.  My husband rushed off to the SPCA with her wailing all the way.  They took the sheet off the trap and it was an ORANGE cat!  Ours is gray.  My husband was so shocked he asked the vet if cats can turn colors it they are traumatized.  (he was kidding though)

So we tried again and got her.  We checked under the sheet this time.  Duh.  Surprise!  SHE is a HE and was already neutered!

Couple of geniuses here.  

I thought he would run away when we released her after his trauma with the trap but NO she (sorry, HE) came in and didn't leave our sides for the whole day.  

We now own a beautiful cat that loves us for sure.  Now how do we get to go out of town for even a weekend?  She comes in and the day and sleep on our laps or in my closet and wants out at night.  I don't want to take that freedom away from him.  I don't mind having someone come down to feed her but I don't really want anyone staying in my home.  

Great hearing this! I'm so afraid to catch my feral bc I dont want to traumatize it and hear the cat cry scared.  Was it a real feral or stray. Maybe keep the cat inside full time while ur away and get cat feeder and then when u get home gob back to regular schedule. I'm so afraid to catch my cat bc know it will be so afraid, any advice

you saved his life, u r good people

She seemed feral when she first came around.  It took months before she (sorry, HE) trusted us some.  Then more time for him to come inside to eat.  He'd eat and run.   Then he tamed down and got into our laps and purred.  Walked all around the house and found favorite places.  Does not know how to play at all.  

When we tried to get her into the carrier we first bought she went feral BIGTIME!  He does not have a notch in either ear.  He is only about two. I don't know how he got neutered but maybe a kind soul took her to get neutered where they didn't notch her. Then left her out and didn't adopt him?  But when I asked a local vet and the SPCA they said they HAD to be notched.  I didn't want her disfigured.  

Don't be too afraid of catching yours.  This one is even more loving after that trauma.  He was so happy to be home.  I was so worried I could not go with my husband to the SPCA with them.  The SCREAMING!  My husband kept trying to comfort her when we thought she was a her all the way there and back.  Calling her" Little girl, we are so sorry!"  This from The Man Who Hates Cats.  He loves this cat.

So happy you caught Him!  What a journey!  As for going out of town, you could start feeding him in a safe outside spot for a few days before you leave so he knows where to find the food.  Be sure he has a shelter outside where he can get out of the elements if needed.  I would not leave him inside for the weekend alone.  Who knows what he would do in trying to get out.  I think feeding him outside, once or twice a day would be fine.  YOu could leave a large bowl of dry food out all day and have someone pick it up at night.  If you leave it out all night, you will attract lots of unwanted critters. 

Thank you for helping him and getting him trapped and checking to see if he is neutered.  Trapping is by far the kindest thing you can do. 

Thank you for that advice.  I'm really stressing on leaving him when he is used to being inside most of the day.  I did buy him a large cat house but she will only go in there for treats.  Dang it.  I'll give your idea a try.  I do feed her outside every other Tuesday when out house keeper comes in and we leave the house for a few hours.  

I just hate to have him think we abandoned him.

Blythe said:

 
Thank you for that advice.  I'm really stressing on leaving him when he is used to being inside most of the day.  I did buy him a large cat house but she will only go in there for treats.  Dang it.  I'll give your idea a try.  I do feed her outside every other Tuesday when out house keeper comes in and we leave the house for a few hours.  

I just hate to have him think we abandoned him.

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Make sure you tell her that you are leaving.  I truly believe it helps.  Tell her every day that you are going away for a few days and that someone will come to feed each day.  Is it possible to have the pet sitter come to meet her before you leave?

My son lives up the street and he'd feed her.  He'd stay here too but he has a girlfriend and m y husband doesn't particularity like the idea of them both sleeping in our bed.    Our other bedroom has a small bed.  (we live in a small Carmel cottage that is historic and called a "fairy tale house)   All my other friends are married.  

We take a trip once a year and my husband LOVES where we go.  I hate to take it away from him but don't know if I can leave Smoky so long!  How did I get so attached to this cat?  YIKES!  Yet my husband loves her too.  He just thinks she will be fine if we go.

I do so appreciate your suggestions and will use them.   

What we do when we go on vacation is take our pup to a friends house and let her stay with them. It's nerve racking for the first hour or so, but after that she calms right down and has a great time being with people for awhile. This way she won't be In a cage in the vets office, or alone at the house without being able to roam free. (It also makes them happy to see you when you come back)

This sounds good.  I am going to have to talk my husband into letting my son and his girlfriend have the cat for those two weeks if he wants to go.  They love animals.  The problem is they live in a downtown apartment we own and we have a NO PETS clause in our rental agreements.  But they live FREE.  So it's a matter of talking my husband into letting them sneak the cat in.  IF, in fact we can ever get her caught again.  Thanks!

I would have to disagree with this.  If the cat was living full time inside your home and accustomed to others then this would be a good option.  Yet the fact that she has never been inside full time yet and then to take her to a strange place might be too traumatic for her.  If anything I would leave her in your home and have someone feed her there.  If she knows your son and girlfriend and is comfortable with them then that is different.  Yet for a feral/stray cat this could be very very traumatic.

Leaving pets while on vacation is very hard.  I care for 3 outside ferals who live on my deck and have 3 indoor animals.  It is a nightmare when I leave.  Yet with proper planning it can be done.  Just get the cat used to the new situation in advance. 

Oh no, now I have no idea what I should do.

When do you leave?

When do you leave?  If you have time, start adjusting her to full time indoor living now.  Try to give her a room of her own so she has a safe place to be.  Make sure the room is fully cat proofed.  If there is a bed on the floor, either put it flat on the ground or pick it up off the floor.  You don't want her hiding under it.  Also block off all other large piece of furniture.  You don't want her getting stuck behind or under dressers or desks or book cases.  Give her a safe hiding place, like a cat house, cat tree or even a cat carrier or card board box.  Make sure she has 2 litter boxes and access to food and water.  I would keep her in this room when you are not home and during your trip unless you have lots of time. 

This can be done as long as you have some time. 

For some reason, I don't like the idea of trapping her in one room.  I think that would traumatize her more.  She has the run of the house and has her favorite places to sleep.  Thank you though.  I think all cats have different needs.  I've only had two in my life.  This one and one that was abused but my brother brought her to me and we adored her.  She never let us cuddle her in all those years but we lived in the woods and she took car of herself when she was outside.  There were all kind of big cats and raccoons but she never got hurt.  This one is the same as far as wanting her outside freedom.  

I think of being stuck in one room and that even scares me!  I still thank you for any advice.  

Blythe said:

 
For some reason, I don't like the idea of trapping her in one room.  I think that would traumatize her more.  She has the run of the house and has her favorite places to sleep.  Thank you though.  I think all cats have different needs.  I've only had two in my life.  This one and one that was abused but my brother brought her to me and we adored her.  She never let us cuddle her in all those years but we lived in the woods and she took car of herself when she was outside.  There were all kind of big cats and raccoons but she never got hurt.  This one is the same as far as wanting her outside freedom.  

I think of being stuck in one room and that even scares me!  I still thank you for any advice.  

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If she is used to the house, then you can just leave her inside.  You just want to be sure that when someone comes to feed her she doesn't try to escape and get outside.  She also should be somewhat familiar with the person who would feed her. 

You just want to be sure that she has been in the house full time for awhile before you leave.  It might traumatize her to have a strange person come to feed her and keeping her inside 24/7 if she is not used to it. 

Having a pet door is another idea.  If she is microchipped they even sell pet doors that will only open for the serial number of the microchip. 

Thanks!  I'll get my son to come down and have her get used to him.  She always seems to be asleep when he's here to we'll have to do it on his two days off.