Feeding stray/feral blonde cat

For 3 weeks so far hoping she/he finds her home. Apparently she is alone and lost. I have made calls to animal control shelters to rescue her. They don't want to do anything.

Now I am thinking of buying her cat/dog winter house with heat. I am not too enthusiastic about it cuz raccoons, woodchucks and other animals want want to occupy the same house.

How can I keep the house just for the stray cat? I don't know if it carries rabies?

I also have my own two cats. They appear to be avoiding the cat at times. But the stray is really hungry emptying the bowls very cleanly.

StrayAlan said:

For 3 weeks so far hoping she/he finds her home. Apparently she is alone and lost. I have made calls to animal control shelters to rescue her. They don't want to do anything.

Now I am thinking of buying her cat/dog winter house with heat. I am not too enthusiastic about it cuz raccoons, woodchucks and other animals want want to occupy the same house.

How can I keep the house just for the stray cat? I don't know if it carries rabies?

I also have my own two cats. They appear to be avoiding the cat at times. But the stray is really hungry emptying the bowls very cleanly.

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Thank you for caring about and helping this sweet stray.  It is possible to build/make/buy a winter shelter for her.  Yet as to how to keep other critters out is difficult.  The most important thing is to not put any food in or near the shelter.  This will at least keep the critters from smelling and wanting food.  I like to feed my feral cats 10-15 feet away from their shelters.  I have had a few raccoons take up residence in my cats shelters.  They usually don't stay long and it only happens when it is bitter cold.    Have you thought of adopting this stray and giving her a warm loving home?

The kindest thing you can do for this stray is to have the cat spayed/neutered.  If the cat is a female and not spayed, you will soon have lots and lots of kitties running around.  Also since she is interacting or near your other cats you will want to be sure she is free of disease and up to date on her immunizations. 

Thanks for the information not to put food in cathouse. It makes sense. I need to give more details about the stray cat. She does not want to come in the house ..my house on my urging. She just stays outside by the door and meowed for food. She eats early mornings at 6 am and scampers away..gone.
Then come back for supper around 7 pm. Again she is gone.

I know she needs vet attention. I believe she has a sore scab on her neck on right side. It was not there last week. Maybe from recent fight.

I have a trap.. Big enough for the cat. She or he is real big. I believe she or he is an adult maybe at least 7 yrs old. She is a big cat and strong. She has broad shoulders.

I know I have to act fast cuz the fall is on way..and her sore scab. Yet she refuses to welcome in my house.

I would like to hear at least one reply before I take her to vet tomorrow in her trap.

StrayAlan said:

Thanks for the information not to put food in cathouse. It makes sense. I need to give more details about the stray cat. She does not want to come in the house ..my house on my urging. She just stays outside by the door and meowed for food. She eats early mornings at 6 am and scampers away..gone.
Then come back for supper around 7 pm. Again she is gone.

I know she needs vet attention. I believe she has a sore scab on her neck on right side. It was not there last week. Maybe from recent fight.

I have a trap.. Big enough for the cat. She or he is real big. I believe she or he is an adult maybe at least 7 yrs old. She is a big cat and strong. She has broad shoulders.

I know I have to act fast cuz the fall is on way..and her sore scab. Yet she refuses to welcome in my house.

I would like to hear at least one reply before I take her to vet tomorrow in her trap.

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I would definitely try to trap her tomorrow morning and get her to the vet for medical care and also for spay/neuter.  Since she is so large she might be pregnant.  Are you certain it's a she? 

If you are able to trap her, be sure to cover the trap with a sheet or blanket after she is safely inside.  This will help to calm her.  When you bring her home you might need to keep her inside for a few days.  After a spay surgery she will need a few days to recover.  A small bathroom or spare room is fine.  Just be sure if you allow her to come out of the trap that the room is cat proofed.  You don't want her running and hiding under the bed or under/behind other large furniture.

If you need to return to the vet at another time for the spay/neuter, be advised that it is most difficult to retrap a cat.  You would then need to keep her inside so that you would be able to get her into a carrier.  Hopefully you can take care of everything in one visit.

Thank you so much for taking such good care of her.  It is possible to bring stray cats into a home.  It  takes time and patience, but most of them learn to adapt in time. 

I cannot tell if she or not. Is there a way to tell by just looking at ears? I am just kidding. There is no way to look at her/his private parts. It's more likely that the cat is girl.. Very feisty that she won't welcome to the house. She adamantly refuses!

Thanks for the advise about putting blanket over the trap to reduce her anxiety. After the visit at vet, I will have more information. I will update you tomorrow.

By the description you have given, I would guess male.  Males that have not been altered will have large faces with jowls that develop due to hormones.  They often get into fights as well when looking for a mate and/or territory.  It's so hard to get a look at the back end, yet a male that has not been neutered is pretty easy to spot!

Best of luck with trapping.  If you cannot get him/her at first because the cat is leary of the trap, then begin to feed the cat right outside the trap.  Next, tie open the trap so that it will not go off and begin to feed him/her in the unset trap.  Do this until he/she is eating out of the back of the trap.  Then set the trap and put a bit of food way in the back.  It also sometimes helps to put newspaper or puppy pee pads on the bottom of the trap so they can walk on it easier. 

I hope all goes well tomorrow.  Do please update.

Thank you so much for helping this cat.  Whatever you do, she will be better off.  Spaying or neutering is primary; getting that sore tended to is as important right now.

Keep us posted!

He has a large round face. Therefore, he is a male. Thanks for your observation. He has broad, firm shoulders. At first look, he looks like a baby tiger! He has the color of a tiger. But he is cat.
I will update you. Now I am getting trap from shed now. I will use it as unset trap for one or two days. Then set it with food in way back of the trap.

I am still wondering why animal control centers won't take it. I had told them I had been feeding for three weeks. They said New Jersey law says after seven days of feeding it becomes mine. I told them they are hungry. They seem do not care.

Nevertheless, I need to do something cuz he always sleep outside.

I now see that I have to tie it with string or clap to unset the trap!

I mean clamp.

StrayAlan said:

I now see that I have to tie it with string or clap to unset the trap!

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Yes!  At first set the food either right outside the trap or right inside.  Then the next day move it back 1/2 way.  The next day, move to the back.  If it frightens him, it may take a few days longer. 

Some animal shelters are not the place to take stray cats as they will euthanize them if they are not claimed within so many days.  If you look for a place to take him, it is important to ask if they are a No Kill shelter.  This means that as long as the cat is healthy and adoptable, he will remain there until adopted.  Other facilities will allow him to stay for a certain period of time.  Once that time is up, they euthanize.  So cruel. 

You are doing a great thing by helping this one!

StrayAlan said:

I now see that I have to tie it with string or clap to unset the trap!

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Yoou dont need to catch him immediately before the vet visit, you can do it whole 24 hours before, perhaps even somewhat more - ie you do it when you can without stressing.   You lay a blanket over the trap, and let the cat wait in there for transport to the vet...

He is as in a hidey hole, and shy cats are used to hide many hours if need be.   Look, if you take him in, the chance is big he will hide somewhere under the sofa 48 hours, before he comes forward to use the litter and eat and drink.

So this keeping and transporting in the trap is perhaps not optimal, but it sounds worse than it is. 

I see that there is no stressing need, but I will make sure that the trap is in shade. Maybe eventually I bring him into the house up to 24 hours with blanket covered.

I just made an appt at vet this wed morning at 9 am. Emergency costs 115 dollars. With the appt set for wed, I hope I trap at 6 am wed. I will make sure the trap is in shade at those hours unless I bring him into the House.