what should i do about my moms favorite neighborhood cat now that shes gone?

terestrife

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my mom always wanted to adopt this one cat in the nieghborhood that she was in love with. he is outside all hours of the day and at night.

i always said no as we have two cats, plus we live in my brothers house who hates cats.he didnt want anymore than 2.

my mom accepted him being outside but wants me to feed him canned food.

now that my moms not here, i am not going to be home all day with her as her carer.

Tito comes by at different hours, some days 9 am some days 11 am.

i didnt mind this when i was at home, but now im not sure what to do. i dont want to stop feeding him the way my mom wanted, but i need to think about working soon. what should i do. 
 

edit: my mom loves this cat so much, that even with pain and dealing with her illness, she made sure to remind me to take him some canned food daily.
 
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terestrife

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The cat will adapt to the new schedule, if he wants canned food. He'll probably start meeting you when you get off work
.
i didnt consider that lol thanks
 

jmarkitell

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My cat Binks waits for me every day for some goodies, when I come home from work. The change for Daylight Savings Time took him a few days to adjust, but he quickly adapted his schedule for food...something most cats are very good at adjusting to...food! Now, Binks "expects" to be fed before I go to work and waits for me in the late afternoon for his canned food, although I keep a bowl of dry food out for him to nibble on during the eternity that we aren't together. Tito will quickly adapt to a new schedule, but it is best to try to keep a regular schedule to make it easier for him to "time" his new feeding schedule.

Jim
 
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terestrife

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My cat Binks waits for me every day for some goodies, when I come home from work. The change for Daylight Savings Time took him a few days to adjust, but he quickly adapted his schedule for food...something most cats are very good at adjusting to...food! Now, Binks "expects" to be fed before I go to work and waits for me in the late afternoon for his canned food, although I keep a bowl of dry food out for him to nibble on during the eternity that we aren't together. Tito will quickly adapt to a new schedule, but it is best to try to keep a regular schedule to make it easier for him to "time" his new feeding schedule.

Jim
Thanks for the help!

he started showing up right as im about to leave at 8 am. lol

I have a question. the neighborhood i live in, is not the safest for cats, they tend to get run over easily.

my sister offered to bring him to her neighborhood in a few months, once i start working and can get him to a vet to be neutered. she cant have him in her house, however her neighborhood is very peaceful and great for neighborhood cats.

would it be to traumatic for a neighborhood cat to get used to a new neighborhood?
 

ondine

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It might be a little stressful but it is definitely do-able.  You will have to confine him for up to a month, though.  Otherwise, he will try to make his way back to your mom's house - which he considers home.  Confining him will get him used to the sights, smells and routines of the new territory.  Once he adopts his new home, he should be fine

You can use a large dog crate for the temporary digs.  It should be big enough to hold a carrier and a litter box.  I've used two 2-door crates hooked together by their side doors.  That way, the litter box can go into one and the carrier in the other.  The set-up should be under cover - a porch, a shed, a basement or garage will all work well.  Just somewhere he can be confined while getting used to the new area.

Thank you for taking care of him.  A lot of people wouldn't bother.
 

msaimee

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You could also continue to care for him and neuter him while looking for a forever home for him where he could live indoors. There are all sorts of risks involved in moving an outdoor cat to a new neighborhood, and outdoor cats tend to get very stressed and panicked when confined in a cage for long periods of time,and it's also very stressful for the human caretaker. If he was moved and got lost it will be upsetting for your mom. So please consider caring for him and looking for a home for him--ask around in church, your neighbors, social media. Give it your best shot. He would do best in a forever home indoors if at all possible.
 
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terestrife

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It might be a little stressful but it is definitely do-able.  You will have to confine him for up to a month, though.  Otherwise, he will try to make his way back to your mom's house - which he considers home.  Confining him will get him used to the sights, smells and routines of the new territory.  Once he adopts his new home, he should be fine

You can use a large dog crate for the temporary digs.  It should be big enough to hold a carrier and a litter box.  I've used two 2-door crates hooked together by their side doors.  That way, the litter box can go into one and the carrier in the other.  The set-up should be under cover - a porch, a shed, a basement or garage will all work well.  Just somewhere he can be confined while getting used to the new area.

Thank you for taking care of him.  A lot of people wouldn't bother.
You could also continue to care for him and neuter him while looking for a forever home for him where he could live indoors. There are all sorts of risks involved in moving an outdoor cat to a new neighborhood, and outdoor cats tend to get very stressed and panicked when confined in a cage for long periods of time,and it's also very stressful for the human caretaker. If he was moved and got lost it will be upsetting for your mom. So please consider caring for him and looking for a home for him--ask around in church, your neighbors, social media. Give it your best shot. He would do best in a forever home indoors if at all possible.
I will consider both options, thank you both for taking the time to give me advice.

I might try asking around to see if i can find him a home. I just wish my brother would allow me to adopt him, the thought of letting him go makes me feel like im losing a part of my mom. But im living in his house and depend on him for now, so its not right for me to be selfish. 
 

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Moving a cat is usually pretty stressful, since they have to learn the area and contend with it's already established cat population. I think, if it was up to me, I would try to get the cat accustomed to your sister, so that he will at least have a familiar face to relate to and get fed from. It would be great if your sister could allow him inside for a little while, just long enough to get him the security of a "home base". I think that once he gets used to the area he would be fine. My fear would be that, if he wasn't accustomed to the area and your sister, he might leave the area or find someone that will take care of him. The bond between your cat and your sister is the key, in my opinion. If he has a familiar face to come home to as well as a solid food source, I think he will be fine after a few weeks.

  This is only my opinion and cats are notorious for breaking the rules. If your cat is primarily an indoor cat, the transition to being an outside cat might present a problem, but that would also depend on the weather where you live. Today, I awoke to several inches of snow and cold weather...obviously the weather would be more of an issue for me and a kitty than someone living in Florida. I wish you the best of success and take things slowly and you should be OK.

Jim
 

rubysmama

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I will consider both options, thank you both for taking the time to give me advice.

I might try asking around to see if i can find him a home. I just wish my brother would allow me to adopt him, the thought of letting him go makes me feel like im losing a part of my mom. But im living in his house and depend on him for now, so its not right for me to be selfish. 
Condolences on the loss of your Mom. 
 

About Tito, can you keep feeding him until you get your own place and can take him with you and your other kitties.  Have you mentioned to your brother about adopting Tito. Maybe he'd be open to the idea, especially since Tito was kind of your Mom's cat.  Good luck.
 
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terestrife

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Condolences on the loss of your Mom. 
 

About Tito, can you keep feeding him until you get your own place and can take him with you and your other kitties.  Have you mentioned to your brother about adopting Tito. Maybe he'd be open to the idea, especially since Tito was kind of your Mom's cat.  Good luck.
Thank you. =)

and yes i did mention it to him, i reminded him that he promised mom she could adopt him, but he told me that he would be fine outside, that a cat doesnt need to be indoors. My brother does not like cats at all.

i dont know why, the 2 cats here just spend the day sleeping and dont bother anyone. 
 

rubysmama

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Maybe you should invite Tito inside when your brother isn't around. Maybe Tito will blend in with the other two and your brother won't notice there's a third one. 


Good luck finding the right solution for Tito. 
 
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terestrife

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Maybe you should invite Tito inside when your brother isn't around. Maybe Tito will blend in with the other two and your brother won't notice there's a third one. 


Good luck finding the right solution for Tito. 
lol that true. i would have to wait until next year when i can afford to have him neutered and get his shots. =)
 
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