Found a kitty...again

I told you all about a beautiful stray tabby male that I had seen and gave some food to, and how he let me pet him. Well we have been seeing him again so we put a plate of dry food out for him. Tonight my mom calls me outside and there he is eating on our porch. So I run down to the basement and grab the cat carrier. I set it down by him, open, so he would get used to it. Then I put the plate of food inside and he climbed part way in. I could tell he was not going in by himself. He backs out and I gently grabbed him and put him in the carrier, with little to no fight at all! Anyways, now he is in our basement in a puppy crate! I don't know where to start with questions so I will just list them:

1. What is my obligation when finding a cat? Do I need to place signs out? He had no collar and isn't fixed last I checked. His fur is very thick from being out in the cold. Yet he is very loving and lets me touch him.

2. When I take him to the vet, what do I have them do? And can I say I found him, or will them turn me down because he isn't mine?

3. What should I do with him? I mean, I plan on getting him his shots and getting him neutered, but this crate isn't large enough in my mind. Do I start searching for a home for him? We have to many cats as it is.

4. I have no empty rooms to put him in, we have a small sun room with no door, is it expensive to get a door installed in a doorway that hasn't had a door? Should I do that?


Anyways, he has no name, and is such a sweetie, he has a huge face with big jowels. He looks bigger then he is because of the fur. If you have any tips what-so-ever please let me know. Now, here he is:

First of all, congratulations! However, a quick word of caution: it can be dangerous to push any feral cat into a crate, and I really advise against it without practice and gloves, but you got lucky, and that's good news.

He's gorgeous, and he looks like he's in pretty good health!

Because he was eating on your porch and didn't put up much of a fuss - and if he wasn't scared enough in the crate to pee, and if he's not freaking out in there in your basement (which it doesn't look like he is), I'd say you should ask around your neighbors. Maybe put some posters out.

I'd go ahead and get his shots and have him neutered. Separating him from your other cats was definitely the right thing to do. Trapped or rescued feral animals should never come into contact with pets until they've been to a vet and gotten the "all clear."

The way we treat "stray" cats that wander onto our property is to get them neutered or spayed, tested for the standard diseases, and vaccinated. If it turns out they're someone's pet - oh well, they were irresponsible pet owners to begin with.

So.... the first thing to do is put his food and water as far away from his litter box as possible. It is a small crate, but you can't run the risk of him escaping into your home.

Installing a door isn't difficult, nor is it expensive. If he's going to be there some time, you may want more space, although purchasing a larger crate is OK too. You can buy an inexpensive door at a Home Depot, and all it really requires is making sure the hinges are screwed into the door frame in the right place - hanging the door on the hinges from there is easy if you're strong enough and tall enough (or have someone who is).

If he's feral, he may sleep on the litter instead of using it as a box. The best way to train cats to use a litter box is to sprinkle organic potting soil (no fertilizers in it) on top of the litter. Once they have to go to the bathroom badly enough, they'll use the litter and then lie down elsewhere in the crate.

If he's going to be with you for some time, you really do need to get him a larger crate, or try the door option.

After getting him to the vet ASAP, it'll be useful for you to know that when cats stray from home, it's usually within a three block radius. I'd go knocking on doors.

After that - if he doesn't belong to anyone, he needs a home! We have a lot of information here about socializing ferals, if that turns out to be the case. Whoever adopts him would need to know he'll need special attention, and can't be expected to be a loving pet right away.

You can also contact rescue organizations and shelters in your area. Just make sure of one thing - there are shelters that call themselves "no kill" shelters - but they mean they don't kill any cat they deem to be adoptable. Older ferals are often euthanized.

I'm going to post some links that may be helpful to you - both in finding someone that can help, or in finding a shelter that may be able to help find him a home.

The Best Friends Network: I don't know the e-mail off-hand, but look through this link and you'll find it:

http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehom...ts/thenetwork/

This is from the petfinder's website. Type in your zipcode once you're at the site in this link, and it'll pull up a list of rescue organizations and shelters that you can call or e-mail (calling gets faster results):

http://www.pets911.com/organizations/organizations.php

Hope some of this helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ooops - I should add - it'd be best to keep it dark, but not pitch black. Do you have a low-light lamp or a night lite you can put down there with him?

Also, a radio down there with a classical music station on might help him feel calm.

And if he's friendly, you may want to give him a toy or two. If you have any pipe cleaners, tying a few of those onto the crate with long ends in will give him something to play with or bat at to help reduce stress. If he is feral, he won't know what toys are or that he's supposed to play with them, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

And when you do go to transport him to the vet, if he's never been in a car before, he'll be terrified. Make sure a window or two is open a little bit - even if it's really cold. The fresh/moving air helps them to not get sick. Also, lay large trashbags and towlels down on the seat first - if he's scared, he will pee and maybe poop. Just make sure the crate is secure. We actually pull the seatbelt around it so it won't fall off the seat.

You should also cover the crate while it's in the car. Leave the ends open so he can get air, but being the dark will be far less terrifying than what he'd be able to see otherwise.

:angel

Aw he is gorgeous Meagan, I have no advice for you but best of luck with him!

Thanks. I guess I didn't go into it much. He is not a feral, I would consider him a cat who was kicked out of a home. He is extremely loving, if I put my hand near him then he is automatically rubbing on it trying to get his neck scratched. Which is the only reason I attempted putting him in the carrier. He was facing it open, so I put my hands behind his front legs and sort of guided him into it. I know the crate is to small, but it was better then the carrier. Tomorrow we are going to Lowes to check out the doors, unless I can talk someone into going right now with me, which I doubt. If we get a door I will empty the room of the boxes and cat tree (I don't want him spraying it because it smells like other cats) I have a steam cleaner in case he uses the carpet (which we want ripped out anyways) for a bathroom. We have one of those water bottles that bunnies and small pets use, so I am going to see if he can figure out how to use it, to free up some more space in the cage. The vet was already closed when I tried to call, so I will call them tomorrow. The are a vet for cats only, and have the large cages that some queens or toms go into with cats for adoption, which could be another place for him to go.

I just can't believe how sweet he is, he doesn't cower in the corner, he comes up to the front and meows and me and always wants me to pet him. Poor guy is crying though because he is lonely. I personally don't think there would be any trouble finding him a home because he is so well mannered so far. Which makes me think he has had a home before. When I take him to the vet I will see if he has a microchip or something, but I doubt it. I will also make up some flyers after I get a better picture of him.

He ate 3/4 of the canned food I gave him, but he spilled his water so I am going to go fill up that bottle and put a towel in there.

He sounds like such a love! I'm so glad you rescued him, and it sounds like he'll really enjoy being in a loving home. He's a lucky boy to have crossed your path!

And about the rabbit water bottle - our Sheldon LOVES it! He was so obsessed with drinking out of water bottles - but would watch the water drip out instead of trying to drink the drop. The rabbit water bottle was a great solution. I hope your boy enjoys it too!

He has a vet appointment at 10:30, seems he has had diarhea, a lot. But he did use the litter box so that is good. I just hope he gets the all clear from the vet!

Well I just got back from the vet and he is negative on the tests! He is an extremely good boy, no crying in the car, no hissing or growling at the doc, let us pick him up and he even rolled over for a belly rub! His claws are very short, and his teeth look good, they say he looks young still. At this moment he is at the vet waiting to be neutered! They were able to get him in today! Yay! So we are going to go look for those queening or tom cages because they are so large, so that he can have a bigger area until we find him a place to live.

You GO girl! Wow, what GREAT news! Boy, this guy sounds like such a love - Belly rubs! I can't imagine why someone would have abandoned him. I wouldn't be surprised if a poll of the neighborhood turned up an owner. But it sounds like they don't deserve this incredible cat. He is one lucky boy to have found you.

(Is he being treated for parasites? Might not hurt to ask the vet if he had round worm. They usually do. That could be a reason for diarrhea - it could also be the change in diet. I know it sounds unbelievable, but cats actually have sensitive stomachs, and any change in diet can result in diarrhea until they adjust to the new food).

Wish us luck! We pick up the baby boy today.I still can't think of a name, I am kind of thinking of using Suji, which means stripe in Japanese. I bought a cage for him and any other cat we rescue in the future. This is the cage:


Mom just left to go pick him up, I have to stay here to get my room emptied out because my new bed is coming today. Along with being neutered he recieved all his shots, a capstar pill to get rid of any live fleas (we have frontline plus here at home), and some worming pills. We had been thinking about these cages and found out there isn't a way to rent one, we figured they would be around 300-500 dollars. Well the vet said the woman he works with paid $70 for hers through a catalog, so we knew that since we needed one NOW we would have to pay more. We found this one at Petsmart for only $140. It will help greatly for when I do decided to foster, so, thats it. We need to figure out what to put up on the walls in case he sprays.

Hi Meagan - This boy is SO handsome! Very impressive that in just a couple of days you've already gotten him to the vet, he's getting neutered, and you're setting up living quarters - way to go! I also agree with LDG that whomever "owned" him certainly didn't deserve him.

I have a virtually identical cat cage to the one you just bought. For future reference, they're available through www.PetEdge.com. The cage was $79.99 (plus shipping, it was about $25 to where I live), and fleece-like perch covers are available for $4.99 each (if you buy 2, you get 1 free).

I wish you and this sweet little guy all the best of luck. Thank you for being his angel and rescuing him! Please let us know how he's doing.

Originally Posted by LDG

You GO girl! Wow, what GREAT news! Boy, this guy sounds like such a love - Belly rubs! I can't imagine why someone would have abandoned him. I wouldn't be surprised if a poll of the neighborhood turned up an owner. But it sounds like they don't deserve this incredible cat. He is one lucky boy to have found you.

(Is he being treated for parasites? Might not hurt to ask the vet if he had round worm. They usually do. That could be a reason for diarrhea - it could also be the change in diet. I know it sounds unbelievable, but cats actually have sensitive stomachs, and any change in diet can result in diarrhea until they adjust to the new food).

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The vet is giving him a shot of antibiotics for his scratches, and two pills that start with a D something like Droncal tabs or something, I am guessing to help in case of worms. Along with the capstar to kill the adult fleas quickly.

Meagan, great job!!! I'd swear you have my Trixie there! What a handsome boy! And the cage you bought. Very very nice! Keep us posted on how it's going!

He's a cutie....bless you for taking care of him.
Love the new cage!

He purred! Aww, he had diareah or how ever it is spelled again. He put his sheepskin blanky over the litter box (which he has been using!) so I took that out and replaced it with a freshly washed bed (Nekos old bed) and right when I set it in there he crawled in it and curled up! I left the cage door open the whole time I sat with him and he didn't try to escape. He might still be groggy from yesterday, but he is such a good kitty! He is on antibiotics also, twice a day and it seems he took the pill well also! I can't wait to find him the perfect home, a place where he can be spoiled so badly and always know that he will have food and a nice warm place to sleep, not having to worry about fighting for anything.

Amazingly, none of our cats have gone into the room (just have baby gates up, one on top of the other so the dogs don't jump over). Neko saw him from about 20 feet away and fluffed his tail up, but didn't growl or fluff anything else up. He just stared and left, no hissy fit or anything!

I am just so amazed at what a great cat he is. I understand that he is a once in a lifetime catch, I will most likely never catch such an easy cat again, but I am willing to work harder for any others there may be. Once our life/house gets sorted out I will start fostering kittens (preferably under 2 months, but if they need me I will be here.)

Would it be wrong if I took him to the spca? And gave them the option of trying to find him a home, and if they don't within a time period I take him back? I just feel he would get more exposure there.

I would first ask the SPCA if they allow people to do that...some groups will not agree to call a person if the cat isn't adopted. My brother found a stray and brought it to a local SPCA and they told him they would determine if the cat was adoptable..if not, it would be euthanized...so my brother "adopted" it back and found it a home with our mom.

BTW..chixyb..check out the SOS section..I posted about an upcoming meeting regarding the Virginia Animal Welfare Lobby Day 2005

I can't make it..but maybe you can.

Katie

Originally Posted by TNR1

I would first ask the SPCA if they allow people to do that...some groups will not agree to call a person if the cat isn't adopted. My brother found a stray and brought it to a local SPCA and they told him they would determine if the cat was adoptable..if not, it would be euthanized...so my brother "adopted" it back and found it a home with our mom.

BTW..chixyb..check out the SOS section..I posted about an upcoming meeting regarding the Virginia Animal Welfare Lobby Day 2005

I can't make it..but maybe you can.

Katie

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One of our neighbors found a dog and did this at the spca and it worked, but I would still ask again. It is a small spca, they aren't overrun like all the other groups around that I have called.

What a great job you've done with this kitty. I hope everything works out ok for him - it sounds like he deserves a good, loving home. He looks just like Adelaide!

Well we have finally found a rescue group that has room for him. I called ALL the ones I could find within 2 hours of here. This one is 45 minutes away, in Fincastle and I have heard from a woman at a cat group that was trying to help me that they are a good group. They have been around since '91! So tomorrow around 3 we will be taking him to the shelter there so he can start the journey to find his forever home! I will try not to cry, but he is an absolutely amazing cat, I just can't believe it. I picked him up and he just purred and rubbed his face all over mine, here are some photos so everyone can see him one last time. I wish one of you could have taken him, then I would always get to see pictures.