Need thoughts... did we do the right thing?

pinkdaisy226

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Last night at about 2am my SO gets home from bball practice and comments on some cat crying outside, a teeny kitten. Today, at about noon, we leave to run errands and we see that same cat. It's outside a fenced area on a stoop a few apartments away from ours (all the apartments' front doors are fenced in). 5 hours later we get home, it's been pouring rain and that same cat is still outside, soaking wet, shivering, skinny and meowing. So... we took him inside, fed him some wet food, which he devoured... and are debating what our next step is.

Did we "steal" him? We don't know what we're going to do - if we're going to take him to a no-kill shelter, keep him, etc (btw, we THINK he's a little boy)... but I'm feeling a bit guilty. But obviously the owner doesn't care about him, right?

Here are some pics of the little guy, they are deceiving as he is teeny and skinny, smaller than Baylee was when we got her (and she was 18 weeks).




I'm torn... I just feel so bad for him and can't understand why someone would treat an animal like that!
 

kittylover4ever

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Well Ari, you will get all kinds of different opinions on this, but my first thought is to keep him and give him the wonderful forever safe home that every kitty deserves....He's a cutiepie! Give him a hug from me!
 
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pinkdaisy226

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Originally Posted by CommonOddity042

It could be a stray that someone there was feeding, or a kitten they decided they didnt want anymore, or just slipped out unnoticed. Did it look well fed (shiny coat)? Is it social?
Um, I don't think it was well fed in that his coat is not shiny and he's *very* skinny. He is social tho, he started meowing at me because I was sitting up so I got down on my belly and he kept headbutting my head and sniffing my face, purring loudly the entire time.
 

coolcat

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Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

1.-Did we "steal" him?
2.-I'm torn... I just feel so bad for him and can't understand why someone would treat an animal like that!
DEAR ARI....


1.- You didn´t steal nothing
.......YOU SAVE A LIFE!
....you has my totally respect


2.- I feel the same!
I hate those kind of people!!!


Ari, you has a great and lovely Soul!
God Bless you!

My prayers to this poor homeless found a great home to they loving forever

thank you for share this Dear Ari!
I know that I have a great Friend with a courageous and Generous Soul with the cats!
this post make my Day!
 

tari

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Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

Um, I don't think it was well fed in that his coat is not shiny and he's *very* skinny. He is social tho, he started meowing at me because I was sitting up so I got down on my belly and he kept headbutting my head and sniffing my face, purring loudly the entire time.
There's no decision to be made here...he's obviously picked you!! (In my experience people rarely pick cats...cats pick their people.) No doubt about it. You have to keep him now!
 

maverick_kitten

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maybe speak to the 'owners' or wait and see if the post some missing posters.

you dont know the whole story. they might be non cat lovers looking after him for a friend, he might have escaped out and been overlooked, etc etc

if they dont make any attempt to fnd him after a week take him to the vets to be scanned for a microchip then keep him!
 

hobbester

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Oh my Ari, he's absolutely adorable! It's unfortunate that anyone would ever leave him out drenched in pouring rain. Poor kid
Thanks for taking him in....you're such an angel!

Do you know what you're gonna name him if you're keeping him?
Isn't it funny how Bay, Max and this new kid has almost the same coloring/striped markings? Perhaps it's a sign!
Post more pics of him if you can please...


Btw, Hobbes has the same oval fishbone bowl from target too.
 

elizwithcat

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If he has an owner, the owner doesn't care about him, obviously. it' s just a kitten, how can you leave a kitten like that outside? Poor little thing.
I think you did the right thing by taking him in.
 
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pinkdaisy226

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Originally Posted by maverick_kitten

maybe speak to the 'owners' or wait and see if the post some missing posters.

you dont know the whole story. they might be non cat lovers looking after him for a friend, he might have escaped out and been overlooked, etc etc

if they dont make any attempt to fnd him after a week take him to the vets to be scanned for a microchip then keep him!
See that's my concern... that perhaps the owners will be worried if he's lost or taken. I think that's why my fiance wants us to wait until after the weekend to see how a) he deals with us and b) if there's an owner who's worried about him before we do anything.

I took more pictures of the sweet little boy... I had forgotten how hard it is to take pictures of a kitten!
 

kittylover4ever

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www Ari, how cute is he! Bay and Max should be very proud of their new baby brother!
 
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pinkdaisy226

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Originally Posted by Hobbester

Do you know what you're gonna name him if you're keeping him?
I'm not sure yet... we were thinking something rain related but I think I'm going to give him a few days and let him name himself... if I could, I would change Max and Baylee's names as they don't fit them, ya know?
 

catsknowme

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Ari, you definitely did the right thing by rescuing him. That said, I would check for "lost kitten" ads, just in case he's wandered far from home. Kittens spook easily, and once they get going, they get more scared & keep going. Just think, he might belong to some poor, heartbroken girl; kittens can accidentally get out - it's happened to the best of us. I would also ask at the county pound, local vets, & put an ad in Petfinders "found pets" section(be sure not to give too many details, they can identify). Then, if no one responds, you'll have a decision to make - surrender him or keep him yourself. My personal opinion is that he was sent to you from Above for the benefit of you both, but if you make every effort to find the owner if,
( and that's a big "if") he has one. Then you will have done the right thing and he's yours guilt-free. Also, if you do find a possible owner, I would try to use common adoption guidelines on their situation, and check out how they came to lose the cat; if it seems like the situation is unsuitable, then I'd say, Oh, that's not your cat (and in good conscience, because in a way, God took back jurisdiction over this kitten, the same way Child Protective Services does). Well, that's my 2 cents worth. At any rate, bless you for taking in this little darling - he's gorgeous!! He reminds me of Ancient Egypt somehow! Susan
 
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pinkdaisy226

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Susan, I will definitely keep my eyes out for ads and my ears open for people talking about losing a kitten around here.

Here's my concern. If he really was a kitten that got out, why did he stay on the stoop for over 5 hours? And he was crying *really* loudly so why didn't anyone else notice, or even the owner, and take him in?

I just feel like I'm in a hard position, you know? I feel guilty if he does belong to someone but at the same time, the owner obviously wasn't caring for him much.
 

AbbysMom

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Originally Posted by kittylover4ever

Well Ari, you will get all kinds of different opinions on this, but my first thought is to keep him and give him the wonderful forever safe home that every kitty deserves....He's a cutiepie! Give him a hug from me!
I agree!
 
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