Stray Cat advice?

Hi all,

I am blessed by the presence of my cat, Cassi...who has lived with us for almost 4 years. There's a stray cat that until recently only came around to visit with Cassi through our screen door. This cat has always been very vocal around our apartment complex, but not when it came up to the door. It came three nights ago and had a very hoarse meow compared to what it usually sounds like, and would not stop meowing at the door. I thought it might be hungry so I put some food out for it, and it was eating out of the dish before I even had it on the ground. Since then it has came back every night around the same time. It lets me pet it, and it bumps it's head on my hand to let me know it wants more. Well, with it being fall, I wish I could give this cat some shelter. However I know it is a very big responsibility with taming a stray. We only have a 1 bedroom apartment, so it would be very hard to separate the two cats. And, we are moving across the country in the middle of December, and I'm worrying already about what will happen to this cat if we leave it here. It's lasted outside since as long as we have lived here (at least3 years), but it's needing to be fed now...I just would hate to leave it with nothing when we go. Any advice???

Oh, and my Cassi still has her claws...my husband is insisting that we declaw her before we move...since her favorite thing to do is scale the screen door. I discovered Soft Claws on this website...does anyone use these? If so, how long do they last? and how easy are they to put on?


THANKS!!!

go for it - the stray. He comes to you freely , eates, rubs on you. More than half work is done, believe me. And you can let him go outdoors if you want, so it doesnt matter your apartment is small.
As I understand, he and Cassi have met many times and they are friendly? That is also a big part. It is clear now. Besides, as they have met, he dont seems to be contagious. So you dont need to set him in quarantene in own room.

Edit: Probably he isnt a stray who needs taming, probably he is a homeless once domestic cat being astray. - MUCH easier then out-borne feral-cats!

Go to a vet for a check up and all the usual vaccines, and take him in.
(of course - se to your old cat is also fully vaccined if she isnt yet).
thats is my opinion.


Do NOT declaw. I do forbide you!!!.
Use Soft Claws if you must use something. I know people here blessing the SC.

And buy them a couple of scratching post, so the cats have something to scratch on.
If they dont sell such in US, you can make your own, most easy
by glueing a bit of a carpet on a board, say 15x60 centimeters (6x24 inches).

Edit2. I presume you DO shorten them some with cat-claws scissors now and than, about every 7-10 days?? They shouldn be too long if indoor cat.

Do not declaw, whatever you do - unless somebody aim a gun at your head, and take this ex-feral in as your own. He wants it, I want it, YOU want it and God wants it.


Good luck!

Oh no no no no please do NOT de-claw poor Cassi!! It's the same as amputating a human's toes!! Seriously consider something else, scratching posts, Soft Claws (think they're something you attach to their claws... ) but please don't remove your cat's claws!

Not only will it hurt her like heck, she will be left defenceless if something gets into the house and decides to attack her!

As for the stray, get it checked for diseases at a vet's before you put it and your cat together.

Dont declaw trust me the cats life will be impaired forever! Learn to clip your cats nails or bring her into the vet every 2 months to get the claws trimmed.

There's a stray cat that until recently only came around to visit with Cassi through our screen door. This cat has always been very vocal around our apartment complex, but not when it came up to the door. It came three nights ago and had a very hoarse meow compared to what it usually sounds like, and would not stop meowing at the door. I thought it might be hungry so I put some food out for it, and it was eating out of the dish before I even had it on the ground. Since then it has came back every night around the same time. It lets me pet it, and it bumps it's head on my hand to let me know it wants more. Well, with it being fall, I wish I could give this cat some shelter.

Click to expand...

The first question you must ask is...is this cat really a stray cat? OR is he someone's outdoor cat?? In order to answer that..you should post flyers around your community and contact your local animal controls and shelters. If he truly isn't owned...the first thing you need to do is have him checked over by a vet. He will need to be brough UTD on shots and possibly neutered. He should remain seperated from your existing cat until he has received a clean bill of health from the vet. Some diseases can be transmitted rather easily so make sure that if you do pet him that you wash your hands thouroughly before touching your own cat.

If you need a low cost clinic for him, below is a list for California:

http://www.lovethatcat.com/stca.html

Katie