- Joined
- Feb 7, 2014
- Messages
- 87
- Purraise
- 9
So I stole a cat. My friend's neighbours were neglecting their cat very badly. She was not getting enough food and she was left unspayed and was outside most/all of the time as far as I'm aware. When she inevitably got pregnant she had 4 kittens; 2 of them died from things that would have been entirely preventable if they had been getting adequate care, or any care at all. Another is limping from we don't know what. They wouldn't have been getting fed if it hadn't been for my friend feeding them, which was really all she could afford to do because she has very little money at the moment.
When I moved into the area (moved in with this friend and 2 others) we took the cat and the remaining kittens, now 2 months old. Technically stealing/catnapping, yes, but kind of a rescue situation too. I am 100% certain it's what is best for the cats so I'm not even remotely sorry. We took them in on the 4th and since they've been with us they've been de-flea'd, de-wormed, given plenty of toys and affection, plenty of good food, and they are booked in to be spayed (all of them are female). My friend is keeping one of the kittens, her friend is keeping the other, and I am keeping the Mama cat. I simply fell in love with her.
We've got them confined in the laundry at the moment, but they will eventually be inside/outside cats, able to come and leave the hosue at will. My question is, how long should I keep these partially-stray cats confined to the house before letting them have their freedom back? Especially considering we just moved down the road from where they used to live. We don't want them to run off, I especially cannot lose Mama cat. But I can't keep her confined for ever in the situation/house we're in, it would just be unkind, she wouldn't have even remotely enough space to be happy. I have been walking Mama on a harness and leash to get her used to the house and the garden, and we are making very quick work of bonding. How long will it be before this is 'home' in their minds and it is safe to let them out untethered? Certainly longer than a week, I know.
Sorry for the long read. Thanks for your time.
When I moved into the area (moved in with this friend and 2 others) we took the cat and the remaining kittens, now 2 months old. Technically stealing/catnapping, yes, but kind of a rescue situation too. I am 100% certain it's what is best for the cats so I'm not even remotely sorry. We took them in on the 4th and since they've been with us they've been de-flea'd, de-wormed, given plenty of toys and affection, plenty of good food, and they are booked in to be spayed (all of them are female). My friend is keeping one of the kittens, her friend is keeping the other, and I am keeping the Mama cat. I simply fell in love with her.
We've got them confined in the laundry at the moment, but they will eventually be inside/outside cats, able to come and leave the hosue at will. My question is, how long should I keep these partially-stray cats confined to the house before letting them have their freedom back? Especially considering we just moved down the road from where they used to live. We don't want them to run off, I especially cannot lose Mama cat. But I can't keep her confined for ever in the situation/house we're in, it would just be unkind, she wouldn't have even remotely enough space to be happy. I have been walking Mama on a harness and leash to get her used to the house and the garden, and we are making very quick work of bonding. How long will it be before this is 'home' in their minds and it is safe to let them out untethered? Certainly longer than a week, I know.
Sorry for the long read. Thanks for your time.