Advice regarding a stray cat.

[Placebo]

This winter we had a mouse in the apartment for the first time in the 18+ years we've been here, and so we saw a mother cat and her kitty outside our building one day, and started to feed them. We never had a mouse again. :)

Now months later, I feel so bad for the mama cat. Her kitty has left, she's all alone, she hangs around the building all day in front of our door and whenever she sees us she starts meowing and wanting to rub up against us. And to think, just a month or two ago she was a wild cat who would run away when she saw you.

We can't adopt her, because of the 3 families living in the building one has a dog, and 2 others, including us, have cats. And my cat is getting older (13), is the only cat in the house, and is de-clawed.

I don't know what to do for her or to her! I'm scared to take her to a shelter for fear of them having her exterminated. She's so cute though, all fluffy and fuzzy. She doesn't look that old. I'm no cat expert, but I'd expect she's only 1 or 2 years old.

Gah. x(

[GOPisEvil]

1. You might take her in to get fixed at least.

That way there will be no more kittens. Some municipalities offer reduced rates.

[BiggJawn]

14. "Catch, Clip, and Release"

We do it. Of course sometimes we get a call from the vet "Somebody beat you to it! Come pick him up!"

Wish we spoke Cat, then we could say "Hey, blood, how they hangin'?"

"Hangin??? Whatdafuck YOU talking about, ass-wipe? I ain't GUT no NUTS!"

That'd save some time at the Vet's...

[El Fuego]

2. Maybe you could at least feed her

And keep asking around for someone to take her. If you take her to the shelter, she will likely be put down. It is better that she should try to make it on her own than that.

[Placebo]

3. I feed her everyday.

I guess that's why she's still hanging around, heh.

I'd love to adopt her, but with my old defenseless cat I just don't think it would work. :(

[El Fuego]

9. The cat is happier being fed by you living outdoors

than she would be going to a shelter. Status quo probably works for the cat.

[havocmom]

4. Find out if there are any no-kill shelters in your area.

If not, food & water to keep her around and see if you local paper does free or reduced price ads for finding homes for strays (some actually give you a deal). If not and you can afford it, run an ad to find it a good home. Doesn't cost much at all and you will feel really good about it.

My daughter just told me about a woman she now works with, asking if she remembered her from years ago. When my daughter was in high school, we lived at a place where cats were too often dropped off. We were marked as a safe house by the cats. ;) Lots of them came, and found good homes with our help. My daughter called to tell me about the present day co-worker who took in one of our homeless pals. The cat is very old now but healthy and happy. She has brought much joy to the woman who took her in and the woman wanted Havocpup to let me know she is still grateful. WOW, that was a lift.

try it, you'll like it!

[virgdem]

5. Are there any no-kill shelter or rescue organizations in your area?

If so, call them and find out if they will take her in and find her a good home. Some organizations have foster homes that will take care of cats/dogs before they are eventually adopted. Stay away from the SPCA's and city shelters, as they will euthanize after the cat/dog is held for approximately 3-5 days. Good luck-sounds like she deserves a very good home.

[crispini]

6. If she's so friendly she would probably tame well.

Why not take her in? If yours is getting on up there, well, you might be wanting a second cat. :( It takes a couple of months to get two cats used to each other but mine HATED the idea at first and now they're fine. Just a gradual introduction, each one has their own turf at first, and now they sit right next to each other on my lap. Two is better than one! :)

[El Fuego]

8. Yes the other cat would be mostly outdoor

so you could minimize the conflict.

[DELUSIONAL]

7. Get the two cats used to each other slowly

Many people have clawed and declawed cats and they do get along nicely.

Cats are more social than many people realize.

[NV Whino]

10. Take into consideration the gender of the two cats

In my experience one of each, no matter what the respective ages, usually works. You might give it a try.

[Mz Pip]

11. I feed a feral cat colony in

my neighborhood. We trapped all the cats and had them fixed. They are healthy and happy.

Try to get her fixed. The next time she goes into heat some male will find her. Check with your local human society and see if they can loan you a trap. We have low cost spay and neutering programs out here in CA and we have made great progress in stabilizing some feral colonies.

If you just have this one kitty and she seems somewhat friendly she may not be that feral. She could have been abandoned when she was pregnant. She might not be that big of a threat to your other kitty.

I took in a stray and he ended up being the sweetest lap cat when he settled it. He doesn't hassle the other cats and one is pretty old. The females are less likely to be agressive anyway.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Placebo]

12. I would love love LOVE to bring her in...

but my mother wouldn't be able to deal with it because this cat has long hair and is all puffy. Our cat has really short hair, so my mother isn't bothered.

[City Lights]

13. Are you familiar with the Tree House Animal Foundation?

It's a no-kill shelter located on Carmen. I'm not sure what their policy is regarding strays so I don't know whether they'd take her. http://www.treehouseanimals.org/

As for adopting her yourself, it's possible to add a new clawed cat to a home with an elder de-clawed cat, but you would have to take it slowly. We have 7 cats ranging in age from 13 to 2 and the 13 year old is the only one without claws. She holds her own even without claws, but if we're going to be out for awhile, we confine her just in case.

Good luck. :-)