Cat arrived on her own. What do I do?

MichaelR

Hello,

I live with my family in a rented rural house in the Adare area, co. Limerick.

Last evening, a loud meow announced the presence of a cat. This happens from time to time so some milk was offered. Usually cats meow, get some food, leave. (We like them to pass through the land as they are way better than rats)

This one decided to stay around. She purrs, allows us to stroke her, does not bite or claw. We don't let her into the house as it's a rented house where we can't keep any pets, but it seems fine outside right now (there is no rain though). And, from feeling the cat, she appears to be pregnant.

She woke the family up at 7am by meowing outside, that's one problem. Another worry is what will happen to the cat. We might be away for some time in the summer so if she gets to depend on us we can't provide for her. OK we could ask neighbours to leave food perhaps. the cat is not to live in the house anyway... but what happens come winter? There is a small shed but the cat will be cold there.

Nor do I have any idea what to do with the likely liter of kittens that the pussycat appears intent on producing.

Also, the cat appears to be fine around people. Sounds like someone's house cat, not a wild cat. Lost? Escaped? Thrown out?

Anyway, what *do* I do? I don't want to just go and scare the animal away, she did nothing to deserve it.

aonb

If shes so friendly, maybe she is lost, and her owners are looking for her - I would check the various websites (there is a lost/found thread on here too) for lost pets. Call your local vet, guards, local rescue, pound to see if anyone is looking for the cat. You could put a flyer with her photo up in any local shop.

If she has been dumped or strayed, and is at yours to stay, you would be doing a great kindness to feed her. ESPECIALLY if she is pregnant. You mentioned that there is a shed? If you put a box in there with some old towel/rags/lined with newspapers, with a bowl of water, and some food so that she knows thats where she may shelter, she might have her kittens there. If you are going to feed her, feed her at the entrance to the shed, leave the door or a window propped open. Dont worry about her - she can take care of herself and her kittens herself (hopefully). (Dont give her cows milk - it isnt good for cats) If she does have kittens, you could call the local animal rescue - they are probably bursting at the seams, but they can help you find homes for any kittens. You can ask them what they can do for the mother too. Most rescues will pay for a stray cat to be neutered, or help you pay for it if you cannot afford to. The cat will repay you in keeping rats/mice at bay.

VonVix

aonb brings some good advice.

I'll add my own similar experience. My grandmother had about 10 cats at one point (kept around to keep vermin away), then the next time I visited her she only had 3. One female in particular would never let me near her, she was essentially feral (was never fed right either, usually just scraps occasionally). Then we found out she was pregnant as her belly was expanding, she became super affectionate towards me the 1-2 weeks prior to giving birth.

She gave birth to 3 kittens and so I started treating her to better food on the sly when I had money, but she went out and hunted for her kittens, often bringing back mice or newts (at least that's what I think they were) for the kittens to play with, and if they let them go she would go right after the mice and then bring them back to the kittens, oftentimes I saw the kittens eating the small creatures she'd bring back. So if the worst comes to the worst, don't think the mother will let her kittens go hungry, her instincts may just kick in.

masonchat

Oh you are me 8 years ago, currently i have 3 residents in my shed, granny cat mammy cat and monkey cat (dont ask)

Similar to you i was nice to a then very nervous cat that was proweling estate with 4 kittens, i also had a dog at the time and still do, long story short have had 4 generations nuetered.

They live happy out in the shed and are at the back door every morning like clock work with their knifes n forks and in the evening,

I gave a 4th one to my mother 2 years ago , she turned out to be allergic and ended up spending a fortune at doctors was very sick for about 6 months, still has the cat but she cant have it in the house anymore.

Im fond of animals and like you hadnt the heart to hunt them at the start, if you keep cat around get it nuetered as soon as you can is my advise .

MichaelR

Update. At next feeding (which the cat chose to have in the bushes on the other side of the garden), after receiving some dry cat food, and of course a bowl of water too, the cat decided to come out and be petted.

It turned out that my previous estimate was mistaken. There is no pregnancy involved as the cat is male.

This means he has a belly. So a well-fed, clean, very friendly, purrrry tomcat. I mean a 9 year old boy (my son) picked him up and carried him and even at that point there was no biting or scratching. Someone's home cat? But, he seems to have his testes while people normally neuter home cats? But, he is rather small for a tomcat, so might have been too young to neuter? Also my son noticed the cat does not seem to have an interest in playing, which is strange for a young tomcat.

I'll be calling the vet and the guards tomorrow (clearly not a 112 case, the kitty does not seem to be in much distress once fed). I snapped some crappy photos with my phone, will try to find a way to print them and post them at the local shops.

But if no one comes to get the tomcat - you are saying that if I prop the door of the small shed (actually it's a boiler house) open, he will be fine there even in winter? What about the cold? The boiler does not give off much heat on its own and besides the door will be ajar (I don't think I should make a cat hole in the door as the property is rented).

masonchat

Yeah he would be happy as a pig in well you know ha.

Cats are tough out toms do stray a LOT , the females tend to stick around , i actually had a tom take off about 5 weeks ago thought nothing for first 2 weeks as he often went for that long and just when you give up hope of him returning he would be at the door , but this time he must be gone for good.

The cat you have probably comes from a house with kids if he was so happy for your son to pick him up , he is use to kids they know the difference and would be more cautious of them unless used to be hauled around lol .

A few years ago i was having lunch in my van , on a very busy road, when i saw a pup with no road sense running back n fourth dodging traffic, i was a nervous wreck waiting for the slap or screach.

i got out and got him , i called to a few doors no one seem to know who owned him , a mongerul, had to go back to work , didnt know what to do, had lads with me in van , so i said i will leave him at my house and bring him to guards later, so i drove off to my house.

Before i had my front door locked to return to work , my phone rang it was my mother , she said the guards are here at the door lookin for you lol.

Van was registered to my parents place, some old dear had seen me pick up the dog and phoned the guards with my reg, trying to explain that one , at least the person got the dog .

And i had been parked for a while why the person didnt just ask me what i was doing i will never know

Manach

Well, one never knows when one needs a cat to protect oneself against dogs

Pumpkinseeds

Is there any chance she could belong to a neighbour? If not she may have travelled in a car engine or something, if she wasn't dumped. Maybe you could post a photo of her on some Facebook pages like Limerick Animal Welfare, Limerick Feral Cats and Munster Lost and found pets in case anyone is looking for her.

MichaelR

There is some suspicion of the way the cat arrived. There was a company van on the grounds that day - men came in to do up the front lawn.

I called the company but they are not missing a cat. Perhaps he travelled from a previous customer?

Alun

MichaelR wrote: »

I called the company but they are not missing a cat. Perhaps he travelled from a previous customer?

That's very possible, and happens a lot! Maybe they could contact the previous customers they were at before they came to you to ask if they are missing a cat.

MichaelR

Followed up on this. But there was only one previous customer, a hotel. The hotel is not missing a cat.

Alun

Ah well, you've done your best. Looks like you've been 'owned' by a cat Good luck!

By the way, I once had a workman at my house who opened his van and found 2 chickens in there, They'd got into the van, nested in the plastic containers he had hanging on the walls of the van, and laid eggs in there

MichaelR

On searching the net I found that small economical heated cat pads exist. The smallest is 14 by 18 inches and eats just 20 watt - that's 1 KWh per 50 hours - that's 15 KWh per months, which is about 3 Euro a month. Would this be enough for a cat?

I could get a cheap plastic (or perhaps a more expensive wooden) cathouse, place it inside the boiler house, put the pad inside the cathouse. I'd need to provide 24h electricity, not the timed supply in the boiler house, but this is doable. And rig up something to keep the door ajar (I would not risk making a cat hole in the door, probably, seeing as we rent the place). The pad would make the cathouse a warm place. With this rig, perhaps even a gentle kitty like this one might find it bearable to live with no access to the big house?

masonchat

A cat will always look to get in and would sleep on your head if you let them.

They really are very happy outside as long as they have shelter , i just stuck a bar in the ground so the door is open about a foot

Heated pads , well i never heard the like , if it makes you happy im sure cat will be chuffed

the_syco

How long have you been living in the house? Is it possible the cat was fed by the previous tenants? Another possibility is it has adopted you, as you feed it better than it's actual owners.

MichaelR

We're in the house since 2010, the cat is most likely under a year old (he is not a kitten, but small for a tomcat).

The cat meowed today a couple of times while food was present. (We get Purina GoCat for now). In the day it was probably just to get petted - he seems to be the kind of cat who needs human company! In the evening he might have gotten somewhat cold. But we have nothing to keep him warm as yet. He soon ceased meowing and I'm not sure where he is now.

We need to take stuff out of the boiler house but the place has its problems. It is not waterproof and can get very damp, so my suspicion is any warm stuff, like an old blanket, in a cat kennel inside it (or in a cat kennel outside) is likely to get wet by condensation, and that's even if we do get a kennel - my wife is wary of giving him more than a cardboard box.

I've placed ads in local shops Friday evening. No response.

The children are in love with the kitty.

DubVelo

MichaelR wrote: »

On searching the net I found that small economical heated cat pads exist. The smallest is 14 by 18 inches and eats just 20 watt - that's 1 KWh per 50 hours - that's 15 KWh per months, which is about 3 Euro a month. Would this be enough for a cat?

I could get a cheap plastic (or perhaps a more expensive wooden) cathouse, place it inside the boiler house, put the pad inside the cathouse. I'd need to provide 24h electricity, not the timed supply in the boiler house, but this is doable. And rig up something to keep the door ajar (I would not risk making a cat hole in the door, probably, seeing as we rent the place). The pad would make the cathouse a warm place. With this rig, perhaps even a gentle kitty like this one might find it bearable to live with no access to the big house?

I was going to say; a vet would be able to scan his neck and see if he's been chipped by a previous owner, I imagine they'd quickly do this for free for you.

But... eh... It sounds like you've been adopted to be honest!

MichaelR

The problem here is that we are unable to give the cat a standard of living that he seems used to. He appears to be a house cat, not a farm cat.

masonchat

STOP , its an animal covered in head to toe in fur . an animal that is more or less nocturnal and will be very happy to be out at night hunting.

You never saw a more spoiled kitten/cat as the one i gave to my mother who spent the first 6 months wrapped in cotton wool in the house,

But that cat had to go outside due to a very serious asthma flar up that enden up with mother needing to be on a nebuliser at home, and that cat is very much as happy outside and took over the dog box.

Allthat cat needs i dry shelter with some bedding food and some tlc

MichaelR

What's tlc?

And re bedding, what can I place there so it does not just accumulate water from all the humidity?

I certainly can get a small plastic kennel, perhaps even a wooden one. If lucky I can get one with a cat flap (they're all over the net but the shipping is a bit much so I'll need to check Limerick pet ships). I can place it outside. or else into the boiler house as some protection from wind.

username123

I think you should just accept your new cat overlord and let him in.

One came to conquer me last year and she is currently purring on her window bed, surveying her kingdom with a belly full of turkey.

MichaelR

Unfortunately I can't expect this cat overlord to defeat the landlord in direct combat.

mistress_gi

MichaelR wrote: »

Unfortunately I can't expect this cat overlord to defeat the landlord in direct combat.

You never know cuteness can be a most powerful weapon

masonchat

a piece of aeroboad would be nice n warm and wont soak moisture

Dubl07

If it's inside the shed, a sheet of vetbed (Maxizoo/Petstop or local petshops) may do the trick.

Some cats don't appreciate a kennel with only one entrance so bear that in mind. I went to great lengths to buy, line and cut an entrance into a big (lidded) storage box I saw on a site about ferals but the cat won't go near it. Instead, the cat sleeps under the barbecue on the shelf for the gas. I saw its tail sticking out from under the waterproof cover and realised what was going on so I stuck a bed in there. Well-ventilated, out of the worst of the weather and escape available on all sides.

MichaelR

OK, here is, hopefully, the end of this story.

We kept feeding the cat, while slowly thinking of what to do for the winter and while removing him from the house every time he tried to go in.

Then we went away for 2 weeks. No neighbours agreed to feed the cat; we left a couple of feeders out with a few kg od cat food but with birds stealing it we were still worried.

We came back. The cat survived and came asking for food again. Then the cat disappeared for a couple of days...

And showed up, sporting a red collar!

Now we have stopped feeding the cat because he is somebody's cat. He was probably courting several families and we were just one of them. And he was successful elsewhere. He still comes at nights briefly but goes away when not fed.

I wish him all the best with his new humans.

New Home

MichaelR wrote: »

OK, here is, hopefully, the end of this story.

We kept feeding the cat, while slowly thinking of what to do for the winter and while removing him from the house every time he tried to go in.

Then we went away for 2 weeks. No neighbours agreed to feed the cat; we left a couple of feeders out with a few kg od cat food but with birds stealing it we were still worried.

We came back. The cat survived and came asking for food again. Then the cat disappeared for a couple of days...

And showed up, sporting a red collar!

Now we have stopped feeding the cat because he is somebody's cat. He was probably courting several families and we were just one of them. And he was successful elsewhere. He still comes at nights briefly but goes away when not fed.

I wish him all the best with his new humans.

You should read Six Dinner Syd...

mb1725

New Home wrote: »

You should read Six Dinner Syd...

Or check out Hamish McHamish's story : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamish_McHamish