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Post by colleen on Aug 1, 2020 17:11:24 GMT
We have a neighborhood stray cat who comes around most mornings. I usually give him a little bowl of kibble. He won’t let me come too close but he interacts nicely with my cat. Occasionally, he tries to come in the house if I leave the door open, but my dog discourages that. This week he has been hopping around on three legs. I contacted a cat rescue and they loaned me a cage to try and catch him to take him to the vet. I’m happy to pay his vet bill, but then what? Do I re release him to the “wild?” Can you turn a stray into a house cat?
Any advice at all appreciated.
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ashley
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,571 
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Post by ashley on Aug 1, 2020 17:15:34 GMT
Poor fellow! Thank you for taking care of him.
We’ve taken in many strays over my life, that’s actually how we acquire most of our cats. Some transition really well to being house cats (the comfort! the security! the comfort!! Lol) but some never seem to lose that desire to be outside although definitely come in and will make you their person.
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Post by MichyM on Aug 1, 2020 17:29:05 GMT
I think the best advice you can get would be to ask these questions of the rescue. This is what they do, and they should be able to help guide you in making the right decisions for this particular cat. If you don't feel comfortable asking them advice, once you get him/her to the vet, ask them what they recommend.
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Post by Skellinton on Aug 1, 2020 17:37:26 GMT
Well, all of the cats I have had are former porch cats or offsprings of former porch cats, since this cat seems willing to come in I think it would be wonderful if you offered it a home.
We have transitioned 6 cats from porch cats to house cats, all are completely indoor only. We had one porch car that had no interest in getting anywhere near us or being a pet, so we made sure they had food, water and comfortable sleeping quarters until they passed away, They were our porch cat for over 6 years.
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Post by lisae on Aug 1, 2020 17:59:55 GMT
You are feeding the cat. You are taking the cat to the vet. This is now your cat. And yes, a stray can become a house cat. I've never had a dog so I don't know how they will get along but we have had outdoor cats become indoor/outdoors. I would recommend flea medicine before you try to make it an indoor.
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momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,156
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
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Post by momto4kiddos on Aug 1, 2020 18:19:59 GMT
If you can get him and get him to the vet, they along with a local rescue could probably help you in determining the best course of action for him.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 1, 2020 18:25:36 GMT
Can you turn a stray into a house cat? Sometimes hard but doable, even easier if s/he has been a house cat before. Make sure to also have the almost friendly cat spayed or neutered. |
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,381
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Aug 1, 2020 18:37:19 GMT
My sister and brother-in-law took in a stray cat they had been feeding. When they took her to the vet to be fixed, they shaved her tummy and found the scar from the surgery she had already had. So that cat had been someone's pet before. If the cat wants to come in the house, I’m betting that it has been an indoor pet.
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Post by MichyM on Aug 1, 2020 19:35:44 GMT
You are feeding the cat. You are taking the cat to the vet. This is now your cat. And yes, a stray can become a house cat. I've never had a dog so I don't know how they will get along but we have had outdoor cats become indoor/outdoors. I would recommend flea medicine before you try to make it an indoor. I love this so much  |
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Post by Linda on Aug 1, 2020 19:45:37 GMT
feeding a stray is the first step towards having a new cat - congratulations on your new family member.
Two of our current 5 were strays that we fed outside for some time and then when Hurricane Irma came through in 2017, we brought them inside to shelter (in one of the bathrooms - so isolated from our indoor kitties) and they've stayed inside since then - we did a vet trip to make sure they were healthy before introducing to the others. Little Friend is 10.5 and Midnight is about 16. Midnight was thrilled to move inside and rapidly became a lap cat - he was fixed so must have been cared for at some point. Little Friend, we fixed shortly after she appeared in the yard and produced kittens - this was her second attempt at becoming an indoor kitty - once the kitten weaned, she insisted on going back outside. She took a while to warm to being inside this time but she's content now.
2 more of ours are the surviving kittens of LF's litter - we brought them in once we could catch them and they've been inside since.
And our senior kitty, Oreo, is almsot 18 and was born a barn kitty on DH's coworker's property and we adopted him at 10wks
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Post by Zee on Aug 1, 2020 19:48:40 GMT
The rescue probably will have low cost neuter advice if he's not already neutered (it's pretty obvious on a male cat).
My dad lived in Chicago in the city proper. There were some ferals in his neighborhood and one in particular liked to come up on his porch. She started leaving rats (if you know, you know) so she was a pretty valuable kitty. He was unable to touch her or catch her but he built her an insulated house and put it on the porch for those cold Chicago winters. Then he was able to trap her and have her spayed. He let her back outside because she was still unwilling to be touched.
Eventually after a couple years she decided to take a few treats he offered. Then eventually her was able to briefly pet her. After about 9b years, a really long life for an urban feral, she decided to come inside. At first she was indoor outdoor but eventually she decided fuck this rat killing game, I'm gonna hang up my claws. And rule over these Great Danes.
She lived the rest of her life in relative luxury and by the end of it she was even sitting with me when i came to visit, just as sweet as can be. She moved with them to retire in the suburbs and she just died a couple days ago at the age of 19. 😢😢♥️♥️
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,366
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 1, 2020 19:49:40 GMT
My sister and brother-in-law took in a stray cat they had been feeding. When they took her to the vet to be fixed, they shaved her tummy and found the scar from the surgery she had already had. So that cat had been someone's pet before. If the cat wants to come in the house, I’m betting that it has been an indoor pet. Or it was a TNR that decided to be a house cat. Around here, they'll fix the cats and notch their ear and re release to be mousers. |
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Post by colleen on Aug 1, 2020 19:53:06 GMT
You are feeding the cat. You are taking the cat to the vet. This is now your cat. And yes, a stray can become a house cat. I've never had a dog so I don't know how they will get along but we have had outdoor cats become indoor/outdoors. I would recommend flea medicine before you try to make it an indoor. I was kind of afraid of that! But it’s fine. He’s cute. Thanks for all the responses, I really appreciate them. |
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