stray cat?

Question

There is a stray that my hubby and I have been feeding right now it's an outside cat not sure if it's ever been inside a home. We r talking about adopting it and bringing it inside so am wondering if anyone has done that and if there were problems with the cat adjusting to no longer being outside or with even training them to use a liter box? Any advice would be appreciated thanks

Answer 1

Ok - my husband says there is a underground stray cat line that has my name all over it! I have an orange tabby - male, that one day I came home and found in my yard. Some one had stabbed his side, and he'd been in pain for days. But, what amazed me, is when I leaned down to pet him and pick him up, he purred the entire time. I got him all fixed up (neutered also), and he is now another member of our household. He is an indoor/outdoor cat, but has adjusted to a loving home wonderfully. He is my Chester and it was by the grace of God that he was brought into our lives. He uses the litter box just fine, and usually spends his days sleeping on his back, sprauled across our bed. Now, I have another one, that the people abused, and then moved and left him behind. It has taken me months just to be able to pet him, and now he too is a member of the family. Plus the cat I have had for 4 years that I found as a 3 mo old kitten, dying, that someone had tossed in the garbage can. These animals all have such an appreciation for being loved and cared for. I have always said that you don't adopt your cat - your cat will find and adopt you! And I believe your story supports that. First and foremost, you need a health check at the vets - you have to make sure that he is feline leukemia and feline aids negative. I will be honest with you, if he's positive, the vet will recommend him being put down, there is no cure and it is contageous. That aside, get the animal spayed or neutered, as that will make them less likely to want to wander. Then try it inside and see how it does. Start with just one room, so that he figures out the litter box thing, and that you will be caring for him. You will pretty much know right away, if it wants to be an indoor cat. If not, there is nothing wrong with an indoor/outdoor cat to call your own. Hope this helps

Answer 2

My family did. Start off being very gentle. Talk to her while you feed her, and maybe try holding your hand out, to see she will let you pet her. If she already seems comfortable around you, go ahead and let her in. Maybe place her food near the door, then inside the door, etc. till she seems comfortable inside. Hopefully she will adjust well, and let you pick her up. Take her to the vet to get some shots, general check up, and spayed if she isn't already. As for the litter box, all of our cats (six of them) needed no training. I think there is something in the litter that makes them want to mark it. If she does have problems, gently punish her. If you see her doing her business where she shouldn't, spray her with a water mister, then put her in the litter box. Do that regularly, she'll get the message. The vet might more advice, as well. Good luck!

I just realized I've been typing female pronouns...the cat we tamed was she, maybe thats why, lol

Answer 3

Get him fixed, that will solve a lot of problems. If he has been outdoors, he probably has worms and other parasites. Don't let that scare you, the vet can give him one shot to kill the worms and some topical flea medication when you drop him off overnight for neutering.

They pretty much know how to use a box, show the cat where it is, put him in it and he will know where to find it when he needs it. Use plain clay kitty litter without any scent, some cats don't like that smell and won't use a box with scented litter.

thank you for taking the time to adopt a stray. There are so many out there, it's nice to hear of one getting a lucky break (you!).

Answer 4

First off, are you positive that it's a stray?

If you are, then I'm sure it's OK to bring the cat in. I've done so before for a stray, and he adjusted fine. Make sure to take the cat to the vet's office, first - to make sure it doesn't have any diseases.

The litter box takes any cat a time to adjust to - you will just have to try it and see. My stray worked out fine with the box. :)

Answer 5

i have one male cat that i found in a box on the side of the road when he was very young. i brought him home, had him vet-checked and neutered. we lived in the country so he was pretty much an outdoor cat, a big bad tom. we moved into the city and i decided he should be an indoor cat. i have never had any problems with him wanting to go outside. he has quite a few open windows in our home and he also has a pot of grass. he has been an indoor cat for 6 years now (he's 13). i also never had a problem with him using the litter box. try the grass, cats love it!!

Answer 6

My cat was a stray before she came to live with us.
First, take it to the vet and get it checked out.
Second, get ready for a lot of gently care and loving! Strays are not like other pet cats. My cat still doesn't like fast movement.
Third, be patient! My cat was in my washroom for 2 months before she came out to hide under the bed! My advice is to use a room that you can close when you are not home, and put the cat, litter box, food, etc, in and open it when you are home. Love the cat, but don't force it out of the room before its ready!! Mine did have some behavior problems when she was first adjusting. And DO NOT let the cat out of the house, at least for a while! Let it get use to the "New Home" and then maybe let it out. I don't like the idea of indoor/outdoor cats, too many things can go wrong when they are out!
Loving a stray is very hard work!! I am still trying to get mine to love me completely!! They are different from regular house cats, don't get me wrong, mine loves to play and play fight but she will not sit on our laps or come up to strangers in the house. She is loving but only to me and my boyfriend.
Think long and hard about it!! You would be saving this cat from the outside, inwhich they only live about 3-4 years, so please take care of it!! If you find you can not deal with the cat inside, please take it to a rescue, don't just put it back outside!!
Thank you for listening to me!

Answer 7

Yes, please bring him inside! If everybody was as concerned about a stray cat's wellbeing and brought one home, the world would be a better place for cats! It will take some time for him to adjust, but my cat, Casper, was a stray and he is the best cat in the world! He follows me around like a dog, sleeps on my head and is just the most loyal companion i could have hoped for!

Answer 8

Work up to it slowly, be patient when it does trust enough to come in. Leave the door open so it knows it can escape. Don't move quickly or make any sudden loud noises. If it starts to look frightened just let it back out. Once it learns to trust, it will settle. This make take time, will take lots of patience but it will be worth it to you all in the end. It will have a home and you will have a loving friend. Remember to get it vet checked to be sure it's healthy and have it neutered.

Answer 9

As long as you don't have other inside cats I would bring it in. Most cats automatically know how to use the litter box. It may hide for a few days since your home is new to it.

Answer 10

I did that just a month ago actually, first I took him to the vet and got him checked out and then scheduled him to get neutered. After they are neutered they have to stay in for several days. I shut him in my spare bedroom and went in to talk to him and pet him. After a couple days I brought in my male cat for a bit who was his friend, they had made friends through the screen door. Then after 2 weeks when his hormones were gone I let him out. He has never once even tried to get outside. It was a rough life for him and he is content to sit in the window and watch knowing he has food and water any time he wants and toys to play with. Put a couple drops of amonia in the litterbox if you are not sure they know what to do, most are born with the knowledge of litterbox use. Good luck.