What should I do with this stray cat?

Question

I fed this cat once (despite my rule about feeding stray cats). Soon there were 4. My land lord says don't feed them on the property. So I've been sneaking feeding the 2 that keeps coming back. They are both not petable, but the one has finally allowed me to pet her. More and more this I love this cat. I cannot have a cat. Sooner or later, the day will come that I'm going to get in trouble for this cat coming in and out of my apartment! This cat will soon be knocked-up (another issue). Do I take her to get her spayed; only to dump her back in the neighborhood I live and pretend she isn't mine? I'm afraid to take her to the animal shelter because I don't think she is very adoptable due to her roughness. Her personality is awesome. Once she allows you to pet her she is very affectionate. One of the most love-filled cats I've ever seen. I'm torn. I want to do the right thing. I want to catch her, take her to the animal shelter and hope she gets a good home.

Does this cat have a good chance to get a real home? I would hate to be the one responsible to getting her put down...

Thanks everybody! I will follow up on all these suggestions.

-Gregory

I found two organizations that have a "NO-Kill Policy". I'm going to check them out. Since they don't want strays, and this cat is warming up to me fast, I plan on continuing to love it for a week or so, get a collar for her, then pretend she is a domestic cat! I think with the right family, she she will continue on her journey to becoming a housecat...

Answer 1

Well I would defiantly advise taking her to get desexed as that will at least mean she wont be having more kittens who will die on the streets. It will also mean that if you do have to leave her on the street she will have a better chance of survival a she will not have to endure the strain of having kittens and raising them.

Perhaps you could try to find a no kill shelter around your area, although they are very hard to find, particularly for cats. If this is impossible you could perhaps inquire with the shelters in your area as to whether they could try to find a home for the cat but if she hasn't found a home after the time they are able to keep her for ask them to contact you and you will adopt her, then release her back to where she lived. This may not be possible but it's just an idea.

You could always move to a place which allows pets... that's what my boyfriend did when we adopted two stray cats from his old house. Although he was very lucky to find a place of the same price which allowed pets. I know this probably isn't a plausible idea at all!

Perhaps you could get her desexed (this is must!) and continue to feed her in some other area not so close to your house? Somewhere you walk or drive past regularly where she often goes. Or continue to do it secretly?


I'm not sure if any of these suggestions will work, but I hope one helps! Good luck!

Answer 2

You can try to contact a no-kill group to take the cats. It's very difficult however, because so many people allow their cats to breed recklessly, taking up most space at shelters.

As far as the getting her spayed, there are some groups that believe that the most humane thing to do in this case is to have her altered and then return her. But remember, outdoor cats often have their lives end horribly - from being maimed by a car to being set on fire by a cruel violence prone person. It's a tough call.

I've been through this before and there is no easy answer. Perhaps you can find a friend who can provide a safe indoor home? I know this is a longshot, but there's always a chance.

Good luck to you. : )

Answer 3

Gregory,
All shelters are usually full to capacity and there are not enough homes for all of them...so the wild ones will either be put down (including no-kill shelters) or end up in a cage for a long time (which would make this poor kitty miserable). So in my opinion that is not the solution.
Getting this cat fixed is the best answer I have seen...it gives the cat a better chance of survival in the wild and will make it a more content cat.
It sounds as if you have bonded with this cat and that is great but it would not bond as easily with anyone else so you really have a dilemma here. Wild cats are very hard to tame and keep indoors so the cat would be better off living in the wild like it is used to. But since you have been feeding it you need to continue for it is the only food source she has and she can starve to death otherwise.
Good luck!

Answer 4

Ideally, get her spayed, but a cat who is spayed needs a few days to recover, inside in a warm place. You wouldn't want her to die of infection.

Know that having litter after litter, and living on the street, leaves a cat with an average lifespan of 2-4 years, as opposed to around 15 for a housecat. That's how hard the life is.

Can you move? It sounds like you'd be a great owner, and she needs you, but you need her too. She can add a lot of joy to your life.

Not every shelter puts cats down if they are feral (wild). Call around and check. If she has a chance for a home, give it to her.

Answer 5

Many vets and shelters have a "wild cat package" where you can get a discount on having the animal spayed or neutered, get it shots and be tested for whatever feline diseases are prevalent in your area.
If you take her to a shelter she may not be considered adoptable because of being wild. If it took her a while to get to know you, imagine how much more difficult it will be for someone to get to know her in the ruckus of a shelter.
Only you can make the decision on what to do. If you do get her spayed, you'll have to contain her and take care of her during recovery, which is sounds is a violation of your agreement.
Even spaying and releasing is a better answer than leaving her out to get pregnant over and over. I've done this with numerous wild cats over the years - but I live in a rural area where cats do pretty well in the wild.
Why don't you talk to the folks at your local shelter. They may be able to refer you to other resources.
I wish there was an easy answer, I wish you could keep her.
Best of luck.

Answer 6

I know how you feel, I love cats and feed any stray that crosses my path. it gets really tough when they learn to trust you, but the best thing to do would be to talk to your land lord, tell them she won't be a burden and you'll take good care of her and make sure it's like she's not even there. there's a slim chance you could convince them to let you keep it, if they have a heart. whether or not you're allowed to keep the cat I would spay her. it's not fair to have her get pregnant and make more stray kittens, they deserve homes. I think she has a good chance of being adopted if she's lovable once you get to know her, just inform them that she's a stray and they will either put a special note to let people know she'll eventually come out of her shell or socialize her for a while before putting her up for adoption. hope it all works out.

Answer 7

I would say go ahead and hand it to an animal shelter, who would be able to find a good home for it. I own a couple of cats and can understand what it is like to want to keep a cat and not being able to do the same.
If you keep feeding and petting it, it will become more and more affectionate with you to the extent that it will want to come inside and spend time with you inside your home.
Such a situation when you are torn between keeping her and having scruples about the same will lead to more guilt and confusion on your part.
As for her 'roughness', let me assure you that anyone willing to accept her in their home will consider all that before making such a decision.
You seem to have grown fond of her so do the right thing and find her a good owner if you personally know someone or take the animal shelter route.
If you hand it to someone you know, you'll be able to interact with her too and everything will be resolved.
This way you will be happy as you did something good for an animal that brought colour in your life.

Answer 8

Taking the cat the the animal shelter is the nicest thing for you to do. They will not only spay her they will also try to find the best possible home for her. I know it is hard when you obviously have grown so attached to her, but think of the cat how would you feel is someone took you off the street and placed you in a nice cosy home with as much food as you like?
Good luck and thank you on behalf of cat lovers for looking out for them.

Answer 9

The best thing to do is to lease a live trap from the local animal shelter or humane society, or buy one-- face it, you'll probably use it again!-- trap the cat, and take her to a no-kill shelter. Call your local humane society and get some resources. There is a group called "Alley Cat Alliance" in my area, they are great. There are groups that help stray or abandoned domestic pets in every city, so I'm hoping you can find someone who can help you out.

Good luck!

Answer 10

Dont let the landlord see you feed it,,tell him they belong to someone up the street.Do NOT call the shelter.It will most likely 99% be destroyed.Either :
~Check the lost & found section in the newspaper to see if someone is missing it. (ads take about 3days to be printed)
~You can place an ad for free when you find an animal (at least its that way in my city) or you can post signs that say found.
~You can clean the cats up yourself or by a vet & adopt them out
~ you can move & keep them/it.
Good luck & thx soooo much for caring.You are very kind hearted. ;O)