stray or feral cat outside?

Question

For the past month or so I have been feeding a cat I found hangin out on my driveway. I have 2 inside cats so I figured it thought Id be kind to it. It lets me touch it and from the start has been sweet to me. It rubs itself on my legs and feet and lets me touch it. Is it possible to domesticate this cat enough to bring it inside? if i do bring it inside ill have to vaccinate it and spay it - i think its a female. and id have to declaw it - i cant have one cat inside outside and 2 just inside cats....im so torn as to what to do - I already love this cat like i love my own...also I have one dog inside who plays with the cats I have who are both declawed....I just dont know what to do....

Answer 1

If the cat is that friendly it's not feral, it's stray or it belongs to one of your neighbors and they are letting it outside from time to time...bad idea, but some people still do things like that.

First of all I'm check to make sure the cat doesn't belong to someone who lives near you.
If you find that it does, please ask them in a polite way to keep the cat indoors...there is not reason why a cat needs to go outside.

If you find no owner and you want to bring the cat in there are more things you have to do beside shots and spaying, you MUST get it tested for feline AIDS and feline lekumina both are very serious illnesses .
Cats with feline AIDS and feline lekumia can and do make very good pets, but if they have either of those illnesses you need to be aware of it.

One thing you SHOULD NOT do is declaw, that's inhumane and animal crulty they amputate the first joint of the cats toe.
Declawing is in fact so inhumane that it's illegal in most Eupopean contries and I'm praying for the day it's illegal in the US as well.
There are four Vets in the town were I live and NONE of them will declaw a cat.
Buy the cat a scratching post and show her how to use it.

So my advice is to try and find out if the cat has an owner and if it doesn't and you plan on having it declawed then just leave it outside instead of putting the poor thing through all the useless pain.

Sorry for the typos, spell check isn't working!

Answer 2

It's not a feral cat if the cat let you touch it right off the bat. Ferals run from humans at first. Sounds like a stray or aa cat someone just abandoned.

Why did you declaw your cats? That is the most inhumane thing you can do. It's amputating each toe to the first knuckle. If this is an adult cat declawing it has a 2. 5 - 5 chance the cat will develop behavioural problems.

Perhaps finding a local cat rescue group or a no kill shelter would be the best thing to do for the cat.

By the way I've worked with ferlas for about 25 years. I have seen a socialized ferals adopted out, then declawed, go completely crazy to the point the only that could be done was to put the cat down. I had socialized a feral cat who was adopted out, then declawed, the cat went crazy.

After 3 weeks of trying to get this poor cat to calm down I still could not get anywhere near the cat without it attacking me after the declaw. The cat had to be put down.

Answer 3

Yes that can work. Some stray cats if they are not to wild can become great indoor pets. I work for an animal clinic and we board a lot of stray cats that wont even let u near them. Once they feel comfortable enough they will and when the trust you they are fine we have had some that turned out to be the nicest cats ever and found good homes. The vet I work for told me once she had a stray cat who hated to be held and so she forced it to let her hold him and then after awhile he loved it and was a big lap cat from then on. It takes time but it can be done. This cat already seems to trust you and want your love so it should be a ok.

Answer 4

This cat is not feral. It either belongs to a neighbor or it was abandoned or dumped off. You can ask around and see. If you end up keeping it, I would get all it's shots and get it fixed and have it checked for diseases that can affect your other cats before bringing it in.

As for the claws, I would wait. If the cat truly enjoys being outside and you declaw it, it will not be able to go out ever again and it is going to be very unhappy and hard to live with. If you are concerned about it scratching your furniture or the other animals, then keep a water bottle handy for discipline and supply it with a scratching post of sorts. I supply my cats with a scratching board that can be replaced and I velcro it to the carpet...I have six cats, all indoor out door. They get along really well with one another considering, but they all want to go outside.

Good luck. If you decide not to keep it, then consider placing it in a cat rescue or find someone who will take good care of it.

Answer 5

uh. . .um. .just a guess here, but if this cat is this friendly where you can pet her and she is very sweet, chances are: she belongs to one of your neighbors. She just comes around to visit you because she gets love from you too. Ask around. This does NOT sound like a Ferrel cat---and trust me---I KNOW FE REL CATS! You can't get near them, they'll hiss and spit and growl at you--they're WILD. This is a mellow kitty, and I'll betcha right now she DOES belong to somebody in your neighborhood (cats do NOT stray that far from home) UNLESS the owners moved way and left her behind (mean people), and one of your neighbors should also know this. If this is the case, then do what your heart tells you to do. If she gets along with your other cats, and you have the room, then why not keep her? And, unless you take her to the vet to have her checked out, you'll never know--she may already be spayed. If you don't find her owner, and you cannot keep her, please try to find her a nice home--she sounds like a very sweet kitty. Good luck in whatever you do.

Answer 6

i sooooooooooo would bring it inside and keep it as your own, without a doubt You never know if it was an indoor cat to begin with, and it is looking/longing for the safety. It sure seems to trust you - which is a sign that he has trusted a human before. I would , of course, take it to the vet for some testing -to ensure the health of the ones inside. there they should test for mites, worms, and fleas and other issues that may be of concern. if you want to declaw and spay - the vet can advise as to how quickly this should/can be done. Then take it easy as you introduce it to your other cats and dog. but honestlly, the ones inside already know of the one outside - they seem to have a sixth sense about these things. make sure to arrange an area that the outdoor cat can escape to - just drung the transition...such as an extra bedroom or bathroom. believe me - there are soooooooooo many methods to follow when bringing in another animal - but follow your heart on all of them. it seems as if this one has already adopted you - wont it be nice to bring it in to the rest of the clan?!? i speak from experience - having carefully brought in a lot of strays over the years, i have had the utmost respect for anyone out there like me - such as you. so, good luck and enjoy the lil ones - they dont ask for anything but your love.

Answer 7

I would NEVER declaw a kitty it is traumatizing and VERY PAINFUL. If you love your cats then you would not want to mutilate them like that.
Also when you do it it will cause other bad behaviors like not using the litterbox or biting which is worse than scratching cause sometimes you will have to have surgery done.
Get a scratching post!!! It is much cheaper and will not HURT your cat.
NEVER give a cat Aspirin unless you want to KILL it.

Answer 8

Some stray cats have been abandoned by their owners and they make wonderful pets. If the cat is that cuddly and if you like her so much, I would do it. Have her vaccinated and neutered - but PLEASE, no declawing. It is a painful and unnecessary operation. Be a responsible owner and buy a cat tree .

Answer 9

I doubt it is feral if he is that friendly. Maybe he belongs to a neighbor? Once you fed him, he will come back. I would say to ask around if he belongs to anyone. I'm concerned about you taking him because you will want to declaw him and that's more inhumane then leaving him outside.

Answer 10

A few years back, I opened my front door and a cat just ran into my house...she became our pet...
I say Go For It!