There is this cat that has been hanging out on our back porch for like a week, I opened the door and he ran inside, now he wont leave haha. He was growling at me and swating at me but now he seems ok hes letting me pet him. He has no collar and wont eat cat food but he will eat ham. Do you think hes a stray? Should take him to the shelter or just try put him back outside?
2007-04-26 07:11:33 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
My husband just noticed that his whiskers are cut off! Who would cut a cats whiskers off? And they are pretty short too I guess that means its happened recently.....
2007-04-26 08:12:53 · update #1
I would take him to a sanctuary. See if they have one in your area. I know they are in most major areas. Sounds like a stray. Good luck. Go to Google and put in "cat santuary (your city/state)" and see what you come up with.
2007-04-26 07:20:24 · answer #1 · answered by cutesy76 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since he was hanging out at your place for a week, its unlikely that he's someone's cherished pet, but there IS a chance that he's lost and someone's desperately trying to find him. Just because he has no collar doesn't mean he wasn't owned, could be that the collar got off somehow, or he might have a microchip, so first thing I'd do is call around the local shelters/vets and see if someone's reported a cat of his description missing.
If you can't find an owner to claim him, and don't want to keep him then take him to a shelter. Do NOT kick him back outside, that would be highly irrepsonsible and I'm pretty sure dumping animals is illegal in most states, if not all.
If you decide to keep him, then as soon as possible take him to a vet to get him checked out, you have no idea what kind of stuff that cat's been exposed to, and you don't want to fall in love with him just to see him die from something that could have been caught early. Also, if he's not neutered, do so, since that'll make him more likely to stay put, not spray up your house/destroy stuff, and if he manages to get out again, he won't be adding to the stray population except by one.
Stop feeding him ham, its way too salty and has none of the nutrients a cat needs to survive. Human food in general is bad news for cats, so just nix feeding him table scraps right away since it only causes problems. (healthwise, plus you get an obnoxious fat cat)
Good luck with whatever you decide!
Edit: Whiskers can take a while to grow back, depending on the cat. Usually a few weeks will get some though. That's a horrible thing to do to a cat too, since they use them for so many things, and it gives them a serious disadvantage when outdoors. One of the things cats use their whiskers for is to see if they can fit in a hiding place, if their whiskers won't fit, they don't try going in.
2007-04-26 14:40:44 · answer #2 · answered by greydrakkon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please don't just put him back outside. Most newspapers will let you run "found" ads for free. He may have a family somewhere that desperately misses him.
Sounds like he chose you for a reason. If you can't find his owner, why don't you just let fate have it's way and keep him? Bring him to the vet for a good check up and shots and you may have found a lifelong friend. Or should I say HE might have found a lifelong friend in you.
Be aware that most adult pets brought to a shelter will only stay a maximum of 5 days before being put to sleep. There are so many "throwaway" pets out there, they don't have room to keep them all.
I highly advocate adopting shelter pets, but please, only BRING a pet there if it's an absolute last, last, last resort.
2007-04-26 14:22:14 · answer #3 · answered by icy_tempest 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, certainly don't put him back outside. He obviously doesn't want to be there or he wouldn't have tried to move in with you!
Take the cat to a shelter if you don't want to keep it. By all means find one that never puts healthy animals to sleep, there are plenty about.
If you do decide to keep it, it will need to be checked by a vet and given vaccinations, flea and worm treatment, and perhaps neutered if necessary. You might want to just deflea it and keep it in before you do this, until it trusts you!
The cat will not survive on just ham. If you're strict about offering cat food only, it will eat it eventually. If necessary, just add a little catfood to the ham and gradually increase the amount until kitty realises he is eating just catfood!
Chalice
2007-04-26 14:19:17 · answer #4 · answered by Chalice 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a stray. Seems like you like him. The best thing you could do for this guy is adopt him. Take him to a vet to get all checked out and get shots. If he is okay then take him in as your pet. It's a hard life for strays but a shelter may put him down. Seems like he chose you to be his owner.....how lucky for you cats are sooo wonderful!
2007-04-26 14:22:20 · answer #5 · answered by Nicolleta 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There's no telling who he belongs to, or how long he's been fending for himself outdoors. You can expect much resistance trying to give him to a shelter. Shelters are always overcrowded so they seldom have room to accommodate new animals. You might try giving him to a friend who's looking for a pet. Alternatively, you might want to keep him for yourself. If so, take him to a vet for shots and possible de-worming. Give him a good home. Provide clean drinking water and a reliable source of dry cat food. He'll eat the dry cat food.... when you stop feeding him human food. Take care of him and he'll provide you with much joy and companionship. If you see testicles (and you won't miss 'em) get him neutered. Chances are good that there'll be a low/no cost spay/neuter clinic in your locality. You don't want him breeding more kitties without homes.
2007-04-26 14:34:15 · answer #6 · answered by justasking 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want to keep him, then take him to the vet and get checked out. If you do not want him, take him to a humane society that does not put animals to sleep or put an ad in the paper. He can not keep eating ham. Put him some good catfood out and he will eat at some point.
2007-04-26 14:28:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
He's probably a stray. Take him to the shelter if you don't want him. You've fed him, so he'll keep coming back if you just put him back outside. If he's grown on you, and you want to keep him, bring him to the vet and get him checked out and get his shots.
2007-04-26 14:27:02 · answer #8 · answered by Amber M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i would either take him in or take him to the shelter
we had a similar problem a few weeks ago -- we bought a new house and a month or so afterwards a cat started hanging around and crying at the backdoor
i think ur cat is similar to ours.... maybe its a pregnant queen looking for a place to stay or maybe its just a stray hungry tomcat
2007-04-26 14:16:37 · answer #9 · answered by Amanda 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Bring him to the shelter, leave your phone number, they can call you if nobody claims him. This will give you first dibs, and a chance for people to look for him (if they exist).
They will most likely give him his shot and alter him, and you only have to pay the adoption fee.
If you can't get him sometimes they will come get him for you. This is very stressful for the cat, you should try to do it. Congratulations you have had your first brake in!!!!
2007-04-26 14:24:06 · answer #10 · answered by Shelly 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋