what to do with the stray cat i found in my buildings stair case?

Question

i found a stray cat in my buildings stair way. she's pretty young and has been there for about 2-3 days.i'm pretty sure she was abondened cause if her owners wanted her they would have put up stuff saying they lost their cat but it's ben 3 days people just walk past her and dont pay any mind to her. i don't want her to have to stay there all night with nothing to eat. i gave her food(was that dumb) and she won't eat it. my biggest fear is someone opening the door letting her out into the real world. help please?!!?!?!

My mom says to leave the cat there and erase it from my memory. but what if tmrw when i'm taking the stairs to go to school i see her still sitting there? and the next day after that and the next? i'll feel really bad, i want to take her in without my mom knowing and put up posters but there's no where i can hide her. i think she's in heat(if that's how you spell it) everytime i go to her she's akways rubbing her self on me and the things around her, she has a reallly sad look on her face too =(

Answer 1

take her now to the local Humane Society no-kill shelter (not the dog pound). they will see if she has health problems. if they say they're full and can't take her, go back after hours and leave her in a cage or big box with holes for air and some food water and a towel or blankey. they will take her then. i worked at one and it works. but please don't continue to let her be neglected. what if you were a small child and people ignored you for days before someone finally helped?

Answer 2

It is very kind of you to care about this cat. You are probablhy her only hope right now.

Please, whatever you do, dont drop her off at an animal shelter. Many people think that dropping off an animal at an animal shelter is doing that animal a favor. But its not. Animals at an animal shelter only have a certain amount of time to find a home. Uusally, its only about 10-14 days. If the shelter is crowded, it is less time. Did you know, that statistically, only 1 in 12 animals will find a home from an animal shelter? Many of them are put down, which i think is wrong.

Instead, go to:
http://www.petfinder.com
List a lost cat, and cat for adoption as well. This site is very helpful when trying to find the cat a home.

Most newspapers will let you post a free Lost Pet add. Try posting an ad in your newspaper.

Also, call your nearest vet's office and let them know you found a cat. Give them your contact info incaser the owners do look for the cat.

Thank you for trying to feed the cat. And no, you shouldnt just erase her from your memory. That poor cat needs helps, and you seem to be the only one that is willing to help. She needs you.

I would suggest giving her some wet food. Put it in the microwave for about 15 seconds to warm it a tad. Only give her 1/2 a can at a time. Can food is really cheap.

If you can, find a box and and old blanket/pillow. You can make her a bed for the night time.

Answer 3

You obviously should listen to your' mother. On the other hand I completely understand how you feel I just recently about a week & a half ago I took in a homeless cat, even sadder I found the owner days ago & they said I could keep him. I myself am an animal lover. If you can't bring her/him in maybe you can take a little money of your' own and pick up some cat food that way you can at least feed him/her and him/her being in the stairwell at least says that he has some type of roof/enclosure to keep him/her out of the weather even if the hallway isn't heated it's not cold enough yet for it to be a threat to him/her yet. Picking up that cat food and going out to the hallway a little earlier than you do in the morning will give you time to feed him/her and show him/her some loving which I'm sure the kitty is craving just about the same as him craving food. By you doing that it should give you time to put up fliers around the neighborhood to hopefully find the owner. I'm not sure how old you are or what part of the country you're in but use your' head be smart, when you go to put up fliers maybe you should take your' Mom with you just to make sure you are safe just like you want the kitty to be safe. You know by doing that you can introduce your' mother to the kitty and maybe if you don't find the owner she'll reconsider you keeping it. The good thing she can consider, is that the cat is obviously an outdoor cat and knows its way back 'cause you say he/she is always in the same hallway. So in that case he'll keep coming to where he is getting attention and being feed and she shouldn't need to worry about having a litter box. On that note I will tell you that I am very proud of your' sincere heartfelt feelings toward wanting to help an animal when you don't even need to it's obvious to me that you have a very good heart when it comes to others don't ever loose that, but at the same token make sure that you keep yourself safe first. Remember you're #one and if you don't keep yourself safe you wont have opportunities to help others whether it be animals or humans. Unfortunately you need to be allot more careful when it comes to helping humans/strangers.
Good Luck, I wish you and the kitty the best and I admire you wanting to help this homeless cat.
Have A Wonderful Day!!!!!!!

Answer 4

If she is rubbing herself on you that doesn't mean she's in heat. If she were then every boy cat in the neighborhood would be crawling around there smelling the ground trying to find her.
I strongly suggest you tell your mother how much it bothers you that the cat is sitting there without any shelter or food. But, before you have this conversation go to look up the number to a few humane society's in your area and ask if they are a "no kill" shelter meaning that they won't kill the pet if he or she doesn't get adopted after a week or so. If you get a yes, tell them your mother is dropping off a young female kitten/cat and would like to know if they have a waiting list to accept cats because this one is living outside at a young age. If they say yes, call all the others and ask the same questions. Once you get a place that doesn't have a waiting list or doesn't kill talk to your mother. Say, mom I called the shelters and they said they would accept the cat, but can't do it for another month can we keep her in the house until we can take her to the shelter to make sure she's alright? Or, ask your mother to drop her off at the shelter in your area and ask if you can go along with her for the ride. Explain to her how you think about the cat often and it's not something you are going to be able to forget about since you have developed a friendship with the cat on your way down the stairs. Make your mother understand just how much you care about the cat's safety so, therefore she will know it's not just another stray cat to you!
On that note, I love animals too and I can understand how you feel because, when I was a young kid I use to cry when I saw a cat, or dog in the snow outside or being abused. But, you won't be able to save every animal in your lifetime. You won't be able to make sure each one has a home it's just impossible. My heart goes out to you, but if this situation is bothering you talk to your mother after you have looked in the phone book...((today)).

Answer 5

First of all, you can't keep her.. you live in your mother's house, and unless you get the permission of your parents, ..well you have to respect their home.

With that said, if she's a stray.. and if she's rubbing like you said.. she could be in heat.. or on the other hand, she could have worms. Cats get worms quite often in the butt area and it itches them and so they rub against things. (I know.. we adopted a stray years ago and she had worms)

Anyway.. just in case.. be careful if you touch her.. so you don't get what she may have.. wash your hands after touching her..

As for feeding her.. that isn't dumb at all. If you have some tuna and some water.. I'm sure she'd love it..

But in the end, You are right.. you can't just leave her in the stairwell.

I'm not sure how old you are.. but first, you need to find the assistance of an adult.. preferably a parent.. if not then a neighbor or someone from your church or a friend's parent.

See if they can take the cat into their home, or if they can help you out by taking the cat to a humane shelter for you.

But for the time being, other than looking for an adult to help you place the cat in someone's home or a shelter.. you can still feed her, and you can put up signs for her.

The reality is.. if she's a young cat.. well most people don't like cats, and just let them go.. which is really uncool.

Point is.. if you can find someone willing to take her in (and take care of her.. meaning, she'll need to be spade, she'll need shots, and she'll need to be checked for worms or any other illness.. ) otherwise, a Shelter, would take good care, giving her the medical attention she'll need.. and if she's a young cat as you described.. well most kittens and younger cats get adopted no problem at all.

You have a really generous heart.. *laughs* I think that's good.

I only have to laugh.. is because I ended up taking in 2 stray cats.. one crippled one back in 2001 and then one unwanted one in 2005.. and let me tell you.. they are a joy.. but they are a lot of work too.. that's what a generous heart gets ya. *wink*

Keep being kind ! You'll go far.. but respect your folks. K?

Answer 6

Keep in mind that the humane society and the pound do kill animals, so you have to ask what will happen as these organizations vary from city to city. The pound is very discompassionate, leaving a cat at the pound will get it killed more times than it will save a cat. Its not an option at ALL.

Again, TUNA is NOT good for cats, nor is milk, cats are lactose intolerant and it gives them diarrhea. Give her dry pet food and water. Boiled chicken works too.

More than likely you will NOT find the owners of this cat.

Cats are NOT a "big responsibility"! as one person wrote. They are very LOW maintenance, unlike dogs, they do not need to be walked outside, they don't need to be driven out to parks and places as dogs are. They are very content hanging inside a house or apartment. The litterbox is the only thing to contend with, and with one cat, thats a cinch!

Food and water is important so that the cat is healthy and hydrated. You must spay or neuter though. There are low cost clinics that can spay or neuter and many organizations.

Also, a female cat in heat yeowls and screams at times and "writhes" around on the floor. Not rubs.

Why is there any question about this one? IF you don't have tons of animals yourself, theres nothing stopping you from adopting this cat. You have to actually take care of her/him. Spay or neuter, feel and care for her and keep an eye on her. People don't pay any attention to this cat because people are inhumane and selfish and only concerned with their own lives. Its lucky there are people like you that care, and you know its your responsibility as the caring person you are to make a difference. If we didnt have caring people like you, where would the world be? Its these random acts of kindness given to pets, animals, others that keep the place a bearable world to live in, and it doesn't go unnoticed. If you find out that you can't keep her for some reason, place an ad in the newspaper, pennysaver, or recycler magazine, or comparable, and make sure someone loving wants a cat. Be sure its not someone who wants to test on animals calling. also add a small fee to receive the cat as well, so that you don't have evil people coming to your door for evil intentions.

Also remember in this society it seems common that people want to "pass the buck".. which means THEY ALWAYS THINK ITS SOMEONE ELSES PROBLEMS, why else would so many people see the cat and do nothing? Thats an unloving hateful way to go through life. Be happy you are so evolved that you are the kind of person that makes the difference.

Sometimes people say 'What difference does it make to save one animal, when there are so many more that need to also be saved".. This animal will know the difference of your kindness.


Good Luck to you and the cat!

Answer 7

ok, do you live w/ your mother? Would you consider taking the cat inside, give her some water and food. If she is little , most likely she is not in heat. Make some flyers and post them, if no one responds, then you have the decision to make either keep the cat, or take it the the human shelter. There are ones that you can find that are a "no kill shelter". Make sure before you do becaus eif the cat is not adopted out the will euthanize it in a certain number of days. SO, make sure you find a "no kill shelter". Cats are very well behaved, and clean animals. If you decide to keep her, I would get her spayed, so she doesn't go into heat, etc. Get a litter box, and they train themselves to go in it. You might have to show her where it is but for the most part you dont have to train them like a dog. If it were me I would take it and keep it.

Answer 8

i couldn't just leave the cat there either.... i am a huge cat lover.
You should have a local animal control department to call. If you call them, keep in mind that if they cannot find her a home, they will kill her.
I would ask around and try to find someone to take her in and give her a home. Ask at work, ask in the neighborhood, go sit outside a grocery store and offer her to people. Put a sign up that says she is an abandoned orphaned baby , that no one loves her, and that all she wants is a home.
In the meantime, take her in your home, feed her and love her... try to take some of the wild out of her.... pet her ALOT... rub her ears and scratch her neck... they LOVE that. Get her a litter box so she can potty there. Cats dont really need to be trained to do this... they just do it. Put her in there and let her play in the litter.... she will do the rest.
Get her some food and water in small dishes that she cannot drown in when she plays.
Get her some toys to play with. Kittens love to chase things.
Then when you go to give her away.... bring all these things and make her a package deal with all her loved supplies. Get her adopted BEFORE she grows up anymore. People love kittens, they are not as receptive to older felines.
Get someone who is comforatable around cats to help you.

She needs to be adopted very soon, so she can get proper vetrinary care. She will need her shots, to be spayed (so there will be no more 'orphans' born by her, she will need to be treated for fleas, ticks, and mites.

Good luck, I hope this helped.

Answer 9

You can put up a few flyers near your building and see if anyone responds. If not, why not adopt the kitty. If you can't have a pet in the house, try to find a friend of yours who's wanting to adopt a cat. I hate to say this, but if you want the cat out of your building, call animal control and they will probably come pick the poor thing up and put it in a shelter.

I recently had a small stray dog appear in my yard. I asked around the whole neighborhood, and nobody knew who he belonged to. I think somebody just dumped him out, as we live in a pretty rural area. In just 3 days, he's turned out to be a great little pet. He has spent the last 2 nights sleeping on my sofa, and is the sweetest, most loving little dog.

Good luck finding a good home.

Answer 10

i agree with nearly everyone - call the ASPCA!! if your mother will let you keep it, still call the ASPCA, they offer health care such as spaying/neutering (which must be done immediately) and immunizations. PetSmart also offers these services at a much cheaper rate than the "regular" vet. take a picture of her and post them everywhere you can, because there may be someone heartbroken and worried about her.

the responses i disagree with are well-intentioned things i've done myself, but found are really harmful to cats. don't feed them tuna or milk....

I got these explanations on tuna and milk from http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&siteid=1&acatid=297&aid=542

Should I feed my cat canned tuna?
Actually, canned tuna intended for human consumption is not good for cats. It can cause malnutrition if fed in large quantities. In fact, several "people foods" can pose serious hazards for cats. Some may cause only mild digestive upsets; others can cause severe illness, and even death. View a partial list of common food items that should not be fed (intentionally or unintentionally) to cats here: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1399&articleid=1029.

Should I give my cat milk?
No. Many cats are lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance is a common form of maldigestion. A kitten has the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the sugar in milk called lactose. However, as a cat ages, it generally stops producing lactase. When your cat consumes milk products, the lactose is not digested and the symptoms of maldigestion occur.

i'm more of a dog person, but i don't think any creature should be hungry or mistreated. you're a sweet young lady to care so much for a poor, helpless creature. :-) good luck. i hope you get to keep her!

Answer 11

I would put in on your area's Craig's List to OFFER: free cat or if your area has a Freecycle Cafe group (you could check under Yahoo's services) you could offer it for free on this site. Most areas have other free ways of advertising such as small newspapers and Bulletin Boards at stores/laundry mats, etc.

If you could afford to, people are more likely to adopt it if you take it to get fixed/shots if you can afford to & advertise it as being fixed with current shots.

With Christmas around the corner and adopting animals becoming higher at Humane Societies, you may have to wait until after Thanksgiving before someone requests the cat.

Unfortunately, the odds are higher than one might think that it will be euthanized if you take it to an Animal Shelter/Humane Society.