The day after thanksgiving a cat was hanging around our house. Every time we would open the door the cat would run in. We fed it some turkey. We were worried that the cat belonged to someone so I told my boyfriend that we would let her out and if she hung around or came back soon that we could keep it. Well the cat came back yesterday, one week from the last time it was here. It eats if we give it food, but it doesn't seem that interested in the food. The cat seems kind of skinny, but I'm not sure I don't know a lot about cats. It slept in our bed last night. Whenever I let her out she'll run around in the front yard but then be waiting at the door ten minutes later. I'm so worried that we are stealing someone's cat. How can I tell? I don't really want to put up "Found: cat" signs. What should I do? Can we keep it?
2007-12-01 11:05:40 · 15 answers · asked by vannajune 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
put up the signs... if nobody responds, you have earned yourself a wonderful little companion!
2007-12-01 11:09:01 · answer #1 · answered by Jolie 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It seems like everyone has good answers. However, If there is an outdoor kitty it is probably a Lost Kitty or their previous owner left it to strive on it's own. Some outside cats do tend to wonder and come back a week later. Maybe she has visited other homes and found that your is the best. With the way the cat is acting. I would decide to keep her.
If you decide to keep her you will need to take her to a vet and make sure that she has all of her up to date shots.
The Skinny part and not interested in it's food is that she may have worms. To check for this if it is possible check poo when she climbs out of litter box and if you see long white skinny things moving then that is worms and you can just her to the vet and the vet will give medication to clear them out and she will be alot better.
You may also want to take her to the groomers to get her a good bath, her nails trimmed. This is good to watch out any Fleas, Dirt or anything that might be in her fur. Espically if she has long fur.
If you are truely feeling like you are taking the cat from someone even though the cat came to you with out any cat information, take a picture of the cat and post the picture and the information along with at all local Vets as well as Lost and Found on Craigslist ( cats can travel up to a 10 or more miles that is why I suggested Craigslist or anyother Internet posting for lost pets.) and within 2 weeks if no one has contacted you then take the post down and call the vets if they could take down the posters. You will have yourself a nice little friend and compainon
2007-12-01 20:19:15 · answer #2 · answered by Lisita 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have the same situation, basicaly. In the State of Florida, where I am, if you want to keep a stray cat like that, you take it to the police. They will check and see if there is a microchip in the cat. If so, it will have the owners information on it and they will call them. If not, the owner has a certain amount of time to come claim the cat. If they don't claim it in about Two weeks or so, then they will call you and the cat is legaly yours. If you don't go through this procedure, than you stole the cat. The penalty for animal theft is the same as if you stole any other property from some one.
Each state may have different laws regarding this. Call and check with the police.
I have not taken the cat to the police yet, but I let the cat stay outside. I feed him and take good care of the cat. However, since he is outside, he is free to go back to his respectable, legal owner any time he wants. But since he has been at my house for about a year now and never leaves. I think I am the only one taking care of him and he is just a stray. Who ever the original owner was, did not take care of him and probably either did not want the cat any more and released him to run away where ever he wanted or they were just not a good pet owner and did not know how to care for an animal.
But the cat is at my house and I love it. He seems to love me to. So as far as I am concerned, he is mine.
2007-12-01 19:33:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would put an ad in the lost and found area of your local newspaper. That is one of the first places I would look if my cat disappeared. I would continue to let the cat go outside so it can make it's way home if it is so inclined.
When my cat disappeared a few years ago, I liked to think that he had found a new home and was happily sleeping on someone else's couch. I would have been happier, however, to have gotten him back.
Do your best to find your cat's owner. I don't think it is necessary to put up found cat signs, except maybe on bulletin boards in your area. If no one responds, give the cat a name and a loving home.
2007-12-02 04:01:09 · answer #4 · answered by Deb W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes , if you like the cat keep it. I assume it has no collar and tags to identify the owner, but if you worry about it being a loved, lost pet you can phone local vets, humane society, SPCA - whatever you have in your area. Cats make good companions - intelligent, affectionate, inexpensive to keep and generally well behaved around the house. Useful if you ahve a rodent problem too! In this category there are plenty of cat-lovers to give you the benefit of their knowledge and experience so just ask.
I hope you can give kitty a home and that she will give you much pleasure.
2007-12-01 19:16:04 · answer #5 · answered by janniel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Same thing happened to me, but it turned out it WAS someone else's cat. Even though you don't want to do it, I think the best thing to do is to put up lost cat signs. If nobody claims it then yes, you can keep it. How else will you know if the cat belongs to someone else or not.
2007-12-01 19:10:11 · answer #6 · answered by ʜeʟʟӧ_ᴅөll 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would keep her. The people who have her obviously don't take so good care of her, if they lose her all the time and don't search. Besides, someone else might take her for a stray and give her to the pound where she may be killed. So keep her, and put a name tag on her with your phone. If you let her outside, if she has former owners she will pay them a visit and they will see the tag and call you.
2007-12-01 19:24:23 · answer #7 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the rest of the posters who told you to do what you can to see if the cat has an owner. However, cats do have a tendency to choose their own homes regardless of where they started out, and apparently this kitty has chosen yours. She obviously feels safe and comfortable with you.
Cats are wonderful companions, and if you let her, she will enrich your life and reward you with all the love she has to give.
2007-12-01 19:46:13 · answer #8 · answered by goldengirl24k 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might report it to animal control in your area. Tell them you think it was a stray and you want to keep it. If there was another owner, they would probably check with them.
You could also run an ad in the local paper. Most of them do it for free. Craigslist.org has on line free ads in most big cities and you can even post with a hidden email address.
2007-12-01 19:15:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
put up found signs all around
cats r known 2 wonder
make sure u put them up 4 awhile
also put them up n local pet places with permission
if ur cat ranaway u would want 2 find them
if no1 responds then hes allu rs
make sure 2 get him
2007-12-01 19:15:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to take thus cat to the vets to see if she has been micro~chipped as if she has and you are found to be housing her with out checking with the relavent agencies then you may face being taken to court. if she is not chipped then keep feeding her and you keep your eyes open for any missing cat posters
2007-12-01 19:28:48 · answer #11 · answered by Sarah C 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋