Advice needed - adopt a cat?

[JaxJags08]

So I keep going back and forth on this and want some opinions...

We currently live next to family and share about 3 acres. They had been feeding a cat for about 5 years before we moved next door, but don't really interact with it as far as petting and playing. Well, they got a dog about 6 months ago and it chased the cat away so it has been living over at our place since then and I have been feeding her. There is a house about an acre away that has dogs that have killed cats in the past and unfortunately I see the same tendencies in my extended family's puppy (same breed also). He has already started chasing her and barking at her. The issue I'm having is that we are now moving and I don't know if I should offer to take her. But it would mean taking her from acres of farmland to a 1/4 acre subdivision yard and I feel she might be really unhappy. I think she might also try to leave and go back home and then be lost forever. I've thought about bringing her inside, but I've tried that at our home now and she seems very unsure about it since she's been an outdoor cat all this time.

Thoughts?? BTW, we already have 2 cats and 1 dog so it's getting kinda cramped!

 

[tiggersbombed2]

I don't know what the best thing is, but I'd take her. I'd have to give it a chance. I couldn't leave her there with cat killers, and who knows if anyone else would feed her, and if no one did she'd go back to the house with the bad puppy and maybe get hurt...yeah...I'd take her, maybe make her a little outside house she could sleep in. Maybe she'd like it.

 

[Hannathy]

I would take her. They have already made it clear they aren't going to care for her or feed her, poor thing. She would either starve, get killed by dog or car neither very pretty, or get sick and die. None good

Of course she is unsure wouldn't you be? You can make an indoor cat out of an outdoor cat. They won't be happy for a while but they will get used to it. My cat now was an outdoor cat and when my Mom died I brought him home with me and made him an indoor cat. he fussed for a while and we had to be very careful going in and out for a while because he would try to get out. but now 9 yrs later he is very fat, lazy and content indoors.

If you can't take her at least take her to a rescue.

 

[pixiewings71]

I would take her...I would never forgive myself if the new dog killed the cat. Good luck!! We are now a 3 cat and 1 dog family and it's really not that big of a deal to have the extra cat.

 

[dakcp2001]

Take her! She will adjust.

I think when you move to a new place, and you let her out, how will she know where she lives? Maybe keep her inside for a few days and take her out in the yard? Are you near any dangerous streets? Is she familar with cars?

Any cat people have advice on how to move with an outdoor cat? How will she know to come home to the new house?

She is better off with you I think. Maybe keep her inside where she will be safe?

 

[DisneyWhirled]

Yup! I'd take her, poor baby.

Is she spayed? If not, I would take her AND have her fixed.

We took a sweet outdoor kitty in and had many years of love with her. We lost her when my kids were little, but they still talk about her.

Good Luck!!

 

[simba928]

If you do decide to take her, make sure you get her FeLV/FIV/HW tested and vaccinate her BEFORE bringing her into contact with your cats. You do not want your cats getting anything from her. From what you said, I imagine there are several other cats around that she could have come in contact with and have contracted something.

And if you take her and decide to keep her outdoors, you will need to keep her indoors (after having her tested and vaccinated) for several weeks until she learns that this is her new territory. If you throw her in a carrier, go to the new house, and let her out immediately she most likely will try to make her way back to her old territory.

It's a decision you really need to make yourself, though. Taking any animal in out of obligation and not because you truly want the animal is a recipe for disaster. Either way, though, I would not leave her there. You are putting her at risk to the dogs and people that do not like cats. I got my one cat because a woman brought him into the shelter I work at. He got out of the apartment she had (where she wasn't allowed pets, anyways) and a neighbor found him, chased him with a knife to try to kill him (and the neighbor actually admitted that!), but missed and cut part of his tail off. It was severely infected when he came in and the vet had to ampuate part of the tail that was left so I fostered him and ended up keeping him. Anyways, the point of that long story was that by leaving her there you are subjecting her to who-knows-what. At the very least, call your local shelter and arrange to have her brought there. Where I live, since you have been feeding her for so long she is technically your cat and no longer a stray, by law. If this is the case in your area, leaving the cat there would technically be abandonment (the same thing as if you moved and left your indoor cats in the house with no food or water) so you may want to check that out before making your decision, too.

 

[JaxJags08]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I guess I'm very weary for a couple of reasons...

Even though we have been taking care of the cat for months, my extended family still calls her their cat. This cat has lived on their property for 5 years and it is the only home she's ever known. So I would have to ask if we could take her. They have mentioned feeding her again once we leave and I believe that they will come and put out food once a day - but their dog will come and eat it if she doesn't eat right away. She also will not get the cuddles!

We have had problems with 1 of our cats peeing all over the carpet and our belongings and she has since been transitioned to an outdoor cat herself. So I'm scared about having the same problem with this cat if we were to bring her indoors. We are also moving into a home that needs to stay in show condition. I won't bother with details, but it needs to stay pretty immaculate. With a preschooler and a toddler, I have enough stress in that area!

So I guess if we were to take her it sounds like we should keep her in a couple of weeks and take her outside only under supervision? Also any advice on how to introduce her to our indoor cat?

 

[pixiewings71]

Yes if you take her (and do this with your other outdoor cat also) do keep them in the garage for a couple of weeks before you let them out. Otherwise they will go back to the old house, or they will try to anyway
And yes, have her tested before putting her into contact with the other cats. Good luck with your decision, you may find she's happier as an outside cat, we have 3 cats, 1 of them is almost always outside, her sister comes and goes as she wants and the kitten is now venturing into the backyard. They go in and out the dog door easily.

 

[Swalphin]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I guess I'm very weary for a couple of reasons...

Even though we have been taking care of the cat for months, my extended family still calls her their cat. This cat has lived on their property for 5 years and it is the only home she's ever known. So I would have to ask if we could take her. They have mentioned feeding her again once we leave and I believe that they will come and put out food once a day - but their dog will come and eat it if she doesn't eat right away. She also will not get the cuddles!

We have had problems with 1 of our cats peeing all over the carpet and our belongings and she has since been transitioned to an outdoor cat herself. So I'm scared about having the same problem with this cat if we were to bring her indoors. We are also moving into a home that needs to stay in show condition. I won't bother with details, but it needs to stay pretty immaculate. With a preschooler and a toddler, I have enough stress in that area!

So I guess if we were to take her it sounds like we should keep her in a couple of weeks and take her outside only under supervision? Also any advice on how to introduce her to our indoor cat?

First off I vote to take her. Second, your cat that is peeing, he might have a UTI or some crystals in his urine. Both are pretty easy fixes at the vet some antibiotics and or a change in cat food. Purina makes one for Urinary health.

As far as introducing the two, I put one cat in a carrier and let them sniff each other. I did keep them seperate for several days and slowly let them get to know one another. I agree get the test done before introducing them. Good luck and you are a very kind person to care for this kitty.

 

[tiggersbombed2]

For your peeing kitty, did anyone change the litter? as in brand or type? Kitties don't take well to litter change most of the time. I know it good and pissed off my guy.