Cat People - A Question

[janey99]

So, I go into my laundry room late last night to get a pair of pants from the dryer, and I happen to look out on the stoop, and there is a kitteh out there huddled in the corner. Very cute - mostly black with a splotch of white around half its face and lip. Double take because we don't have a cat! I look more closely and see that he/she has left a dead mouse on the doormat. I call DH and we get a chuckle of looking at it, and go to bed.

This morning, I'm leaving the house for work really early (6am), and is still there (the cat and the mouse). When I came out the door, the cat jumped up and followed me down the walk so closely that I was afraid I would run it over with the car when I was pulling out.

DH calls me at about 930, after he left the house and arrived at work, and said "Guess what, that cat is still hanging around the stoop!"

We've lived in our house for 8 years, so it's not like this is the prior owner's cat or something. Where did it come from? Why did it pick our house? We don't want a cat (and can't really have one because our dog has high prey drive and would never tolerate it). Will it wander off or do I have to do something? I hesitate to call "the pound" because to me, cats always seem like they can be self sufficient in the wild, but having it turned in would be a death sentence for sure for an adult cat - am I wrong in this feeling, and I should call someone?

I'm usually pretty decisive and capable, but for some reason this has thrown me!

Jane

 

[moburg]

Do you have a no-kill shelter in the area? Call them and see if they will pick the cat up, or perhaps you can bring the cat to them?

 

[Deb in IA]

For some reason, it appears the cat has adopted you.

We got 2 of our cats that way. But we live out in the country, and figured they were just barn kittens that wandered away and found us.

You should call a local no-kill shelter. Sounds like the kitten is social and friendly, and they should have no problems taking it in and finding a home for it.

 

[momrek06]

And from what little reading I have done as my DS has a cat ... bringing you the dead mouse is a GIFT to you from the cat!!! Yes indeed!!!

 

[janey99]

I can certainly look into whether we have no kill shelters near us, but do I just assume it doesn't belong to someone?

It's only been a half day, technically, that it has been around, and it may be gone when I get home, but if it sticks around when do I decide it's really homeless?

Jane

 

[FergieTCat]

I can certainly look into whether we have no kill shelters near us, but do I just assume it doesn't belong to someone?

It's only been a half day, technically, that it has been around, and it may be gone when I get home, but if it sticks around when do I decide it's really homeless?

Jane

If the cat isn't wearing a collar with a nametag, it's homeless!

And since cats can't shop, the mouse was a gift.

 

[Darsa]

EDIT: Oops, guilty of not reading your whole post

I hope you find someone to take kitteh in. Sounds like a good mouse-catcher to have around!

 

[moburg]

I can certainly look into whether we have no kill shelters near us, but do I just assume it doesn't belong to someone?

It's only been a half day, technically, that it has been around, and it may be gone when I get home, but if it sticks around when do I decide it's really homeless?

Jane

You can always take a picture around and ask your neighbors. But considering the cat brought you the mouse, and not some other house, I'm guessing that it is homeless. Otherwise, the mouse would be a gift at the owners door, not yours.

 

[janey99]

My DH has had cats growing up. At first, we just thought the cat was getting out of the rain on our porch, and then DH saw the mouse (right front and center on the doormat!) and said "Oh-oh, he might have longer term plans in mind!"

If he sticks around, I have to wonder why. Maybe he's been spying on us - "They keep that dingbat pitbull around and he's barely tolerable - maybe they're in the market for a pet who can really contribute something other than bad smells!"

I didn't really look to see if he had a collar (it wasn't obvious), I will try if he's still around when I get home.

Jane

 

[janey99]

You can always take a picture around and ask your neighbors. But considering the cat brought you the mouse, and not some other house, I'm guessing that it is homeless. Otherwise, the mouse would be a gift at the owners door, not yours.

That's what I would think!

Jane

 

[Robindianne]

My DH has had cats growing up. At first, we just thought the cat was getting out of the rain on our porch, and then DH saw the mouse (right front and center on the doormat!) and said "Oh-oh, he might have longer term plans in mind!"

If he sticks around, I have to wonder why. Maybe he's been spying on us - "They keep that dingbat pitbull around and he's barely tolerable - maybe they're in the market for a pet who can really contribute something other than bad smells!"

I didn't really look to see if he had a collar (it wasn't obvious), I will try if he's still around when I get home.

Jane

Are you near Seattle? We'll take him

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I can certainly look into whether we have no kill shelters near us, but do I just assume it doesn't belong to someone?

It's only been a half day, technically, that it has been around, and it may be gone when I get home, but if it sticks around when do I decide it's really homeless?

Jane

even if it IS someone else's cat, if you take it to a shelter there might be a way to find out if it belongs to someone else. a lot of places do the micro-chip on cats and dogs and shelters can scan it to see if it belongs to anyone.

 

[WDWHound]

I hesitate to call "the pound" because to me, cats always seem like they can be self sufficient in the wild

I had to address this, as I have heard heard many people say this in the past. It is a myth that domesticated cats can survive well in the wild.

Domesticated cats were not bred to survive in the wild. Yes, it is possible for some to survive this way, but those that do are constantly hungry. Many die from starvation. They are also very suceptible to disease and attacks from predators. Territorial fights with other cats also are a problem, as these fights often result in severe injury. Domesticated cats that live in wild tend to have short, miserable lives. Unfortunately, they usually live just long enough to reproduce, thus continuing the cycle of misery.

I realize that you can't keep it, but you would be doing this little kitty a huge favor by helping to find it a home if you can.

 

[janey99]

Thanks everyone for your input, especially WDWHound for clearing up my misinformation on "wild" cats. If he/she is still around in the morning, I will look up a no-kill shelter and see what they suggest (about how to catch it and get it there).

Robin - unfortunately, we're about as far as we could be from you, in central NJ!

Jane

 

[bumbershoot]

I wanted to mention that the fact that the cat left the mouse, instead of eating it, shows that she wouldn't do well all on her own. We had cats that found us after being semi-feral, and they did very well on their own. They would catch, kill, and eat anything they could. Mice, birds, and our mama cat (she came to us pregnant then was fixed after she had her kittens and allowed us to catch her) once stalked a gopher in our garden all day. Finally caught and killed it, despite it being bigger than her. Before, shortly after having her kittens when they started eating "food", mama cat caught a squirrel, and our first picture of the kittens show them eating it.

They did well on their own.

A cat that's not eating what it catches is just catching for fun, IMO, and still needs humans.


That said, the cat just showing up and staying is how my brother and his wife became the home-keepers for their first cat! She just showed up one day, and stayed, and they didn't know they wanted a cat, went away for 2 weeks...when they got back, she found them again, and now she's 13'ish and lives a luxurious life (and is a disturbingly intelligent cat who follows "commands" and tells you what she wants...she's a little frightening, actually).

Also, the cat sticking around despite having to know about the dog...might be saying that the dog is cool with her. Maybe. We had malamutes that stayed inside and in the backyard; the cats were outdoors only (otherwise they would have had to stay feral b/c of my mom's asthma), and there was only one time that they clashed ("my" cat got cocky since the dog was 15, blind, and arthritic, and nearly lost her behind b/c of it). They stayed around despite the dogs in the backyard, so it's possible the cat knows something about your dog that you don't know.

Not sure if it's worth finding out, but it's just a thought.

 

[freckles and boo]

Please have the kitty scanned for a microchip. Cats can and do wander long distances. She may live around the corner or ten miles away.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Not all cats without collars do not have a home.

Not all cats who give 'presents' cannot feed themselves. Kittens get fed post lactation, and that's what this cat thinks of OP.

Feral cats may live short, difficult lives, but so does feral everything else. Living just long enough to reproduce and "continue the cycle of misery" is more poetically referred to as the "circle of life".

There is nothing wrong with alerting a no kill shelter, so long as they give a rightful owner the chance to respond.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I had to address this, as I have heard heard many people say this in the past. It is a myth that domesticated cats can survive well in the wild.

Domesticated cats were not bred to survive in the wild. Yes, it is possible for some to survive this way, but those that do are constantly hungry. Many die from starvation. They are also very suceptible to disease and attacks from predators. Territorial fights with other cats also are a problem, as these fights often result in severe injury. Domesticated cats that live in wild tend to have short, miserable lives. Unfortunately, they usually live just long enough to reproduce, thus continuing the cycle of misery.

I realize that you can't keep it, but you would be doing this little kitty a huge favor by helping to find it a home if you can.

Actually, uhm, that's a bit old thinking. I'm sure you meant to preface that with stating that tame cats who are looking for homes are usually pretty miserable unless they adapt to being feral, but just in case you weren't, I thought I'd pass on the good news!

Recent studies have found that feral cats live to be about 10 years old and have pretty good lives overall.

I don't have any online cites, but here's some references in vet literature.

Wallace, Jennifer L, and Julie K Levy. "Population Characteristics of Feral Cats Admitted to Seven Trap-Neuter-Return Programs in the United States." Journal of Feline Medicine And Surgery 8 (2006): 279-284.

Luria, Brian J, et al. "Prevalence of Infectious Diseases in Feral Cats in Northern Florida." Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 6 (2004): 287-296.

Lee, Irene T, et al. "Prevalence of Feline Leukemia Virus Infection and Serum Antibodies Against Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in Unowned Free-Roaming Cats." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 220, no. 5 (March 2002): 620-622

Scott, Karen C, et al. "Body Condition of Feral Cats and the Effect of Neutering." Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 5, no. 3 (2002): 203-213.

 

[simba928]

I hesitate to call "the pound" because to me, cats always seem like they can be self sufficient in the wild, but having it turned in would be a death sentence for sure for an adult cat - am I wrong in this feeling, and I should call someone?

Jane

I just wanted to address the whole "pound" thing. I work at a shelter. For us, as long as the cat is healthy and adoptable (meaning no temperament issues, as long as we can handle the cat sufficiently enough to clean the cage we give them a chance. We do realize that some cats are less sociable than others so even the cats that are more shy and may not necessarily LOVE being held are given a chance.) Most of our cats are adopted. Yes, adult cats do take much longer (we've had cats for 6 or 7 months before they were adopted). Just because you take an animal to a shelter does not mean it will automatically be euthanized. Yes, there are some shelters with higher kill rates than others. For us, as long as the animal is (relatively) happy, healthy, and friendly they are allowed to stay.

Also, a lot of people do not realize that no-kill shelters have LONG wait lists. Our local no-kill often has a waiting list that can take a month or more to be able to bring in even a stray animal. Isn't it much better to get the animal off the street and know that he/she is taken care of than leave him/her out there until the no-kill shelter has an opening?

OP, you basically have two choices...
A) Find someone else to take the cat (a friend, family member, neighbor, shelter)
B) Leave the cat outside. As someone else stated, stray cats have a rough life. Their lifespan is dramatically shortened because of all kinds of threats from animals, people, and cars, and a lack of food. If you did take this route, though, call the local shelter, vet, or animal control and see if they have some kind of trap, neuter, release type program. That way you could get the cat up to date on shots and alter the cat so that you have no more kittys running around. One female cat and her offspring can produce over 400,000 kittens in 7 years. Males can obviously produce many more than that.

And BTW, if you go with plan B and do not want the cat hanging around, do not feed him/her. If it were me, I would take the cat to a shelter. That way you know the cat is well taken care of and at least has a chance of being a loved family pet.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Actually, shelterwise, it depends on what neck of the woods you live in. And feral cats don't live horrible, miserable, short lives, that's been disproven quite thoroughly (I know I also have a reference to the Stanford kitties, but can't find it!) so please guys, stop perpetuating that myth!

The shelter in our area puts cats down pretty fast unless the cat gets into their adoption program (slim chances there). No ifs ands ors. Just is.

The no-kills usually have long waiting lists. . .although, if you're willing to give a BIG donation, you will find yourself moved to the head of their lists. (Shelters operate on shoestring budgets and are always teetering on the edge. . .a cat that comes with $$ to pay for its upkeep until it find a home gets in sooner than one that just costs money.)

You could also call some local vets, give them as much of a sob story as you're able, and see if they'll cut you a break on getting kitty spayed and neutered. Take cat in, get him/her fixed and then put an ad in the local paper or on Craig's list. Ask for a fee for the fixing and the shots, and question the person to pass a "sniff" test - why do they want a cat, what are their plans for the cat etc. (People do actually get cats from the want ads to feed to their pet snakes or use as bait for fighting dogs. No joke! )

Finally you could do the sob story with the local vets or call a TNR (trap-neuter-release) group in your area to find a low cost spay/neuter clinic. Get the cat fixed, bring him/her home and resign yourself to having a friendly little outdoor cat. Yes, outdoor kitties have more risks in life - cars and hawks and such - but they do live pretty okay little lives.

After all, YOU and your family have passed the cat's sniff test!