cat showed up at our doorstep

[dreamcometrue]

my DS was going to go outside and play and when he opened the door, there was a grey cat sitting there. It's a male, not neutered, and looks pretty young. I'd say 6 - 8 months! Handsome lil' fellow! I gave him some food on our front porch, and he dug in and ate the whole bowl (I gave him a little less than the amount I give my cat, and it takes her DAYS to finish it and she is a grown cat!). Gave him some water too! The kids are in love, already named him Smokey! There is no way we can keep him, we already have a cat, and 3 dogs!! He kind of walked off and I told the kids to follow him for a bit and see if they can find out where he lives!

I am a bit worried that he doesn't have a home or got lost, since he was SO hungry, like he hasn't eaten in days!

What would you do?

 

[chesirechik]

Well, I would take him inside and not let him wander - do you have a room you could close him in? Then call the police and any shelters around you to see if someone has reported him missing.

If I couldn't find an owner I would end up keeping him because I'm a big sap.

 

[pettyone]

If I couldn't find an owner I would end up keeping him because I'm a big sap.

I'm a proud member of the sap family too...we had a kitty show up at our doorstep in September...we certainly didn't need another pet, but now kitty--Sydney the Destructo Cat--has made herself right at home!

 

[Virgo10]

I am most definitely the wrong person to ask!

Come and meet my 16 cats.
http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid2965975

 

[dreamcometrue]

oh, don't get me wrong...I am a huge sap too, and would LOVE to keep him!!! He is SO CUTE!! Kids and cat are back and outside!

My DH is not a big a sap as me and said no way will we keep him (already talked to him) and he doesn't really want him in the house, because since he is not neutered (cat, not DH! ) he is worried that he will "mark". We have a brand spanking new house and he doesn't want it smelling of cat urine! He looks very healthy but there is always a chance he may be sick and I don't want to bring it inside for our other pets!

I may start calling shelters and see if someone is missing a cat! Good idea, thanks!

 

[poohandwendy]

I am most definitely the wrong person to ask!

Come and meet my 16 cats.
http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid2965975

Yeah, me too.

I would suggest that if you do take him in, please keep him separated from the other cat until you have him cleared of diseases he could pass along to your other cat like felv and fiv, for example.

 

[pearlieq]

Animal control should be able to pick him up and house him or you could call around to local shelters and see who might be able to actually take him in.

It's worrisome enough that he's out, but what's more worrisome are the 4-8 kittens that could be on the way if he meets a nice girl while out wandering!

 

[akhenaten]

I would love to have a kitten show up at my door.....
I lost my natasha(18) over a year ago and am ready for a new fur baby!!

I was going to say just put food out for him...but he should be neutered too....

 

[TurboKitty]

I remember when Mercutio came to visit my house. He was an adorable little white with gray and black tabbiness, looked about 4 months old. He just showed up and made himself at home with my roomates 4 other cats. The roomates 5th cat, Oberon, the sweet balck tuxedo boy, had just gone on his little weeklong vacation. Then Mercutio, as I had dubbed him, started wandering off. One afternoon I follwed him. Two apartment buildings over,
I found his owner. I also found Oberon lounging about, sucking up the free kibble, and generally acting as if he had no home. Cats I used to allow to be indoor/outdoor cats also seemed to "go a wanderin'" from time to time. I'd likely keep an eye out for him in the future, but take a wait and see attitude for now.

If your visitor is affectionate, he likely has (or sadly, had) a home. Before you bring him into your home with your other pets, he needs to be checked by a vet, and your kids should wash their hands well after petting him, for protection.

 

[Taylor]

Stray cats at our house get eaten...

 

[debden]

I'm a proud member of the sap family too...we had a kitty show up at our doorstep in September...we certainly didn't need another pet, but now kitty--Sydney the Destructo Cat--has made herself right at home!

Yeah I'm part of the sap family too.I found my kitty on our doorstep over 12 years ago and he's been ours ever since.Such a handsome strapping boy.He's gone now but he had a very content life with lots of love and that's what I gave him and never regretted keeping him for one moment.
We had two cats at the time but he fit right in along with three others after him.
Debbie

 

[Dodie]

Well, I would take him inside and not let him wander - do you have a room you could close him in? Then call the police and any shelters around you to see if someone has reported him missing.

If I couldn't find an owner I would end up keeping him because I'm a big sap.

This is exactly what I would do. Especially since he's young.

But be careful to keep him away from any other pets you have (if you do), in case he has any contagious diseases.

 

[dreamcometrue]

well, he is still out front. I want to keep him, but DH says no. And what if he belongs to someone? It breaks my heart to think that a little boy or girl could be out looking for their kitty. I called our local animal shelter and they said I need to come in there if I found a cat. I don't quite understand why?! I HATE going to animal shelters and seeing all the animals that need a home! I also called my vet, they are really nice and they said that I can bring him in and see if he has a micro chip!

Part of me thinks he doesn't have a home. Are there really still people out there that leave an unneutered cat running around outside??

 

[kydisneyfans]

Once you feed a cat outside though, the animal will make it their home. He'll keep coming back over and over again since he knows he will get fed.

Tell your DH it's too late.

 

[chesirechik]

Did you call your local police to see if someone called them? Why can't the shelter just tell you if someone reported a missing cat - that is strange.

 

[chyam]

Please be careful which shelters you take him too, espcecially the city Animal control, those places usually have very short holding times and then they put them to sleep. I am such a sucker too..........I have 7 and now where I walk there are 3 that were dumped so there I am feeding them in the morning, 2 are defineately feral but the third is a sweetheart, I have been emailing rescue groups all day trying to find someone to take this cat, I have already held her so I know I could get her into a carrier I am just afraid that after this weekend (I have to work) I may end up with another cat!!! Good luck with him.

 

[Yzerbear19]

Part of me thinks he doesn't have a home. Are there really still people out there that leave an unneutered cat running around outside??

Unfortunately where I live a lot of people seem to leave unneautered cats running around outside. We adopted the cutest little kitten in September when we found her in a tree outside my sister's bedroom window. We put up a flyer at the store half a mile down the road and checked to make sure no one had lost her but no one did. She is so cute. We named her Cassiopeia or Cassie for short. She is quite the terror at times. She is very afraid of cars driving past when we've taken her outside on the harness. She also doesn't like going to the "time out" box. She will pout for a while afterwards. Our 4 other cats have finally warmed up to Cassie, though there is still some fighting. She hasn't been spade yet since we weren't sure how old she was. My friend who is a vet said it looks like she was born late April or May. We are going to take her to get spade after vacation.

My brother and his wife adopted 3 little kittens that where living in a shed behind their house with their mother. The mother cat was killed by a car. No one in the area knew whose cat it was. They adopted the 3 and a neighbor took in 2 others since there were 5 kittens in total. They are quite cute. We had them over at our house after Christmas since my brother had surgery. I didn't want to send the one all black male kitten home. He really warmed up to my sister and I.

My mom has taken to feeding a mother cat and her 3 kittens behind their house. The mother cat is a stray. She hasn't ever been able to capture them, but does make sure they have food and some shelter from the elements.

It so sad to think that people would just drop animals off or leave them to die. Its so cruel. And its very irresponsible to leave an animal in the wild that isn't neautered or spaded.

 

[Imzadi]

OP, you live in So. Cal. It's warm enought there to have an "outside kitty" if DH won't let you bring him inside. (Not the best of circumstances though.) I'd have him neutered & all the shots though, instead of wandering as is. He will most likey return as he's been fed.