Stray cat advice needed... (long)

[LisaZoe]

Last Friday as morning I saw a small cat enter our backyard. I usually try to scare off wandering cats so they don't get into a fight with my cat so went outside to see if the cat was still around. She was and, in fact, walked right up to me all but rubbing against my leg.

Well, I'm a cat person so I made the biggest mistake one can with a stray - I fed her. My DD was soon petting the "polka dot cat" and I knew then that we might have a new addition to the family. I have been telling DD that the cat isn't ours and we need to let her go home if she wants to but so far the cat hasn't shown any interest in going anywhere. In fact, yesterday she started "plucking" at our screen door and meowing as if she expected to let in.

The cat looks basically healthy but a bit thin. I'm guessing she's not very old, maybe a year or so. She doesn't have any collar but the way she acts makes me think hasn't been a stray for long. She's a very docile cat and has let me pick her up and carry "like a baby". She also has shown great patience with my DD - unlike our cat who avoids DD as much as possible.

Here's where I get to the point of this post (sorry it took so long). How long should I wait until I consider her ours? What steps should I take to try to find out if she is lost?

 

[chrissyk]

You should get her scanned for a chip at least. That and check around to the local shelters and vets to see if she's been reported missing. She sounds like a very nice cat. I hope that she can be your new pet!

 

[SEAlla]

Maybe you should post signs around the neighborhood. However, do not describe the kitten on them. That way if someone calls they will have to describe the cat to you...weeds out the ill intentioned people.


I hope you can keep her. She sounds sweet and if she is young your other cats should take to her after some time. Just be patient.

Sounds like you could provide a loving, caring home for her.


Good luck!

Susan

 

[BeamsofLight]

Everyone's suggestions are good ones. You could also try putting an add in the lost and found section of your local paper.

Just by the fact that the cat is so friendly and trying to get in your house, it sounds like it must have lived with people before. My great-aunt 'adopted' a stray once, and it hated/feared everyone but her until they day it died. It wouldn't even stay in the house when there were other people there, if it could help it. Since it's thin, though, it either ran away a while ago, or someone abandoned it.

I hope you can keep her too. Good luck.

 

[Virgo10]

Also be sure to get her tested for Feline AIDS and Leukemia. Both are very contagious to other cats.

Hope everything works out and if she's a stray, she's a lucky kitty to have a new home!

Roberta

 

[LisaZoe]

Thanks all. I hadn't even thought about having her checked for disease since she looks healthy. However, she'll definitely stay outside until I've had that confirmed.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm also concerned she might be pregnant. I'm not sure, of course, since it's been 20 years or so since I had a pregnant cat around (mine have been "fixed" as soon as it can be done safely).

I've often joked how I wanted to be our neighborhoods "scary old lady with all the cats". Maybe this one knew of that plan and thought she'd join early to get seniority.