Visiting Cat - WWYD???

[Poohlove]

Last fall we had a beautiful Siamese cat show up on our front porch. She is very friendly and we just thought she was stopping for a back scratch. We haven't seen her since last fall and didn't think too much about her until last night. We were in the house and heard the most pitiful meowing going on. My daughter looked out the window and here was the same cat curled up on the shroud of one of our Halloween ghosts (decorations are down but this one ghost is still out there because my son was trying to fix it up) looking up into the window meowing away. We went outside to make sure she was ok, other than being cold she seemed fine. Oddly enough I have been purging our belongings and over the weekend I rounded up some old towels and blankets that were destined for our local shelter. I put one of each out on the porch for the cat to curl up on and gave her some clean water and we came back in the house - the poor thing was trying to come in with us. I felt terrible for her but as I told my daughter it is clearly someone's cat, she looks like she is in really good shape (no collar though) and our dog would go bonkers if we had a cat in the house and I am allergic to them (also allergic to my dog but she is non-negotiable). After a while she went away and we thought that was that.

This morning when I got home from running my daughter to school I went in the house to start bringing out boxes that Purple Heart is picking up today. When I came out with the first armload she was back and meowing the same pitiful way as last night but this time she went up to the door and I have to quick shut it before she got in. She is so friendly, I feel so bad for her. It has gotten much colder the last few nights and I don't want her to freeze. I don't want to feed her because then she will never go away.

What would you do?

 

[Jhaberlein]

Bring her in to a bathroom/laundry room and take a good picture of her. Post to Facebook, Craigslist, or whatever platform your local area uses for lost animals. Do you have a no kill shelter or rescue in the area that would take her until her owner or new family can be found?

 

[DennyCrane]

Move.

 

[Nancyg56]

Last fall we had a beautiful Siamese cat show up on our front porch. She is very friendly and we just thought she was stopping for a back scratch. We haven't seen her since last fall and didn't think too much about her until last night. We were in the house and heard the most pitiful meowing going on. My daughter looked out the window and here was the same cat curled up on the shroud of one of our Halloween ghosts (decorations are down but this one ghost is still out there because my son was trying to fix it up) looking up into the window meowing away. We went outside to make sure she was ok, other than being cold she seemed fine. Oddly enough I have been purging our belongings and over the weekend I rounded up some old towels and blankets that were destined for our local shelter. I put one of each out on the porch for the cat to curl up on and gave her some clean water and we came back in the house - the poor thing was trying to come in with us. I felt terrible for her but as I told my daughter it is clearly someone's cat, she looks like she is in really good shape (no collar though) and our dog would go bonkers if we had a cat in the house and I am allergic to them (also allergic to my dog but she is non-negotiable). After a while she went away and we thought that was that.

This morning when I got home from running my daughter to school I went in the house to start bringing out boxes that Purple Heart is picking up today. When I came out with the first armload she was back and meowing the same pitiful way as last night but this time she went up to the door and I have to quick shut it before she got in. She is so friendly, I feel so bad for her. It has gotten much colder the last few nights and I don't want her to freeze. I don't want to feed her because then she will never go away.

What would you do?

Me? I woudl catch her and bring her to animal control. I would never leave her out there.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I would take it to the local animal shelter or a vet's office. It's possible s/he has been microchipped and they can scan it to ID the owner. I have an indoor cat who has this and doesn't wear a collar.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I completely understand your reluctance to stress out your own pet by bringing her in, but I would definitely take a picture and try to find out who she belongs to! - Maybe her family moved, and while she was out exploring, she got confused and tried to go to the old house (near you) instead of the new one?

ETA - I would personally be worried about taking her to a shelter, because that might be scarier to her than being outside, but if you're worried about the cold, maybe provide something homemade - a box on the porch with blankets would be easy, or I think there are instructions on line to make cat shelters out of Rubbermaid bins.

 

[BrianL]

Well, I think you have been chosen. I'd have her checked for a chip, but if she can't be identified, she's going to hang around. If you don't want to bring her in, then maybe put a little house for her outside and let her live as an outdoor kitty, but with a warm place to sleep. I know feeding her is a commitment, but you seem concerned for her already, so there you go. Good luck.

 

[Poohlove]

@BrianL I think you are right! I have come up with a tentative plan and I hope that it works. I am fortunate enough to work in the town that I live in. At lunch I am going to go by our local convenience store and check the window there to see if there is a missing sign, if someone were to post one this would be the most likely place. Then I am going to get a carrier and set it up on my porch with the same towel and blanket and some food. If she is around tomorrow morning (which I suspect she will be) I will put her in the carrier and take her to work with me. I will be able to keep her in my office without any problems (ie, no dogs ) Once the vet's office down the road opens I will take her over there and see if she is microchipped and then I will go from there.

After reading about this breed of cat and how they get attached to their people and that sort of thing I feel even worse for her. I wonder if her people were just held up at work or something or maybe they didn't realize she wasn't in the house?

 

[Klayfish]

It's possible the cat does belong to someone else and lives as an outdoor cat. I've seen some of them in neighborhoods where we live. I would see a cat outside and think it was homeless, but eventually found out it belonged to someone up the street and just was an outdoor cat.

Otherwise, I'd agree to have it checked for a chip to see if it can be identified. If it can't, and you're sure it doesn't belong to a neighbor, turn it into an animal shelter.

 

[scrapquitler]

Last fall we had a beautiful Siamese cat show up on our front porch. She is very friendly and we just thought she was stopping for a back scratch. We haven't seen her since last fall and didn't think too much about her until last night. We were in the house and heard the most pitiful meowing going on. My daughter looked out the window and here was the same cat curled up on the shroud of one of our Halloween ghosts (decorations are down but this one ghost is still out there because my son was trying to fix it up) looking up into the window meowing away. We went outside to make sure she was ok, other than being cold she seemed fine. Oddly enough I have been purging our belongings and over the weekend I rounded up some old towels and blankets that were destined for our local shelter. I put one of each out on the porch for the cat to curl up on and gave her some clean water and we came back in the house - the poor thing was trying to come in with us. I felt terrible for her but as I told my daughter it is clearly someone's cat, she looks like she is in really good shape (no collar though) and our dog would go bonkers if we had a cat in the house and I am allergic to them (also allergic to my dog but she is non-negotiable). After a while she went away and we thought that was that.

This morning when I got home from running my daughter to school I went in the house to start bringing out boxes that Purple Heart is picking up today. When I came out with the first armload she was back and meowing the same pitiful way as last night but this time she went up to the door and I have to quick shut it before she got in. She is so friendly, I feel so bad for her. It has gotten much colder the last few nights and I don't want her to freeze. I don't want to feed her because then she will never go away.

What would you do?

Take a picture of her and post in your local community fb page/group "This cat is hanging around my yard on XYZ Street, who does she belong to? I'm going to take her to the local animal shelter if she keeps hanging around here". Someone will claim her. If not, take her to the shelter.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I'd have to feed and water her. I'd also move her in the garage until I came up with something better to do with her.

 

[Poohlove]

Take a picture of her and post in your local community fb page/group "This cat is hanging around my yard on XYZ Street, who does she belong to? I'm going to take her to the local animal shelter if she keeps hanging around here". Someone will claim her. If not, take her to the shelter.

I thought about that but I do not have FB, I have checked with all of my neighbors and no one knows this cat. My neighborhood doesn't have a high turnover so the neighbors pretty much know who lives where and their pets. They did both look on FB and said that no one has said anything about missing a cat. I am hesitant to say here it is come get it for fear that someone who doesn't own the cat taking it and maybe not having the best of intentions. I think that tomorrow if it turns out to not be microchipped I will take it to the shelter just to make sure that she is out of the weather and being fed.

She has such a sweet face though

 

[Jennasis]

You have been CHOSEN....

 

[Poohlove]

I'd have to feed and water her. I'd also move her in the garage until I came up with something better to do with her.

I did leave her some water and if she is back tonight I will give her a bit of food. I haven't yet because we didn't have anything that was appropriate for a cat and if she did have a home I didn't want to encourage her to keep coming back. (Or to be eating two dinners although sometimes I don't mind two dinners lol)

 

[Mizzoufan]

OP, I think you are good person to be worried and trying to find a solution. Some people would just rush her off.

 

[Poohlove]

OP, I think you are good person to be worried and trying to find a solution. Some people would just rush her off.

Thank you!!!

 

[Poohlove]

I just read a good tip in an article on the humane society website. It suggested putting a cheap breakaway collar on the cat (or dog) with your name and telephone number or address on it so that when the cat (or dog) returns home its people will see it and at least know where to look next time they can't find their pet. If my dog came home with this information I would call the number for sure just to see where she had been. (She doesn't get loose often but there have been a couple of occassions)

 

[Klayfish]

Or...have you seen National Lampoon Christmas Vacation? Give the thing a string of Christmas lights to chew on.

Of course I'm just kidding...I love cats, we've had several. Have a dog now because that's what the kids wanted.

 

[Micca]

I have checked with all of my neighbors and no one knows this cat.

This, I think, is a bit unusual. Someone who was a self proclaimed cat expert told me that cats, unlike dogs, are unlikely to stray too far from home base. I guess the vet/chip thing is the best solution. If the owners can't be found, maybe the vet would know someone who would like to adopt.

 

[Poohlove]

This, I think, is a bit unusual. Someone who was a self proclaimed cat expert told me that cats, unlike dogs, are unlikely to stray too far from home base. I guess the vet/chip thing is the best solution. If the owners can't be found, maybe the vet would know someone who would like to adopt.

I'm not sure, I don't know much about cats. Between the two neighbors we have about a 2 block radius covered, not every single house but the majority. The word is out so I will see what happens there.

That is a great suggestion, the vet may know someone. The cat is beautiful, she makes her little eyes so sad when she meows