Am I doing the right thing by keeping a stray cat?

Okay…a week or two ago my sister told me about a stray cat that had followed her home one evening while she was walking. She played with the cat for a while. But she already has two cats – who did not take kindly to the interloper – so she made it leave. Then it came back to her house every night for a few weeks. The poor little thing’s fur was completely matted with big clumps of hair/burrs/dirt etc. all over and she was full of fleas and flea bites. So sis and her husband gave it a dose of Revolution (for fleas and heartworms, I believe) and tried their best to brush out as much of her hair as they could. And this whole time, they’ve been badgering me to take the cat since theirs will not accept her.

Well, yesterday I finally relented and agreed to take the cat. So this morning, the brother-in-law took the cat to the vet for me to make sure it wasn’t pregnant, have it spayed, vaccinated and checked for whatever kitty diseases they check for. Fortunately, she came back healthy and not pregnant.

My dilemma is: am I taking a cat from a loving family or am I saving a stray (or saving a cat from a neglectful family)? Let me give you what I see as the relevant information and you tell me what you think:

-Cat has already been spayed
-Vet estimated her to be “between 2 and 6 years old” :confused2:
-Cat is not scrawny or sickly looking
-Cat is very comfortable around humans
-Cat did not have a microchip in her
-Cat’s fur was so clumped and matted that the vet had to shave her (insert your joke here)
-Cat was covered in fleas and flea bites prior to my sis giving her the flea meds
-Cat showed up at my sister’s house nearly every night for a few weeks wanting in the house

Obviously, this cat – at least at some point – has belonged to someone. But, the matted hair and flea infestation lead me to believe that she has been living on her own for a while, or has been seriously neglected by her owners. Is it possible for a cat to be in this bad of shape and still have owners that truly “take good care” of it?

Thanks for your help.

 

Contact your local vet offices and shelters with a picture of the cat and your contact info, so if the owner shows up, they can contact you. Unfortunately, with this economy, many pets are just dumped off to fend for themselves. Keep it and give it a loving home. You are a good person.

 

Ditto.

A stray adopted us ~3 years ago. After hanging out at our place (in the country) a few days, I fed her. Took photos, hung them up. After a week, took her to the vet (I'd sent her photo to the vets & shelter in town too) and got her shots, etc. No chip in her (though she has one now!!).

She's a very happy kitty in our household. I'm sad that someone abandoned her (I live in the country, we see it every day) but I'm thrilled that she's a part of our family now. I am comfortable I did everything I could to try to locate her family, if she had truly been a lost cat.

(yes, ours was spayed too, but the vet couldn't tell, so we had her "spayed" again, poor kitty)

If you don't keep the cat, you know its likely end

 

What JosieCat said...


You are saving a cat and bringing it into a loving family.


Good on you.

 

Well…good news (at least for my conscience). The vet just called – after getting her shaved, they found a tattoo on her that the animal shelter evidently puts on stray cats that they pick up off the street and have neutered/spayed and then release. So, it doesn’t look like I’m taking someone’s kitty. Though, to be perfectly frank, I’m not too sure that I would have had any qualms about taking her from someone that had neglected her this badly anyway.

The vet has taken her photo and has my contact info and has notified the local animal shelter. She’s a sweet cat – I’m hoping I don’t get a call.

Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement, guys/gals!

 

In 1998 when I was living in St Joesph Missouri I answered an ad for a free cat in the paper. She was a beautiful grey former stray the womans daughter adopted. She was the most gentle, best pet I could ever have asked for. Last year I had to have her put to sleep because she had a tumor growing in her ear and the vet recommended it because she was in alot of pain. I am tearing up a bit writing this, I had her for 13 years and she is still very missed by everyone in my house. I feel a sorry for any cat or dog when I see a stray

 

I had 2 stray cats. They lived for about 13 years each, one of them I still have.

I say keep them.

 

My little Oreo was a foundling back in 2005. He kept coming around and eventually I let him in. Posted "Found Cat" notices but no response.

Nowadays he's an insider only. Hates to go out!

 

I say keep them, and that you are doing a nice thing by doing so.

Unless the cat can be proven lost, the former owners don't deserve her.

 

Cats

Lots of people throw their pets away when they decide to move.

The cat was found with matted fur and fleas. That means that the owners
moved away and left the behind to take care of itself.

A lot of people have the idea that cats and dogs can survive on their own. But they don't realize that these pets were raised by people and fed by people. They never had to go look for food until they were abandoned.

When I was a little girl... a stray dog with matted fur and hungry showed up at our place. My mom told me to wash her and comb out the matted fur.
I cut off all of the matts and when her fur grew back she looked like a designer dog. She was still a puppy with puppy habits of jumping around.
I think the owners had bought her for a lot of money but they realized they didn't want to bother taking care of the dog so they decided to abandon her in a city street where it was hard for the dog to find a new home.

We were so lucky she found us. Growing up in an unhappy family environment that doggie gave me love and joy in my lonely dismal life.

I think that your cat will give you lots of joy in your life. Watch out for con artist who may say they are the owners but want to sell you the cat or want to sell the cat to a research company.

I love cats and dogs. Lucy

 

No decent human being would ever let a cat get that matted or infested with fleas. You, my dear, have been chosen to be its rescuer! (The highest honour cats bestow on us humans!)

Try reading this without tearing up.

Unlike most days at RainBow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All the recent arrivals were confused and concerned. They had no idea what to think for they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had spent some time waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was happening and began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge to watch. They knew this was something special.
It wasn't too long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung heavy and low with tail dragging along the ground. The other animals on the pathway...the ones who had been at RainBow Bridge for a while...knew the story of this sad creature immediately. They had seen it happen far too many times.

Although it was obvious the animal's heart was leaden and he was totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or any illness. Unlike the pets waiting at the Bridge, this dog had not been restored to his prime. He was full of neither health nor vigor. He approached slowly and painfully, watching all the pets who were by now watching him. He knew he was out of place here. This was no resting place for him. He felt instinctively that the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But alas, as he came closer to the Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who spoke softly to the old dog and apologized sorrowfully, telling him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their special people could pass over the RainBow Bridge. And he had no special beloved people...not here at the Bridge nor on Earth below.

With no place else to turn, the poor elderly dog looked toward the fields before the Bridge. There, in a separate area nearby, he spotted a group of other sad-eyed animals like himself...elderly and infirm. Unlike the pets waiting for their special people, these animals weren't playing, but simply lying on the green grass, forlornly and miserably staring out at the pathway leading to the Bridge. The recent arrival knew he had no choice but to join them. And so, he took his place among them, just watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at the Bridge, who was waiting for his special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the pets who had been there for some time to explain it to him.

"That poor dog was a rescue, sent to the pound when his owner grew tired of him. They way you see him now, with graying fur and sad, cloudy eyes, was exactly the way he was when he was put into the kennels. He never, ever made it out and passed on only with the love and comfort that the kennel workers could give him as he left his miserable and unloved existence on Earth for good. Because he had no family or special person to give his love, he has nobody to escort him across the Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?"

As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the all-invasive gloom lifted. Coming toward the Bridge could be seen a single figure...a person who, on Earth, had seemed quite ordinary...a person who, just like the elderly dog, had just left Earth forever. This figure turned toward a group of the sad animals and extended outstretched palms. The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all were bathed in a pure and golden light. Instantly, each was young and healthy again, just as they had been in the prime of life.

From within the gathering of pets waiting for their special people, a group of animals emerged and moved toward the pathway. As they came close to the passing figure, each bowed low and each received a tender pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. Their eyes grew even brighter as the figure softly murmured each name. Then, the newly-restored pets fell into line behind the figure and quietly followed this person to the Bridge, where they all crossed together.

The recent arrival who had been watching, was amazed. "What happened?"

"That was a rescuer," came the answer. "That person spent a lifetime trying to help pets of all kinds. The ones you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of such unselfish work. They will cross when their families arrive. Those you saw restored were ones who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are permitted to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor pets that couldn't place on Earth across the Rainbow Bridge. You see, all animals are special to them...just as they are special to all animals."

"I think I like rescuers," said the recent arrival.

"So does God," was the reply.

 

Sure, now I'm sitting here blubbering.

 

The RAINBOW BRIDGE IS REAL BECAUSE......

I once went to Palm Springs with my sister and we went to visit a friend of hers. She had a small old doggie named Bobby. The old dog could hardly walk. I said to the owner, "I said to the lady..."I think Bobby is getting ready for the Rainbow bridge". The lady yelled at me, "Don't say that because Bobby understands what you are saying about him".
So I shut my mouth and sat down to read a magazine.

Then all of a sudden my sister and the lady yelled to me to see a beautiful
large rainbow with lots of colors on it. All the windows were covered to keep the hot desert sun out so there was no way that a rainbow could have showed up on the plain white wall.

I looked down from the wall and I saw Bobby looking at the rainbow. His brain was concentrating on the rainbow. When he moved away and looked away.... the rainbow disappeared. So I think it was Bobby showing us the
Rainbow Bridge. Then one day he quietly passed away and went to the rainbow bridge. He will wait there for the lady who loved him soooo much.

My sister still visits that lady friend and she is still angry that I told Bobby about the rainbow bridge. But Bobby already knew about it.lol.

This is my proof that the RainBow Bridge is real because it was old Bobby who showed us the beautiful super large rainbow. It was amazing to see the rainbow. It was a psychic experience for us. I will never forget it. Lucy

 

Wonderful, Now I can't see my keyboard.

 

See what you've started with all these posts? I'm but it's a good .


Carve, you are now responsible for giving us continued updates of your kitty's progress and well-being.

Pictures to follow? Hope so.

 

A bar/restraunt I go to now has a stray cat, it showed up in the winter and they felt sorry for it and fed it a couple times, it stayed around naturally and now he eats like a king, he gets the leftovers from customers plates, steaks/lamb/you name it. He's getting kind of fat now...he got real lucky.

 

Ya gotta name her "Lucky"!

It's kinda Vegas-y and after all she is lucky!

Yup, we get 1-2 dogs a year and an occasional cat left on our property. Some folks think if you live on some land they can leave their animals with you. Since my elderly cat won't share the place I take the abandoned animals to the shelter & sponsor the adoption so someone will take them.

 

sounds like the cat has picked you because you are in a position to look after it.

what makes you think you have a say in the matter.

 

Will do, Ardee.

So far, so good. She returned from the vet disease free; and with the exception of having more tarter build up and tooth decay than is normal, she seems to be in excellent health. She also has apparently been quite successful at hunting, scavenging or begging as the vet says nothing but diet food until she drops a pound or two. (Though, after the trauma of being shaved, poked and prodded all day yesterday, I figured she could start her diet today and she got spoiled with the good stuff last night.)

Last night she was very lethargic due to the effects of all the vaccinations and spent most of the time curled up on the couch, waking up every half hour or so to remind me that I had stopped petting her. This morning, though, she seemed to have much more energy.

I’m quite impressed with how well adjusted she is. She does not fear people at all, and loves attention. She’s a bit skittish around loud or unfamiliar noises and perhaps a bit too “clingy”. But, I assume that is to be expected after what she must have been through. I’ll give her a while adjusting to her new surroundings before I try correcting any behavior, I think.

My sister dubbed her “Patty Paws” because she puts one of her paws up in the air (as if wanting to play patty-cake) whenever she wants food or attention. I’m going to have to come up with something else, though. As a single man without any children, I don’t think I could bring myself to introduce her as such. Maybe I’ll go with Sammowhammo’s suggestion of “Lucky” – being a degenerate gambler, I was contemplating something Vegas or gambling related anyway.

Again, thanks for the advice and kind words. I’ll try to keep you up to date with her goings on and perhaps get some pics posted.

 

My cat (outdoor because we're both allergic, but with rfid access to the downstairs garage where her food & litterbox are) is a GREAT hunter. She leaves us presents (just the guts- she eats everything else) multiple times a week. She gained a pound the first year we had her (remember, stray! And probably only 9M old too....) and a quarter pound the second year - vet telling me she's gaining too much weight and I need to limit her diet etc. I told the vet that the cat is fed by an automatic machine so we're not overfeeding her. But she hunts & eats what she catches - I can't stop that Vet still makes me mix regular dry food with lowfat dry food....

I think this year I'm bringing her to the vet in September instead of November - by November, she has her "winter" extra half pound on her.

I'm talking about a cat that weighs 10 pounds. I used to have a maine coon - I *know* big cats, and this one isn't

This is Nugget. Named after a variety of hops my husband grows - when she started coming to our house, she hung out by the hops garden.