To keep the cat?

[lushilaoshi]

Me and my DH found a kitten by the side of the road while out walking last night.

We live in a country where strays are quite common, although not so much in the area of the city where we live. It's a sweet little tabby tomcat, and I suspect it's been abandoned recently as it's in quite good condition and was begging for food from passers by, whereas most of the strays here are very scruffy and run away from humans. It followed us for about half an hour mewling and we were worried it was in danger of being run over so we put it in the car and took it home, fed it etc.

It's a lovely cat and we're already quite attached. Problem is that we live in a high rise apartment with a balcony but no garden. The landlady would not like it (not that she needs to find out). It's a young tomcat and so we're worried it'll piss everywhere/destroy the sofa (although so far it's peed in its litter and not scratched the sofa too much). To top it off, my husband is a little bit allergic to cats.

Problem is, if we gave it away it would probably be in a similar situation as most people live in high rises. If we gave it to a shelter I don't think it would have a good life - they are crowded and the cats tend to be put down when they get to a certain age. And there's no way I would just abandon it again, poor mite.

What to do? Any suggestions?

[JunkBox]

if you neuter him he won't spray

Ah now that's not strictly true. We have five cats, all of whom are spayed/neutered.
Out of the five, three are sprayers

Two of them,one male and one female, both spray indoors and out.
I know the signs of when they are going to do it so can usually stop them before they spray the house, but not always!!!

One (male) only sprays outdoors, usually around my garden.

The last two females don't (touch wood!) spray.

Getting them neutered before becoming sexually active definitely helps but doesn't always guarantee that they wont spray!

[Wolpertinger]

I used to have a neutered tom cat. He never sprayed and didn't destroy stuff anymore than his sister did, which wasn't much.

[lushilaoshi]

Lurked, yes kittens are rehomed more often here. It's not quite a kitten though, a bit older than that. More of a 'catten'! My guess is that it belonged to someone who either moved countries, or got bored of the cat as soon as it was no longer in the cute kitten stages.

Just thinking of where I could put found posters... they don't really have lampposts here! Or pavements, post boxes, notice boards... Hmmm.

[lushilaoshi]

Ah, interesting Junk. Didn't realise that spraying varied so much! So is he likely only to spray when he is fully grown?

[OnlyLovers]

they don't really have lampposts here! Or pavements, post boxes, notice boards

Where do you live, OP? [intrigued]

[lushilaoshi]

Middle East. It's hot!

[OnlyLovers]

Sympathies!

Maybe the cat wouldn't mind being an indoor one, if it's that hot. keep it, keep it, keep it

[Lurkedforever1]

I was thinking more vets, supermarkets, local shops, any community type places etc. And if it's somewhere with gated estates full of expats a poster at the gates maybe? Mainly though ask vets/ animal shelters to keep the details cos that's the first place most people look.

[Sparrowlegs248]

Keep it. Once you've established its not chipped and lost (sounds unlikely)

Get him neutered, get some decent cat litter if you can find it there and keep him. Plenty of toys, you will need to actively play with him a few times a day.
Also get a scratching post. Mine prefer those coir (?) door mats to scratch on.
Sounds like he will have a much better life with you than any alternative.

[Moreshabbythanchic]

Cats usually only spray to mark their territory, as you are going to keep him indoors and he wont have contact with other cats who he may see as a threat, I don't think spraying will be a problem. You will still need to get him neutered though.

[lushilaoshi]

Lurked all good suggestions. My guess is that if it's lost, then its owner lives close to the place where I found it - only a ten minute walk from me on a non-46 degree day. Although for reasons stated above, god knows how they could've lost it. There are a few lampposts down there I could stick posters to. And yes, vets is a good idea. Supermarkets occasionally have notice boards. And I guess I could get in touch with some shelters to ask if anyone's looking for a small tabby tomcat.

I think checking for the microchip is the best bet. Owners are 'supposed' to chip their pets here, to certify that they have had the rabies jab etc. A lot of people don't think. Still, it's old enough to have been chipped. We have booked it into the vet's.

[lushilaoshi]

Picture :)

[lushilaoshi]

Decent cat litter, More? We got some basic stuff from the supermarket, but do you have any recommendations?

[OnlyLovers]

He's gorgeous!

[Moreshabbythanchic]

You can buy deodorising litter, I don't know what sort you can get where you are but neutered cats don't tend to smell so much. I have 4 cats and although they have access to outdoors they all use a litter tray. Bag up and bin poos as soon as done and litter changed every day and washed. No smell at all.

[thecatneuterer]

I haven't read the whole thread but I'd be very surprised if it belongs to anyone. By all means get it scanned, but above that you don't need to do anything. Male cats aren't any different to female cats in terms of scratching, pissing etc as long as they are neutered. He is old enough to neuter now. So get that done, along with vaccinations and chip, as soon as you can.

[Moreshabbythanchic]

Meant trays washed, not the litter!

[Gunpowderplot]

in the context you describe I think you did the right thing and should keep it. As long as it doesn't destroy the flat (and why should it - get it spayed) it won't hurt the landlady- they put those clauses in leases just for the sake of it. Put up some found posters near where you found it.

[PatricianOfAnkhMorpork]

One of our neutered boys did sometimes spray in the house, normally if it was something new. Although he also used to use it as a way of telling us he was pissed with us too. It didn't smell though.

The other one never sprayed at all, but he was neutered as a kitten where the other one was over a year old when he was done after he had been abandoned.

Your's is a gorgeous kitty and looks like he has definitely made himself at home

[Spilose]

I see that now OP, I ready "country" in your OP as "county". I think the fact you're in a different country makes it difficult for us to comment although I don't think a high rise is ideal for any cat. Probably more ideal than living as a stray though.

As far as your concerns about spraying/urinating I've have 3 male kittens and not once have they sprayed (I've never seems them do it, they could out of the house I suppose) or urinated anywhere but their little tray. Just my experience of course but not all male cats spray. As PP say neutering the cat will help.

Hope all works out

[Bailey101]

Keep him!! I have 2 indoor only cats (because of health problems in both) and they aren't hard done by. I have a balcony with netting where they chill out and sunbath, loads of toys and quite a few big climbing frame/high up bed thingies.

My pair are happy and active and I wouldn't be without them

[wowfudge]

Well OP I agree with TheCats and don't think that post was aggressive at all - the poster disagrees with you for a number of valid reasons.

Sounds like you are in Dubai from your descriptions I have no idea about pets and animal welfare there, but as a former landlord who allowed tenants to keep cats, let me tell you the damage they caused to the house was awful.

[Gunpowderplot]

Many cats cause no damage at all. I currently have one in breach of our lease. She has been there long term and when the landlord comes round we hide her somewhere and the landlord can't tell that we have a cat. There is no sign of her existence. Despite having no cat flap (we do let her out though, which must help).

[SuperFlyHigh]

To all those who said their neutered toms sprayed - I must've been lucky as my current one and the previous never did. my childhood pet a tom neutered didn't either...

ps OP your cat is gorgeous and obviously happy with you!

[Lurkedforever1]

I've got 2 and had others in the past. Only damage is current one who is light enough to climb curtains doing minor damage scaling them and dds girly net canopy when she was younger. One in the past used the bottom stair as a scratch post, so just used to keep a carpet scrap stuck over it so the actual carpet didn't get wrecked.