Stray Cat

[scorpiogirly]

Hello all.

Just looking for some advice in this situation. A few weeks ago I noticed there was a cat sleeping in the side entrance on a large stuffed toy on my neighbours side.

I thought it was just one of the local cats at first but turns out he isn't. I fed him and posted on various lost pet groups.

A woman messaged me to say that he looked like her mother's cat and I was told that her brother would bring his mother to my house as the cat wouldn't go to anyone else.

Anyway, in the end the son just turned up on his own with a cat box. The cat ran away from him across the front gardens and disappeared for a few days. He left the cat box with me. I heard nothing else from them until last week when the original woman messaged me asking if her mother had messaged me about the cat, which she had not. They do not seem bothered about him at all and I'm not wondering if he purposely ran away.

The cat seems terrified of people. No collar. He's been in the side again and I have been feeding him. Part of me is reluctant to contact them again, to be honest I'm not even sure they are anything to do with the cat. At first he was hissing at me if I went anywhere near but is now beginning to trust me and becoming affectionate. Even if they are the owners, I don't want him to go back of he was being abused or neglected, just for him to run away again and potentially get hurt.

It kills when when I wake in the morning and he has been sleeping outside in the cold.

I tried to get him into the house last night. He seemed happy in the hallway as long as the door was open but as soon as I closed it he panicked and wanted to go back out.

He is currently upstairs in my house, just to give him a few hours rest out of the cold.

I've contacted local cat places but they have no spaces to take him right now.

I would be fine with him staying a while but I have a dog who isn't used to cats and would chase him and I also have a severe cat allergy.

What do I do? I can't understand the 'owners'. If I had lost my cat I'd be contacting me every day and looking in the area. They just don't seem to give a crap.

Same here. He doesn’t want to live indoors. If he comes in (for food) and I shut the door he freaks out! He will sit outside with snow falling and not bat an eyelid. But they do like somewhere to shelter. Mine liked his cat house, straw is good as it stays dry and the heated pad can be brought in and washed. I have been known to add a small hot water bottle which goes down well.

Mine currently comes into our utility area which is sheltered but not much warmer than outside. He has a lovely winter coat and I do give him extra food in winter.

ETA please don’t give him to randoms, trust your instincts.

I'll look into that food thank you.

Well he's upstairs. On my bed! Looks like I'm sleeping downstairs tonight. I've put a blanket over him. Would he be by the front door if he wanted to go out? I don't know how cats work.

I think I'll get a cat house with self heating mats and straw. See if he will use it.

Straw and a mat outside or on your bed tucked up with a blanket 😂
Let me guess...
OP you are taking to being a cat slave like a pro.
(No, he doesn't need to be covered with a blanket)

Haha. I actually have put a blanket over him...

Christ when someone texted to say my sons cat who had been missing 7 weeks was behind their shed i ran to their house! With some treats to lure him.out also. Genuine loving owners would make an effort to get their cat back

They wouldn't even have to look for him. All they had to do was come to my house any day of the week and they would have found him.

Locally we have a lost and found cats group on facebook. One of the posters has a mobile chip scanner, and another couple have a live trap so that the cat can be caught to check for a chip. You may have a similar group in your area.

Since you've begun to gain his trust, it might be a matter of seeing if you could borrow a chip scanner

Well the cat hasn't ventured back down until he got upstairs yesterday. He seemed quite tired. Not sure what to do now today and I'm wondering if he's just going to stay up there forever!

Does he have a litter tray?

I would try to find another good home for him given your allergy. He's at the least neglected and likely abused with the old owners. An insulated box is also a good temp measure.

You're a kind soul OP.
I suspect kitty is exhausted from fending for themselves.
Could you contact local rescues and see if they can help re-home him? You could let them have the owners name if he's not chipped so they can sign him over as they obviously aren't that fussed about keeping him.

If the owners are who they say they are, I think they are because the photo they sent me of the cat, the markings are identical, they have said he is chipped. I'm concerned about him getting scanned and going back to them, they are just not bothered.

No litter tray as yet. I didn't know he would be up there this long. He's started hissing at me when I go up now but let's me stroke him. I'll have to get a stay today but don't really want that upstairs :/

I'm at a loss as to what to do. He hasn't eaten since yesterday despite me offering food. He won't come back down.

I contacted some yesterday but they're full. They would just scan and return him anyway I am guessing and he would do a runner again.

When we adopted our dog we were told she was good with cats and turns out she was not and quite scared, anxious. We didn't have the heart to send her back bc she was then part of the family so we tried to work on it and now they all get along fine. They don't cuddle or anything but do live together in harmony. It's completely possible if you work a bit at it. It sounds like you rescued this poor cat from a horrible family and I would do what I could to keep him and keep him safe. Cats don't need much, just love and food. Also, my husband is very allergic to cats as well and he takes claritin daily along with his inhaler and is fine.

I went and got a litter tray today and put it next to him. He pretty much gor up right away to use it. Sounded like he had a lot of wee to come out. Also had a number 2. My god ot stinks doesn't it lol feel so bad knowing he needed to go that bad. Poor little thing was obviously holding it in.

I don't think this cat is going to want to leave...
I'm a bit allergic to other people's pets but find I am less reactive to my own. How are you finding your allergy?
I would suggest trying to persuade kitty not to sleep on your actual bed though..

My eye is playing up today a bit and gets swollen. He came down for food about an hour ago. I opened the door and he wanted to go out so he has now and I'm a bit concerned he might try staying our tonight.

The cat appears to trust you and as you are giving it food & water it appears to have chosen you. Do you have a garden shed or other outbuilding in your back garden - you could possibly prop the foor open or install a catflap so Pusscat has some form of shelter. Then install a bed for the cat to sleep in; a cardboard box will be quite adequate and can be replaced at no cost when needs be.

I have a shed but he doesn't go in my back garden as far as I know because of the dog. He went out my bedroom window last night about 5am. It's a flat roof so hope he's okay.

He might not be bothered by the weather. My car actively chooses to sleep in the garden for part of the night.