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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Previously stray cat- risks?

45 replies

RaisingSteam · 19/09/2016 12:22

I have the opportunity to rehome a cat from someone at work, but it was previously a stray (but lived in a house the last 8 months). It's a male, fairly young, not yet neutered.

Previous cats we've had have come from families so I'm not sure if it would be more likely to roam/fight/run off? My IL's have a cat from a stray litter and it's a very nervous jumpy bity sort of cat.

We live on a B road that is busy in rush hour and we lost a previous cat to a RTA. Since then we have fenced the garden to 6ft although a determined escaper could probably get through it. I just wonder if a stray cat would be more prone to roaming for miles or will he stick with where the food is!?

OP posts:

PolterGoose · 28/09/2016 18:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

RaisingSteam · 28/09/2016 19:08

Ah - quick update. Has been to the vet for the operation on his "pompoms". Is now wearing a buster collar and Not Impressed. He gave me a fright the night before the op (did he know?) by escaping out in the garden and staying out all night. I thought I'd never see him again but fortunately he was sitting smugly on the woodshed roof in the morning and could be grabbed by tempting with his food.

At first he was quite afraid of the dog. That lasted about 2 days. Now the dog is afraid of the cat! Cat has helped himself to dog's food and water etc. They are sort of circling each other but getting gradually better. I hope for a good outcome. DH and the dog are doing a lot of moping around and Your Cat is Menacing My Dog... hope it doesn't last.

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Original poster

RaisingSteam · 28/09/2016 19:09

Oops - he's called Coco. Children chose it.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 28/09/2016 19:22

Coco is a lovely name.

The dog knows his place by the sound of it.

cozietoesie · 28/09/2016 19:22

The dog should fairly quickly resign himself to the cat being Boss. We used to ensure, though, that the dog had some good outside time and it quickly became 'His Thing'. (Might help DH as well? )

Lanaorana1 · 28/09/2016 21:10

Coco a name of beauty and elegance.

Maybe make a bit of a fuss of the dog given his grace accepting the new hierarchy. Don't bother with DH :)

timtam23 · 28/09/2016 22:08

Glad he's settling in. Love the photo and the name!

Original poster

RaisingSteam · 06/10/2016 23:01

Hmm, still not going well with the dog. I am going to ask on the dogs board as they will be more sympathetic.
Quick question - we've always had cat flaps but just about to get an expensive back door put in and wondering whether to butcher it for a new catflap too? Do most people just let cat out and in? This is definitely a stay out all night cat!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 06/10/2016 23:12

What's happening with the dog?

Original poster

RaisingSteam · 06/10/2016 23:22

Ok he's a gentle 2yo border collie. He is generally quite mild mannered, not one of those highly strung ones, but he does remember things that hurt him (electric fence etc.).

If the cat looks at him or spits he just runs away and hides in corner of house or under the table, the cat seems to have established whole downstairs as territory. Tonight he was squealing and I think the cat went for him, it was dark out in the kitchen so I don't know if one surprised the other. They both have the run of downstairs (four rooms) and I thought they were getting used to each other.

All the advice on the internet seems to be if the cat is afraid of the dog, not vice versa. Obviously the cat is cautious and being aggressive to hold his ground.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 06/10/2016 23:29

Out of interest, how much exercise does the dog have every day?

Original poster

RaisingSteam · 06/10/2016 23:39

1 to 1.5 hours on weekdays. He is usually with DH under the desk during the day.

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Original poster

RaisingSteam · 06/10/2016 23:41

Under DH's desk I mean!

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Fluffycloudland77 · 07/10/2016 09:51

We keep our cat in at night, he'd like to be out but that's life.

cozietoesie · 07/10/2016 10:52

I haven't too much experience with dogs but that which I do have is with Border Collies. Ours were young/ish dogs from working stock. Very very bright and complete gluttons for exercise.

Ours would get 3 walks (including exercise) per day - they preferred them to be heading towards the hour each - and generally showed little or no weariness. It seemed to be necessary with cats around to give them a good outside time, not only to meet their exercise requirements but also to allow them their 'place'. Outside, with full ritual bells and whistles, was their work, and it gave them confidence and a sense of fitting in. (It also kept them healthy but that's another matter.) Then, they'd come back home and sit outside in the back garden, 'guarding', until it was time to come in. (Where they were as douce as could be.)

When is the cat to be allowed outside? They may be being forced together too much.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 07/10/2016 11:03

i think they'll rub along eventually

My first two cats were MOST put out when we got a dog...well one of them was the other ignored her more or less for her entire life, unless he could give her into trouble.
He was the same with the second dog, ds1 and dd....Oddly he quite liked ds2, but he was an odd cat.

Current cats have had a parade of dogs and pups to get used to, and are not at all fazed now, but idiotcat has has a couple of favourites amongst the puppies, so I feel that it is not necessarily a CatvDog thing, it's personalities.

Also keep the cats in at night, I like to know where they are. Unless idiot cat tricks someone into letting him out after supper the doors are closed....but we do have a utility room so I can leave that window open for them and he can get in to there if he is AWOL. ....we do not have a catflap at all, that window is their access!
We are also getting a new back door soon, but I honestly cannot remember if we asked the guy for a catflap or no...I'll have to check and see if dh remembers.

Original poster

RaisingSteam · 07/10/2016 11:57

Thanks both. Cozie I think you are on the right track, it's about trying to understand what their needs are and how they've changed. Will try letting cat out now it's the weekend, he's only been here 2.5 weeks but hopefully last week's neutering will have had an effect on the running off. Will try making sure dog gets really good long walks this weekend and see what transpires. He does get to go off lead and sprint around the fields.

OP posts:

CryingShame · 07/10/2016 12:33

Have you thought of doing agility or something like that so the dog has something focused it can do outside and gets lots of praise for?

cozietoesie · 07/10/2016 12:39

It can take up to a couple of weeks for the hormones to die down after neutering so stay alert.

Maybe - with the dog - try some new rituals to overlay on his memory? They're often quite ferociously bright so rather enjoy 'getting it right' when given a command. For example, I had ours trained to sit at any crossing points until the .Green Man came on etc and I said 'Go'. Then they were off - like an arrow from the bow - across the road. They loved it.

Good Luck.

cozietoesie · 07/10/2016 12:40

X post. I agree.

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