Posted By |
Message |
Naner325
waiting on nugget!
Member since 6/10 4432 total posts
Name: N
|
Dont know what to do
I posted a while back a couple of stray cats we have been feeding and built a little outside shelter for. We have continued to feed these cats but it appears one is more loyal than the others. We are told by neighbors and my sis who lives downstairs that he waits for us all day long, on our doorstep. When we get home he is waiting for us. The other day we hadn't seen him in 2 days and DH and I were really nervous that something happened making it clear that we are more attached to this little guy than we thought we were. When he came to our doorstep that morning I was so happy and I called DH at work to let him know he was okay. So here's my question:
If we wanted to take him in permanently, how do we go about this? He doesn't let us get too close but he has no problem just walking in our garage when left open. I also have a 5 yr old cat who is my life and I really don't want this to affect him or our relationship with him. I know that sounds dramatic but he is seriously such a huge part of my life that it would break my heart if it harmed our relationship. On the other hand, Lenny, our cat, sits by the window and cries and cries and cries to the other cat which I don't know if he is pissed or wants to befriend him.
I am considering taking the cat in but I would want him to get his shots and checked up before I let him near Lenny. Also, when we adopted Lenny, he was declawed. I am nervous that this other cat will hurt him.
Any advice? TIA
|
Posted 2/18/12 9:34 AM |
|
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Diana712
RIP my beloved Brother Richard
Member since 5/07 6710 total posts
Name: Diana
|
Re: Dont know what to do
Ok before i ever let a feral in my home I would have to be able to pet him and hold him/\.. Sorry my opinion.. I think if you work hard and give it time you can develop a relationship with him and then decide if he will be a good fit... This is the first week after 2 years that my feral will let me pick her up and hold her... I have benn petting her for about 10 mos now but never held her until very recent.. . It takes time patience and consistancy.. I work on this every single day.. Although my feral baby can never come inside because #1 and most important my husband would die from the allergy.. #2 she wacked my dog in the face last year and I KNOW my dog would die of anxiety and never go for it.. #3 I dont trust her with my 2 1/2 yr old daughter..
ETA: A feral with declawed cat is not a good fit imo.. I would declaw him as well if u decide to take him in.. But then you can never ever let him out again.. I dont think ita a good Idea .. your feral may yearn to go out forever .. Its all he knows.. I have a heated house out side for mine and she is so happy.. She is about 13 now and just so lovable.. I feel guilty alot when she comes up to the door but I dont think she would survive in my home if it was even a posibility..
Message edited 2/18/2012 2:51:51 PM.
|
Posted 2/18/12 2:46 PM |
|
|
Naner325
waiting on nugget!
Member since 6/10 4432 total posts
Name: N
|
Re: Dont know what to do
Posted by Diana712
Ok before i ever let a feral in my home I would have to be able to pet him and hold him/\.. Sorry my opinion.. I think if you work hard and give it time you can develop a relationship with him and then decide if he will be a good fit... This is the first week after 2 years that my feral will let me pick her up and hold her... I have benn petting her for about 10 mos now but never held her until very recent.. . It takes time patience and consistancy.. I work on this every single day.. Although my feral baby can never come inside because #1 and most important my husband would die from the allergy.. #2 she wacked my dog in the face last year and I KNOW my dog would die of anxiety and never go for it.. #3 I dont trust her with my 2 1/2 yr old daughter..
ETA: A feral with declawed cat is not a good fit imo.. I would declaw him as well if u decide to take him in.. But then you can never ever let him out again.. I dont think ita a good Idea .. your feral may yearn to go out forever .. Its all he knows.. I have a heated house out side for mine and she is so happy.. She is about 13 now and just so lovable.. I feel guilty alot when she comes up to the door but I dont think she would survive in my home if it was even a posibility..
Thanks so much for the advice. Now that I am thinking about it, I think you are right. We will work on contact with him and take it from there although the heated house outside is an idea as well. How do you keep raccoons or other animals from getting in there though?
|
Posted 2/18/12 6:13 PM |
|
|
Diana712
RIP my beloved Brother Richard
Member since 5/07 6710 total posts
Name: Diana
|
Re: Dont know what to do
I dont know how I got rid of them.. I do not keep her food outside anymore . I keep it in her house.. I used to leave it out and they came at night and ate it on her.. But they stopped coming?? i dk why?
|
Posted 2/18/12 8:29 PM |
|
|
Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name: :)
|
Re: Dont know what to do
Posted by Diana712
I dont know how I got rid of them.. I do not keep her food outside anymore . I keep it in her house.. I used to leave it out and they came at night and ate it on her.. But they stopped coming?? i dk why?
Def depends on where you live. If the OP lives in Suffolk or a wooded area, forget it. She could never leave food in there over night esp. SHe would risk the cat getting into a brawl with a raccoon and then have to worry about the cat contracting rabies, kwim?
She would have to feed the cat while it's light out and the cat is visible when someone is home watching, kwim? Raccoons are too too smart.
Message edited 2/18/2012 10:27:09 PM.
|
Posted 2/18/12 10:25 PM |
|
|
Diana712
RIP my beloved Brother Richard
Member since 5/07 6710 total posts
Name: Diana
|
Re: Dont know what to do
Posted by Goobster
Posted by Diana712
I dont know how I got rid of them.. I do not keep her food outside anymore . I keep it in her house.. I used to leave it out and they came at night and ate it on her.. But they stopped coming?? i dk why?
Def depends on where you live. If the OP lives in Suffolk or a wooded area, forget it. She could never leave food in there over night esp. SHe would risk the cat getting into a brawl with a raccoon and then have to worry about the cat contracting rabies, kwim?
She would have to feed the cat while it's light out and the cat is visible when someone is home watching, kwim? Raccoons are too too smart.
I guess so... I have no problem with them.. And I have seen my cat watch them eat it while she was near them???? It was so wierd ?? she was just letting them eat it.. She has been out there so long I think she knows how to handle them.. she keeps away.. she also isnt on the prowl for food.. she gets fed so much she isnt starving or desperate.. But I dont trust them either so feed them in the day early.. mine gets fed at 7am every single day then at 9 pm she gets her snack and eats it right up..
|
Posted 2/18/12 10:52 PM |
|
|