Stray kitten advice

[Roscoe Chill]

As I type this at 11:22 PM, I have a cute little stray kitten demanding that we let him in our house. Our 6 month old puppy thinks he's the best thing ever, and I mean this little guy is persistent. My girlfriend is adamant that I don't feed it, or let it in the house, and I understand that...and I'm not even a "cat person" but I feel terrible with this little tyke seemingly has chosen us, and I'd feel even more terrible if I found out something happened to him tomorrow morning...any suggestions?

 

 

(added tag --1992)

[cweber39]

Maybe put him in a cage or something then tomorrow taking him to the Humane Society.

[Roscoe Chill]

I don't have a cage that he wouldn't be able to get out of, otherwise that's what I'd do.

[bball123h2]

Garage or basement with a blanket to lay on? I would definitely take the cat either to the vet (if you plan on keeping it) or to the WI Humane Society to get it checked out though.

[cweber39]

What about a deep rubbermaid container? Of course no top on I wouldnt think he could get out quite yet.

[Roscoe Chill]

I guess I should say that I don't plan on keeping it at the moment, although I've been called a softy. Like I said I'm not a cat person at all, and just got a puppy a few months ago, but it really seems like this little sucker is almost choosing us. I'm kind of wondering if there is anyone to call in a non emergency situation at this hour...bringing him/her inside is not an option (I've got my orders) and I just don't want to find him out in the road dead tomorrow.

[cweber39]

There are animal hospitals in there area you can call, see what they suggest or tell you to do. There is one in Waukesha on Bluemound by the airport.

[Roscoe Chill]

He's small, but he just climbed my large tree in the front yard and climbed back down and is pacing back and forth on the window ledge as my puppy follows him from the inside...he's not going to be held in by anything other than a cage. I live in Janesville btw.

[cweber39]

Well you could at least call the animal hospital just for some advice. Here is the website http://www.wivrc.com/ there phone number is at the bottom and it's toll free, they are open 24 hours. Another thing you could maybe do is if you have a plastic laundry basket you can flip it upside down, then you have a somewhat of a cage of course it needs to be the ones with all the holes in it.

[sgtcluels]

They have cardboard carrying things you can get. Cheap so I'd pick it up. If you are going to keep him, make sure he gets to the vet asap, if not the Humane Society should take care of any pending medical issues.

 

Got a picture?

[Brian the Automator]

I'm all about stray animals, but do NOT let it in the house. Chances are, being outside all the time, the kitten could get your dog sick.

[Roscoe Chill]

Yeah, I didn't let it in the house...and this morning it is nowhere to be found. I hope the little guy makes it, he hung around meowing for probably three hours at the front door/windows. I would never jut go out and get a cat, but this little guy seemed to choose us as I said, so it was hard not letting him in/feed him etc.

[Brian the Automator]

Get him fixed up, and take him in. If I already didn't have 4 cats, I would.

[berniebrewer4life]

Maybe put him in a cage or something then tomorrow taking him to the Humane Society.

That, or cage him up and take out an ad in the local newspaper "Free kitten to a good home". He will be gone real quick.

[Roscoe Chill]

Well Brian (and anyone else who cares)...you'll be happy to know that "Macy" indeed has a new home. She stayed outside our living room and kitchen windows from Tuesday night on with no reason (food) to stay, and relentlessly demanded her way in. We finally broke down Thursday night and fed her, and $125 later (vet visit and supplies with spaying and declawing left to go!) she is "quarantined" in our basement bathroom getting used to indoor living.

 

We tried very hard to find someone that really enjoys cats to take her in, to no avail. That coupled with the fact that the Humane Society told us in so many words that if she was brought in to them she would die, and I am a new cat owner I guess (don't I sound excited?)...that is if she can get along with Roscoe my six month old labradoodle. So far, I don't see it as a problem.

 

Thanks for all the advice, and let me just say that the Humane Society in Rock County is pretty much a joke. Either way, I admire this kitten's persistence and survival skills as the few hours of the day she wasn't meowing in the windows she slept up in a pretty big tree by our garage, and I don't want her to die. Wish me luck!

[Brian the Automator]

The fact that you rescued the cat will mean a lot to you throughout her life. She'll appreciate it too.

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

I also had the same situation happen to me five years ago this september. I was not a kitty person at all yet after getting to know each other, she has turned out to be the coolest thing in my house ( besides me ). Don't tell her that though. Congrats on the new kitty.

 

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/madisonbrewerblue/kitty524.jpg

[brewcrewman17]

NDOG, I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in saying that it would be kinda neat if you would post a picture of your new kitty. I'm sure we'd all like to see her. And good luck, as well. I know some people here would disagree with me, but cats make unbelievably excellent companions, and I'm sure you'll enjoy your new kitty fatherdom.

[craigharmann]

Cats make good companions? My wife's cat sure doesn't. The only time she comes near to me is if she wants to be petted, fed or for whatever other reason strikes her fancy. I love my wife, so I've accepted her cat. Thankfully, she allowed me to get a dog last fall, and he's very loyal (when he's not trying to kill anyone walking by our window outside) and a good companion.

[hammytime]

Have fun with the new kitten. I agree, cats are great pets (my allergies prevent me from having one). Each one has a unique character all its own, which makes them all the more fun to have.

[danzig6767]

There are a couple stray cats by where i live,a black one in particular that i hate.It not only killed a rabbit and tried hiding it under a bush by my patio door,it hunched it's back like it was going to charge at my daughter a few years ago until i heard her yell and i came outside.Now that i have a puppy,i see the cat sniffing around by my place at night more often.When i see the thing,i go outside right towards it until it runs away,but i'm leery it might try attacking my puppy when it's on the outside leash given i don't have some big fenced in yard.

 

I understand it's just following instincts and trying to stay alive,but in all honestly,i'd like to see it die because it seems pretty bold to me and i don't trust it at all.I already don't care for grown cats people have as pets,i hate this stray.If it ever goes near my puppy,i'm going to personally work on ending it's life.

[Patrick425]

Thanks for all the advice, and let me just say that the Humane Society in Rock County is pretty much a joke

Yeah, We live in Waukesha and went to the Humane Society there to try to get a kitten when my son was 2 1/2 (about 7 years ago). Because of our son's age, we were not allowed to adopt a pet. Huh? It's just funny how they lump all kids into the same group. Our son grew up with a cat since he was born. That cat died (of old age) and that is why were trying to get another one. Our son is 9 now and has never mistreated any cat that we have owned since he was born. If we had know this rule, we just would not have brought our son along and then stated that we did not have any kids (as I'm sure many people who know this rule do). I guess they rather just euthanize the animals instead of giving them to loving homes with kids.

[Brian the Automator]

There are independent cat and animal shelters and rescues other than the Humane Society with much looser rules.

[Patrick425]

There are independent cat and animal shelters and rescues other than the Humane Society with much looser rules.

Yeah, that's were we ended up getting a kitten. It's the greatest cat we ever owned.

[Roscoe Chill]

But the Humane Society's goal should be to find homes for the animals that are there. They should be cautious on who the animal is going to, but not to the extremes that Patrick just pointed out and other things I've heard. If there is an animal that has shown aggressive tendencies, or sick, it should be euthanized, and maybe they could manage their numbers a little better but the fact that we were flat out told that if we bring this kitten in, it will be killed, just makes me question the Humane Society even more.

 

I say even more, because a few months ago when looking for a puppy, I was shocked to find out how much they freaking charge you to "adopt" a dog. Put it this way...I paid less for a labradoodle than I would have if I had adopted a puppy at the Humane Society...there's just something wrong with that. Of course, I neutered my puppy since then, and that's another expense that would have been included in the Humane Society's adopton fee, but we're still talking in the same ballpark. It's a joke.