What do I do about a cat who visits frequently?
March 11, 2010 10:00 PM Subscribe
What to do about a cat of unknown origins that visits frequently?
Okay... as of a few days ago there is a very sweet cat who comes and visits my apartment patio. I know it wasn't very smart -- but I fed her and now she comes back a little more regularly and meows at my door from time to time. Here's the thing: she isn't coming for food. There are some nights where she won't anything I give to her. However, she does like to simply "hang out" and be rubbed.
The thing is, I don't know where the cat comes from. It looks healthy enough, but I can see evidence of fleas on the cat. My apartment complex, however, does not allow cats to roam freely -- and so I am worried that they would resort to calling animal control. That, and the fact that I live very close to a busy street makes me worry about this cat's safety.
My current plan is to attach a collar with a note attached with my phone number that the presumed or assumed owner could call.
Do you have any other ideas?
Okay... as of a few days ago there is a very sweet cat who comes and visits my apartment patio. I know it wasn't very smart -- but I fed her and now she comes back a little more regularly and meows at my door from time to time. Here's the thing: she isn't coming for food. There are some nights where she won't anything I give to her. However, she does like to simply "hang out" and be rubbed.
The thing is, I don't know where the cat comes from. It looks healthy enough, but I can see evidence of fleas on the cat. My apartment complex, however, does not allow cats to roam freely -- and so I am worried that they would resort to calling animal control. That, and the fact that I live very close to a busy street makes me worry about this cat's safety.
My current plan is to attach a collar with a note attached with my phone number that the presumed or assumed owner could call.
Do you have any other ideas?
What is your plan after making contact with the cat's owner? Or are you trying to determine whether there is an owner, so you can adopt the cat? Take the cat to a shelter? Your concerns for her safety seem reasonable, but what you should do about them depends somewhat on your desired outcome.
posted by contraption at 10:22 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by contraption at 10:22 PM on March 11, 2010
I had a frequent visitor like this. It turned out the owner had bought a puppy, and the cat was having none of it.
Later the owner relocated it with someone she knew a suburb away. Neither the owner nor the friend ever saw the cat again. That cat had strategies.
posted by Wolof at 11:38 PM on March 11, 2010
Later the owner relocated it with someone she knew a suburb away. Neither the owner nor the friend ever saw the cat again. That cat had strategies.
posted by Wolof at 11:38 PM on March 11, 2010
Best answer: The cat isn't safe from either the traffic or the landlord, and her current owner, if there is one, doesn't care enough either to keep her indoors or to put a flea collar and a tag on her. She's your cat now!
(I got Jack this way, and had him for 16 wonderful years.)
posted by nicwolff at 11:40 PM on March 11, 2010
(I got Jack this way, and had him for 16 wonderful years.)
posted by nicwolff at 11:40 PM on March 11, 2010
Best answer: I like the idea of attaching your phone number and putting up notices. "Is this your cat?" and mention that if she's a stray, you're willing to take responsibility for her, if that's the case. Would possibly put off the animal control, maybe give someone a wake-up call, and indicate that you're a responsible tenant and pet person all at once. Mention your concerns like you have here. But that's only if you want to take her in.
I've adopted cats, and I've been adopted by cats.
I've had cats split and never come back because they didn't like the situation, for whatever reason, and I take very good care of kitties when they live with me. The couple of times it happened, I was caught off guard, but should have taken the cat's advice. Maybe they have good radar for when things are about to go down the toilet.
I had one that the neighborhood had been feeding, but she didn't belong to anyone. We were all just trying to keep her from starving and discussed her situation. She picked my apartment one day when the door was open. Made herself at home. Her previous person had gotten her declawed, but not spayed, so the poor malnourished thing was knocked up, hungry, cold, flea-infested, defenseless, etc. The vet and I decided it was spay her or lose her and the kittens. She lived with me for about 4 years. She was also one of the two that decided they didn't like the situation later and wandered off. I'm sure they found other welcoming homes. After I'd had to move from the last house she lived in, I couldn't find her. A couple years later, I was driving down that same road and saw her sunning on the hood of a car a block away from where I'd lived. I smiled and decided it was completely appropriate that I'd called her Jezebel and wondered what her new people called her.
One friend of mine had cat that just started coming on in to friend's apartment and making himself at home. Totally healthy cat. He originally started out 2 doors down the way, but really didn't like the newly acquired iguana or the new baby. He was kind of a shared-custody cat for a while, going back and forth. My friend provided food, water, and a litter box. Then the neighbors needed to move, and everyone decided the kitty would stay with my friend. My friend had a serious heart-to-heart with the cat and took him to be neutered. He'd been getting into fights and wandering near a busy street for a couple years already. We figure he got to spread his genes around more than enough, but my friend really didn't have official say about it until the other folks moved. That cranky thing lived to be over 15, maybe close to 20 because he was a cranky, already-scarred dude when I originally met him. He had a wonderful deep, rumbly purr.
I apologize for going on so long, but I love cats. I like a lot of dogs, too, but for different reasons. Cats tend to stay where they are or just up and leave out of what seems like personal choice. They can be selfish and vain creatures, and that's part of the appeal if you enjoy cats. Thanks for trying to help look after this one.
posted by lilywing13 at 11:59 PM on March 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
I've adopted cats, and I've been adopted by cats.
I've had cats split and never come back because they didn't like the situation, for whatever reason, and I take very good care of kitties when they live with me. The couple of times it happened, I was caught off guard, but should have taken the cat's advice. Maybe they have good radar for when things are about to go down the toilet.
I had one that the neighborhood had been feeding, but she didn't belong to anyone. We were all just trying to keep her from starving and discussed her situation. She picked my apartment one day when the door was open. Made herself at home. Her previous person had gotten her declawed, but not spayed, so the poor malnourished thing was knocked up, hungry, cold, flea-infested, defenseless, etc. The vet and I decided it was spay her or lose her and the kittens. She lived with me for about 4 years. She was also one of the two that decided they didn't like the situation later and wandered off. I'm sure they found other welcoming homes. After I'd had to move from the last house she lived in, I couldn't find her. A couple years later, I was driving down that same road and saw her sunning on the hood of a car a block away from where I'd lived. I smiled and decided it was completely appropriate that I'd called her Jezebel and wondered what her new people called her.
One friend of mine had cat that just started coming on in to friend's apartment and making himself at home. Totally healthy cat. He originally started out 2 doors down the way, but really didn't like the newly acquired iguana or the new baby. He was kind of a shared-custody cat for a while, going back and forth. My friend provided food, water, and a litter box. Then the neighbors needed to move, and everyone decided the kitty would stay with my friend. My friend had a serious heart-to-heart with the cat and took him to be neutered. He'd been getting into fights and wandering near a busy street for a couple years already. We figure he got to spread his genes around more than enough, but my friend really didn't have official say about it until the other folks moved. That cranky thing lived to be over 15, maybe close to 20 because he was a cranky, already-scarred dude when I originally met him. He had a wonderful deep, rumbly purr.
I apologize for going on so long, but I love cats. I like a lot of dogs, too, but for different reasons. Cats tend to stay where they are or just up and leave out of what seems like personal choice. They can be selfish and vain creatures, and that's part of the appeal if you enjoy cats. Thanks for trying to help look after this one.
posted by lilywing13 at 11:59 PM on March 11, 2010 [4 favorites]
I like the idea of attaching your phone number and putting up notices.
Or why not put a collar on the thing with YOUR name and address asking the owner to call you.
posted by three blind mice at 12:30 AM on March 12, 2010
Or why not put a collar on the thing with YOUR name and address asking the owner to call you.
posted by three blind mice at 12:30 AM on March 12, 2010
Sorry. You already were thinking on that line.
posted by three blind mice at 12:31 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by three blind mice at 12:31 AM on March 12, 2010
Take her to the vet and see if she's microchipped, which will let you find the owner (and while you're there, treat the fleas).
posted by desjardins at 7:49 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by desjardins at 7:49 AM on March 12, 2010
nicwolff: The cat isn't safe from either the traffic or the landlord, and her current owner, if there is one, doesn't care enough either to keep her indoors or to put a flea collar and a tag on her. She's your cat now!
Or the cat has found a way out of its apartment the owner doesn't know about, and the owner doesn't know it has picked up fleas yet. And the cat may be micro-chipped and have all her shots for all you know, too.
I really think the responsible thing is to FIRST try to find the owner. When I was a kid, our cat got out, and I was heartbroken. Someone obviously took him in, because he came back--three months later. Turned out the person down the street "adopted" him. We had posters up and everything. If that person had just done the right thing in the first place, it would have saved a little girl a lot of heartbreak.
I've rescued three cats from the shelter, and I think rescuing strays is great--you'll end up with a lifelong companion! But first make sure it IS A stray.
posted by misha at 11:51 AM on March 12, 2010 [2 favorites]
Or the cat has found a way out of its apartment the owner doesn't know about, and the owner doesn't know it has picked up fleas yet. And the cat may be micro-chipped and have all her shots for all you know, too.
I really think the responsible thing is to FIRST try to find the owner. When I was a kid, our cat got out, and I was heartbroken. Someone obviously took him in, because he came back--three months later. Turned out the person down the street "adopted" him. We had posters up and everything. If that person had just done the right thing in the first place, it would have saved a little girl a lot of heartbreak.
I've rescued three cats from the shelter, and I think rescuing strays is great--you'll end up with a lifelong companion! But first make sure it IS A stray.
posted by misha at 11:51 AM on March 12, 2010 [2 favorites]
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If your apartment complex has a bulletin board or something, you could post a note. If there is no official bulletin board, I always find that notes taped up in the laundry room and recycle area get attention.
posted by dchrssyr at 10:20 PM on March 11, 2010