I Found a Stray Cat...What Should I do?
By Chrissy
@Java09 (3075)
United States
February 5, 2010 3:37pm CST
Yesterday while I was walking my dog,I saw a small little black cute crawl out of the sewer.At the time,I had no idea she was stray.The next day,I got up early to take a walk.I seen her at the sewer drain again,but a I was in for a big suprise!She had kittens!She had a few kittens eating the cat food I gave her near the sewer.I furthered looked into the this cat,and later found it in some peoples yard with its kittens.I saw the gate jump over the fence and after some dog attacked it,it ran under a tree with its kittens.The mother cat looks in bad shape,shes missing alot of hair and looks thin.I have been feeding her.
Beleive it or not,I called a animal officer,and you'll never guess what he told me.He said not to feed or give the cats water,not to go near them,and to forget about,he also said he Can't pick them up and wait for them to leave,they will move on.I couldn't beleive it,in my country the US people try to help strays!but I called all the local shelters and they all said they can't come!
I want to catch these cats and give them forever loving homes,but how?they seem somewhat friendly,they are not really untame,they are rather shy though.The mother let me approach her and her black kitten.She seems protective of them though.She has one black medium haired kitten,which is looking on the older side not young where it can go without mom.She also has one Grey Tabby,who I am guessing is a male because it is slightly bigger than its littermate.
I can't get traps to catch them,I think they would be afraid if I tried to catch them.
What should I do????!!!
3 people like this
13 responses
@maezee (41988)
• United States
5 Feb 10
I've tried to "catch" stray cats, especially ones that I see out in the cold winter nights - I just want to help them! I feel so sympathetic. The best that you can do is try to not scare it away and possibly PUT food out (I don't care what the animal officer says!) and once you develop a trust, then take the cat inside and decide what to do from their: keep him/her or bring him/her to the humane society.
3 people like this
@Java09 (3075)
• United States
5 Feb 10
That is what I'm working on,gaining trust with this cat and her kittens.I am afraid the rescue will put her to sleep for some reason.I just want to catch her,then take care of her.Her kittens need homes,so does she.I felt bad when she got attacked by that dog.I also went and took a few pictures of her and her kittens,when they are developed I will probably post them here.I will think of some way to get her,until then all I can do is feed her and give her water gaining her trust each step of the way.Thanks for your advice.I think that animal officer is crazy,lol!
1 person likes this
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
6 Feb 10
I think feeding and give them drink is the best way for now. i have experienced this and all i did was give the cat food and drink. but it never came close to me since it was too shy and afraid. probably had some bad exprienced with other home owners which he's driven away to
1 person likes this
@Allie_xoxo (1063)
• Canada
5 Feb 10
animals need people to advocate for them I cant believe none of those institutions would do their jobs and help. You should take her in and give her a forever home.
3 people like this
@Java09 (3075)
• United States
5 Feb 10
The main problem is that I can't catch her or her kittens,because she is shy.I hope that I can gain her trust to the piont she'll let me catch her.I would love to give her and her kittens a forever loving home...when I catch them,there has to be someway to lerk them here.Thanks for your comment!
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
5 Feb 10
I have several homeless cats that I feed in the winter--they don't seem to want it in the summer. Keep putting food out for her and hope for the best.
Of course, you could also try taking a box and putting her kittens in it. She might follow you if you do that and you can keep her where you live until you find homes if that's possible. There are quite a few cat people here. One very nice lady has more than 20 cats that she cares for, I hope she chimes in here!
2 people like this
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
5 Feb 10
Well, animal shelters would be first option I could suggest, but you said you've already contacted them. It's crazy, because shelters or animal officer should be dealing with such animals.
All I can suggest is to put up some announcements around your neighborhood, perhaps there will be some people who are ready to take these kittens home with them. I really hope the little ones will be lucky to find a home, and their mother also.
2 people like this
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
6 Feb 10
Hello Java,
I lived in the Philippines, and we do have a lot of strays here. you frankly, if my mom wasn't so strict,asthmatic and hate cats like her other relatives, or maybe if i have my own house, I wouldn't have trouble giving more than ten cats a home. My home to be exact.
Some cats are too afraid to go with other people and some prefer to live out than staying home. i bet shelters don't have the funds to feed them since it's crisis.am sorry you got to experience this.
@mrspattinson (6)
•
6 Feb 10
i would keep feeding them and give them water. maybe soon if u show up often enough then they will come to u and u could ease up to taking them home. if not then maybe u will just have to leave them i dont know what else to say
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
9 Feb 10
It just breaks my heart to hear of so many sweet cats and kittens who are stray and need good homes. Your experience is much like mine. I've ended up adopting 9 stray kitties from my neighborhood and I absolutely adore every one of them to pieces. I commend you for what you are trying to do. In my experience, the more time I spend talking to the kittens and letting them know that I'm their friend, the more friendly they become to me. That's what happens most of the time. Then if you can eventually catch them, there are No Kill shelters that adopt them out. I believe they have to be spayed or neutered and get all the vaccinations before the shelters take them. It's quite a responsibility but our feline friends are so worth it. I hope this and the responses from the other myLotters helps you. I wish you and the cats all the best!!!
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Feb 10
hi java try to put some food out then move it closer and
closer to your home til its really close, she will begin to'
understand you are her friend,it may take awhile but I
think this would work. Also try to pet her very gently
and as time goes on she should let you escort her into
your home.it seems the animal people will not help you
at all evidently.just keep trying to get her closer to'
your home. goodluck hope it works.
1 person likes this
@Shawchert (1094)
• United States
5 Feb 10
This is a hard one because these cats are wild, and they may carry some deseases that won't do you very good if they scratch or bite you, the best thing you could do is get help from friends, and make syre you weare really thick gloves so they can't claw you. I'd try to find someone who's had experience with skittish cats, or youcould lure the mother into a cat carrier, and get the kittens yourself, there's many ways just make sure you are careful yourself because a scared cat is a bit dangerous.
1 person likes this
@jugsjugs (12967)
•
6 Feb 10
I used to help out in a stray cats home when i was younger.I would say to you when you go to see the cat start to call a name or even whistle as this will let the cat as well as the kittens know it is you,then if you can encourage her to follow you with her kittens to try to get her into your garden.Othere wise put the catfood in the cardboard box that has a lid on it to encourage her over do that a few times as well as put a kitten or both kittens in so mum can see they are getting fed in that then she should get in it shut the lid but ensure you have not got your dog with you,that way less for the cat to worry about as well as nothing much to startle the cat.Good luck let us know how you get on.
@Java09 (3075)
• United States
6 Feb 10
I will let you know when I get her,I'm going to try to gain trust and set some traps around where she hangs out.Thankyou for all your help.I will probably be getting her a nice new home as well as her kittens.I've been feeding her latley.Because it snowed today,I have not seen her around.I figure she is probably in the sewer trying to warm herself and her kittens.I won't give up on catching them.
@kaylachan (72220)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Feb 10
They make cat traps that are safe for animals and are designed just for the purpose of catching cats and strays. If you get your hands on some, set them up at the cat's favorite hang-outs with the same amount of food you've been feeding them. If you get them installed properlly it will cage the animal where you can take it to a vet and have it looked out.
Quite often it isn't advised to approach an animal that appears wild. Its hard to tell what they will do. However, it isn't wrong to trap them yourself. Sure they may be scared, but eventually will get over it.
1 person likes this
@shalome (178)
• India
6 Feb 10
java 09,
I hope you are very loving person to take care even the small tiny
pets in nature every mother has to protect their babies the same
the cat has protecting their kittens, but i cannot understand when you call
your animal officer to pick them up the kittens why they refused?
when you try to help the cat and their kittens they seems to be
afraid of you, hence let it stay in the same place only, you used
feed them regularly if it possible for you, after few days
they will try to come to your place.
@Java09 (3075)
• United States
6 Feb 10
I am going to feed them everyday and try to make them come to my house,I also am going to set traps for them.I have some canned cat food for the traps that they can not turn down!I am going to catch them soon hopefully,I am very concerned about them.I was shocked the animal officer wouldn't help me too!
