Took in a stray cat...now worried

[Saiahma]

Diser for almost 20 years, but haven't posted in a while and had to change my login. My 16 year old cat passed away over Thanksgiving. A few weeks ago a nurse I work with mentioned her mom has been feeding a stray all summer and wanted to find a home for it because its cold now (Wisconsin). I was thinking about it and 2 weeks ago she told me her mom caught it and was ready to bring her over! So I felt pressured but agreed. This cat is the nicest most cuddly animal ever. Very healthy, looks like a Russian Blue. Very clean, shiny coat. Only sign of being outside are her foot pads are rough and black ( but slowly peeling and pinking up) She took to the litter box immediately amd let me cut her nails no problem. I have an appointment with the vet next week and they said they'll check her for a microchip. Now I feel selfish that I'm worried she might have a family out there somewhere. DS 20 was home from college and fell in love with her too. So if they do locate the family, do they contact them or is it up to me? I know I'll do it either way. Just hoping I get to keep her.

 

[Meglen]

This is why I leave all the cats outside alone. I leave open my storage area so they can get warm but I have no idea if they are strays or just outside cats. If you have a town fb page maybe post on there and see if it's anyone's cat. If anything don't worry till the vet visit. I'm sure if it's someone's cat and they miss it they will be glad to have it back and will be better about lableing aka a pull away collar.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I assume the vet would contact the family if there is a microchip.
It may be a pet and be an indoor outdoor cat.
You didn't know that and clearly the friend's mom has seen it out a lot and has been feeding it.

Our first cat adopted us because we saw her outside all the time and she cam up to me as a child.
My parents thought the family wasn't taking care of her and letting her inside or something so we started allowing her in our house for short periods.
She absolutely adored us. I have a photo of her wrapped in a baby blanket in a toy buggy. She used to walk around the block with us.
Eventually the neighbor talked to my dad and said she was outside because she refused to come back in after a new baby was brought home from the hospital. (Although we had 2 pregnancies and babies in our house and she almost seemed motherly and protective)
They also called her the cat from hell.
We never saw a side like that of her.
Sure she was THE QUEEN but not mean.
We allowed her to be an indoor/outdoor cat since that's what she was used to.
We didn't have a litter box for her because she would just ring the jingle bell on the front door when she needed to go out.
The neighbor was moving and we were terrified they would take her.
Instead they brought over her paperwork from the vet.
Then when we moved we did get a litter box and she took to it immediately.
We did eventually let her be an indoor/outdoor cat at the new house too.
She lived to be 18. Of course she had to go out with a bang by passing away the day before my sister's wedding.
That was the queen in her lol.

Anyways my point is that you just don't know where some cats come from or why but if she does have a family mabye they are willing to part with her if she seems happier with you.

 

[anniemae]

She could be someones pet as she seems like she is accustomed to being inside and receiving love and being indoors. My cousins have a cat that stays out all night and goes in and out during the day. Sometimes the cat comes home and smells like cigar smoke so they joked that the cat has a "night time" family.

 

[CarolAnn856]

If you are planning to contact the owner if there's a chip, why does it matter whether it's you or the vet?

 

[MomOfDisneyPrincess]

It sounds like it is someone's pet. I would assume the vet would contact the name on the microchip, but I don't know for sure. It is possible that the cat was left behind during a move and the new owner would not be able to come pick up the cat. In that case, they might be happy that someone was willing to adopt her. Unfortunately, you just won't know until you follow this through.

If this kitty goes back home, you can always look for a rescue organization and perhaps foster to adopt a new kitty that will be a good companion.

 

[QueenIsabella]

If she's chipped, the vet will know and contact the company, who will then contact the owner. Also, at least here, when vets spay a female, they put a small tattoo on their belly, so they can tell if she's been done without opening her up.

You just don't know with cats. We've had cats who loved to wander--we feed them, love them, give them vet care...and worry when they disappear for a couple days. Sometimes, cats just love being outside. One of our cats has been known to break through screens--even on the second floor, because when he wants to go out, he wants to go NOW! He was very peeved when we forced him to stay in during Hurricane Florence--we were at Ground Zero--and as soon as it was safe, he out the door.

Meanwhile, during the aforementioned hurricane--we went out about an hour after the worst had passed, to assess the damage. On our front lawn, we found 3 tiny kittens--not yet old enough to walk (eyes and ears were opening). Drenched, yowling, no sign of Mom. We took them in and dried them off. I went out repeatedly, hoping Mom would show up--no luck. We ended up fostering them--no mean feat without power or passable roads at first, but we managed. We even kept the girl, named--of course--Florence. But, here's the kicker--Flo looks like a lilac point ragdoll! Blue eyes, silver-gray points with white paws. One brother was all white (but with blue eyes), the other had nice Siamese points. I'm still scratching my head--what on earth were these kittens doing out in this storm? Where was the mom? Believe me, if there was a cat that looked like it could be their mom in our neighborhood, I would have noticed! I haven't even seen, say, a white cat wandering around. Believe me, I would have taken their mom in, in a heartbeat, along with any other kittens. We worked with a cat rescue to get them their shots/neutering/adoption.

Good luck on your journey with your new kitty.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I say love her as your own until proven otherwise... She was brought into your life for a reason.

 

[aprilgail]

If someone lets their cat roam around outside they really don't care much about it to begin with so I doubt they would be out there looking for it-I don't see an issue taking in a cat as a pet that was left outside- at least now it will be someplace safe!

 

[Katie Dawn]

Sounds like either way she will have a loving home! But I totally understand you being attached. If the owners lost her and have been missing her I can only imagine the flood of emotions they would feel to find out she is safe. They would be forever grateful to you. Either way, I'm glad both of you have gotten love and cuddles from each other. Hopefully she's with you for a long time!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

If someone lets their cat roam around outside they really don't care much about it to begin with so I doubt they would be out there looking for it-I don't see an issue taking in a cat as a pet that was left outside- at least now it will be someplace safe!

Ridiculous. Some cats just can't live indoors exclusively. It's not your place to judge them.

 

[VandVsmama]

If that kitty is meant to stay w/you, then everything will work out. Don't worry.

 

[LSUmiss]

Ridiculous. Some cats just can't live indoors exclusively. It's not your place to judge them.

Used to believe that too til I came home to my cat dead in the street b/c he’d been hit by a car. I no longer believe in outside pets.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I really think the indoor/outdoor cat thing is specific to the kind of area you live. Rural farm/barn cats(assuming they’re vaccinated, heathy, still have their claws) are fine IMO. Cats roaming an area with heavy traffic, or where they may be seen as a nuisance, aren’t.
... really any moderate traffic would be problem for me personally.

 

[CarolAnn856]

If someone lets their cat roam around outside they really don't care much about it to begin with so I doubt they would be out there looking for it-I don't see an issue taking in a cat as a pet that was left outside- at least now it will be someplace safe!

Why assume it was allowed to wander? Sometimes pets escape, despite best intentions. That could have been the case as well.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't like it when I know some people have indoor/outdoor cats around my area especially because of predators and traffic. That said none, and I mean none, of the owners who have come forth saying "oh that's my cat he's/she's an indoor/outdoor cat, etc" appear to not care for their cat. Abandoning one's cat is an entirely different matter. I'm so very much for indoor cats here but I know that culturally speaking that's not the case everywhere. Just don't assume the cat isn't loved, or being taken care for. Believe me it upsets me too when I hear about a cat that was found dead or never found at all but I've learned to understand that just because the cat was outside doesn't mean it doesn't have a place to call home and isn't being taken care of.

I noticed too in the last several weeks a rush of lost pets (moreso than normal) some with rewards offered for safe returns. The number one question asked is "does the pet have a microchip". All those owners are just desperate for their pets to be back home. Just had a cat return after being missing for 3 months! Another one was found going in and around the storm drain systems. Cats tend to be gone longer than dogs and can be harder to catch. There's even been national stories out there about cats missing for years found again.

OP I really really really wish the nurse's mom had caught the cat and checked for a microchip at the beginning of summer or at least attempted to catch them. Someone could have been missing them all that time. Even without a microchip if the cat looks to be domestic vs feral cat I honestly would reach out to social media to see if someone is missing them. People do that here too all the time. Missing pets don't always have microchips but they could still be someone's pet.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Used to believe that too til I came home to my cat dead in the street b/c he’d been hit by a car. I no longer believe in outside pets.

Indoor only cats can get sick or hurt and die too. I think my cat has a death wish sometimes. We have a plant that we keep inside in the winter. My cat wanted to munch on it. We have put it in the laundry room hanging and she is bold enough to jump 9n the dryer to get at it. We now keep the laundry door closed so instead she tries to eat soap on the bathroom counter. Its always something and she is indoor even though she tries to get out every day even after being here for 3 years as of tod as .

 

[LSUmiss]

Indoor only cats can get sick or hurt and die too. I think my cat has a death wish sometimes. We have a plant that we keep inside in the winter. My cat wanted to munch on it. We have put it in the laundry room hanging and she is bold enough to jump 9n the dryer to get at it. We now keep the laundry door closed so instead she tries to eat soap on the bathroom counter. Its always something and she is indoor even though she tries to get out every day even after being here for 3 years as of tod as .

Yes, but like the examples you gave, you do your best to keep her safe. There is nothing you can do to protect them outside.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yes, but like the examples you gave, you do your best to keep her safe. There is nothing you can do to protect them outside.

That's not quite true.

1) When we went for a follow up visit with our cat who was a few month old to get booster shots the vet asked if he would be exposed to the outdoors. If we had answered yes then he would have gotten additional shots to account for some things outside. And additionally regular checkups to ensure vaccinations that include items for outdoor exposures helps.

2) Keeping a cats claws on them also helps protect them outside. A declawed cat obviously would have a less chance at defending themselves (which is a main concern I have with indoor only cats that get out since declawing is still fairly common).

3) Even with collars being harder to keep on a pet owner whose cat is indoors/outdoors can use one (probably breakaway ones and the like) with identifying tags (even simply saying "I'm not lost, etc")

4) Microchipping which arguably should be done for indoor and indoor/outdoor cats as it increases chance of connecting the pet with a person vs being a stray

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Yes, but like the examples you gave, you do your best to keep her safe. There is nothing you can do to protect them outside.

Yeah and when she does get out I have to sit out in the cold or rain for hours trying to get her back. In that time she could get killed too.