Found a cat
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive September 2006:
Found a cat
Or, more accurately, it found us.
Late last night I heard meowing on my back porch. I looked out the window and came face to face with an all black cat. My older DS went outside to investigate and the cat came to him and started rubbing up against him. I told DS to put water out for it and we would see if it was still there this morning.
Well, this morning came and the cat is still here. The cat (we discovered that it is an intact adult male) wants to come in, but we have 2 spayed female cats and a dog and that won't work. We asked around the neighborhood and no one knows anything about it. I'm afraid that it's either lost or has been dumped since it has an indentation from wearing a collar. I called the SPCA and filed a found animal report, but I cna't keep it inside and I don't know how long it will stick around. It is very friendly and must have been a family pet because even with all 5 of my kids out there this morning, it ran towards them instead of away from them!
I've thought about putting an ad in the paper, but I can't keep it inside and I'm afraid it might leave before someone claims it. (Although, since one of my kids has now fed it, it may decided to stay.) My last resort is taking it to the SPCA and letting them either find the owner or try and put it up for adoption. What else can I do?
Ugh, that's a tough one. I would be inclined to take it in and buy a seperate litter pan and lock it in a room away from the other animals until I could find a suitable home.
Call the SPCA and see if they have one of those scanners that can read chips, your new friend might have one.
Good luck with whatever you decide
Sunny, there may be a "no kill" cat shelter or adoption program. But, as you point out, you'd have to be able to actually hand the cat over.
Do you know your local SPCA's policies - like, how long do they keep an animal for adoption before putting it down? Of course, no responsible SPCA will let an animal be adopted without an agreement from the adopter that the animal will be neutered.
I do understand your frustration and concerns. I had a similar experience with a dog many years ago. Unless the owner shows up, there is no really satisfying ending to a situation like yours.
Poor kitty. Irresponsible pet owners really bug me. I don't have any advise, but hope you either find his family (that maybe he just got away from) or a new family for him.
It sounds like you've got yourself a new kitty.  Since he is so friendly, he would adapt very well, and would adjust to neutering. I've had many kitties over the years that have chosen me out of all the houses in the neighborhood. They usually turned out to be my best cats.
If that isn't possible, do you have an animal control officer in your town? I wouldn't turn him over to them because he might be euthanized, but I'd let them know that he is hanging around, in case someone is looking for him. He may have slipped his collar on a fence or something. Maybe you could make him some kind of shelter outside and feed him, then see if someone comes looking for him.
You could also put a "FOUND" notice on your grocery store bulletin board. Our local newspaper also lets you put "found" ads in for free. Maybe yours will, too.
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