Hatrack River Forum: Fat Cat

This is topic Fat Cat in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=032698

Posted by NinjaBirdman (Member # 7114) on :

This morning I found a stray cat. Well, actually it kind of found me.

When I walked out of my apartment this morning I saw it, biggest cat I've ever seen(but still kind of cute [Smile]

), and it was mad(or more likely just really frightened) so it jumped at my leg and tried to bite and scratch me(I didn't actually get bitten or scratched). I kind of kicked it off and tried to run back inside my apartment but it ran with me and got in. I went back outside and closed the door(cause I didn't really want to be in my apartment with what looked like a really angry cat).

I called the apartment complex's service guy to get him to help me get the cat out. We went into my apartment and found the cat between my trash can and wall. He was scared, and after a few minutes of chasing him around my apartment it was easy to see this cat just wanted to be inside(and he wasn't being mean, he was just scared).

After a little chase we finally got the cat out the back patio door(the door it ran into was the front door, and the patio goes out the back and is on the ground level so it could get out easily). The cat stayed on the patio, jumping up against the door and window there, and meowing like crazy. By this time my roommate was home and we both were kind of feeling sorry for the poor thing. Eventually it went away and I kind of forgot about it.

I realized sometime during this whole thing that I'd seen this cat around the apartment complex before. I see it every now and then, and I'm pretty sure it's been out there almost all winter(unless somehow it keeps getting out of its owner's house, over and over again). It's been a warm winter here in Seattle so it's certainly possible it has been out there for the past month or two.

Ok, so now tonight I went out(the front door) again and I saw the cat again. He was lying under the three stairs that come down into the little alcove into where my apartment door is(don't know how to describe it [Dont Know]

). Anyway, I see that cat under there and I start feeling sorry for it again. And thoughts start to cross my mind about adopting the thing(or at least looking into it), but first I wanted to make sure it had something to eat and some water. I went down to the supermarket and paid 5 bucks for one of the little food and water deallys and some cat food, and I put some of the food out near the cat for tonight.

Well now you might see where this is going... Any of you ever take in a stray cat(or any stray animals)? If you have, could you tell me what you did exactly(did you get it tested for anything/get shots/etc, and if so, where, a vet? an animal shelter or something)? Any horror stories about strays?

My family had cats when I was growing up, so I know how to care for them(minus the shots and checkups and whatever you gotta do with the vet and such). Since I have nothing to do tomorrow I'm gonna try to get a picture of the cat and go around the apartment complex to see if anyone's missing it(and maybe I'll put some signs up too).

If no one's missing it though(which I think is probably the case), I want to look into adopting it. The problem is, if I did want to do this, how would I go about it? Who should I call, the animal shelter? the vet? I really have no idea how any of his nonsense works, but I can't stand seeing that cat out there suffering any longer. Maybe I'm just too nice a guy. [Dont Know]

Any advice would be great. [Smile]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

If it's that fat, it's likely not a stray.

We adopted a stray once. She used to disappear for 2 months at a time, and was never really comfortable around anyone but my mom. It was rather nerve-wracking. Eventually, she left, and never came back. [Frown]

Posted by NinjaBirdman (Member # 7114) on :

quote:
If it's that fat, it's likely not a stray.

Yeah, I thought about that, but I think it's very possible that someone moved out and abandoned it. In fact, the neighbors just moved out like a couple weeks ago, I don't know if they had a cat though. If it was their's, it would explain why it keeps coming near my apartment. [Dont Know]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

That may be. Or it may be that someone just lets their cat out a lot, and isn't home much, and the cat freaked when you came near it and ran inside. Cats do stuff like that. Once a kitten ran into our apartment-- where we have two cats. Luckily, the older one was asleep in the back room, and the younger one backed away in terror. [ROFL]

Our kitty is so chicken. Anyway, turned out it belonged across the complex, just got disoriented and followed me in.

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

If no one claims it, adopt it. Get it checked out at the vet, see if it has its shots, buy a cat bed and name it.

Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :

Awwww.. poor thing.

Yah, sounds like it's owner abandoned it maybe.

We picked up a stray once...years ago when my brother and I were still in grade school. It was a little orange kitten actually.

I can't recall how we found it... it was either hanging around the house or my bro and I found it on the side of the street on the way from school. Actually I think it was both...

Anyway, we let him in and he moved right in! It was cool actually. We named him Pumkin. We had two other cats who didn't like the newcomer much. We eventually gave him away to someone.

Ahhh this brings back an even older memory when I was probably very young... Mom and Dad let in another stray that had been hanging around. A white long-hair. His name was Motly... I remember he was kinda weird and I think he was let out one day and just didn't come back. Either that or my parents gave him away.

ANOTHER story is more recent. My brother found some little cats, sisters, walking down the street who followed him to our friend's house. Both were adopted. My brother's ex has one of them now.

I say go ahead and let him in! Cool things can happen! [Smile]

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

One of my really good friends here (more like an older sister than anything) adopted a stray kitten that we found in a tree. The poor thing was hoarse from yelling for help (seriously, it couldn't make a sound by the time we found it), and it was pouring with rain, and it was so miserable! It took a long time to get it to trust us, but now it does, and it lives in her apartment. [Smile]

She's the cutest thing ever, too... she looks like Puss in Boots, from Shrek II, when he does his cute face.

Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :

quote:
If it's that fat, it's likely not a stray.

Or, you could be about to adopt a bunch more little strays... [Wink]

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :

quote:
Or, you could be about to adopt a bunch more little strays...

Heh--that's a distinct possibility. Are the cat's nipples distended or anything?

In any case, take the cat to the vet and tell them the story. They'll check her over, and will be able to tell you what to do from there.

My cat is a stray that I adopted a year and a half (or so) ago, and she's been wonderful.

You might want to post some fliers or something with her picture on them, just in case she really is somebody's indoor/outdoor cat.