Cat experts - what to do? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Cat experts - what to do?

704
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 11:04

About a week ago, a kitten found her way into our yard. She sits by the door meowing and scratching at the glass and tries to enter as soon as we open any of the doors. She comes every day at around 7am and stays until the sun sets. We've not seen her at night. She looks well fed, clean and has a collar with a tag, suggesting to me that she's not abandoned.... She is absolutely adorable and I feel horrible leaving her outside as she's scratching at the door whenever she's not asleep (and goes to all doors and does this). Our poor older dog is getting so frustrated as she can sense she's in the yard but our kids are falling in love with her! This morning when we took the dog for a walk, she ran in the house!

What to do? Is this normal cat behaviour for someone that has their own family? Whats the correct protocal? Should we feed her or will that cause her harm (ie. affect her from going home). We've only ever had our dog and I wouldn't want someone else "taking" her so I am concious that she belongs to someone else (collar, tag) but I also feel like I can't do nothing while she sits outside the door meowing and scratching either...

28
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 22:43
We had the same thing happen to us in May. The cat arrived at the door, meowing and wanting attention, she stayed around. She was in good condition suggesting she either belonged to someone or had been abandoned (which I think was probably the case), had her ear clipped which meant she was neutured, went to the vets to check for a microchip but she didnt have one. We gave her some food and water and a pillow outside to sleep on. I would suggest putting posters up and flyers under peoples gates to see if anyone owns the cat or knows whose it is or take it to the vets to see if there is a microchip. I did that initially but no one came forward. We have now had her microchipped, vaccinated and she is part of our family and is a beautiful, loving and friendly cat.
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 22:41
Hi There, If the kitten is black with a light blue collar please call the number on the tag! We are cat owners who has a little kitten Licorice who is really silly and even though she has free reign of the house, she gets herself lost, unfortunately we don't have the ability to keep her locked away inside to stop her from disappearing and the poor little thing has gone missing again, so if this is the cat thats coming to your door (or if its someone else's kitten and they're in a similar situation to me) then calling the number is the best thing to do! Also, just for a story, I found a cat sitting outside my house who looked really well fed, but stayed by my front door, so I called the number on the tag and had an overjoyed woman on the phone who had been missing her cat for 2 weeks, and luckily she landed at my doorstep and I called the number or maybe the owner and pet would have never been reunited.
329
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 16:43
Some cats even if they have a home exhibit this behaviour ... Especially if 'the family' chuck them out of the house before they go to work in the morning ... They generally want company and some a/c lol However it could be possible that she is lost or abandoned (even with a collar) so getting her tag number checked out is a good idea. She could also have a microchip which can be scanned at a vets to track down her owners. It certainly wouldn't hurt to put some water out for her, although I would discourage feeding for now in case she is genuinely a neighbours pet ... Feeding will only encourage her if this is the scenario. Be careful with your dog ... I am a feline friends fosterer, own two cats, and two 30/40kg dogs. If you just let your dog out with her it is possible your dog and the cat could get injured. If you want to try and see of they will get on only do 'integration' work when your dog is on a lead and be aware that the cat can equally have a go at the dog as well as vice versa.
79
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 13:25
Hi Xmasbaby I would check the tag for the owners details or if she is wearing a round municipality tag (it will have a number on it) you can call the vets to see where she is registered-that way you can check she isnt missing from her family. She sounds adorable tho!
704
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 13:05
Thanks Natalie, thats very helpful. I haven't let our dog out b/c when she sees her she starts barking quite loudly (she's a 40 kg boxer) and I was worried about how they might interact. She's certainly not a vicious dog but I just didn't know what to do...Perhaps I'll let her out today and see...
619
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 11:55
Hi xmasbaby. I'm replying as a somewhat new cat owner to cats that have found us rather than the other way around. Kittens are very curious and tend to wander off for a bit, then come back to places they know either eery day or every few days. She's probably really curious about your dog and wants to check her out a bit more. can I just ask why you don't let your dog out when she's there? They could become friends. If, as you say, she looks healthy and has a tag, she probably does belong to someone nearby and they let her out during the day. You said you don't see her at night, so that could either mean that she's 'home' or our exploring. Cats are nocturnal by nature. You could buy some kitten food and give it to her outside, and even a bit of milk or water.
 
 

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