It's Official... I'm a Cat Lady...

[Mayonnaise]

I've had my cat Trixie for two years now... and just adopted a stray, who I'm calling Frankie. I've had him tested for the FLV, and all of Trixies Vaccinations are up to date (She's at the Vet as I type this getting the FIP, the only one she hadn't had before.) I'm not going to do anything radical to Frankie until two weeks from yesterday, when I'm sure he's got no family (we're putting up Found posters.) He's also "Quarantined" from Trixie in the bedroom. He can get a paw out under the door tho... so it's not fully effective.

One thing I'm a little worried about is that he'll turn out to have a family, who intends to drop him right back out on the street, as an un-neutered, no-colar, no-flea-protection outdoor cat that they just leave a bit of food out for now and then. At first glance he looked fairly clean so I could see maybe him having escaped from a loving home, like, a week ago, and being wanted, except that neighbors say they've been seeing him for weeks, and then the Vet I brought him to said he had fleas and wasn't neutered. He's to old to not be neutered. Does anyone know, in New York State, if there is action I can take to prevent him going home if he wasn't an accidental escapee from a loving home, but a deliberately neglected animal?

On the other hand, if no one comes forward, which is likely given the area of the city we found him in, then I have to get the little guy fixed, and he's got one undescended testicle, which will make it more expensive since they'll have to do an abdominal incision... and I have to help him acclimate to life with another cat... as he thus far, hisses even at inanimate objects that smell like my other cat. I know they may never be best of freinds, but I'd like not to have to constantly worry going thru the bedroom door if the little guy is going to dart out, or Trixie dart in, and oh no, cat fight.

Any advice?

8^S

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I've had my cat Trixie for two years now... and just adopted a stray, who I'm calling Frankie. I've had him tested for the FLV, and all of Trixies Vaccinations are up to date (She's at the Vet as I type this getting the FIP, the only one she hadn't had before.) I'm not going to do anything radical to Frankie until two weeks from yesterday, when I'm sure he's got no family (we're putting up Found posters.) He's also "Quarantined" from Trixie in the bedroom. He can get a paw out under the door tho... so it's not fully effective.

One thing I'm a little worried about is that he'll turn out to have a family, who intends to drop him right back out on the street, as an un-neutered, no-colar, no-flea-protection outdoor cat that they just leave a bit of food out for now and then. At first glance he looked fairly clean so I could see maybe him having escaped from a loving home, like, a week ago, and being wanted, except that neighbors say they've been seeing him for weeks, and then the Vet I brought him to said he had fleas and wasn't neutered. He's to old to not be neutered. Does anyone know, in New York State, if there is action I can take to prevent him going home if he wasn't an accidental escapee from a loving home, but a deliberately neglected animal?

On the other hand, if no one comes forward, which is likely given the area of the city we found him in, then I have to get the little guy fixed, and he's got one undescended testicle, which will make it more expensive since they'll have to do an abdominal incision... and I have to help him acclimate to life with another cat... as he thus far, hisses even at inanimate objects that smell like my other cat. I know they may never be best of freinds, but I'd like not to have to constantly worry going thru the bedroom door if the little guy is going to dart out, or Trixie dart in, and oh no, cat fight.

Any advice?

8^S

You could bring in an object that has Trixie's scent on it, and put a treat next to it, so that he associates something good with it. Then the next time, pet him or play with him, so that he associates good attention with Trixies scent.

When we adopted two kitties from our vet, we brought them home in a kitty carrier, and let them stay in there while the other kitties came down and sniffed and let them get used to each other. there were a few growls, but after a day or so of forced isolation in another room with their own kitty box and food, we let them out. after a bit they were playing with toys and running all over the house like it was normal. We did leave the kitty carrier open so if they wanted to go someplace they felt safe, it was available, but after a few days they even started sleeping in the same spots as our other cats. (window seat, etc.)

[JugglingFreak]

I've had my cat Trixie for two years now... and just adopted a stray,

How odd and sad. Back when I was 7, we adopted a female short hair that I named Trixie (from Speed Racer, I'm dating myself..)

On the sad note, there is a stray that has been hanging around for about 8 years and we have been feeding who developed a large tumor that I've had to take to the humane society.. I don't know if he had to be put down, and honestly, I don't want to know..

We have three other cats that hang around the house because word has gotten around the cat circles that we are suckers and they all come here now...

We are officially cat-herders now....

[Mayonnaise]

I didn't actually name Trixie. She was named at the shelter. She was a bouce-back from her previous adoption, and well known to the shelter folks. She was a mom cat first, so they fostered her till she had the kittens, then when the kittens were old enough put her up for adoption and a woman took her for a few months and then sent her back (they're a no-kill with a mandatory return policy. If you aren't keeping the cat, you have to send it back to them.) She stayed another few months with them and then I got her.

She's such a darling. Took to a lead like a pro at 6 years old. Just got her back from the vet on lunch, and they said she was very well behaved for them too. They say she's got gingivitis and needs dental work, so I have to make an appointment for that, which makes me nervous because she'll have to have anesthesia. Also I have to ram antibiotics down her throat for that, in dropper form this time at least. She can cheek a pill so well you won't notice and then spit it out later. Not particularly affectionate tho. Prefers to sit at the other end of the couch, or on the ledge behind you, and sleeps in another room.

Frankie's a lap cat who wants to sleep on your face, which is one thing I was kind of missing with Trixie. I think if he wasn't as affectionate as he is I might have seen if Whiskers (the no-kill I got Trixie from) had any openings and save my self the trouble of all the vet bills and trying to get him used to Trixie. I know one thing... I'm probably not going to be making as many donations to cat-shelters for a bit. I'll consider Frankie's vet bills my way of helping homeless cats, since I took him in off the street.

Got a call from Jake (my SO) on lunch, he was at the copy center with the Found Posters and wanted to let me know he was on his way out to poster.

8^)

[felinefan]

Okay, first off, ask the Humane Society about the deal with keeping him if his owners are negligent. It's illegal to keep somebody else's pet, but I'd say if they just let him go and didn't care what happened to him, then he's no longer their pet.

A cat putting a paw under a door is how he announces his prescence to any other cats in the house. Let your cat sniff at his paw, and she will slip her paw under to let him sniff it. That's how they get used to one another.

Is there a low-cost spay and neuter clinic in your area? Perhaps Frankie's surgery will cost less with them.

Here's the addy of a great information resource for cat owners: http://www.catchannel.com. It's free to join, and they have a forum so you can get advice on any problems or questions you may have. But I'd say you're off to a good start.

[Mayonnaise]

Barbaric as it seems, we haven't got a local Humane Society. We do have animal control tho... and I called them to report him found, and see if his family reported him missing, but got the answering machine. Waiting on a call back. I do hope they won't say he has to stay in a kennel while we try and find out if he has a home. I'm perfectly willing to foster him until his family is found or he's legally considered abandoned.

There are no spay/neuter clinic's in the area except the van out of Schenectady, which you have to prove you have financial hardship to get them to fix your Cat. While it may take a big chunk out of my rainy day fund, I do have the money needed to pay full price for his work, so I don't think they'll help me.

8^)

[felinefan]

At least you have a rainy day fund; you're way luckier than most people, myself included. Lots of rescues are begging for foster homes, so what you're doing is great. Hope everything turns out well.

[Mayonnaise]

Well it's partially selfish. If he hasn't got a home... I want first dibs on giving him one.

8^)

[felinefan]

Hey, nuthin' wrong with that!!!! :)

[drcorey]

Want to see my hairless pussy. he is beautiful.

my gf used to make him little outfits to wear, but he tried to eat them.
still looking for a sunblock he won't lick off thou.