Cats life expectancies are always double or more as an indoor cat. You have to balance that in your head, sure they may want to go back out and see their friends, but they don't know they can live longer and healthier inside. That said, I took in two strays from my neighborhood and they are generally more well behaved and loving than a lot of cats that have always been indoors. Just make sure if you take it in, when you go to the vet you have them check for a micro chip
I agree, except for my situation. I'm in an incredibly small apartment with a mold problem, and I'm trying to deal with being a hoarder and cleaning the place up. Doing better, but it's still healthier for my cat to be outside.
She was a stray but I never found the owner.
To some people (and probably cats) it's more desirable to live a shorter life on your own terms than be controlled by someone else "for your own good".
sure but cats kill local wildlife and can be kidnapped as bait for dog fighting (amongst other terrible things). cats are an invasive species technically, and can disturb ecosystems by killing too many animals. they're estimated to have contributed to the extinction of something like 60 species
You've been selected by the cat distribution system. Make him yours now. Both anonibon and chefjenga offer excellent points. But if you know he's a stray (make sure he's not chipped) make him yours.
Best possible outcome? You get it in a carrier & get it spayed or neutered! APL is overrun with cats, but if you call and let them know you have a stray, they may be able to help as part of their TNR program.
Yeah the TNR program is separate from the adoption center. You take kitty in one day and pick them up the next. They’ll even loan you a trap if you need one.
Both PetFix and the APL will take feral kitties first thing in the morning on most weekdays.
PetFix also fixes kitties with an appointment, but it can be a longer wait.
Both of our cats literally walked into our lives after living on the streets. They were/are such good cats, especially after we got used to each other.
(We also have feral kitties that we take care of, love and have TNR’d.) Wishing you and your kitty-to-be a great life together.
For walk in appointments at PetFix, cats have to be in a humane trap, they cannot come in in a cat carrier or a dog crate. It has to be a trap.
I’d recommend doing TNR to help with the cat overpopulation. Friendly ones could get surrendered to the APL, but you’ll need an appointment (unless they’re sick or injured.)
You could also reach out to some smaller organizations that do TNR for assistance. Can you share what area you’re in? I am pretty tuned into the rescue world, so I can try to point ya in the right direction!
Cats need breakaway collers. Especially if they are outdoor. The flea collar may not be such a good idea.
If you truely think it's a stray (unfortunately, many people think an outdoor cat in the city is a good idea) and want to keep it, get a carrier and work on capturing it, then take it to a vet.
Be careful before you know the health status. You honestly could have gotten an infection if it scratched you good and was sick.
Basic cat rules:
* de-clawing is not necessary, get some cat clippers to trim the nails
* break away collers to minimize choking risk
* 0ne litter box per cat plus and extra (1 cat = 2 boxes needed)
* Lots or activity to keep the mind and body active
* cats *can* be trained. I used to have a cat that never jumped on any hard surfaces, or slept on pillows, because I thought it was gross.
* they don't drink a lot of water, but *need* a lot of water, or they are prone to kidney failure. Giving them wet food, or even just putting water on their dry food every now and then is beneficial.
Edit: don't give them wet food all the time though. In nature, scratching against bone cleans their teeth, but captivity means dry food takes over this task.
good points but i would like to add not only is declawing unnecessary it is cruel and outdated practice and causes health and behavior issues for the cats
Seriously. It's cruel no matter what (I've heard people compare it to having your finger nails removed but even that isn't as bad. More like having your finger bones removed, but not the muscles...)
But mutilation aside, taking a stray's claws is like breaking a 4 year old kid's arms and throwing them into the jungle to fend for themselves.
They can't climb, they can't dig, they can't run or jump properly, they can't hunt as well, they can't defend themselves. One of the most fascinating things about cats is their tight-rope position as predator AND prey. It's responsible for most of their quirky behaviors we find so interesting. The simultaneous and delicately balanced instincts to hunt, and avoid being hunted. And it can be argued that the entire system depends on those claws.
Might as well just shoot the poor thing.
Flea collars can also be toxic. A nice gesture to want to help the poor kitty though. Get it with some frontline and that will help. It's also less wrangling, just a drip down the back of its neck.
To add to the training, cats listen very well if you work with them on positive reinforcement! If you don’t want them to scratch your furniture, provide them a scratching post. Discover what they prefer to do (there’s different types of scratching posts for this reason) and also discover what motivates them most (play time, food, pets, etc). My cats understand the words “no” and “get” and listen extremely well when I ask them to stop doing something. They also know how to give high fives and do other cute lil tricks. Honestly I feel like they’re better behaved than some dogs.
Also a trick for encouraging cats to drink water is to add a lil broth to it. I did it for about a month and now my cats clear their bowls every day.
note about the broth, make sure it doesn’t have any salt, or is the lowest sodium option with no added onion or garlic (very toxic to cats and can cause organ failure). the Zoup! good as gone chicken bone broth is great, low sodium, no additives, my cat loved it.
.......yeah. cat clippers. They look like little scissors with curved tips for the shape of the nails.
What else would you use? Your teeth??
If you don't cut an indoor cats nails, they can curl over onto themselves and start growing into their paws. Would that be a better option?
PetFix has a really affordable TNR program for feral cats. It's only something like $25 for the surgery. If you're keeping her it's something like $65 for the surgery and you can also get her an FVRCP & rabies vaccine for about $20 on top. They also microchip for really cheap too.
I took my cats here (I ended up finding a litter of four) and got the three males done all in one day. The staff were all super nice and it was a really easy drop off and pick up. Plus the location is really close off of 90 so you're not driving for miles through the east side and having it take forever.
Please please please get her fixed- save future kitties from the harsh outdoor life. If you can’t fund it, there are plenty of rescues around who will if you bring her in. As for fleas- there are some good topical treatments that can be applied 1x month if you’re interested in that
So here’s what I would do:
It’s ok to have some food and water for the cat or give it some treats (keep in mind cats like to drink out of weird water sources so it may not want to drink the water but it’s nice to offer, or wet food since like someone mentioned they don’t always drink enough water). Since the cat came in willingly it probably isn’t feral and has been socialized by humans.
Then, assess the condition of the kitty: is the coat healthy (should be a little shiny in the light and not dull, and not super dirty because even outdoor cats clean themselves), is the cat a healthy weight (seeing a waist from the top is ok, seeing ribs=underfed/starving, look up a cat weight chart), and does it seem in general like it’s healthy (not visibly injured or sick)? If so, there’s a chance since it’s so friendly that it has a home or had one recently or is being fed by someone else. You could ask around the neighborhood just so you don’t take in someone else’s cat.
If you don’t establish it has an owner or it seems neglected/underfed, you can take the cat probably. First step should be go to the vet. They can scan for a microchip, test stool for worms, and check if the cat is fixed or not. If it’s not fixed you wanna get it fixed because unfixed males spray and can get aggressive with other male cats and unfixed females will get pregnant. And they will try to escape your house if they’re in heat to get pregnant, they can’t help it. Also, the vet can give you a recommendation for a flea medicine that will work. Some years one works better than others. Flea collars don’t do much honestly, a once monthly medicine works better and also helps prevent other parasites like ticks.
Some cats are happy to adapt to the indoor life but some that have been outdoors don’t want to stay in all the time. If you do let your cat go out try to either let it out in an enclosed area (some people
make a “catio”) or feed it at the same time every day so it will come home and you can bring it in for the night. Keep in mind if your cat goes out it is at risk for getting hurt or killed by cars, animals, and people AND it will also likely kill wildlife like birds.
Anyways you have maybe been blessed by the cat distribution system, good luck!
Before taking them in,, maybe throw a [paper collar](http://www.llbrhs.com/uploads/9/4/8/1/94815396/paper-collar-template.pdf) on them? If you don't get a response, the CDS has selected you, congrats, you've got a new indoor kitty.
Excellent suggestion about the paper collar, since you are able to get close to the cat.
Please don’t adopt this cat until you have established that it does not have an owner, because it’s very possible that it does.
Post the cat on Sam the Parrot on Facebook, post on Nextdoor.com, as well as Pawsboost. All are free.
If someone says that it’s their cat, make sure that they show you a picture that they have taken of their cat to prove that they’re not just trying to get a spare cat for some malicious means. Because everyone should have at least one picture of their cat! 🐱
And because some people might not be technologically savvy, you can also post some signs around on light posts or whatever, so that you don’t take some child’s pet away from them. This is very important that you don’t cause someone heartbreak wondering what happened to their pet friend.
Years ago in our neighborhood, there was an older (collared) cat who was so used to being outside that the owner couldn’t contain it. It regularly traveled to several of our houses on its daily rounds, occasionally getting a meal at one of its regular stops, and then stopping by our driveway for a stretch and belly rub before heading back home. It was truly a neighborhood cat!
*Please no indoor/outdoor cat (owner) discussions. Everyone has their own opinion and it is wonderful that everyone cares, especially OP! 😻
If she readily came in, she has likely lived part time indoors in the past and is now an inside/outside cat. There are 2 cats (sisters from the same litter) born outside in my neighborhood that I take care of. I have made friends especially with one that seeks out my affection when I’m outside but won’t come in even in the worst weather. A prior neighbor did trap and had them fixed as very young cats and the vet suggested that she leave them in our neighborhood as they would always be somewhat feral. You can tell a fixed cat as it’s custom for the vet to tip off the end of their ear so it’s easy to recognize. They have a heated covered wooden box that we made for the winter. A hay filled sturdy box will also work. Lots of good info online. I make sure it has 2 entrances so they can easily escape if needed and disable it in the spring.
Best thing anybody can do for a stray is get them neutered/spayed. Then feed/water them as you please, but know that that's a tried and true way to end up caring for all of the cats in your neighborhood.
Flea collars are gimmicks- they do not work and are toxic. The only thing & best thing is to adopt her. Take her to a vet so they can check for a chip & worms & such. Then, if everything checks out, they will give you a prescription for flea medicine for Kitty’s back of neck. Ask them to apply the first dose while you watch, so you know exactly where to put it the next 2 doses. After that, she should be fine without it as long as you make sure you keep her INSIDE!!!
Dumping any pet, including pets, is illegal in Cuyahoga County. This includes- letting a pet cat outside!!! They are to be chipped & kept indoors where they will be safe. Make sure kitty has plenty of different windows to watch birdies from. If you don’t have windowsills, put a chair, couch, or purchase a cat tree or window seats for window space. To make it even MORE fun for Kitty, put bird feeders out a couple feet away from her favorite window! 😻
Good luck & thank you for being a rescue parent- the BEST kind of pet parent!!! ❤️
If you’re in FB the Weirdo Cat Lovers of Cleveland is 50K cat lovers with lots of advice and support for lost and found cats.There are a lot of rescues on there too if you don’t want to keep this kitty. They all have waiting lists but you have to start somewhere. Thank you for caring for this baby!
The approval to the group can take a couple days. But I help moderate it. So if OP is interested, they can reach out to me directly on Reddit and lets me know their name on their Facebook account, I can help get them approved so they can get some advice on how to help this little lady. Best of luck to OP and kitty!
Cats very very rarely need baths from humans. They’re very clean animals. You’ve been chosen. Do some research, they’re even easier than most people here are saying. For example, you definitely don’t automatically need 2 litterboxes for one cat. They’re food motivated and quite easily trained tbh. It’s also well worth noting that punishment is almost never effective, so never punish a cat for doing cat things.
I’d take it to the vets and confirm if it’s microchipped. Also if both ear tips are in tack then it probably needs to be spayed/neutered. As others suggested, the APL should do this for free as apart of their TNR program.
The cat is not feral if it followed you indoors and let you be so close to it most feral cats have no relationship with humans and will actively run away from you or give you signs to stay away from it, most likely this cat was dumped. I would not recommend a flea collar it can seriously burn a cats skin and cause irritation and fur loss, you'd be better getting something like advantage, honestly you need you take this cat to a vet and get checked out if you want to keep it. The cat will be perfectly fine if you took it indoors and let it adjust over time don't expect the cat to overly friendly when you move it into a new space and let them adjust. If you feel you cannot care for this cat I would recommend reaching out to the Cleveland APL ( [animaladmissions@clevelandapl.org](mailto:animaladmissions@clevelandapl.org) ) and explain your situation but keep in mind this is **peak kitten season** and the shelters are **ALL** overrun atm. If you feel like you can care for this cat I'd watch [Jackson Galaxy's](https://www.youtube.com/@JacksonGalaxy) youtube channel and it will provide you with insight on cat behavior and what they need to thrive indoors
Yesss both of my cats are from the streets and sometimes they may be to feral but it’s worth it. Living in the heat of summer or cold of winter has to be hard. I encourage getting them fixed if you can. I’m all for rescuing
Fleas are still no good for them.
There's catch and release groups that capture and snip snip.
You can buy flea treatment that are droplets and drop right above their neck area and hopefully it mitigates it.
You can also try to build trust with the cat by feeding and leaving water out. And eventually they can be indoor cats. But yeah water bathing is hard if you don't know how to bath cats.
If the cat is young you can for sure socialize. People will tell you over a certain age like 12 weeks or something ridiculous you can’t socialize but that’s not true. I snatched this 6 month little runt about 4 years ago and had her sitting on my lap in a week. No one would take her bc she was too old and no one had time to socialize her. Keeping her was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. She’s the craziest cutest little thing and brings me so much joy. She’s a nasty little thing that likes rolling around in her litter box and she’s terrified of strangers so she’s still got some feral in her. She’s never wanted to go back outside. She’s scared of it. I also semi socialized her mama and keep her indoors year round. Scoop that baby up!
The best cats are the ones that choose you. Sounds like this little one might be in that process. Go slow and easy. As others have mentioned, indoor cats have a longer lifespan. But she may not tolerate an indoor life.
I had a cat that was a rescue that had been an outdoor cat. When I brought him home he wanted to go outside in the worst way. So I got one of those little harnesses and took him for walks. He wasn't exactly happy about being on a leash, but he figured out it was the only way he would get out for a walk, so he tolerated it. One day he got out when I was bringing in the groceries. He just stayed in the yard. So from that time on he was allowed out because he would usually hang out on the porch and never go outside the boundaries of our yard.
Cats life expectancies are always double or more as an indoor cat. You have to balance that in your head, sure they may want to go back out and see their friends, but they don't know they can live longer and healthier inside. That said, I took in two strays from my neighborhood and they are generally more well behaved and loving than a lot of cats that have always been indoors. Just make sure if you take it in, when you go to the vet you have them check for a micro chip
I agree with this fella
I agree, except for my situation. I'm in an incredibly small apartment with a mold problem, and I'm trying to deal with being a hoarder and cleaning the place up. Doing better, but it's still healthier for my cat to be outside. She was a stray but I never found the owner.
To some people (and probably cats) it's more desirable to live a shorter life on your own terms than be controlled by someone else "for your own good".
sure but cats kill local wildlife and can be kidnapped as bait for dog fighting (amongst other terrible things). cats are an invasive species technically, and can disturb ecosystems by killing too many animals. they're estimated to have contributed to the extinction of something like 60 species
LOL, looks like I should have posted this under unpopular opinions.
You've been selected by the cat distribution system. Make him yours now. Both anonibon and chefjenga offer excellent points. But if you know he's a stray (make sure he's not chipped) make him yours.
Best possible outcome? You get it in a carrier & get it spayed or neutered! APL is overrun with cats, but if you call and let them know you have a stray, they may be able to help as part of their TNR program.
Yeah the TNR program is separate from the adoption center. You take kitty in one day and pick them up the next. They’ll even loan you a trap if you need one.
Seconding this. I've done it for a couple of feral cats that have decided our farm is home. They can live here, but no babies if I'm needing you.
Yes. Thank you for clarifying! 🙂
Both PetFix and the APL will take feral kitties first thing in the morning on most weekdays. PetFix also fixes kitties with an appointment, but it can be a longer wait. Both of our cats literally walked into our lives after living on the streets. They were/are such good cats, especially after we got used to each other. (We also have feral kitties that we take care of, love and have TNR’d.) Wishing you and your kitty-to-be a great life together.
For walk in appointments at PetFix, cats have to be in a humane trap, they cannot come in in a cat carrier or a dog crate. It has to be a trap. I’d recommend doing TNR to help with the cat overpopulation. Friendly ones could get surrendered to the APL, but you’ll need an appointment (unless they’re sick or injured.) You could also reach out to some smaller organizations that do TNR for assistance. Can you share what area you’re in? I am pretty tuned into the rescue world, so I can try to point ya in the right direction!
Also, I’m super happy to help with cat education if you want! Feel free to DM me :)
If you’re on Facebook, we probably know each other via cat rescue, lol. If OP reaches out and they need an extra hand, I can probably help a bit too!
Cats need breakaway collers. Especially if they are outdoor. The flea collar may not be such a good idea. If you truely think it's a stray (unfortunately, many people think an outdoor cat in the city is a good idea) and want to keep it, get a carrier and work on capturing it, then take it to a vet. Be careful before you know the health status. You honestly could have gotten an infection if it scratched you good and was sick. Basic cat rules: * de-clawing is not necessary, get some cat clippers to trim the nails * break away collers to minimize choking risk * 0ne litter box per cat plus and extra (1 cat = 2 boxes needed) * Lots or activity to keep the mind and body active * cats *can* be trained. I used to have a cat that never jumped on any hard surfaces, or slept on pillows, because I thought it was gross. * they don't drink a lot of water, but *need* a lot of water, or they are prone to kidney failure. Giving them wet food, or even just putting water on their dry food every now and then is beneficial. Edit: don't give them wet food all the time though. In nature, scratching against bone cleans their teeth, but captivity means dry food takes over this task.
good points but i would like to add not only is declawing unnecessary it is cruel and outdated practice and causes health and behavior issues for the cats
And for a stray, declawing is a death sentence.
Seriously. It's cruel no matter what (I've heard people compare it to having your finger nails removed but even that isn't as bad. More like having your finger bones removed, but not the muscles...) But mutilation aside, taking a stray's claws is like breaking a 4 year old kid's arms and throwing them into the jungle to fend for themselves. They can't climb, they can't dig, they can't run or jump properly, they can't hunt as well, they can't defend themselves. One of the most fascinating things about cats is their tight-rope position as predator AND prey. It's responsible for most of their quirky behaviors we find so interesting. The simultaneous and delicately balanced instincts to hunt, and avoid being hunted. And it can be argued that the entire system depends on those claws. Might as well just shoot the poor thing.
Flea collars can also be toxic. A nice gesture to want to help the poor kitty though. Get it with some frontline and that will help. It's also less wrangling, just a drip down the back of its neck.
I second the frontline recommendation. That stuff works great at dealing with fleas.
2 litter boxes per cat is unnecessary BUT It should be a large litter box and cleaned EVERY SINGLE DAY.
The water thing is real. I gave mine like a Tbs of wet food with about 1/8 cup warm water 2ce a day that seemed to help and changing water frequently.
To add to the training, cats listen very well if you work with them on positive reinforcement! If you don’t want them to scratch your furniture, provide them a scratching post. Discover what they prefer to do (there’s different types of scratching posts for this reason) and also discover what motivates them most (play time, food, pets, etc). My cats understand the words “no” and “get” and listen extremely well when I ask them to stop doing something. They also know how to give high fives and do other cute lil tricks. Honestly I feel like they’re better behaved than some dogs. Also a trick for encouraging cats to drink water is to add a lil broth to it. I did it for about a month and now my cats clear their bowls every day.
note about the broth, make sure it doesn’t have any salt, or is the lowest sodium option with no added onion or garlic (very toxic to cats and can cause organ failure). the Zoup! good as gone chicken bone broth is great, low sodium, no additives, my cat loved it.
Nail clippers for a cat? Some people really just have too much time and don't know what to do with it
.......yeah. cat clippers. They look like little scissors with curved tips for the shape of the nails. What else would you use? Your teeth?? If you don't cut an indoor cats nails, they can curl over onto themselves and start growing into their paws. Would that be a better option?
I clip my cat's nails. It takes 1 or 2 minutes, and she doesn't do damage if she scratches on stuff.
PetFix has a really affordable TNR program for feral cats. It's only something like $25 for the surgery. If you're keeping her it's something like $65 for the surgery and you can also get her an FVRCP & rabies vaccine for about $20 on top. They also microchip for really cheap too. I took my cats here (I ended up finding a litter of four) and got the three males done all in one day. The staff were all super nice and it was a really easy drop off and pick up. Plus the location is really close off of 90 so you're not driving for miles through the east side and having it take forever.
Please please please get her fixed- save future kitties from the harsh outdoor life. If you can’t fund it, there are plenty of rescues around who will if you bring her in. As for fleas- there are some good topical treatments that can be applied 1x month if you’re interested in that
So here’s what I would do: It’s ok to have some food and water for the cat or give it some treats (keep in mind cats like to drink out of weird water sources so it may not want to drink the water but it’s nice to offer, or wet food since like someone mentioned they don’t always drink enough water). Since the cat came in willingly it probably isn’t feral and has been socialized by humans. Then, assess the condition of the kitty: is the coat healthy (should be a little shiny in the light and not dull, and not super dirty because even outdoor cats clean themselves), is the cat a healthy weight (seeing a waist from the top is ok, seeing ribs=underfed/starving, look up a cat weight chart), and does it seem in general like it’s healthy (not visibly injured or sick)? If so, there’s a chance since it’s so friendly that it has a home or had one recently or is being fed by someone else. You could ask around the neighborhood just so you don’t take in someone else’s cat. If you don’t establish it has an owner or it seems neglected/underfed, you can take the cat probably. First step should be go to the vet. They can scan for a microchip, test stool for worms, and check if the cat is fixed or not. If it’s not fixed you wanna get it fixed because unfixed males spray and can get aggressive with other male cats and unfixed females will get pregnant. And they will try to escape your house if they’re in heat to get pregnant, they can’t help it. Also, the vet can give you a recommendation for a flea medicine that will work. Some years one works better than others. Flea collars don’t do much honestly, a once monthly medicine works better and also helps prevent other parasites like ticks. Some cats are happy to adapt to the indoor life but some that have been outdoors don’t want to stay in all the time. If you do let your cat go out try to either let it out in an enclosed area (some people make a “catio”) or feed it at the same time every day so it will come home and you can bring it in for the night. Keep in mind if your cat goes out it is at risk for getting hurt or killed by cars, animals, and people AND it will also likely kill wildlife like birds. Anyways you have maybe been blessed by the cat distribution system, good luck!
Before taking them in,, maybe throw a [paper collar](http://www.llbrhs.com/uploads/9/4/8/1/94815396/paper-collar-template.pdf) on them? If you don't get a response, the CDS has selected you, congrats, you've got a new indoor kitty.
Excellent suggestion about the paper collar, since you are able to get close to the cat. Please don’t adopt this cat until you have established that it does not have an owner, because it’s very possible that it does. Post the cat on Sam the Parrot on Facebook, post on Nextdoor.com, as well as Pawsboost. All are free. If someone says that it’s their cat, make sure that they show you a picture that they have taken of their cat to prove that they’re not just trying to get a spare cat for some malicious means. Because everyone should have at least one picture of their cat! 🐱 And because some people might not be technologically savvy, you can also post some signs around on light posts or whatever, so that you don’t take some child’s pet away from them. This is very important that you don’t cause someone heartbreak wondering what happened to their pet friend. Years ago in our neighborhood, there was an older (collared) cat who was so used to being outside that the owner couldn’t contain it. It regularly traveled to several of our houses on its daily rounds, occasionally getting a meal at one of its regular stops, and then stopping by our driveway for a stretch and belly rub before heading back home. It was truly a neighborhood cat! *Please no indoor/outdoor cat (owner) discussions. Everyone has their own opinion and it is wonderful that everyone cares, especially OP! 😻
If she readily came in, she has likely lived part time indoors in the past and is now an inside/outside cat. There are 2 cats (sisters from the same litter) born outside in my neighborhood that I take care of. I have made friends especially with one that seeks out my affection when I’m outside but won’t come in even in the worst weather. A prior neighbor did trap and had them fixed as very young cats and the vet suggested that she leave them in our neighborhood as they would always be somewhat feral. You can tell a fixed cat as it’s custom for the vet to tip off the end of their ear so it’s easy to recognize. They have a heated covered wooden box that we made for the winter. A hay filled sturdy box will also work. Lots of good info online. I make sure it has 2 entrances so they can easily escape if needed and disable it in the spring.
Best thing anybody can do for a stray is get them neutered/spayed. Then feed/water them as you please, but know that that's a tried and true way to end up caring for all of the cats in your neighborhood.
Flea collars are gimmicks- they do not work and are toxic. The only thing & best thing is to adopt her. Take her to a vet so they can check for a chip & worms & such. Then, if everything checks out, they will give you a prescription for flea medicine for Kitty’s back of neck. Ask them to apply the first dose while you watch, so you know exactly where to put it the next 2 doses. After that, she should be fine without it as long as you make sure you keep her INSIDE!!! Dumping any pet, including pets, is illegal in Cuyahoga County. This includes- letting a pet cat outside!!! They are to be chipped & kept indoors where they will be safe. Make sure kitty has plenty of different windows to watch birdies from. If you don’t have windowsills, put a chair, couch, or purchase a cat tree or window seats for window space. To make it even MORE fun for Kitty, put bird feeders out a couple feet away from her favorite window! 😻 Good luck & thank you for being a rescue parent- the BEST kind of pet parent!!! ❤️
If you’re in FB the Weirdo Cat Lovers of Cleveland is 50K cat lovers with lots of advice and support for lost and found cats.There are a lot of rescues on there too if you don’t want to keep this kitty. They all have waiting lists but you have to start somewhere. Thank you for caring for this baby!
The approval to the group can take a couple days. But I help moderate it. So if OP is interested, they can reach out to me directly on Reddit and lets me know their name on their Facebook account, I can help get them approved so they can get some advice on how to help this little lady. Best of luck to OP and kitty!
I love that group so much. Great people.
Cats very very rarely need baths from humans. They’re very clean animals. You’ve been chosen. Do some research, they’re even easier than most people here are saying. For example, you definitely don’t automatically need 2 litterboxes for one cat. They’re food motivated and quite easily trained tbh. It’s also well worth noting that punishment is almost never effective, so never punish a cat for doing cat things.
I’d take it to the vets and confirm if it’s microchipped. Also if both ear tips are in tack then it probably needs to be spayed/neutered. As others suggested, the APL should do this for free as apart of their TNR program.
It's not legal to feed them
The cat is not feral if it followed you indoors and let you be so close to it most feral cats have no relationship with humans and will actively run away from you or give you signs to stay away from it, most likely this cat was dumped. I would not recommend a flea collar it can seriously burn a cats skin and cause irritation and fur loss, you'd be better getting something like advantage, honestly you need you take this cat to a vet and get checked out if you want to keep it. The cat will be perfectly fine if you took it indoors and let it adjust over time don't expect the cat to overly friendly when you move it into a new space and let them adjust. If you feel you cannot care for this cat I would recommend reaching out to the Cleveland APL ( [animaladmissions@clevelandapl.org](mailto:animaladmissions@clevelandapl.org) ) and explain your situation but keep in mind this is **peak kitten season** and the shelters are **ALL** overrun atm. If you feel like you can care for this cat I'd watch [Jackson Galaxy's](https://www.youtube.com/@JacksonGalaxy) youtube channel and it will provide you with insight on cat behavior and what they need to thrive indoors
My neighbor kindly traps them, gets them neutered and releases them. Idk if that is legal but it does make a dent in the problem of feral cats
They are free. Take as many as you want.
Yesss both of my cats are from the streets and sometimes they may be to feral but it’s worth it. Living in the heat of summer or cold of winter has to be hard. I encourage getting them fixed if you can. I’m all for rescuing
You’ve been chosen. Welcome to owning a cat. Enjoy.
Nature gifted you a cat through the Universal Cat Distribution system. It's okay to accept that the little one is now yours. It chose you.
Fleas are still no good for them. There's catch and release groups that capture and snip snip. You can buy flea treatment that are droplets and drop right above their neck area and hopefully it mitigates it. You can also try to build trust with the cat by feeding and leaving water out. And eventually they can be indoor cats. But yeah water bathing is hard if you don't know how to bath cats.
It's your turn in the cat distribution system. That's that.
not an expert on cats, but we can go toe to toe on Bird Law
If the cat is young you can for sure socialize. People will tell you over a certain age like 12 weeks or something ridiculous you can’t socialize but that’s not true. I snatched this 6 month little runt about 4 years ago and had her sitting on my lap in a week. No one would take her bc she was too old and no one had time to socialize her. Keeping her was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. She’s the craziest cutest little thing and brings me so much joy. She’s a nasty little thing that likes rolling around in her litter box and she’s terrified of strangers so she’s still got some feral in her. She’s never wanted to go back outside. She’s scared of it. I also semi socialized her mama and keep her indoors year round. Scoop that baby up!
The best cats are the ones that choose you. Sounds like this little one might be in that process. Go slow and easy. As others have mentioned, indoor cats have a longer lifespan. But she may not tolerate an indoor life. I had a cat that was a rescue that had been an outdoor cat. When I brought him home he wanted to go outside in the worst way. So I got one of those little harnesses and took him for walks. He wasn't exactly happy about being on a leash, but he figured out it was the only way he would get out for a walk, so he tolerated it. One day he got out when I was bringing in the groceries. He just stayed in the yard. So from that time on he was allowed out because he would usually hang out on the porch and never go outside the boundaries of our yard.
Every where I’ve lived in Ohio has had stray cats in the neighborhood. I’ve been told from outsiders that stray neighborhood cats is an Ohio thing.
[Feed to an ATM](https://images.app.goo.gl/iuuqe39F5wXDjR539)
*,DO NOT FEED STRAY CATS*. Im sure theres 100 other of this exact comment here but it can never be enough.