cat issue - needs help!!

i posted this on bhb.. need some more advice please.. i'm going nuts..

back in March, my neighbor's cat who is pretty much our cat (as we feed him, he sleeps over and he has his own bed at my house) brought
home a stray cat who we started feeding as well.. a few weeks late, our cat started hating on the stray and I tried to give her away to a no kill shelter.. unfortunately, no would take her because they were at max capacity..

so now after marriage, DH and I have our own little apt. and as she is still outside and all she wants is be petted and fed.. and she eats like a horse and does not gain weight.. never seen her potty (so not sure how to get her litter trained).. so my question/dilemma.. she's too friendly to have been a feral or stray.. seems like someone just ditched her one day.. but given that she's been outside all this while, would she get aclimated to an apt?? and i am a neat freak, so the whole potty issue.. and i need pet insurance.. she would be my first pet.. she has hugeee claws and i have brand new furniture.. if all goes well at the vet, i am keeping her but i'm just really concerned about cohabitating with a cat.. just getting used to the husband..


update: so i brought him in yesterday.. and he's hiding under the sink.. i ONLYYYYYYY did it so that it won't get euthanized or run over.. please tell me i did the right thing.. he won't even look at me..

we were told it's a HE and he's about a year old.. he used the litter box yesterday and it was a tad bit smelly.. and our apt is tiny.. could it be the food??? he's neg. for everything and he had earmites.. and 'the vet is testing his poop for stuff too..


edit: í just wanted to say.. i adore this cat but he's changed..

You absolutely did the right thing!!

Is he neutered yet? If not do that ASAP as male cat urine smells awful if not neutered. The poops will most likely be smelly if he has worms or other parasites and yet the food will also make it smelly if hes on a low quality brand.

The best foods to feed a cat are any kind with no corn, wheat, soy or bi-products. Cats dont really digest these things so they pass through and stink up your house. I have 2 cats on good quality diets and i never smell poo, and at the moment one cat is locked in my small bedroom all day. The cheapest good quality food i was able to find is Chicken Soup for the Cat Lovers Soul. Its only sold in mom and pop pet stores but your nose (and cat) will thank you lol. A good diet will also cut down on shedding.

As for the hiding, thats normal when a cat is brought into a new enviroment. Hell warm up soon. Just keep the house quiet and talk gently to him, but dont force anything. Its usually a good idea to lock the cat up in a small room with his litterbox, food and water for the first few days so he feels more secure. After like 3 days you can open the door and he will come out on his own when hes ready.

thank you ladies.. i bought a bag for friskies dental diet.. i'm going to look for the food you mentioned.. thank you for your responding..

he's not neutered yet.. we have to take him in 2 weeks.. so i'm glad that will cut down the smell..

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Posted by AR31

thank you ladies.. i bought a bag for friskies dental diet.. i'm going to look for the food you mentioned.. thank you for your responding..

he's not neutered yet.. we have to take him in 2 weeks.. so i'm glad that will cut down the smell..

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awww you DEF did the right thing!!

we have simular cat situations going on!! he hasnt scratched any of the furniture yet?? good luck keep us updated!!

i get our 'rental cat' on saturday haha

you definitely did the right thing. i agree neutering will help and a covered litter box is key. you can always declaw him if there are scratching issues - I couldn't do it to mine but it's an option; i just feel bad for them.

You def did the right thing...he will warm up to you, just give him time. Male cats tend to be more affectionate then females, so once he gets acclaimated you should have a good new friend.

Def get him neutered ASAP...male cats will also start spaying to 'mark ' their territory.

He may just be confused. He will get used to it. My sister has taken in 2 shelter cats and a stray. They all took some time getting used to being in the house. He's also probably traumatized from going to the vet.

Just give him some time and lots of love.

he came out of hiding to eat and then ran back under the sink.. well atleast now he's coming out.. :)

if DH and I are going away for the weekend and we have the automatic food dispenser and the self cleaning litter box, how long can we leave him alone for? I know I sound like a bad a mommy but just checking..

YayaYAYAY for you! You saved his little life! We need pics. I have 3 cats all 3 were brought home a a diff time. We did rescue the last one and he was hiding for the first 2 days and then started to come around. The food could upset his little belly but cats can get used to food they don't really like it when you change their food from chicken to another flavor. That actually upsets their stomach more. I will tell you this much get him to a vet to make sure he is healthy and doesn't have fleas. Before you know it he will be sleeping with you and loving all over you. You should be very proud of yourselves for helping him out in his time of need!!


ETA: you can leave him alone for the weekend, he will get familar with your place. But be prepared for a stinky box when you get home hahahahahaha.

We would leave my cat home for 3 days by herself. She would have a bowl of water in each room, with a couple of ice cubes in it. Then we would leave food in 2 rooms.

They sleep most of the time anyway. He may ignore you when you come home for a couple of days tho.

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Posted by snwb08

you definitely did the right thing. i agree neutering will help and a covered litter box is key. you can always declaw him if there are scratching issues - I couldn't do it to mine but it's an option; i just feel bad for them.

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I would not declaw a cat that old. Declawing is a very painful amputation of the first knuckle. Cats walk on their claws so if they are declawed they have to learn to walk again. Plus if the cat got out again it would be defenseless. A good trick to stop cats from scratching is a quick spray from a water bottle everytime they even look like their thinking about it. And to get a few different kinds of scratch posts.