File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
OK, two stray cats (an adult one with long black and white hair, and a calico kitten) have recently shown up at my apartment complex. They've been hanging out most afternoons near my building specifically, and I fed the adult (the kitten is very skiddish) on a few occasions.

Today I fed the adult and sat down to pet it for a bit (it was all over me). Now (as was kind of expected) he's staking out my front porch a bit. I figured this would happen, but I didn't think it would happen so suddenly, and don't want either of them to fully rely on me for sustenance...at least not yet. I had already given some thought to adopting them, but again, I thought I would have more time to weigh the options. For some stupid reason I assumed I would be able to have moderate interaction with them while I figured out what I should do with them.

While I had been planning on getting two cats (and kept imagining getting a black one and a calico one, oddly enough), the thing is I can barely take care of myself; and I'm doubtful of my ability to care for two two cats...especially with me being the only one in my apartment, and working 8 hours every night. I was thinking about getting cats when I was able to be self employed.

Pic as closely related as I could find.
>> Anonymous
Just feed them what you want to feed them. Cats are hunters/scavangers and if hungry, will track down other sources of food. They will not starve if you do not feed them. A small bag of cheep dry food every few weeks won't set you back much and will at least keep them alive. You may in fact be just one of a number of kind people feeding them.

I would not suggest taking in strays unless you got the money for a vet visit. They will need a shot and a general checkup so that you know you are not inviting strange sicknesses into your house. Check for ticks and fleas as well.

If you get an indoor cat, I suggest picking up a young one from a shelter or breader (person with a housecat who had kittens). It is a widespread theory that cats who have eaten diseased rodents can carry chemical mental disorders that can transfer to people.

Not to say that picking up a stray is a bad thing. My last kitten was a stray I found at work, and she was a complete angle.
>> Anonymous
welcome to my life.

here's one thing you might want to consider, these are outdoor cats, if you bring them into your apartment you might find they aren't litterbox trained. Also, you have to consider the joys of any sicknesses these cats have from being in the wild. If you do decide to take them in, get a carrier, take them to the vet and groomer (flea bath) before they ever get access to your apartment, so you know exactly what you're dealing with and so you don't bring an itch factory into your place.
>> Anonymous
>>119295

You are probably referring to toxoplasmosis, which alters brain chemistry in rodents, cats, and human. It is only transferable to humans within 2-3 weeks of the cat being infected, and only then if it is allowed to incubate in cat feces for 48 hours. Therefor, if you simply change your newly-indoor cat's litterbox every day for a month, then you will never contract it. Getting this disease from a litterbox or direct contacts with cats is actually quite uncommon. You are much more likely to get it from gardening, eating undercooked meat, or contaminated cooking utensils.
>> Anonymous
Thanks. Yes, a visit to the vet was the first thing on my mind, and the adult cat managed to jump in for a minute, but I made sure to get him out ASAP.

It's nice to know that I can have a moderate level of interaction, and just helping them out now and then...I suddenly thought I was wrong when I was being staked out, heh. I thought of leaving out cat food and water in a bowl occasionally, but many people in the complex have small dogs, and I live near woods in the Carolinas, so I'm concerned about attracting raccoons (if I could domesticate one of those, I would love to).
>> Anonymous
>>119300Therefor, if you simply change your newly-indoor cat's litterbox every day for a month, then you will never contract it.

What if the cat contracts it sometime after being adopted?
>> Anonymous
>>119304
DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN... DU-DU-DUN!
>> Anonymous
>>119304

Since cats get it by eating rodents, if you are keeping an indoor only cat and your home is free of rodents (which I hope it is), your cat will never contract toxo. The advice for cleaning the litter box every day for a month is for people who adopt feral, stray, or shelter cats, since those cats could have been exposed to it prior to being adopted. It is also assuming that the person adopting the cat is going to be a responsible pet owner and keep kitty indoors.
>> Anonymous
>>119317
Is keeping it indoors really a requirement for being "responsible"? Last thing I would want to do is shut them in. I plan not to declaw them if I were to adopt them.

I assume they wouldn't eat any rodents if I were to feed them every day, but would instead lovingly drag home anything they caught.
>> Anonymous
>>119328
declawing is an evil practice anyhow
>> Anonymous
>>119328Is keeping it indoors really a requirement for being "responsible"?

The general consensus is yes, but there seems to be a bit of leeway given if you don't so much get a cat as have an adult feral come by and eat at your place.

Reasons for keeping strictly indoor:
1. cat AIDS
2. cat Leukemia
3. Cars
4. Dogs etc.
5. Jackasses, say, for example, around Halloween and such.
6. Wellwishing humans (different from jackasses) who take them into shelters where they get put down.

Reasons to allow them to go outside.
1. Cats like it.
2. You don't need to clean up cat poop.

It's your choice, but I wouldn't let them out if you live near lots of people with cars and stuff. And if you do plan on letting them out, get them one of those implant dealies so if they do get picked up, they can be identified (Collaring cats doesn't work so well all the time) and if anyone asks, they are indoor cats that escaped. (Check your local laws on that. Lying might not be necessary, but in many places it is.)
>> Anonymous
>>119328

In addition to what>>119338listed as good reasons to keep your cats indoors, you can also add:

*Poisoning, both intentional and unintentional
*Rabies (get 'em vaccinated)
*Vindictive neighbors
*Fleas, ticks, heartworms, ringworm, and other parasites, some of which carry diseases transmittable to humans

Indoor cats tend to lead much happier, healthier lives. Also, in my experience, even most strays adapt well to indoor life after a few weeks.

Feeding your cat won't necessarily mean that they won't eat rodents. My family had indoor/outdoor cats growing up, and many of them both aggressively hunted rodents and then ate portions of them regardless of how much we fed them. Of course, we had a few that never hunted at all. You might also consider that most stray or feral cats have already acquired the disease, too, so it may be a moot concern anyway if you are adopting.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>OK, two stray cats (an adult one with long black and white hair, and a calico kitten) have recently shown up at my apartment complex.
>While I had been planning on getting two cats (and kept imagining getting a black one and a calico one, oddly enough),
>> Anonymous
>>119340Feeding your cat won't necessarily mean that they won't eat rodents.

Indeed.

Meet Jeff, a feral cat who lives on someone's porch, insatiable killing machine, and camwhore.

http://www.whatjeffkilled.com