Question for the cat friendly members

[zman]

There is a cat that hangs around my place, on the porch steps,lays on my car hood. I found out about 5 years ago when I moved in the cat belonged to the former owner of my home, he just moved and left it. For several years the cat always looked pretty healthy so I figured someone adopted it but lately it has been looking bad and sleeping overnight on my car hood.
I feel bad for the cat but I have a dog that really hates cats and it would be impossible to adopt the cat.
What I would like to do is to feed him and try to make it comfortable somehow but there is the problem of other cats maybe taking advantage of its food and shelter, that is, If I can even make some kind of shelter.
It`s getting cold at night and I am thinking of setting up a cardboard box with bedding and leave it on my hood with some food.
Any other suggestions? Thanks.

 

[voltcontrol]

Biggest Q next to the cats health; Is the cat sterilised (especially if it's female)?

Put out the bowl of food when you are at home and the cat's there, take it in again after a while so other neighbourhood animals are not going to use your porch as feeding grounds. Good idea to set up a 'bed' for the cat. If it starts using it it will be that cat's resting place, they're pretty territorial usually.

 

[VinylHanger]

They like boxes. :yes: Put a small cup of food in with it at night and it will be able to eat in peace. Make sure there is clean water available as well. If he starts going down hill, then it is a matter of if you can afford to help it or not. You may be able to find a volunteer animal clinic if you are lucky.

 

[EchoWars]

Good suggestions. And good on you, Zman, for caring.

 

[Vintage TX]

Zman, great taking care of him.
Found myself with a male cat who decided to stay a year ago, he is not really a inside cat, prefer being in the yard hanging out with my other one.
But was thinking about a cat-house for him, and they like to be high up from the ground (safer enviroment).
So built this converted dog-house earlier this year, works good except the other cat decided to move in and he is laying on the bench below sleeping most of the time

 

[electronjohn]

If you can...put the cat in a carrier & take him/her to the vet for a lookover. Just gravels my azz that someone would move & leave their pet behind.

 

[Captain Slack]

If you can...put the cat in a carrier & take him/her to the vet for a lookover. Just gravels my azz that someone would move & leave their pet behind.

I second this.

A better long term solution would be to contact a local no-kill shelter or rescue agency & see if they can take it in. They'll nurse it back to health & find a home for it.

I don't understand how people can just leave their pets behind like that! My cats are like my kids. I never move without taken them or at the very least find someone to take them in.

 

[similost]

Not knowing how friendly it is with you, I'd offer a few suggestion that you may consider, and also depending on how much you want to help this cat, it could get expensive really fast...

If you really want to help it, first thing you should do is see if you can get it to a vet. You said it's not looking good, and it could be suffering. With a feral, or outdoor cat, you have to worry about things like Feline Leukemia, Feline HIV and diabetes could be real deal breakers for this cat, and lack of treatment could be it's final demise.

Those problems are treatable, but they are not cheap. It could be that the best solution for this cat is to be put down. That's why I would take it to the vet if at all possible and find out why it looks sick. I'd be real careful though, because there could even be a slight possibility it has rabies. I'd only handle the cat if it wants to let you handle it, but still very cautious and look for symptoms of rabies.

A lot of cats won't "nest" or want to sleep inside a box, You could try it though, and include a light bulb in there for some heat.

As far as feeding it, if you do, please be ready to take responsibility for this cat for the rest of it's life.

 

[zman]

thanks for the advice everyone. Times like this I wish my dog could just get along with cats. At my girlfriends house there is a really laid back cat that loves dogs, for several months we tried to get my (cat size) dog to get along with, no luck.
I see a few street cats around some looks pretty rough, this cat seems not so bad yet , but with winter setting in it has to be rough to be a cat.
I feel bad because it used to be it`s home and it is coming back for food, shelter.
I really think its a crime what some people do with their pets. I hope humanity can take it up a notch some day.
I`ll give it some food and see if I can get close to it someday, for now it just darts away, then looks back and meow`s.

 

[mcubba]

All good suggestions and my kudos as well ZMan for caring. I also cannot see how in the world someone could just leave their pet behind like that :/

 

[tincat2]

start leaving food and water(the hood of your car is ok to start-a cutdown box will limit mess to the car) gradually you will build trust-sounds like the cat is already looking to make a connection. if the dog is cat sized, he/she will be schooled by the cat in manners once the cat gets comfortable and 'at home' in the territory(it was his 'home' before). dogs and cats can be good buddies, a friend of mine had such a duo, and when the cat died, the dog was inconsolable-eventually a kitten was able to bring him back, though now the dog is getting old and not quite as playful as he once was. good luck w/this, you'll be glad.

 

[clydeselsor]

Good man zman!

 

[Bozzmonster]

Good man zman!

+1. Good on you for doing the right thing. It really grinds my gears (with apologies to Peter Griffin) when someone abandons their pets. I think the same thing could have befallen my Sabrina (pictured here) but somebody had the gumption to at least drop her off at the animal shelter. I really do think that God has a 'special place' for people who abuse or neglect animals.

 

[geartech]

Just a note that its possible still to have cat and the dog around...its my situation as well. Long story short, I use a baby gate at the end of hall (dividing the house in half basically) to control who has access to what part of the house. At night the cat stays in my office, otherwise she has half the house. I realize it only works because the cat is older and somewhat sedentary - I dont suppose it would work with a young energetic cat. But just thought I'd mention it- as maybe there is a way you havent thought of to have them both around.

 

[Sam Cogley]

Until she started coming inside this year, my mom's cat slept in a plastic airline carrier with a heating pad under it on the front porch. She seemed happy enough, spending the vast majority of the winter hours in there.

 

[Rodzilla]

if the OP is willing and can arrange it,the heating pad idea has some real merit.

if it's been five years,and the cat is still around,are you sure there's not someone in the neighborhood already looking after it or even adopted it?five years is a long time

we have a cat that hangs around the dealership where i work,he's outside all day,and lives literally right next door,so quite a while back he started hanging out where the people were,these days now that it's getting colder,even hanging out in the showroom most of the day[he's welcome,and well behaved]....MANY people have assumed he was a stray,people feed him,he's long had his own weatherproof box and water dish outside our shop...we've adopted him during working hours,but he's got a home,owners who care for him,he's just let out in the morning and let in when they come home from work...i don't think they quite know that he's been leading a double life for years LOL..

 

[electronjohn]

Don't worry about the cat & dog getting along...it just takes some time. One problem is that dogs have a natural instinct to pursue what they see as prey. Dog goes up to cat...sniffs...cat sez "you're disturbing my chi--I'm outta here" & takes off running. Dog sez "Prey! Must pursue!!". They get over it.

 

[merrylander]

Regarding heating pads our five ferals each have a pad plus. Google Kitty Campers to see what I mean. Even though we provide one apiece they occasionally double up more for companionship than anything.

 

[Sam Cogley]

Don't worry about the cat & dog getting along...it just takes some time. One problem is that dogs have a natural instinct to pursue what they see as prey. Dog goes up to cat...sniffs...cat sez "you're disturbing my chi--I'm outta here" & takes off running. Dog sez "Prey! Must pursue!!". They get over it.

My mom's younger cat loves to tease the dogs. If they stop chasing her, she'll reach up and whack one of them in the nose, then run off.

 

[zman]

The heating pad is a great Idea..Thanks. I wonder how many amps they draw? I would need to use an extension cord.
5 years is a long time. That's why I have the feeling it was abandon again. I seen it year after year and it always looked healthy, It also didn't hang out around my house as much as it does now.
I`ll check the thrift store, they always have carriers and heating pads.
Thanks for the replies.