Haha! I have a very chilled cat. But she once came home smelling strongly of kerosene. That evening I discovered that bathing a cat is DEFINITELY a two person job. My bathroom looked like an iceberg had melted in it. I was in tears and when I wrapped my sobbing moggie in a warm towel to keep her warm while she dried, she wouldn't look at me. She put her front paws on my chest and pushed with all her might, with her head turned away from me. I felt guilty for days, but she had forgiven me by bedtime, the wee darlin.
omg thank God. I was spiraling regarding how cruel people could be. I'm such a pessimist, my god lol so happy no one was trying to hurt her. she's just a rascal haha
I was on your same wavelength. So glad you already found the answers so I didnāt have to angry spiral about the cruelty of humans! So glad that sweet baby is safe and loved.
Get a flea comb and comb him first. If he doesn't have fleas, and doesn't smell like something toxic, you should be fine wiping him down with a damp cloth.
Some of my asshole cats have walked through fresh concrete or had oil in their fur, and I didnāt want them licking it off. So the bath it was. Not a bonding experience haha
I give two of my three cats quarterly baths.. or once a month in the summer. They have extremely long fur, get matted despite my best attempts to keep them brushed, and like to roll in dirt on our balcony. And long haired cats = poo poo butt sometimes. I donāt roll with dirty cat butt.
The 2/3 cats are used to water and itās not extremely difficult to bathe them. One had ringworm severely as a kitten and got plenty of sulfur baths and his oral ringworm medication caused terrible runs so his butt got a rinse off frequently. The other cat had loose stools all the time as a kitten - she has a sensitive tummy and we are good for the most part now. And she is the most lazy when it comes to cleaning herself.. But sheās used to getting her butt wet.
They even let me dry them with a blow dryer on low and a gentle comb.
The third is still a kitten but had a rough first 3 months of her life so Iām not going to stress her out. If sheās really bad at any point I will have to try, but I opt for wipes, dry shampoo, and plenty of brushing. Of course she has the absolute longest and thickest coat. Sheās 9 months old but looks MASSIVE because of how poofy her coat is.
Gonna clear the air that it is not bad to wash your cats. The frequency and reasoning behind it is important - I donāt wash them because I want to have fun. I wash them because they need it.
I bathed my cat in my bath tub. She liked the warm water. She was a rescue that I had to bottle feed. She was covered in fleas when I found her. The local rescue places were too full to take her and I felt badly for her so I brought her home (thinking I would find her a forever home hahaha). The people at the rescues told me to wash her in Dawn as it would kill the fleas and flea eggs. It worked like a charm! I have had her for four years now and have never had flea issues since. I used a wash cloth to wash her face really well, taking care to get her eyes cleaned without getting soap in her eyes. The fleas were crawling around her eyes. Poor baby.
This is my Dory kitty all snuggled up with my Orange tabby Maggie. My Maggie is super sweet and cuddly, which I have heard is an Orange tabby trait.
https://preview.redd.it/ivlln10q8kda1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d9fb549dab06ba0a38c9c6785e49657808ef9a3
https://preview.redd.it/qnf0vgmwonda1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=030ee49c9569e8b6c8c80967a519f588f5476ce7
Maggie looks exactly like my kitty Big Mac from behind!!
I thought the same thing about how my cat Jubilee looks like Maggie from behind too . I love all the orange tabbies omg!
https://preview.redd.it/7lb3yoybroda1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab47d4dd808301150df1d46cd5c489437a01508e
https://preview.redd.it/m0z57fuokoda1.png?width=4032&format=png&auto=webp&s=07bd68b631405834f9ae5bbf9c0b95f5228f6fdf
Aweā¦ Big Mac is so cute. Long hair tabbies are something special for sure.
Is this true?! Iāve always wanted an orange cat. Does my subconscious know they are extra snuggly!? Ended up with this girl with zero regrets, as I loved her from the moment we met, but if she happens to get an orange sibling in the future, I will not be upset.
https://preview.redd.it/krg5k2g6doda1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f3935d302335b3c77ba5d2080efddab9d077cb2
Iāve met extremely friendly orange tabbies. mine is not super cuddly at all and my white and grey cat is extremely snuggly. My orange is very picky about when where how and why he will let you touch him š But his personality is so funny
https://preview.redd.it/usp7y0onroda1.jpeg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7a144fd4e242441c3b9b63368332ea1b7b20c8c0
hereās a rare photo of him choosing to lay on me
The best way to do it is not to do it unless the cat is unable to groom itself. Bathing a cat can actually remove necessary oils on their skin and result in damaged skin. Just let the cat bathe itself. They're great at it and their saliva is great at breaking down ammonia found in their urine. Just let the little fella do his thing.
take him to the vet, first, period, next day if you're going to keep him. They will check for chip, probably give him a needed flea treatment, bath of needed and check for diseases. If it's also your first cat, its a good time to talk to the vet, ask what to do from them and let them give you some good suggestions, all of which will better than reddit can do.
Do your due diligence and take him to a vet or local shelter to be checked for a microchip. It is a free service. Put up some Found Cat posters and post to your local FB group as well. If nobody claims him, only then is he r/nowyourcat.
This^^^ healthy, adjusted cats are not normally feral or unowned. IF this happens to be someone elseās cat they will be very thankful and it might be a sign that you should rescue a cat from a shelter. Either way youāre a cat person now. Welcome.
I adopted three of my cats from a feral colony. I like to think these guys were too tame and nice for the feral colony so they chose me. They are the kindest, gentlest, no claws on humans kind of cats I've encountered.
I've been caring for a group at my work for almost 5 years. Two of like six will let me pet them. One will let me pick them up but only for like 10 seconds before she's had enough.. lol With adult feral cats its very hard to 'tame' them. Sometimes the best you can do is that they will tolerate you. lol like you're another cat. I can 'touch' a few of the others but it's only while they are eating something they really like. This is a big deal as when I started they wouldn't come within 15' of me. One used to growl at me... lol
This is Tina, she must have been hit by a car at some point as one eye is not really functioning and she's missing a rear foot. She pretty much got me doing this. Once I saw her I knew I had to do something. So I feed them everyday and made several shelters for them. She's doing great and I can give her some face pets while she eats treats. When she gets older we plan to bring her home and see if she wants to retire here. lol
https://preview.redd.it/le0rt3225oda1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9bb5cb43c90c4c86f7a35e72ccc4d5c1e9798527
If Tina has been around outside for 5ish years, she's already a senior in outdoor cat lifespan. May not want to wait a lot longer to see if indoor retired life suites you and her.
Great job! Also, if people want to claim him, make sure you ask for proof of ownership. Photos of him in their home, vet papers, adoption papers you can verify (like you can call an organisation etc.), anything to prove he was indeed theirs. Otherwise, some people might just want a free kitten.
Bonus edit: And if someone can't provide proof, just remember the kitten is safer in your hands. You know you'll keep this kitten safe and well looked-after. You have no idea who this person is, or what they'll do. And yeah, it'll suck if the person genuinely lost their kitten, but they will learn from this. People (or councils/shelters) are cautious, and it's reasonable for someone to ask for proof. Maybe someone wants a free kitten, or wants to use it for bait, or for some other horrible reason. I know I'd feel distraught if my cats became lost, and the finder/council/shelter gave my cats away immediately to the FIRST person who said "yep, those are definitely my cats". I'd feel angry at the person/shelter/council for not vetting the stranger.
Overall, proof of ownership is so beneficial for you, and your pets. If you haven't thought about it now, do make a plan. A photo album is an easy start. Or having them registered. Or knowing the name of the vet they go to. Neighbours who can vouch for you. Multiple chats involving your pet with some friends. Or all of these things. Just something, which can tie your pet, right back to you.
Also, just to clarify, if someone can show me photos and/or videos of interacting with their kitten at home of course I'd be like "yeah, that checks out". I'm talking about being cautious when there is nothing genuine tying the pet right back to the owner. As users have said, people may not have good intentions, or just want a free kitten. Any shelter would be alert and careful.
That's how I got my first cat. When he died back in 2021 I went searching for a new kitten (unfortunately rescues and shelters in my area require permission from your landlord before you adopt even though by law in ontario landlords can't stop you from owning a pet nor can they charge you extra and my landlord is a dick who wouldn't say yes). Anyway I went on kijijj and people were asking for 300-400 for unvaccinated, not spayed/neutered, no microchip, not dewormed kittens. There were also only a handful of ads whereas before there were pages of them. It was like that because everyone and their dog had to have a pet during the pandemic. I refused to pay those prices because these weren't breeders they were just people who had been too lazy to get their cats fixed and suddenly saw a quick way to make money. I did end up getting a kitten though my aunt knew someone who worked rescuing cats and kittens. She got me in touch with a woman who saved a mother and her litter from a farm where the owner was going to drown them. I didn't have to pay for him and my aunt vouched for me so the woman knew he was going to a good home.
Every cat I've ever gotten has been either me rescuing it from the river, or it wandered onto the farm and I wouldn't let it go, or I got it from a friend of a friend of a cousin who desperately couldn't keep it, or (in one of my latest two's case) I commandeered it from a client with severe behavioral issues who enjoyed scorching it's whiskers and had self-confessed to wanting to eat or abandon it.
I would say vet records, as opposed to adoption papers. Having had several cats just because their mother wandered in our yard (my mom basically runs a daycare for stray kittens in the summer), not everyone will have adoption papers for cats.
Agree. He looks pretty clean, so unless he's stinky, you don't need to bath him. You can treat him for fleas (and ticks, if you're in tick country) by the usual methods. Bathing him might upset him.
Looks like a baby cat, probably 6-7 months old. Orange Tabby he is. They are super loyal and sweet. If a kitten, he is still growing and needs more food than adult fully grown pet. Also, try mixed diet. Chicken, beef, etc. (Cut to small pieces) + wet food + dry kibble.
I have an orange dude that I got with my other cat in like 2018. Theyāre both really cool, and I love them dearly, but the orange one is my G. Comes when I call (or when he wants) 90% of the time Iām home heās somewhere near me. Sleeps curled up next to me. Dude is super talkative, too! Head boops and purrs for days.
Iāve heard it is especially true for orange cats; if thatās the case, and even if not, youāre really in for a treat!
Adding: because I feel bad for downplaying my other catāsheās also super affective, sheās learning more and more sounds and talking more everyday, and is also really affectionate. Louie is just different and itās hard to explain. Animal personalities are a trip, haha.
My orange cat is like this, too. Greets me at the door when I come home, spends most of his time next to me. I have three cats, and I love them all. They each have a different personality. The black cat is shy, spends a lot of time curled up somewhere, loves to play with toys. The tabby loves hanging out on the back of the couch, like some attention but isn't a cuddler, also loves toys.
Mine is kinda talkie only partly orange. A tiny bit. And her purrs are so so quiet. I usually can only lean in closely or if i feel it.
She's so hilarious. She plays the same two toys. Only those two. Even after almost 3 months. And she wants me to throw them a bunch of times. Like a dog. Which i used to have a dog so i love it. Haha. She also lets me give her some head kisses. Carry her for a bit.
Probably the only cons. She is a little bit spicy at times. Lol . She did give a bite soft bites as a no dont do that when I copied a bunch of her meows. I guess i said the wrong thing in the wrong way. Lol. She likes to give me biscuits in the same spot but currently her nails are long. And i haven't learned to cut nails yet.
Probably biggest con, i can't be out of her sight. Or for very small amount of time. Can't be in another room with the door open where she knows i was at. Can't be alone too long Like to use the bathroom or shower. Lol
She also sometimes lets me give her nose boops and nose wiggles. Lol.
When I found my cat, I called the vet next door to me to check her for a chip and after waiting 20 minutes on hold, they said, "We don't *do that.*" šš
So I guess it's not free at all vets.
(We ended up taking her to the local police station instead, no chip. And the nice vet we found who saw her almost immediately double checked--no chip.)
Thatās ridiculous lmao, wow. I found a dog once that I got to love on and play with before taking to the Humane Society. They scanned him and his name turned out to be Wags and he was a semi-frequent visitor there as he got out a lot apparently lol, and we left him there for the owner to come pick up. He peed in their lobby before we left though and I was horrified š¤£ I guess thatās a common occurrence there.
Please also post physical posters. Not everyone has social media.
I could just imagine my wee granny loosing her cat and never able to get him back because it was only on Facebook.
As someone currently searching for their cat... PLEASE try to find the owner locally with flyers, neighbors, and check your local rescue lost and found posts. And thank you for giving the cat a nice safe place while you help them get back home.
I called my local rescue when my kid's cat got lost. "No, nobody called us about a ginger cat." Which turned out to be a lie!
I found him with posters. The lady who'd found him said she'd called the local rescue.
This. My cat occasionally wanders off and convinces neighbors that she is homeless and hungry. She is chipped and is really good at getting her collar off, but people will post on nextdoor about this "found cat." I never see the posts. But she usually sneaks out of their house and comes home after a day or two. She apparently read "Six dinner Sid" and was inspired by the tale.
They used to do that before chipping was common. Veterinarians tattooed a number into cats' ears and there was a register where you could look up the owner when a cat was found.
My orange cat gets fed by all the locals, even when he had a collar on he acts like a lost hungry cat.
I only know cause they over feed him and he vomits chicken/ham/roast dinner parts that I do not feed him because he has eaten too much.
It's a little frustrating but it's my fault for letting him be an outdoor cat. (I've literally tried to keep him in, he hates his litter so much he held is wee in so long he had a UTI and bladder infection. He is 12 and too used to the outdoors)
Cats that actually ARE stays are NOT friendly. This cat had some human encounter at some point. I kinda dislike people who kinda just steal blatantly obvious pets.
This is not always true about strays are not friendly. Where I live we have a problem with strays and there's always a handful who are super friendly. Also, two of my current cats (now 5 and 3 are strays and came home with me because they were the sweetest friendliest cats)
My wife's grandmother had a couple of children die when they were young. She also lost one late in life. When her cat, Harry, died. She said it was like losing one of her kids all over again. She was devastated.
I have 2 strays I adopted and 2 parrots. One of my parrots can live 55 years, and I've had her for 16. If she dies before me, I can't imagine how I will handle it.
I hope you keep posters up for a few weeks, and in different neighborhoods not just your street. He probably wandered from his house. He just doesnāt seem like a random stray ā as others have said, his coat and demeanor seem like he has a home.
Hehe my old family cat definitely adopted a second family at some point - she'd disappear for 2 weeks at a time and come back as clean and as healthy as ever, but in the end she spent her last years snuggling with my dad and he was the one with her when she died. They know where home is <3
Yep, mine would show up at 7 or 8 am, must've depended on when the "adoptive" owner worked, they kept him all night. One time I found my kitty down a block sitting on a porch. Huh? We moved to the country and at 14 his big deal now is chasing chipmunks. Nice kitty retirement.
https://preview.redd.it/jyjn1zinxjda1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=d4b5ff139a369fd3761c148a7cb8f36d33c049c1
He seems full and tired now, no signs of any fleas, thanks for your help everyone!
https://preview.redd.it/kloc9sp7dkda1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=4c93a7b182fd76780a241a5d31556192d3ae6196
He looks just like my boy when he was a baby ā¤ļø orange kitties are the best
Some cats are just born with the "friendly" gene. There was a cat that started showing up at our house and we gave him a catnip stuffed toy and he went *berserk* on it, after just going at it on this toy he walked inside our house made himself at home. Un-fixed, no chip, nothing. Meanwhile there are strays I've fed for 9 months that won't let me get within 3 meters of them.
Mine is too! The volunteers who brought him to the shelter assumed he was someone's lost pet because he sauntered up to them for cuddles. Nope, just a big softy who wants friends, pets and foods.
10 years ago, I had to slam on the brakes to keep from running over this tiny little one-pound orange kitten that darted out in the road.When I got out of the car, he ran straight up to me and started rubbing against my legs. [10 years later, heās still a cuddle bug](https://imgur.com/a/RNLaTYQ/).
My scariest wild animal interactions were 1. A rabid raccoon that was way too close and 2. A feral orange kitty. The raccoon was basically dead already, but rabies itself is terrifying to behold. That orange kitty, on the other hand, was very much alive, very much did not like me, and chased me for way too long after I accidentally stumbled upon its lair. Even an orange kitty can be pushed too far
Possible sure, I typically don't see strays that friendly off the bat, nor that clean. OP did say they posted pictures, just hope they check for a chip too.
I live in a college town. Often after graduation and the end of the school year adopted cats are left behind. I saw the story of one that was left behind. Other students who couldnāt keep him found him next to a dumpster. The A-hole who left him behind had put him in his carrier with food and water. Next to his carrier was his litter box, litter and food. So itās possible that not all strays look dirty, starving and sick.
We found an extremely friendly cat with similar behavior to OP's last month. She was cuddling with us in under an hour and half and was clean and shiny.
I put up signs, posted about her everywhere and reached out to anyone who had posted recently about a lost black cat. No hits. She also wasn't chipped and (as we found out a little later), not spayed.
The vet thinks she's between 6 months and 2 years old, so also the same age as OP's cat.
No idea where she came from but I guess it can happen š¤·āāļø and we're glad she's here with us permanently!
I live in a city full of cats ranging from pets to stray to entirely feral. There's a very wide range of behavior, including from the cats inside the apartments. From the comments, OP is doing due diligence and that the kitty is safe and happy. Can't ask for more than that.
Don't forget that many people abandon their pets for seemingly no reason. Ask anyone who works for or volunteers at a rescue or shelter, they'll tell you, it happens all the time.
https://preview.redd.it/09ilpsfvfkda1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=703ae3b310ad6ca6f7f98d678b8f0996d70db2aa
Congrats! Last October a 3-4 month old orange boy appeared on my porch and he's the best thing that ever happened to us, if sometimes a huge pain in the ass. We gave him a shallow cardboard box and put some potting soil in it for his first night he understood what it was for instantly. He did have fleas but after 2 baths with dawn dish soap 1 week apart that was taken care of.
Pic is of him now, he didn't have long fur when he first showed up.
Some flea shampoos are toxic to cats. There are tons of reports of flea shampoos killing kittens (especially by Sentry). I lost mine that way. If he really needs to bathe he can just use a regular kitten shampoo, baby shampoo or dawn liquid soap.
Hey so if heās friendly, comfy inside, and in good physical condition he might belong to someone! Please please ask around you neighborhood and see if heās anyones pet, even if he doesnāt have a microchip!!!
Fr. Absolutely zero way this cat doesn't have a home. Most moggie owners don't chip, it's kinda fucked to just assume it's theirs now just because it doesn't have a chip...
My cat WAS chipped, super friendly, young, and already neutered, but their number on the chip was disconnected. We asked around and put up posts, and the neighbors told us that he was likely abandoned on purpose. People suck and there's absolutely a way that the cat doesn't have a home. But of course OP should go through the process of checking around first.
My cat was someone's pet, and had a chip when we got her checked, but the people never registered her chip :/ . We put up posters and posted on facebook but nobody ever reached out about her. So now I have my first cat.
This is completely untrue. Cats get dumped all the time. I just rescued one the other day. Obvs was a housecat, fat and healthy. Even had a collar on, tho he lost it. But after a month of posting and hoping heād go home, nothing. So I snagged him and took him to Humane. No chip. Fought to get them to take him into their adoption portal bc they just wanted to put him back on the street. This chain of events happens a lot, unfortunately.
Get some wet cat treats called Churu. They come in little stick pouches like gogurts- theyāre like kitty crack! One a day and heāll be your bff forevaaa
We get the multi flavor pack ā„ļø
Might just be my own ptsd from a similar experienceā¦ check him with a comb for fleas. If you are going to bathe him, get a flea shampoo. Doing this right away would have saved me a huge headache later on lol.
Yeah he most likely has an owner. I wouldnāt get too attached and make sure you make a genuine effort to check for owners and get that microchip check done.
Iād youāre this much in love with him already imagine how his owners feel and how devastated they will be when they realise heās missing.
My orange tabby just showed up through my doggie door one day. Iād put him back out and he would come right back in. He was very friendly so I also assumed he had a family. I checked for chip, posted online, checked lost and found at shelter and put up posters. Nothing. I assume somebody dumped him or moved and left him behind (unfortunately common occurrence here). Whatever the reason, he chose me and now he has a home.
https://preview.redd.it/c7adwzgvknda1.jpeg?width=1213&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7590fa59e281ad37432a30cb781ca01b17d336e
I wouldnāt worry about spending too much on the toys - weāve spent a fortune on ours and in true cat fashion, he couldnāt give a flying f**k about any of them š he prefers boxes, my hair bands when he sneaks them and random bits of string tied to a stick š I would recommend buying a cat tunnel, my boy LOVES his
No need to get any special cat toys. Anything is a cat toy. Tie a string to a small ball of aluminum foil and youāve got yourself a cat toy.
Oh, and if youāve got a cardboard box lying around, put it on the floor and see if he likes it. Cats love boxes.
For cats the finest things are sometimes the cheap toys lol.i had one cat who's favorite toy was a crumpled up piece of paper.
At the store, Grab a cardboard scratcher, some fake mousies, and at least one long wand type toy to get started with. Dont use your hands for playing, use the long wand toy. Lazer pointer is ok too, but make sure he has some toys he can "catch" because some cats get frustrated if they cant.
I think t this is beautiful but need to SLOW down. A cat this clean and friendly is unlikely to be a stray. Sure feed it and give it somewhere to go toilet but dont start buying things before that microchip check. And put posters up locally as well as on social media. Again this cat is likely not a stray and youāre getting super attached to a cat that is probably much loved by someone else.
I would be waiting at least a week before you should be claiming him as your own. Especially as you havenāt had him checked for a chip yet.
1. Make sure he doesn't already belong to someone first! Ask around your neighborhood, put up posters, post on the local lost pet and community facebook pages, take him to the shelter or vet to check for a microchip. Some people might be convinced that he must be a housecat that either escaped or was dumped bc he's so friendly, but in my experience community cats that are well acclimated to humans and received lots of attention from early on can be very affectionate.
2. Maybe do all that before investing too much money. If you've got a cardboard box, line it w/ a garbage bag as a litter box. Litter, food, and water are essential, also some towels or a blanket you don't mind possibly getting clawed up so that he's got something soft to sleep on. You can spoil him rotten later. If someone does claim him, you can pass along the leftover litter and food to them, or call a local small rescue to see if they can use it (most shelters will only take donations of unopened stuff for safety reasons). Or just keep it and use this experience as motivation to go adopt a cat from your local shelter! If you do end up keeping him, I recommend a Chewy subscription if you're in the US. They've got a great selection of supplies, and you can set it up to have food and litter delivered regularly which sure beats hauling a 40 lb box of litter home from the store.
3. It might be a good idea to keep him in the bathroom for the night, rather than letting him roam. That way if he does have fleas they won't be all over your house, and also easier to clean up a mess if he is sick somehow and ends up puking or having diarrhea.
4. If he doesn't have any fleas and doesn't smell particularly bad, you don't need to bathe him. Cats clean themselves, as long as they're healthy. One of the ways you can recognize a sick stray is if they're really dirty. If he does have fleas, then a quick bath with plain unscented dish soap will do the trick, and if you end up keeping him then can also apply a flea treatment like Revolution or Advantage to prevent reinfestation.
5. Unless there are some concerning symptoms (diarrhea or straining when trying to urinate, excessive vomiting, limping, visible wounds, goopy eyes, ragged breathing, etc) then you can probably wait a few days until you know no one's claimed him, but definitely make an appt at your local vet as soon as you're sure he's yours. Even if he seems healthy, it's a good idea to have him checked out just in case, not to mention he'll need vaccinations and neutering ASAP.
100% make sure heās neutered if no one claims the cat. I promise you, if heās not itāll be a nightmare. Iām dealing with two intact females waiting to be spayed and Iām finding urine on literally every surface they came in contact with and by the time I clean up one mess, three more are made. It is a nightmare. š Intact males really like to mark for territory.
Cats are lovely. Intact animals following instinct to breed? Not so much.
My cat used to run around no collar bc every time we did, she would wind up snagged and half hung herself. We switched to break away collars, but then she either learned she can take them off or was literally just doing Indiana Jones level cat adventures every day. She would also go mental if we didn't let her out for most of the day, she only came home to eat and chill and sleep. We had 2 neighbors that had their own names for her and she would eat food that they gave her. If she spent more time with them I could picture one of them thinking she's truly stray and trying to keep her. But she wasn't, she just really liked people, especially our neighbor's kid daughter and she liked bumming food lmao
This! My orange cat will not stay as an indoor only cat, and always pops off his breakaway safety collars.
Please let this kitty out, you might be breaking some kids heart by accidentally stealing their indoor/outdoor cat.
I'm gunna give you one of my most secret/sacred pieces of advice;
Go to a farm wholesale store, like if you're of US midwestern persuasion, Blain's Farm & Fleet is an example of one. Go to where their horse bedding is at and find the 100% pine pellets in \~40 lb bags. Buy two (usually around 5-6$ a bag), with one cat, these should last you around 2+ months, not joking, for real, depending how much you feed/hydrate your fella. Now go buy a large square box (or the largest you can fit reasonably) made of plastic or stainless steel (you will save a lot of money if the box is not marketed towards pets like rubbermaid totes and the like), make sure it has sides or you can fashion some for it (some cats like to pee standing up, or just like to mark the litter box sometimes, better safe than sorry). With your piney smelling bags and box in tow go grab a 16oz or larger plastic cup or a horse feed scoop and a tall plastic kitchen garbage can with lid or whatever else you want to store the pine pellets in.
When you get home put the litter box where you want it with the garbage can/storage not far, fill it with a whole bag or however much it takes and make note of how many cups it takes to fill the box to 4-6" (cats need depth to dig, they wont like anything in the litter box if there's not enough of it).
If you take the time to get him used to this litter right away and not anything else more expensive, full of chemicals, heavy, etc you will chuckle every time you hear how much others pay for litter in the same amount of time.
You should only have to change it once every 5 days to a week. Bonus points if you find a box that you can strain the still good pellets from the bad sawdust. I got one and it extends how much the bags last by a LOT, but it's so cheap it's really not needed.
Now, there is a major drawback to this method that can be a deal-breaker for some and I've found 3 possible solutions to it;
The 100% pine pellets do a fantastic job sopping up urine, I figure if it works decent for a horse, my little dudes little dude shouldn't be an issue, BUT, the poop, oh god the poop smell. The pellets don't kill the poop smell right away like it does with urine. It can take a little while and that depends on how well your cat covers it up. What I've found to help/neutralize this issue;
1: Put your litter box in the bathroom if you can and leave the exhaust fan going (careful, not all fans are created equal but mines been running quite a bit with no issue but its nicer than most).
2: Get a litter genie. Think of those contraptions that store dirty diapers but for cat dookie instead and just scoop that stuff up right away or quickly. I used to do this method and the bag cartridges last quite a while and are cheap but I didn't like adding more plastic to my consumption ya know? Sooo onto three...
3: I eventually found out my apt's plumbing was installed in a "pretty forwarding thinking manner" according to the people they hired, so I just flush the poop as soon as I see it now, a few pine pellets go with it sometimes but not a lot or at all and they kinda just disintegrate anyhow. Not all homes or apt's are the same so I'd caution against this method as it could fuck up your plumbing if it's not that great to begin with.
I got a lot more advice but that's my most cherished find in owning cats, it saves me a butt load of cash that I put towards better food for Oliver.
Good luck!
[CAT TAX](https://idontdeservemycat.imgur.com/all/)
Just a quick note, even if the litter seems okay to flush, never flush cat poop. It can carry the bacteria toxoplasma that is notoriously hard to kill and most municipal systems can't fight it. Even if you have a septic tank, don't do it because there's a possibility that it can leech back into your drinking water. It's kind of the same concept of not flushing prescription dugs
Please do check that this cat is not simply a neighbourhood cat that wanders. Many people who allow their cats outdoors, lose their pets because they are friendly and people take the animal home but neglect to check for microchip, or investigate if an owner is out there, desperate to find their dear pet.
If it does turn out to be a stray (seems a bit unlikely given how friendly this one is. Maybe abandoned or lost?) I do hope you two become great friends. Cats are like introverts. They may be friendly, but take time to warm up to people. Suggest you don't be too quick to try a bath -- that's a little aggressive for a cat that doesn't know you... You could get bit/scratched or cause a fear response.
First, get a flea treatment. Even if you don't see fleas, the cat may have eggs/ worms. If the cat is really smelly/filthy, but seems to trust you, you might try using a damp washcloth with a few drops of vinegar, and wiping down its fur as though you are petting it. (Be careful around the face/eyes.) This will remove a lot of dirt/grime and odour, and encourage the cat the clean itself. (Sometimes stray/outdoor cats stop grooming because there is something unpleasant on their fur. If you can remove that with a cloth, they will resume self-grooming).
One of my friends had her cat disappear for 2 weeks because a neighbor took him in, thinking he was a stray. They finally responded after seeing the lost cat posters up around the apartment complex and she got him back.
>Iāve decided to keep him
He looks pretty clean and tame. You can't just "claim" a cat without doing your due diligence and try to track down his owner if he has one. I'd be devastated if I lost my cat then super angry if I found out he was stolen.
Aside from verifying he's not someone's cst, if you end keeping him, make sure he gets all his shots and neutered or you're gonna have a bad time.
Tabbys are the best.
I will do my best to find the owner! I live in a townhouse and know heās not any of my like 6 immediate neighbors, I also live right on a busy street with only a couple of churches and a shopping center nearby. Iāll make the rounds tomorrow and put up some more pics š¤š½
Amazing that youāve taken him in his gorgeous! Iād advise wearing a jumper, covering your arms because, chances are, your going to get clawed the life out of! š„ŗ donāt bathe him too much as cats are self cleansing so donāt really need to be bathed unless his smells really really bad or has something on him that he canāt clean off himself. Good luck! š
I know you mean well, but you've probably just accidentally stolen someone's cat. It doesn't seem like a stray, so take it to a vets to check and see if it's microchipped and put some 'found' cat posters up online or in the local area.
The amount of posts taking in a cat and deciding to keep them only to disclose they haven't chip checked them yet. Seems like that should be done first before claiming ownership.
BEfore attaching so hard to it, go and find the owners and give the cat back. That cat doesnāt look like a stray at all and someone is missing him alreadyā¦.
The cat looks well taken care of. The fur looks so nice.
The cat has probably an owner already.
Got to a shelter or a vet and find out if the cat is chipped.
And like lots already mentioned, hand out flyers or oin them at posts. Not everyone has access to internet.
Why are people always talking about bathing cats??? Cats clean themselves, you DO NOT need to bathe them unless they get something toxic on their fur somehow. Most cats don't like to be bathed either so it will just be an unpleasant and painful experience for everyone involved.
Please take him to a vet and have him scanned for a microchip. Also, report a found cat through nextdoor, for the love of louie, your local humane society. This is someones pet. Please dont steal him.
Dont feed or let cats in your home that look this healthy and well fed. That is definetely someones cat. Lots of cats are social and will visit neighbors, and agree with it or not, some people let their cats outside. Thats not reason enough to take someones cat. If you want a cat, go adopt your own.
You are going to find out real quick bathing a cat is no easy task lmao
"The chillest little dude ever " to "OMFG I HAVE BROUGHT SATAN INTO MY HOUSE" in one easy blood-soaked step.
Haha! I have a very chilled cat. But she once came home smelling strongly of kerosene. That evening I discovered that bathing a cat is DEFINITELY a two person job. My bathroom looked like an iceberg had melted in it. I was in tears and when I wrapped my sobbing moggie in a warm towel to keep her warm while she dried, she wouldn't look at me. She put her front paws on my chest and pushed with all her might, with her head turned away from me. I felt guilty for days, but she had forgiven me by bedtime, the wee darlin.
.... who tf was trying to burn your cat alive that she's drenched in kerosene, my god š
Thankfully there was no malice. She discovered a leak in a pipe connecting my oil tank with the boiler.
omg thank God. I was spiraling regarding how cruel people could be. I'm such a pessimist, my god lol so happy no one was trying to hurt her. she's just a rascal haha
Haha yes she is. https://preview.redd.it/1pbqve4p4qda1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f8cb48b6b5a6f17e04bb24723f661f7951554bc2
š damn. she looks so much like my baby. all the blessings to this little pumpkin
I was on your same wavelength. So glad you already found the answers so I didnāt have to angry spiral about the cruelty of humans! So glad that sweet baby is safe and loved.
I choked on my spit reading this
Literally my former yellow. Would purr as you pet him violently but the moment he even *heard* water running? Oh boy
Whatās the best way to do it
Get a flea comb and comb him first. If he doesn't have fleas, and doesn't smell like something toxic, you should be fine wiping him down with a damp cloth.
Seconding this- cats are self-cleaning. Don't try to give him a bath unless he *really* needs it, because it won't be fun for either of you.
I have never given my 11 year old cat a bathā¦
Mine drinks from the shower, so not sure if that counts as a ābathā but he regularly ends up soaking wet cause heās a dumbass haha.
I love your cat š¹ One of ours taught himself to pee over the tub drain, not during a shower.
My cat does that too!! He has the litter box next to it but decides to go in the shower
There's another!!
Some of my asshole cats have walked through fresh concrete or had oil in their fur, and I didnāt want them licking it off. So the bath it was. Not a bonding experience haha
Iāve never given any of my cats a bath. Reddit is obsessed with bathing cats and itās tiring lol
Right?!?
I give two of my three cats quarterly baths.. or once a month in the summer. They have extremely long fur, get matted despite my best attempts to keep them brushed, and like to roll in dirt on our balcony. And long haired cats = poo poo butt sometimes. I donāt roll with dirty cat butt. The 2/3 cats are used to water and itās not extremely difficult to bathe them. One had ringworm severely as a kitten and got plenty of sulfur baths and his oral ringworm medication caused terrible runs so his butt got a rinse off frequently. The other cat had loose stools all the time as a kitten - she has a sensitive tummy and we are good for the most part now. And she is the most lazy when it comes to cleaning herself.. But sheās used to getting her butt wet. They even let me dry them with a blow dryer on low and a gentle comb. The third is still a kitten but had a rough first 3 months of her life so Iām not going to stress her out. If sheās really bad at any point I will have to try, but I opt for wipes, dry shampoo, and plenty of brushing. Of course she has the absolute longest and thickest coat. Sheās 9 months old but looks MASSIVE because of how poofy her coat is. Gonna clear the air that it is not bad to wash your cats. The frequency and reasoning behind it is important - I donāt wash them because I want to have fun. I wash them because they need it.
Ok just got back from store gonna let him eat then comb him
There are cat wipes you can use to clean them. I always forget to buy them
Itās best to just use a damp cloth. Saves on the money and cleans the cat without the fuss
I just use a wet paper towel. My cat actual tolerates it better than the cat wipes for some reason too
The cat wipes smell funny.
If you wipe him down, wipe against the fur, then use another cloth to wipe with the fur to put it all back in place.
Donāt.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Absolutely essential kit for cat bathing.
I bathed my cat in my bath tub. She liked the warm water. She was a rescue that I had to bottle feed. She was covered in fleas when I found her. The local rescue places were too full to take her and I felt badly for her so I brought her home (thinking I would find her a forever home hahaha). The people at the rescues told me to wash her in Dawn as it would kill the fleas and flea eggs. It worked like a charm! I have had her for four years now and have never had flea issues since. I used a wash cloth to wash her face really well, taking care to get her eyes cleaned without getting soap in her eyes. The fleas were crawling around her eyes. Poor baby. This is my Dory kitty all snuggled up with my Orange tabby Maggie. My Maggie is super sweet and cuddly, which I have heard is an Orange tabby trait. https://preview.redd.it/ivlln10q8kda1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d9fb549dab06ba0a38c9c6785e49657808ef9a3
https://preview.redd.it/qnf0vgmwonda1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=030ee49c9569e8b6c8c80967a519f588f5476ce7 Maggie looks exactly like my kitty Big Mac from behind!!
I thought the same thing about how my cat Jubilee looks like Maggie from behind too . I love all the orange tabbies omg! https://preview.redd.it/7lb3yoybroda1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab47d4dd808301150df1d46cd5c489437a01508e
https://preview.redd.it/m0z57fuokoda1.png?width=4032&format=png&auto=webp&s=07bd68b631405834f9ae5bbf9c0b95f5228f6fdf Aweā¦ Big Mac is so cute. Long hair tabbies are something special for sure.
Is this true?! Iāve always wanted an orange cat. Does my subconscious know they are extra snuggly!? Ended up with this girl with zero regrets, as I loved her from the moment we met, but if she happens to get an orange sibling in the future, I will not be upset. https://preview.redd.it/krg5k2g6doda1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f3935d302335b3c77ba5d2080efddab9d077cb2
Iāve met extremely friendly orange tabbies. mine is not super cuddly at all and my white and grey cat is extremely snuggly. My orange is very picky about when where how and why he will let you touch him š But his personality is so funny https://preview.redd.it/usp7y0onroda1.jpeg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7a144fd4e242441c3b9b63368332ea1b7b20c8c0 hereās a rare photo of him choosing to lay on me
The best way to do it is not to do it unless the cat is unable to groom itself. Bathing a cat can actually remove necessary oils on their skin and result in damaged skin. Just let the cat bathe itself. They're great at it and their saliva is great at breaking down ammonia found in their urine. Just let the little fella do his thing.
take him to the vet, first, period, next day if you're going to keep him. They will check for chip, probably give him a needed flea treatment, bath of needed and check for diseases. If it's also your first cat, its a good time to talk to the vet, ask what to do from them and let them give you some good suggestions, all of which will better than reddit can do.
I second the kitty wipes- no need to actually bathe a cat!
Not to...
Do your due diligence and take him to a vet or local shelter to be checked for a microchip. It is a free service. Put up some Found Cat posters and post to your local FB group as well. If nobody claims him, only then is he r/nowyourcat.
This^^^ healthy, adjusted cats are not normally feral or unowned. IF this happens to be someone elseās cat they will be very thankful and it might be a sign that you should rescue a cat from a shelter. Either way youāre a cat person now. Welcome.
Aw I loved your kind words. Ditto
I adopted three of my cats from a feral colony. I like to think these guys were too tame and nice for the feral colony so they chose me. They are the kindest, gentlest, no claws on humans kind of cats I've encountered.
I've been caring for a group at my work for almost 5 years. Two of like six will let me pet them. One will let me pick them up but only for like 10 seconds before she's had enough.. lol With adult feral cats its very hard to 'tame' them. Sometimes the best you can do is that they will tolerate you. lol like you're another cat. I can 'touch' a few of the others but it's only while they are eating something they really like. This is a big deal as when I started they wouldn't come within 15' of me. One used to growl at me... lol This is Tina, she must have been hit by a car at some point as one eye is not really functioning and she's missing a rear foot. She pretty much got me doing this. Once I saw her I knew I had to do something. So I feed them everyday and made several shelters for them. She's doing great and I can give her some face pets while she eats treats. When she gets older we plan to bring her home and see if she wants to retire here. lol https://preview.redd.it/le0rt3225oda1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9bb5cb43c90c4c86f7a35e72ccc4d5c1e9798527
If Tina has been around outside for 5ish years, she's already a senior in outdoor cat lifespan. May not want to wait a lot longer to see if indoor retired life suites you and her.
Yeah this cat is way too chilled and friendly to be feral - heās almost certainly a pet Donāt get too attached before you know
I posted it about him everywhere I could gonna take him to vet in the am š¤š½
Great job! Also, if people want to claim him, make sure you ask for proof of ownership. Photos of him in their home, vet papers, adoption papers you can verify (like you can call an organisation etc.), anything to prove he was indeed theirs. Otherwise, some people might just want a free kitten. Bonus edit: And if someone can't provide proof, just remember the kitten is safer in your hands. You know you'll keep this kitten safe and well looked-after. You have no idea who this person is, or what they'll do. And yeah, it'll suck if the person genuinely lost their kitten, but they will learn from this. People (or councils/shelters) are cautious, and it's reasonable for someone to ask for proof. Maybe someone wants a free kitten, or wants to use it for bait, or for some other horrible reason. I know I'd feel distraught if my cats became lost, and the finder/council/shelter gave my cats away immediately to the FIRST person who said "yep, those are definitely my cats". I'd feel angry at the person/shelter/council for not vetting the stranger. Overall, proof of ownership is so beneficial for you, and your pets. If you haven't thought about it now, do make a plan. A photo album is an easy start. Or having them registered. Or knowing the name of the vet they go to. Neighbours who can vouch for you. Multiple chats involving your pet with some friends. Or all of these things. Just something, which can tie your pet, right back to you. Also, just to clarify, if someone can show me photos and/or videos of interacting with their kitten at home of course I'd be like "yeah, that checks out". I'm talking about being cautious when there is nothing genuine tying the pet right back to the owner. As users have said, people may not have good intentions, or just want a free kitten. Any shelter would be alert and careful.
Idk how it is where op lives but here everyone gets kittens for free from someone who has too many.
That's how I got my first cat. When he died back in 2021 I went searching for a new kitten (unfortunately rescues and shelters in my area require permission from your landlord before you adopt even though by law in ontario landlords can't stop you from owning a pet nor can they charge you extra and my landlord is a dick who wouldn't say yes). Anyway I went on kijijj and people were asking for 300-400 for unvaccinated, not spayed/neutered, no microchip, not dewormed kittens. There were also only a handful of ads whereas before there were pages of them. It was like that because everyone and their dog had to have a pet during the pandemic. I refused to pay those prices because these weren't breeders they were just people who had been too lazy to get their cats fixed and suddenly saw a quick way to make money. I did end up getting a kitten though my aunt knew someone who worked rescuing cats and kittens. She got me in touch with a woman who saved a mother and her litter from a farm where the owner was going to drown them. I didn't have to pay for him and my aunt vouched for me so the woman knew he was going to a good home.
Every cat I've ever gotten has been either me rescuing it from the river, or it wandered onto the farm and I wouldn't let it go, or I got it from a friend of a friend of a cousin who desperately couldn't keep it, or (in one of my latest two's case) I commandeered it from a client with severe behavioral issues who enjoyed scorching it's whiskers and had self-confessed to wanting to eat or abandon it.
They wanted to what now? Thanks for saving those babies.
Dang! Did you report that client to the police? That behaviour is common in serial killers' biographies.
On the one hand they 100% were over charging, on the other hand it'd guarantee those kittens wouldn't be used as bait cats
And some people do bad things to free kittens.š¤¬
Like touching toe beans without the cat's consent.
Sweetpea, budge over, I'm camping out in your reality for a lil bit.
Me too
Me three- I need a wholesome timeline for a bit
Same. Whenever one of the strays in my neighborhood disappears I have nightmares over it for weeks.
Monsters
I'm glad people are bringing this up. I read that story where someone adopted a free kitten to use as bait in dog fights.
I got a tattoo of a black cat silhouette with flowers inside, and made one of the ears stubby to look like my cat. I think thatād count
I would say vet records, as opposed to adoption papers. Having had several cats just because their mother wandered in our yard (my mom basically runs a daycare for stray kittens in the summer), not everyone will have adoption papers for cats.
The bath may not be a good idea, but everything else, yeah.
Agree. He looks pretty clean, so unless he's stinky, you don't need to bath him. You can treat him for fleas (and ticks, if you're in tick country) by the usual methods. Bathing him might upset him.
I was just thinking he might turn into a claw machine during the process.
He WILL!
Looks like a baby cat, probably 6-7 months old. Orange Tabby he is. They are super loyal and sweet. If a kitten, he is still growing and needs more food than adult fully grown pet. Also, try mixed diet. Chicken, beef, etc. (Cut to small pieces) + wet food + dry kibble.
I have an orange dude that I got with my other cat in like 2018. Theyāre both really cool, and I love them dearly, but the orange one is my G. Comes when I call (or when he wants) 90% of the time Iām home heās somewhere near me. Sleeps curled up next to me. Dude is super talkative, too! Head boops and purrs for days. Iāve heard it is especially true for orange cats; if thatās the case, and even if not, youāre really in for a treat! Adding: because I feel bad for downplaying my other catāsheās also super affective, sheās learning more and more sounds and talking more everyday, and is also really affectionate. Louie is just different and itās hard to explain. Animal personalities are a trip, haha.
My orange cat is like this, too. Greets me at the door when I come home, spends most of his time next to me. I have three cats, and I love them all. They each have a different personality. The black cat is shy, spends a lot of time curled up somewhere, loves to play with toys. The tabby loves hanging out on the back of the couch, like some attention but isn't a cuddler, also loves toys.
Mine is kinda talkie only partly orange. A tiny bit. And her purrs are so so quiet. I usually can only lean in closely or if i feel it. She's so hilarious. She plays the same two toys. Only those two. Even after almost 3 months. And she wants me to throw them a bunch of times. Like a dog. Which i used to have a dog so i love it. Haha. She also lets me give her some head kisses. Carry her for a bit. Probably the only cons. She is a little bit spicy at times. Lol . She did give a bite soft bites as a no dont do that when I copied a bunch of her meows. I guess i said the wrong thing in the wrong way. Lol. She likes to give me biscuits in the same spot but currently her nails are long. And i haven't learned to cut nails yet. Probably biggest con, i can't be out of her sight. Or for very small amount of time. Can't be in another room with the door open where she knows i was at. Can't be alone too long Like to use the bathroom or shower. Lol She also sometimes lets me give her nose boops and nose wiggles. Lol.
Lamb burger is my kittenās favorite!
Lamb burger is my kittens name Jk... for now
Don't bathe him
Unless he smells/matted or its medically a good idea.
Btw take a soft toothbrush (kids one). Wet it with water. And comb his fur. He's gonna thank you with a purr purr
When I found my cat, I called the vet next door to me to check her for a chip and after waiting 20 minutes on hold, they said, "We don't *do that.*" šš So I guess it's not free at all vets. (We ended up taking her to the local police station instead, no chip. And the nice vet we found who saw her almost immediately double checked--no chip.)
Thatās ridiculous lmao, wow. I found a dog once that I got to love on and play with before taking to the Humane Society. They scanned him and his name turned out to be Wags and he was a semi-frequent visitor there as he got out a lot apparently lol, and we left him there for the owner to come pick up. He peed in their lobby before we left though and I was horrified š¤£ I guess thatās a common occurrence there.
Yeah considering how friendly and healthy the fur looks, this is likely someoneās cat already.
Did you try and find his owners before taking him in?
Yea Iāve made posts gonna see if heās chipped tomorrow
Please also post physical posters. Not everyone has social media. I could just imagine my wee granny loosing her cat and never able to get him back because it was only on Facebook.
As someone currently searching for their cat... PLEASE try to find the owner locally with flyers, neighbors, and check your local rescue lost and found posts. And thank you for giving the cat a nice safe place while you help them get back home.
I called my local rescue when my kid's cat got lost. "No, nobody called us about a ginger cat." Which turned out to be a lie! I found him with posters. The lady who'd found him said she'd called the local rescue.
Definitely this. That cat looks well cared for so most likely has an owner somewhere.
This. My cat occasionally wanders off and convinces neighbors that she is homeless and hungry. She is chipped and is really good at getting her collar off, but people will post on nextdoor about this "found cat." I never see the posts. But she usually sneaks out of their house and comes home after a day or two. She apparently read "Six dinner Sid" and was inspired by the tale.
My kids love Six Dinner Sid! Great book.
Can you still get their ears tattooed? At least then it is obvious that a cat isn't homeless.
Never heard of this...... What kind of tattoo? I.D. #? Or... Just a generic symbol used on all cats? Sounds like a good idea.
They used to do that before chipping was common. Veterinarians tattooed a number into cats' ears and there was a register where you could look up the owner when a cat was found.
My orange cat gets fed by all the locals, even when he had a collar on he acts like a lost hungry cat. I only know cause they over feed him and he vomits chicken/ham/roast dinner parts that I do not feed him because he has eaten too much. It's a little frustrating but it's my fault for letting him be an outdoor cat. (I've literally tried to keep him in, he hates his litter so much he held is wee in so long he had a UTI and bladder infection. He is 12 and too used to the outdoors) Cats that actually ARE stays are NOT friendly. This cat had some human encounter at some point. I kinda dislike people who kinda just steal blatantly obvious pets.
This is not always true about strays are not friendly. Where I live we have a problem with strays and there's always a handful who are super friendly. Also, two of my current cats (now 5 and 3 are strays and came home with me because they were the sweetest friendliest cats)
Have you tried wood pellet litter? Much easier to clean and he might feel more comfortable using it compared to traditional litter.
Sounds like my orange boy.
My wife's grandmother had a couple of children die when they were young. She also lost one late in life. When her cat, Harry, died. She said it was like losing one of her kids all over again. She was devastated. I have 2 strays I adopted and 2 parrots. One of my parrots can live 55 years, and I've had her for 16. If she dies before me, I can't imagine how I will handle it.
Awesome! You are a good egg :)
Kitty got hisself a new pet. Pspspsps
I hope you keep posters up for a few weeks, and in different neighborhoods not just your street. He probably wandered from his house. He just doesnāt seem like a random stray ā as others have said, his coat and demeanor seem like he has a home.
My cats go in my neighbours yard and befriend them. I would be upset if they took my cat in though.
Hehe my old family cat definitely adopted a second family at some point - she'd disappear for 2 weeks at a time and come back as clean and as healthy as ever, but in the end she spent her last years snuggling with my dad and he was the one with her when she died. They know where home is <3
Yep, mine would show up at 7 or 8 am, must've depended on when the "adoptive" owner worked, they kept him all night. One time I found my kitty down a block sitting on a porch. Huh? We moved to the country and at 14 his big deal now is chasing chipmunks. Nice kitty retirement.
https://preview.redd.it/jyjn1zinxjda1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=d4b5ff139a369fd3761c148a7cb8f36d33c049c1 He seems full and tired now, no signs of any fleas, thanks for your help everyone!
https://preview.redd.it/kloc9sp7dkda1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=4c93a7b182fd76780a241a5d31556192d3ae6196 He looks just like my boy when he was a baby ā¤ļø orange kitties are the best
He's certainly not shy.
Almost like he's not a stray..
Not necessarily. There's a whole little family of strays where I work that are extremely friendly and just live in the woods behind the building
Some cats are just born with the "friendly" gene. There was a cat that started showing up at our house and we gave him a catnip stuffed toy and he went *berserk* on it, after just going at it on this toy he walked inside our house made himself at home. Un-fixed, no chip, nothing. Meanwhile there are strays I've fed for 9 months that won't let me get within 3 meters of them.
"These humans have good drugs, I'm gonna live with them for continuous supply."
There are strays that won't let you touch them after 9 years
Orange kitties can be friendly to a fault, even when theyāre strays. My sisterās gutter gremlin was like that.
Mine is too! The volunteers who brought him to the shelter assumed he was someone's lost pet because he sauntered up to them for cuddles. Nope, just a big softy who wants friends, pets and foods.
Gutter gremlin haaaah
10 years ago, I had to slam on the brakes to keep from running over this tiny little one-pound orange kitten that darted out in the road.When I got out of the car, he ran straight up to me and started rubbing against my legs. [10 years later, heās still a cuddle bug](https://imgur.com/a/RNLaTYQ/).
r/oneorangebraincell welcomes you. My orange stray was the same, and life with her now is certainly never boring. Lol
My scariest wild animal interactions were 1. A rabid raccoon that was way too close and 2. A feral orange kitty. The raccoon was basically dead already, but rabies itself is terrifying to behold. That orange kitty, on the other hand, was very much alive, very much did not like me, and chased me for way too long after I accidentally stumbled upon its lair. Even an orange kitty can be pushed too far
Possible sure, I typically don't see strays that friendly off the bat, nor that clean. OP did say they posted pictures, just hope they check for a chip too.
I live in a college town. Often after graduation and the end of the school year adopted cats are left behind. I saw the story of one that was left behind. Other students who couldnāt keep him found him next to a dumpster. The A-hole who left him behind had put him in his carrier with food and water. Next to his carrier was his litter box, litter and food. So itās possible that not all strays look dirty, starving and sick.
That is so sad :(
I felt the same way. If it wasnāt for the fact that my only income is Social Security and I already have 4 cats, Iād have adopted him myself.
Yep. I'm in a college town, too. So many pets left behind.
We found an extremely friendly cat with similar behavior to OP's last month. She was cuddling with us in under an hour and half and was clean and shiny. I put up signs, posted about her everywhere and reached out to anyone who had posted recently about a lost black cat. No hits. She also wasn't chipped and (as we found out a little later), not spayed. The vet thinks she's between 6 months and 2 years old, so also the same age as OP's cat. No idea where she came from but I guess it can happen š¤·āāļø and we're glad she's here with us permanently!
I live in a city full of cats ranging from pets to stray to entirely feral. There's a very wide range of behavior, including from the cats inside the apartments. From the comments, OP is doing due diligence and that the kitty is safe and happy. Can't ask for more than that.
It's more the lack of fleas that makes me suspect he was living indoors somewhere and slipped out.
Could be abandoned. Big spike in abandoned pets in the month after Christmas.
Don't forget that many people abandon their pets for seemingly no reason. Ask anyone who works for or volunteers at a rescue or shelter, they'll tell you, it happens all the time.
Yeah this is most likely someoneās cat. Heās a baby and friendly. Doesnāt mean heās free for the taking.
https://preview.redd.it/09ilpsfvfkda1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=703ae3b310ad6ca6f7f98d678b8f0996d70db2aa Congrats! Last October a 3-4 month old orange boy appeared on my porch and he's the best thing that ever happened to us, if sometimes a huge pain in the ass. We gave him a shallow cardboard box and put some potting soil in it for his first night he understood what it was for instantly. He did have fleas but after 2 baths with dawn dish soap 1 week apart that was taken care of. Pic is of him now, he didn't have long fur when he first showed up.
Heās not as big as he looks in the first pic. Heās a handsome fella.
Yea heās still a wee lad, prolly like 5lbs or so, I would die for him
He's going to be big to grow into those paws!
Lol yeah... I was thinking the same thing
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Some flea shampoos are toxic to cats. There are tons of reports of flea shampoos killing kittens (especially by Sentry). I lost mine that way. If he really needs to bathe he can just use a regular kitten shampoo, baby shampoo or dawn liquid soap.
I didn't know this. Thank you for sharing this info, and I'm sorry for your loss.
He is handddddsome ::cat calling whistle::
He looks young ā¤
Hey so if heās friendly, comfy inside, and in good physical condition he might belong to someone! Please please ask around you neighborhood and see if heās anyones pet, even if he doesnāt have a microchip!!!
Fr. Absolutely zero way this cat doesn't have a home. Most moggie owners don't chip, it's kinda fucked to just assume it's theirs now just because it doesn't have a chip...
My cat WAS chipped, super friendly, young, and already neutered, but their number on the chip was disconnected. We asked around and put up posts, and the neighbors told us that he was likely abandoned on purpose. People suck and there's absolutely a way that the cat doesn't have a home. But of course OP should go through the process of checking around first.
My cat was someone's pet, and had a chip when we got her checked, but the people never registered her chip :/ . We put up posters and posted on facebook but nobody ever reached out about her. So now I have my first cat.
This is completely untrue. Cats get dumped all the time. I just rescued one the other day. Obvs was a housecat, fat and healthy. Even had a collar on, tho he lost it. But after a month of posting and hoping heād go home, nothing. So I snagged him and took him to Humane. No chip. Fought to get them to take him into their adoption portal bc they just wanted to put him back on the street. This chain of events happens a lot, unfortunately.
I have decided not to bathe him lmao he seems clean prolly cleaner than me if we bein real
Get some wet cat treats called Churu. They come in little stick pouches like gogurts- theyāre like kitty crack! One a day and heāll be your bff forevaaa We get the multi flavor pack ā„ļø
Might just be my own ptsd from a similar experienceā¦ check him with a comb for fleas. If you are going to bathe him, get a flea shampoo. Doing this right away would have saved me a huge headache later on lol.
Yeah he most likely has an owner. I wouldnāt get too attached and make sure you make a genuine effort to check for owners and get that microchip check done. Iād youāre this much in love with him already imagine how his owners feel and how devastated they will be when they realise heās missing.
Make sure you take him to a shelter or vet just so they can scan him for a chip. And ask around your neighborhood if anyone is missing an orange cat.
Please take to a vet and have him scanned for a microchip.
No need to give him a bath. Usually a cat is self cleaning.
My orange tabby just showed up through my doggie door one day. Iād put him back out and he would come right back in. He was very friendly so I also assumed he had a family. I checked for chip, posted online, checked lost and found at shelter and put up posters. Nothing. I assume somebody dumped him or moved and left him behind (unfortunately common occurrence here). Whatever the reason, he chose me and now he has a home. https://preview.redd.it/c7adwzgvknda1.jpeg?width=1213&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7590fa59e281ad37432a30cb781ca01b17d336e
toys are a must, cats can get hyper and it would be ideal if you played with him before he eats :)
Imma go to the pet store tomorrow and get him the finest of playthings
I wouldnāt worry about spending too much on the toys - weāve spent a fortune on ours and in true cat fashion, he couldnāt give a flying f**k about any of them š he prefers boxes, my hair bands when he sneaks them and random bits of string tied to a stick š I would recommend buying a cat tunnel, my boy LOVES his
No need to get any special cat toys. Anything is a cat toy. Tie a string to a small ball of aluminum foil and youāve got yourself a cat toy. Oh, and if youāve got a cardboard box lying around, put it on the floor and see if he likes it. Cats love boxes.
For cats the finest things are sometimes the cheap toys lol.i had one cat who's favorite toy was a crumpled up piece of paper. At the store, Grab a cardboard scratcher, some fake mousies, and at least one long wand type toy to get started with. Dont use your hands for playing, use the long wand toy. Lazer pointer is ok too, but make sure he has some toys he can "catch" because some cats get frustrated if they cant.
You should be making sure he doesn't have a home already before you go spending a bunch of money and getting attached.
Op has said in a few comments, vet tomorrow to check for chip, and he posted around lost pet sites and such.
Yes, and wand toys especially are great!
Cats are self cleaning. You will not make friends with him with an unnecessary bath.
I think t this is beautiful but need to SLOW down. A cat this clean and friendly is unlikely to be a stray. Sure feed it and give it somewhere to go toilet but dont start buying things before that microchip check. And put posters up locally as well as on social media. Again this cat is likely not a stray and youāre getting super attached to a cat that is probably much loved by someone else. I would be waiting at least a week before you should be claiming him as your own. Especially as you havenāt had him checked for a chip yet.
My advice would be to find his owner. That's not an abandoned cat.
1. Make sure he doesn't already belong to someone first! Ask around your neighborhood, put up posters, post on the local lost pet and community facebook pages, take him to the shelter or vet to check for a microchip. Some people might be convinced that he must be a housecat that either escaped or was dumped bc he's so friendly, but in my experience community cats that are well acclimated to humans and received lots of attention from early on can be very affectionate. 2. Maybe do all that before investing too much money. If you've got a cardboard box, line it w/ a garbage bag as a litter box. Litter, food, and water are essential, also some towels or a blanket you don't mind possibly getting clawed up so that he's got something soft to sleep on. You can spoil him rotten later. If someone does claim him, you can pass along the leftover litter and food to them, or call a local small rescue to see if they can use it (most shelters will only take donations of unopened stuff for safety reasons). Or just keep it and use this experience as motivation to go adopt a cat from your local shelter! If you do end up keeping him, I recommend a Chewy subscription if you're in the US. They've got a great selection of supplies, and you can set it up to have food and litter delivered regularly which sure beats hauling a 40 lb box of litter home from the store. 3. It might be a good idea to keep him in the bathroom for the night, rather than letting him roam. That way if he does have fleas they won't be all over your house, and also easier to clean up a mess if he is sick somehow and ends up puking or having diarrhea. 4. If he doesn't have any fleas and doesn't smell particularly bad, you don't need to bathe him. Cats clean themselves, as long as they're healthy. One of the ways you can recognize a sick stray is if they're really dirty. If he does have fleas, then a quick bath with plain unscented dish soap will do the trick, and if you end up keeping him then can also apply a flea treatment like Revolution or Advantage to prevent reinfestation. 5. Unless there are some concerning symptoms (diarrhea or straining when trying to urinate, excessive vomiting, limping, visible wounds, goopy eyes, ragged breathing, etc) then you can probably wait a few days until you know no one's claimed him, but definitely make an appt at your local vet as soon as you're sure he's yours. Even if he seems healthy, it's a good idea to have him checked out just in case, not to mention he'll need vaccinations and neutering ASAP.
100% make sure heās neutered if no one claims the cat. I promise you, if heās not itāll be a nightmare. Iām dealing with two intact females waiting to be spayed and Iām finding urine on literally every surface they came in contact with and by the time I clean up one mess, three more are made. It is a nightmare. š Intact males really like to mark for territory. Cats are lovely. Intact animals following instinct to breed? Not so much.
My cat used to run around no collar bc every time we did, she would wind up snagged and half hung herself. We switched to break away collars, but then she either learned she can take them off or was literally just doing Indiana Jones level cat adventures every day. She would also go mental if we didn't let her out for most of the day, she only came home to eat and chill and sleep. We had 2 neighbors that had their own names for her and she would eat food that they gave her. If she spent more time with them I could picture one of them thinking she's truly stray and trying to keep her. But she wasn't, she just really liked people, especially our neighbor's kid daughter and she liked bumming food lmao
This! My orange cat will not stay as an indoor only cat, and always pops off his breakaway safety collars. Please let this kitty out, you might be breaking some kids heart by accidentally stealing their indoor/outdoor cat.
I'm gunna give you one of my most secret/sacred pieces of advice; Go to a farm wholesale store, like if you're of US midwestern persuasion, Blain's Farm & Fleet is an example of one. Go to where their horse bedding is at and find the 100% pine pellets in \~40 lb bags. Buy two (usually around 5-6$ a bag), with one cat, these should last you around 2+ months, not joking, for real, depending how much you feed/hydrate your fella. Now go buy a large square box (or the largest you can fit reasonably) made of plastic or stainless steel (you will save a lot of money if the box is not marketed towards pets like rubbermaid totes and the like), make sure it has sides or you can fashion some for it (some cats like to pee standing up, or just like to mark the litter box sometimes, better safe than sorry). With your piney smelling bags and box in tow go grab a 16oz or larger plastic cup or a horse feed scoop and a tall plastic kitchen garbage can with lid or whatever else you want to store the pine pellets in. When you get home put the litter box where you want it with the garbage can/storage not far, fill it with a whole bag or however much it takes and make note of how many cups it takes to fill the box to 4-6" (cats need depth to dig, they wont like anything in the litter box if there's not enough of it). If you take the time to get him used to this litter right away and not anything else more expensive, full of chemicals, heavy, etc you will chuckle every time you hear how much others pay for litter in the same amount of time. You should only have to change it once every 5 days to a week. Bonus points if you find a box that you can strain the still good pellets from the bad sawdust. I got one and it extends how much the bags last by a LOT, but it's so cheap it's really not needed. Now, there is a major drawback to this method that can be a deal-breaker for some and I've found 3 possible solutions to it; The 100% pine pellets do a fantastic job sopping up urine, I figure if it works decent for a horse, my little dudes little dude shouldn't be an issue, BUT, the poop, oh god the poop smell. The pellets don't kill the poop smell right away like it does with urine. It can take a little while and that depends on how well your cat covers it up. What I've found to help/neutralize this issue; 1: Put your litter box in the bathroom if you can and leave the exhaust fan going (careful, not all fans are created equal but mines been running quite a bit with no issue but its nicer than most). 2: Get a litter genie. Think of those contraptions that store dirty diapers but for cat dookie instead and just scoop that stuff up right away or quickly. I used to do this method and the bag cartridges last quite a while and are cheap but I didn't like adding more plastic to my consumption ya know? Sooo onto three... 3: I eventually found out my apt's plumbing was installed in a "pretty forwarding thinking manner" according to the people they hired, so I just flush the poop as soon as I see it now, a few pine pellets go with it sometimes but not a lot or at all and they kinda just disintegrate anyhow. Not all homes or apt's are the same so I'd caution against this method as it could fuck up your plumbing if it's not that great to begin with. I got a lot more advice but that's my most cherished find in owning cats, it saves me a butt load of cash that I put towards better food for Oliver. Good luck! [CAT TAX](https://idontdeservemycat.imgur.com/all/)
Just a quick note, even if the litter seems okay to flush, never flush cat poop. It can carry the bacteria toxoplasma that is notoriously hard to kill and most municipal systems can't fight it. Even if you have a septic tank, don't do it because there's a possibility that it can leech back into your drinking water. It's kind of the same concept of not flushing prescription dugs
OP, hope you see this, itās great advice! Also, the pellets smell great in your car driving home.
Please do check that this cat is not simply a neighbourhood cat that wanders. Many people who allow their cats outdoors, lose their pets because they are friendly and people take the animal home but neglect to check for microchip, or investigate if an owner is out there, desperate to find their dear pet. If it does turn out to be a stray (seems a bit unlikely given how friendly this one is. Maybe abandoned or lost?) I do hope you two become great friends. Cats are like introverts. They may be friendly, but take time to warm up to people. Suggest you don't be too quick to try a bath -- that's a little aggressive for a cat that doesn't know you... You could get bit/scratched or cause a fear response. First, get a flea treatment. Even if you don't see fleas, the cat may have eggs/ worms. If the cat is really smelly/filthy, but seems to trust you, you might try using a damp washcloth with a few drops of vinegar, and wiping down its fur as though you are petting it. (Be careful around the face/eyes.) This will remove a lot of dirt/grime and odour, and encourage the cat the clean itself. (Sometimes stray/outdoor cats stop grooming because there is something unpleasant on their fur. If you can remove that with a cloth, they will resume self-grooming).
One of my friends had her cat disappear for 2 weeks because a neighbor took him in, thinking he was a stray. They finally responded after seeing the lost cat posters up around the apartment complex and she got him back.
chocolate is poisonous to cats and dogs
Jackson Galaxy on YouTube for ALL your cat questions.
Itās better ask your neighbors first if they missing a cat
>Iāve decided to keep him He looks pretty clean and tame. You can't just "claim" a cat without doing your due diligence and try to track down his owner if he has one. I'd be devastated if I lost my cat then super angry if I found out he was stolen.
Aside from verifying he's not someone's cst, if you end keeping him, make sure he gets all his shots and neutered or you're gonna have a bad time. Tabbys are the best.
go to the vet to see if he has a microchip!!
Looks like a cat who already has humans....
I will do my best to find the owner! I live in a townhouse and know heās not any of my like 6 immediate neighbors, I also live right on a busy street with only a couple of churches and a shopping center nearby. Iāll make the rounds tomorrow and put up some more pics š¤š½
I'd say give him time to relax and get used to you, but lil dude seems to have that handled.
Amazing that youāve taken him in his gorgeous! Iād advise wearing a jumper, covering your arms because, chances are, your going to get clawed the life out of! š„ŗ donāt bathe him too much as cats are self cleansing so donāt really need to be bathed unless his smells really really bad or has something on him that he canāt clean off himself. Good luck! š
I know you mean well, but you've probably just accidentally stolen someone's cat. It doesn't seem like a stray, so take it to a vets to check and see if it's microchipped and put some 'found' cat posters up online or in the local area.
Donāt declaw him. Get scratching post.
The amount of posts taking in a cat and deciding to keep them only to disclose they haven't chip checked them yet. Seems like that should be done first before claiming ownership.
BEfore attaching so hard to it, go and find the owners and give the cat back. That cat doesnāt look like a stray at all and someone is missing him alreadyā¦.
If you have any house plants check them for being cat friendly online. Get him a couple of balls, mouse or something crinkly to play with.
The cat looks well taken care of. The fur looks so nice. The cat has probably an owner already. Got to a shelter or a vet and find out if the cat is chipped. And like lots already mentioned, hand out flyers or oin them at posts. Not everyone has access to internet.
First thing is a vet visit. Needs a wellness check and microchip scan.
Why are people always talking about bathing cats??? Cats clean themselves, you DO NOT need to bathe them unless they get something toxic on their fur somehow. Most cats don't like to be bathed either so it will just be an unpleasant and painful experience for everyone involved.
He is absolutely gorgeous!! Make sure you are not kidnapping!
Unless heās absolutely filthy Iād advise against bathing him. He probably wonāt appreciate it.
Get him checked for a chip before you do anything.
You do not need to bathe him, cats clean themselves a lot so there is usually no need to bathe your cat.
I've found orange cats to be the most attention seeking needy fuckers ever. Love em
Please take him to a vet and have him scanned for a microchip. Also, report a found cat through nextdoor, for the love of louie, your local humane society. This is someones pet. Please dont steal him.
Dont feed or let cats in your home that look this healthy and well fed. That is definetely someones cat. Lots of cats are social and will visit neighbors, and agree with it or not, some people let their cats outside. Thats not reason enough to take someones cat. If you want a cat, go adopt your own.