Great cat story and need some advice.

Hello everyone...I like to share with you a heart warming story about my g/f and a stray cat that she now owns and care for and would like some advice concerning some issues I'm about to talk about.

My g/f works at this restaurant near her school and across the street from the restaurant lives an elder woman whose only companion was a male cat that is about a year old. It was one of the prettiest cat I've ever seen. Its orange/tan color and has this bright grayish color eyes. Just about a month ago, the elder woman had died and left her cat behind. Shockingly, no one came foward to claim the cat.

So the cat pretty much becomes stray and lives on his own. Everyday for the past 4 weeks during the morning and night time he would come to my g/f restaurants and demanded for food since he could smell them from across the street. This has become a routine and the cat becomes aquainted with the workers that included my g/f and they would happily give him food whenever he wants. He would eat them at the front porch of his owner's house where he spent most of his days.

Just last week as my g/f was getting off work, the cat came up to her and started making the meowing sound like it needed or want something. My g/f who has already own two dogs felt bad for the cat and decided to take him home with her and bring him to a humane society the next day hoping someone will want to take care of him. When she finally got him home, she found out the cat was sick... it had watery puffy eyes, was quiet and he felt hot. He got treated the next day with flu(?) shots and was given vitamins.

While in the HS center, my g/f had already bonded with the cat and decided to keep him and I'm glad she did. She named him Darren.I have never seen a cat so friendly to human and always wants to snuggle and play. When I saw him for the first time it was very quiet at first, but when I hold him, he acted like he have known me for years. It would constantly rub his head against mine and would give me his paws. Kinda makes me want to get my own cat.

Several question I would like to ask all of you cat owners.

1. During the evening time right before bed, he would howl...not too loud, but its enough to keep you awake. Why does he do this? Maybe he misses his original owner? I've never heard a cat make this sound before.

2. Would the cat get over a death of his owner, and how long should that take? Right now, he is bonding with my g/f greatly and they show each other a lot of affection, so I think thats good.

3. As a first time cat owner, is there some health issues we need to watch out for considering we got him as a stray and know nothing of its background?

4. The cat is not too friendly with my g/f two little yorkies and wants to fight them, can they ever become friends or the myth is true that cats and dog don't get along?

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and hope my questions will be answered. Once I see Darren again I will take some pictures of him and post them here.

 

what a nice thing to do, that is so sad they just left the cat and so glad to hear he has taken with your gf

about the howling I suspect since it sounds like he was an outdoor cat he wants outside to prowl cat night.

I have an indoor/outdoor cat, out during the day and in at night, he would do this a lot, because he wants out at night but I finally got him to stop

honeybear

 

hi spectorman... =P~

very nice post...clear, concise, well written. and good questions. :wink:

well...i would take the kitty to the vet for a full check up. even if it was indoor, and then went outdoor after the woman died...he may have contracted something from another cat...make sure she takes a fecal sample, and blood tests to rule out serious diseases.

the howling...may be missing his companion. kitties get very attached... but sometimes they just howl. max...who is a bengal will wander around the house howling sometimes...and its almost as if he is trying to see how loud he can go. but the minute i call him...he comes...and wants to be loved...and wants attention. so sometimes i think they just want attention.

introducing the kitty to the dogs should be done slowly. there are people on the forum that i am sure will post a link so you can read about it.

what is the kitty's name?? pics???

welcome to the kitty forum...

 

Welcome to the forum. It was so kind of your g/f to take in this poor kitty.

One of my cats howls often, very deep and loud...during the day and during the night at times. I'm not sure why he does it but sometimes I think he's just bored. With Darren, maybe he is bored, is calling (if he's not neutered) or wants to go outside. I think he may miss his previous owner but will likely get over it quickly especially if he has new people to bond with. As far as the dogs, I think slow introductions usually work best. I have dogs and cats (they all get along very well) and one of the last 2 strays I took in was pretty afraid of my dogs at first. He would hiss and hide from them and even swat at them but he quickly learned that they were not a threat and now he gets along with them great...even plays with them. How do the Yorkies react to the new cat? As long as they are not threatening, trying to chase him ect. he should learn to tolerate them.
A vet visit would be a good idea as another poster stated to ensure that he is disease/parasite free.

 

:m23: and welcome! What a wonderful story. I'd take him to the vet to for a full check-up. Hope all goes well with this little furball! Please post a pic when you get a chance!

 

I like to thank everyone for the replies, its greatly appreciated! Just to update Darren is about 95% healthy now and plays a lot...maybe a little too much.

Yes he had already been taken care of for desease/parasite at the vet and the only problem he had was an ear infection that is recovering nicely. Even though its not my cat , I love him as a friend. I will go see him this weekend and will take some pic to post here.

 

1. During the evening time right before bed, he would howl...not too loud, but its enough to keep you awake. Why does he do this? Maybe he misses his original owner? I've never heard a cat make this sound before.
could be he is so used to being outside he wants out - but do not give in


2. Would the cat get over a death of his owner, and how long should that take? Right now, he is bonding with my g/f greatly and they show each other a lot of affection, so I think thats good.
was the previous owner a woman? Could be why the cat is bonding w/your gf quicker. He will eventually get over his grief. I recently had a foster who lost her elderly owner to a nursing home and this girl was miserible for some time...but with lots of patience and understanding they cope. And it sounds like Darren in his a great place to get the understanding he needs.

3. As a first time cat owner, is there some health issues we need to watch out for considering we got him as a stray and know nothing of its background?
I'd get him tested for feline leuk/aids and do a complete blood panel so you know how is internal organs are working. These blood tests don't cost a whole lot and they are great preventative measures. Also has he been neutered?

4. The cat is not too friendly with my g/f two little yorkies and wants to fight them, can they ever become friends or the myth is true that cats and dog don't get along? Do you do a slow introduction with the 2 dogs? Check out Tally's Basic Cat Care site there is great info there regarding introducing cats and dogs