From former lurker Edith:
We are looking for a home for this cute little fella. We already have four, and a toddler, so we’re at our limit. Here’s what we know about him.
We think he’s a feral rather than a dumped pet. He’s been coming around for a couple of years to visit the food dish and heated water dish. He was very skittish at first, but started to warm up to us in the last year. Last winter he started following my son and I to the park, and otherwise hanging out with us when we were outside.
By this spring and summer he was clearly thinking that maybe being warm and having a person of his very own might be worth the loss of independence. I’ve caught him peeking in the screen door more than once, clearly hoping he might be invited inside. Later this summer and fall he started jumping up into our laps to be petted. He mostly avoids our toddler’s attempts to pet him, but hasn’t been aggressive. If our other cats are out in the yard he lurks around the edges, but stays out of their reach. I think he’d be ok with other cats. No idea about dogs.
We took him to the vet this summer for an infected foot. He was pretty passive with the vet. He was FIV/FeLV negative at that time, although he’s been in a few fights since then, so I can’t promise that he still is. I was unsure if we’d be able to get him in on a schedule, so we didn’t start the vaccinations. I have no idea what he knows about a litter box.
I don’t know his age but he probably 2-3 given how long he’s been coming around. We’d pay to have him neutered and start all his vaccinations. We could drive a reasonable distance, but not more than an hour or two each way. We just want a good home for this special, sweet little guy before winter.
You know the drill — if you’re interested, or know somebody who might be, leave a comment below. Or send me an email at annelaurie (dot) bj (at) gmail, and I’ll forward your message to Edith. Fingers crossed we can help this charmer out!
rikyrah
Fingers crossed that this beauty can find a home.
cain
I would if I could, but I have a lot of travel coming up and it would be difficult for me to grab this cutie-pie. I’m pretty much traveling till next year. :( I also need to need to make sure I have a job. I haven’t closed my deals yet! :D
Amir Khalid
Didn’t the first post turn up a jackal who was interested in adopting the black kitty? Did that fall through?
Miss Bianca
Miss having a cat. Had to turn down a cat rescue opportunity the other day. My pal D isn’t crazy about them, and it’s his house. Plus, Watson and Roxy have never lived with one, and I’m afraid they’d think it was a chew toy. : (
Edith
@Amir Khalid:
We do have an interested jackal, we’re talking a little more to make sure we want to move forward since it involves a pretty significant move. Sorry Anne – forgot to let you know that you didn’t need to re-post
Edith
MazeDancer
@Edith:
A repost is good. Not that we want Tomato Queen not to have this sweetie. But if someone turns up within a couple hours drive, it would be worth discussing.
That said, when the heart calls, the match is made, and may they be happy forever. May I suggest a lot of plying with CBD oil – in food, through a plastic syringe – to calm kitty, maybe even coax it to sleep during transport.
And we’re all in for transport costs. High end PetRX CBD oil, alone, is 100 bucks a bottle. Works wonders, though.
Sab
@Edith: Other black cats, very friendly, probably need homes.
My ten year old semi-feral tuxedo is a lovebug. Let him move in in November in a sleet storm about ten years ago. He hasn’t wanted to go outside since. Sitting around inside, with friendly people, warm bed, regular food. He accidentally went out the dog door about five years ago. He was horrified. He crawled umder the back porch steps and waited for rescue, which came in about five minutes.
He isn’t a wimp. He entertains himself by terrorizing our rottmix girl. He supervises any cat/dog interaction in our house. A dog better not get snippy with a cat when he is on guard. 15 pound cat intimidating a 60 pound dog. He is relentless.
WaterGirl
I thought TomatoQueen was a possibility. Maybe I missed the end of the original thread?
edit: I see that I am something like the 5th person to say this exact thing. sorry.
Emme
us humans need to step the f??k up for this precious animal, he needs a loving home, let’s give him one. Too many excuses….
J R in WV
We have two new puppies, 40-45 pounds, sleek black beauties. There were two cats, a 14 pound black and dark brown tortie and a 11 pound gray girl I named Spike for her sharpness, and a 85 pound white lab mix.
The 14 pound cat is ring master of the circus.
She gets along with all the dogs, and the new puppies respect her already. She runs from a dog until she stops running, and then the dog has to run. It’s pretty funny to watch the dogs throw it into full reverse when Punkin stops and turns around…
Our first cat was all black with a Siamese voice. She learned to turn on the overhead lights in our motel room about 15 minutes after we turned the lights off… we had to put her into the bathroom to get any sleep. Long, long time ago, we still miss Jezebel…
Bruce
He looks like my cat I lost near lacrosse but no way it could be him, his name was maybe, not a day goes by that I don’t miss him.
Laura Too
My friend works as a transporter for ASPCA and I did a few runs with her (dogs) for a local rescue. I’ve never done cats but I can get advice if needed. Also still in for money and driving if needed. SO hoping this beautiful guy gets a deserved home.
TomatoQueen
We’ve been speaking of this beautiful boy this evening, and our next step is a visit to the vet for initial vaccines, testing for various diseases, and neuter. Assuming the vet results are good, figuring out transport to me comes next; we hope to have him on the road soon as the weather is turning coo coo.
Edith
@Laura Too:
Advice on transport is greatly appreciated. I’ll post more when we’re a little closer to sending him off.
satby
@Edith: hi Edith, time for away from me tonight, but I will get in contact tomorrow.o
Satby, only temporarily awake for the next two minutes, max.
MoCA Ace
I was going to offer a home but I’m glad things have worked out with TomatoQueen. I live 300 miles due east of the Twin Cities and could provide a good home for another ex-feral cat.
We never had cats when I was growing up and Mrs. MoCa is very allergic so I made it to 50 with only dogs in the house. I originally got a cat for mouse control in my woodshop. I started out with a stray that my daughter caught, a nasty beast that expressed his displeasure at being captured and imprisoned in my shop by urinating on a few of my stationary tools… you can still see the stains in the cast iron surfaces to this day. I left the door open that night and he hit the road. Next came Bigfoot, a huge chocolate tortoiseshell with multiple extra digits on each foot. Unfortunately he was incurably loving and was constantly under foot when I was working. I knew he had to go when he jumped up on my table saw while it was running and almost slid into the blade. Found him a new home where he is now a happy lap cat.
Two years ago my boss was fostering a young pregnant stray that found its way to the local humane society. He assured me she was not a people cat and would likely stay out of my way. When I first brought her home and released her in the shop I didn’t see her for three weeks. The only way I knew she was alive was the missing food and used cat litter. Very slowly she started to peak out at me, then graduated to sitting and watching from a distance. It was probably two months before I could touch her. Almost 6 months until my son could approach her. Fast forward two years and Shop Cat, F.K.A Scaredy Cat, A.K.A. Fatty Cat has been the perfect workshop companion, and no mouse crosses the threshold twice. At least not alive.
Unfortunately she seems to be getting a little lonely. She used to approach for scritches only when I was taking a break and then only tolerate about 30 seconds of human contact before wandering off. Lately she regularly whines and cries for attention, and if I’m not in the shop for a few days she gets really needy. I don’t blame her but was thinking maybe she could use some company. What say you multi-cat people? She is still young, probably around three or four years old now.
Steeplejack
@TomatoQueen, @Edith:
If TomatoQueen (D.C. area?) ends up being the winner, I could possibly handle transport from about Pittsburgh. Depends on the eventual schedule.
MoCA Ace
Just to be clear… I’m not trying to undermine TomatoQueens claim on the little kitty. I just thought the cat folks might like FattyCats origin story. And I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts on adding a second shop cat.
If I decide to add a cat the shelter here periodically gives them away. I would like it to be a rehabbed feral cat though. I don’t want to take some cat that used to be a pet and demote it to the shop. However, the shop is a step up from a hard-knock life in the wild. When I leave the door open FattyCat will never wander more than 10 feet from the door to nibble a little grass. If I shut the door behind her she is immediately scratching and howling to get back in. She clearly remembers life on the mean streets and wants no part of it.
blackcatsrule
@MoCA Ace: I say go for it. It may take some trial and error before you find a compatible companion for FattyCat ❤ but I agree that she needs a feline friend. Explain the situation to your shelter; they will steer you to the perfect kitty.
Laura Too
Okay, what I got from my friend:
For that cat transport I would suggest puppy pads, and a towel or blanket. Depending on the size of carrier used maybe a litter box. Disposal aluminum cake pans, or a shirt box work. We use the wood pellet style litter because it’s not as messy. We only give them litter boxes overnight and just have the puppy pads during travel and it all works out ok.
Covering the carrier is the best thing to do. The less he can see and hear the better. Don’t open the carrier – huge flight risk and bite risk.
Also, if they aren’t aware, the cat needs to travel with a health certificate of and rabies tag or certificate to cross state lines. The likelihood of anyone getting stopped then getting asked for paperwork driving a car with one cat is slim, but all it takes is one asshole cop.
We have been refining our cat protocol over the last year. Nevermind that I’ve been telling them since day 1 that the litter boxes aren’t needed that if the need to go they will use the puppy pads and figure out how to fold them up.
Mine went 24 hours in the car and all figured it out.
TomatoQueen
@Laura Too: Thanx, this conforms with my travel-long-distance-with-cat experiences, which were many years ago but a cat is a cat. That one about covering the carrier for both long and short distance imho is vital: some cats are disturbed by the flickering effect when traveling on a road with a lot of cross overhead bridges or other oddments like power poles by the side of the road, and a cover on the carrier calms that almost immediately (except for this one cat I know but never mind). Oh just look at him isn’t he beautiful! And I am thinking he’s a smart boy too, venturing as close as a feral might but stopping on the porch step. He knows…
Laura Too
@TomatoQueen: He is gorgeous-such beautiful fur. I’ll keep checking in on this to see where we are at.
TomatoQueen
@Laura Too: great, thank you
TomatoQueen
Per Edith, our boy is being vetted and so far in very good health, to be neutered on Friday. I am trying to remain calm. His name is becoming Merlin.