topic Re: Irresistable Strays... in Pet Lovers

Irresistable Strays...

Oznell — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:20:49 GMT

Our town has had an over-abundance of strays and feral cats for the past maybe 10 years. We and some neigbors have captured, and had spayed and neutered a fair number of the ones that wander into our orbit.

Right now, we have 4 "rehabbed" cats as our indoor pets-- Theo, Terence and Naomi showed up in our yard, only Sibyl was obtained from a shelter. Recently, a fifth appeared, a sweet-natured tawny colored tabby, "Toby", who was determined to be adopted. He glued himself to the porch, peeked in our windows, etc.

We took him to the vet, where he got the full treatment, including neutering. We have placed a number of kitties in loving homes in the past, but at this time we may not be able to. (And hubby has gotten increasingly attached to Toby, who is a total love bug.)

My question: do you think 5 cats are doable, in a relatively small 3 bedroom house? I thought 4 was my limit, but Toby is very ingratiating. If anyone has 5 cats or over, are you having to Swiffer 3 times a day, and is a lint roller permanently attached to your hand? (Naomi is a long hair and generates whole "bales" of fur-- brushing her 2ce daily makes a small dent in her production.)

Interested to hear from multiple cat owners...

Re: Irresistable Strays...

Kachina624 — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:29:16 GMT

@hckynut John where are you? Somebody needs you.

John has had many, many cats. You might want to watch the Roomba sales pitch too. It may be the answer to your prayers.

Re: Irresistable Strays...

hannahbanana2 — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:33:39 GMT

We have cats everywhere, and I'd take more if I could. There are cat parties in our yard on a regular basis. I think five is fine. We are currently at capacity with five dogs and four cats - we vacuum all the time! Sounds like keeping Toby is a must!

Hannah

Re: Irresistable Strays...

carlycat — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:40:38 GMT

I've had 5 cats. Currently have four, lost one. Yep it's too many but I'd adopt Toby. He needs you and it's a little more work but the rewards outweigh it. Bless you.

Re: Irresistable Strays...

sandraskates — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:45:56 GMT

Wow - good for you and your neighbors for getting the feral population down. You may also want to see if there is a local trap-spay/neuter-release organization that can assist you in that endeavor.

The most we've had is 4 cats at one time. I felt that 2 - 3 cats was not much more work than 1. But once we got to 4 we could feel the extra work and cleaning.

That said :-) if the "right" 5th cat had happened along we probably would have added on to our furry family.

Your house sounds big enough to add Toby to your furry family and I think your hubby and Toby have already made the decision for you!

Re: Irresistable Strays...

Lapdog — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:49:35 GMT

When love presents itself , it must be honored. I say Toby stays!

In 900 square feet I have had 7 dogs. one macaw, one pot bellied pig. a fish tank, one cat a mini mule and donkey. You just sweep and dust more

It is so cool when your spouse likes 'em as much as you do!!!!

P.S. It helps if you can bathe them or get them groomed.

Re: Irresistable Strays...

Kookielady — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 02:04:11 GMT

My husband and I have five cats. All girls. We have my Mom's cat (Tuxedo) who is 17 yo when she passed away. One is 5 years old, Maine Coon and another Maine Coon who is 18 YO. My husband rescued two pure white sisters from way downtown that are 5 yo.

He is a volunteer one Sunday per month at a Cat Shelter since 1992. I also volunteered back a few years ago.

He does the litter boxes two times per day, feeds them at 5:30 AM every day-I take over when he is at work.

Yes, we have to vac a lot, but we live in a cape which has a finished basement. So they have three floors to stay out of the others way.

The only thing is I have a "ladies sitting room" with custom furniiture so I keep them out of that. They have alll the other rooms.

Love our furbabies!

Re: Irresistable Strays...

Oznell — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 02:21:55 GMT

You lovely people have given me much to think about! Thanks so much for your input...

Re: Irresistable Strays...

sandraskates — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 03:38:15 GMT

Let us know the outcome. . .even tho we probably already know. :-)

Re: Irresistable Strays...

Sushismom — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 05:24:45 GMT

I've had five cats but in a larger house. However, some of the rooms are closed off. I say go for it!

Re: Irresistable Strays...

KingstonsMom — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 10:45:28 GMT

@Oznell

DD takes care of a feral colony by her house, spays/neuters the ones she can and medicates them for URI's.

She has a relatively small 3 BR house too and has brought 8 of them inside.......so far, LOL!

Thank you and your neighbors for what you do!

Re: Irresistable Strays...

lynne6was7 — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 13:43:20 GMT

Twenty years ago, I bought a home and unexpectedly inherited a feral mama and her four kittens. Caught them one by one, had them spayed and neutured, and kept them inside with the two I already had - a total of seven. As my vet said, "Once you're over three cats, there really isn't much difference." LOL Bless you for caring for these kitties. It sounds like the newest one really wants to be an inside kitty. My mama kitty was unexpectedly like that - she was so happy to be "retired." Good luck!

Re: Irresistable Strays...

hckynut — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 17:39:20 GMT

@Kachina624

We have owned a Roomba since the first one came out. We have had up to 13 indoor only felines during this time. Not a single one of them had any interest in "going for a ride".

Just the opposite. Most of them took of on a dead run away from it. Had several different models, some more quiet than others, so the movement of the Roomba, not the noise seem to that had them on the run.

Not sure what: "John where are you? Somebody needs you" exactly means however.

ETA: I now see which forum this is posted. As big a pet lover my wife and myself are, and have always been, I very seldom come to this forum.

My wife as Transportation Director of the Nothern Plains Boxer Rescue, which covers 5 states, transports so many dogs from puppy mills/owners that give them up after many years etc. I could go on and on with this but I won't?

Suffice it to say, the majority of these dogs lives are sad stories, many horrible stories of what has been done to them. For that reason I hear and see way more sad and heartless stories about what, so-called humans, have done to this poor canines. Thus I stay away from the Pet Forum.

Mostly stick with: Electronics/Wellness/Sports/Among Friends, and Community Chat, as forums I visit.

hckynut(john)

Re: Irresistable Strays...

Oznell — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 17:43:59 GMT

hckynut(john), Kachina624 was trying to help me out on the question I posed about multiple cats by appealing to your expertise on the subject.

The work that you and your wife do with animals is so inspiring.

Re: Irresistable Strays...

savetheanimals — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 19:05:26 GMT

I am proud to say we have eight cats. Would we get more - no. Eight is enough. We have long hair and short hair cats and many, many litter boxes. Of course there is cat hair but nothing that can't be managed. Our house does not smell, is not dirty. I will admit some days I wish we did not have eight, but that does not last long. If you have 4 cats, one more will not make a difference. If you can afford to care for them go for it. We do not have children, but our cats are our kids. Would not have any other way. I truly think you should keep him, he sounds very attached to you both. Vaccuum, dust, lint brush, lint rollers, weekly routine no matter if we have 4, 5, or 8 cats. Enjoy that sweet boy, he picked you guys!

Re: Irresistable Strays...

beastielove — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 19:44:24 GMT

I currently have five kitties...all of them

rescued at different times over the years.

At one point in time I had six kitties.

Even though I live in a small two level cottage

I've never regretted my decision to give any

of these precious kitties who blessed my life

with their unconditional love a forever home.

By the way, they stay inside 24/7.

Just as I believe that Divine Intervention

meant for my path to cross theirs in order

to save their lives, I truly that this is the

same case with Toby.

He's yours 100 purrcent!!!

-------------------------------

All of my children have paws =^..^=