Cat people...a few questions

[Dueller]

We adopted a kitten about 2 years ago. Never beeen a cat person but this cat is pretty cool. Aloof but affectionate when she wants to be. We moved to a new house last summer and she adapted well. Ruled the roost with regard to our dogs...actually socialized pretty good with them.

We moved to an area that is heavily wood....I mean really woodsy but still in the suburbs. She loved to be outdoors but would come in late at nite and sleep in the house. About 3-4 months ago she began roaming more and more coming home less frequently. She "adopted" our next door neighbor who is retired and works in his yard frequently. We would see her hanging with him and a few feral cats that are neighborhood cats that I think the neighbor feeds. Got to a point in the past 2 months that she never came home...well maybe obce a week but just in and out.

Tonite she shows up and meets wife at door when she drove up. Allowed wife to pick her up and pet her. Came in house and wolfed down cat food wife put out.

Then we notice she has a large laceration on her hip...about the size of a silver dollar. Fresh wound. while she was drinking water we poured some peroxide on it. She's now sleeping on the floor beside our bed but doesn;t want to be touched or petted.

Taking her to the vet tomorrow. Think she's gone feral/wild in that short amount of time? Ever have a cat that left you and adopted a neighbor?

[mossguy]

Inside cats tend to live longer and healthier lives than outside cats.

Best,
Tom

[mossguy]

Think she's gone feral/wild in that short amount of time? Probably not.

Ever have a cat that left you and adopted a neighbor? No, but we have had the opposite occur several times, didn't know where the cats came from, but they sure adopted us!

Tom

[WolfeMacleod]

Outside cats get killed by dogs, racoons, coyotes, run over by cars.
My cats never go outside. EVER.

Something to think about. I hope kitty is OK.

[nostatic]

I live in an urban setting any my cats do not go out at all. The ex's house is urban but has a decent size back yards and those two cars go outside but they don't roam far.

Cruel world out there, and frankly I don't like having to deal with various parasites and diseases that they bring home. Was your cat up to date on vaccinations? Plenty of rabies, distemper and other stuff out there...

[Bill Douglas]

My cat Toby is an ex wild cat. After I started feeding him he decided to just move in. My GF wasn't too keen on him for the first year, now she loves him. I adorded him from the first week. He still is a huge eater - back on topic; maybe ask your neighbour not to feed him. A previous cat of mine was being fed by someone so I put a cardboard collar on her asking them not to feed her and to give to the SPCA instead. She came home very hungry after her day of (as I found out a year later) no macaroni cheese for lunch.

[oldE]

You open up your pet for a world of hurt when you let it roam free.

We live in a rural setting, 1/4 mile long driveway and, since losing a cat to a coyote about 15 years ago none of our cats get outside (on purpose).

I built a 4x4x16' cat run along the end of the porch which they access through a "cat door" in an open window.

You were lucky (vet bill aside) she might not make it back next time.

Les

[svandamme]

Dueller, is the kitty "fixed"? They really have to be fixed else they will roam, and fight and what not...

Mine are outdoors cats, they are fixed, they seldom stay out longer then 12 hours.

[JJ 911SC]

You never own a cat. Cats let you share their space or toys... in this case, part for Das Babe

[on2wheels52]

"I mean really woodsy but still in the suburbs"
Sounds like our place. Our two cats are outside 99% of the time (fixed males). Occasionally you won't see one or the other for a few days. Maybe indoor cats are healthier but for ten year old cats these seem to be doing ok.
Jim

[stomachmonkey]

Cats will decide who they want to share space with.

Not uncommon for a cat to adopt one or more families in a neighborhood.

It's not an insult and does not mean it does not like you.

It's just they way they are.

I used to let my cats roam.

Came home one day to my little sis sitting on the front lawn crying and holding our dying cat.

Got hit by a car in front of the house. We were deep into a neighborhood and saw very little traffic but in the end it did not matter.

My beasts stay inside now.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Years ago my old cat would disappear during the day. We lived in an urban neighborhood and he was indoor/outdoor cat. He would come home at night smelling like cigarettes and not hungry. Found out he was hanging out with the old widow next door who smoked like a chimney. We started buying food but giving it to her. He hung with her until we moved. He went out less as he aged. Died at 14. My cats now are strictly indoor.

[Dueller]

Thanks for the responses. To answer some questions: Cat is spayed, up to date on shots. Not declawed. She loves the outdoors so much we could never keep her as an inside only cat.

Brother called this a.m. and he diagnosed it by phone as a ruptured abscess. Probably a tom cat she rebuffed bit her on the flanks in a fight. Such a bite is like a hypodermic with bacteria. Skin heals over, becomes infected under skin. Rupture/abcess good since now infection is external. Clean with peroxide patting with paper towel, gently pull hair out from around wound from necrotic tissue, sprinkle with Adolf's meat tendrizer. Tenderizer will have some kind of enzyme reaction that will promote quicker healing. She'll lick it and be fine...should heal very quickly. Save a trip to vet unless she begins limping severely or becomes lethargic.

Thanks for everyone's concern/advice.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Dueller

She loves the outdoors so much we could never keep her as an inside only cat.

Cats are highly adaptable.

When my folks separated we moved out of dads house which bordered a huge state park and moved into an apt.

Took the cat who had been found as a kitten and was always free to roam.

Lived in the apt for a few years and it never seemed to bother her.

Moved back into a house and she took to going outside like nothing had ever changed.

My Father in law "rescued" a feral cat. That thing wants no part of outside now.

Very happy to stay in the house where it's warm and dry.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Cats are highly adaptable.

My Father in law "rescued" a feral cat. That thing wants no part of outside now.

Very happy to stay in the house where it's warm and dry.

Have one like that this minute sleeping on the couch. She was abandoned just about a year ago and silly me, I started feeding her in the back yard. Took nine months to get friendly but now she sleeps much of the time indoors on the couch when I am there.

The "master of the house" cat did not take nicely at first but they now are at least not mad at each other.

[Dueller]

JJ...our cats could be from the same litter.

She felt better this a.m. Cleaned the wound/did the meat tenderizer thing and she's out stalking squirrels as we speak.

[creaturecat]

Cats that live outdoors end up dying outdoors. Usually sooner than later. Sad reality.

[JJ 911SC]

[QUOTE=Dueller;4978372]JJ...our cats could be from the same litter.QUOTE]

If they are, one of them must have been tired after the long walk... lol

She is very nosyyy

[Dueller]

What I've discovered about cats is, that with the exception of weird hairless breeds, there is no such thing as an ugly feline.

[stomachmonkey]

[QUOTE=JJ 911SC;4978391]

Originally Posted by Dueller

Calico, have had three to date. Interesting personalities. They have "attitude" like to play rough.

Have 4 cats right now.
One Orange and White tuxedo, very dog like, greets all visitors at the door.
One Grey and White tuxedo, very sweet but not terribly bright.
One polydactyl Calico, lucky for the other 3 she came to us already declawed. She takes no chit.
Then there is Casey, Himalayan Tabby mix, looks like a Maine Coon. Very independent and aloof with the other 3 cats. The only true carnivore in the house. We are convinced that if we were ever home alone and became incapacitated too far past feeding time she'd just start gnawing on us.