Adopted again (kitties)?

[Chefguy]

How odd. We lost our cat of 20 years about ten months ago, as related in a thread at that time. We were devastated. As months have gone by and we get past it, we've talked about getting a new kitty, possibly two, so they have company when we're out. But we've taken no action as yet.

So today, while I'm at the eye doctor, my wife was outside working in the garden when she hears a rustling in the bushes by the house. Figuring it was the neighbor cat, she called it by name, and out from the bushes step two kittens, one black and one orange, and not much past weaning age. No collar, no tags, but they don't seem at all feral. So she opens the front door and they run right in and start lapping up the milk she puts down. I come home just as she's giving them some canned salmon.

I can't imagine that cats this young would be allowed outside by an owner, so I'm suspecting that either they were dropped at the curb by somebody, or that they are from a feral litter, but haven't learned to be wary of humans yet. They're adorable, and friendly, and seem to want affection. If nobody comes knocking at the door, I'm thinking that we may have two new family members.

Photos.

[congodwarf]

Based on that third picture, I think you need to start thinking up names!

Congratulations!

[Taomist]

Oh my goodness, you must allow them to adopt you!! That orange one looks EXACTLY like our little orange one. (Her name is Murphy; it was orignally for literary reasons, but as time goes on, she's more than earned it with her way of mucking something up if there's ANY way possible to do it.)

As they're orange and black, perhaps Halloween-inspired names?

You really, really need to let them adopt you.

[Chefguy]

I think we're going to wait a couple of days to see if any flyers appear in the neighborhood, then make a vet appointment for a checkup, shots, etc. At that point we'll probably start casting about for names. The black one was practically crawling into my beard in an effort to be affectionate. The orange one is the more playful at this point. We're kind of in shock.

[StGermain]

Oh yeah, you can see how feral they are. Just wild cats!

Congrats on the new cats.

StG

[Chefguy]

Well, that was short-lived. The people next door have had an ongoing menagerie since they moved in, and are fairly irresponsible pet owners. We saw one of the women outside and asked her if she knew anything about these two and she admitted ownership. What the hell they're doing outside at that vulnerable age is something I didn't ask. So bye-bye Sunny and Smokey; I hope your new owners don't result in an early demise like her previous cat (hit by a car).

On the plus side, we see now that we can deal with new cats in the house, so some good comes from it. Also, we had no time to really bond with them, so it's not a big wrench to have them gone.

[SnakesCatLady]

Definitely not feral; you seldom see feral kittens that young and you don't get close to them. Perhaps they were homeless kitties and learned you had a kittieless home? Perhaps they're a gift from Bast?

They are adorable! I love me some orange cats. How about "Hallow" and "Ween"?

[SeaDragonTattoo]

Well, since they're so friendly and are getting outside freely, perhaps if they start showing up on your property regularly, they can just find their way inside again and stay there. If you get vet care for them, you will have more proof of ownership at that point than the neighbors. Local laws may vary, but in Chicago you can play it that way if you need to and if you want to get two kitties that need neutering and vet care off the street!

...I also know someone who's a vet tech in Portland, he may have some information for low-cost spaying and neutering in your area if you were to see about helping these neighbors out with population control. If you offer, they may just decide to let you keep them.

[Chefguy]

Well, I don't need trouble with the neighbors. By and large they're okay, just lousy pet owners. We'll find some other kitties; it's not like they're scarce.

[Rachellelogram]

That black cat is absolutely striking, with the tawny/orangeish fuzz around his mane. Sorry you had to give them up! But now 2 more kittens might end up getting adopted, so that's a great thing :D

[PandaBear77]

Definitely needta get moar kittehs.

[Hanna]

Maybe you could just ask if you can have them? I would! They're cute.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by Hanna

Maybe you could just ask if you can have them? I would! They're cute.

The wife hinted at that, but the woman has two kids who would be very distraught if that happened.

[Lynn Bodoni]

So let the kids have visiting privileges.

[LurkerInNJ]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

The wife hinted at that, but the woman has two kids who would be very distraught if that happened.

Like those two kids aren't going to be distraught when the kitties get creamed by a car?

The next time they show up, let them in and forget to let them out. I'd bet anything the neighbor won't even bother to get them fixed.

[Baker]

Originally Posted by LurkerInNJ

Like those two kids aren't going to be distraught when the kitties get creamed by a car?

The next time they show up, let them in and forget to let them out. I'd bet anything the neighbor won't even bother to get them fixed.

I second the motion.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by LurkerInNJ

Like those two kids aren't going to be distraught when the kitties get creamed by a car?

The next time they show up, let them in and forget to let them out. I'd bet anything the neighbor won't even bother to get them fixed.

Their other pets are fixed. They're not inhuman; they're just not very responsible owners. We're moving on.

[StGermain]

Hmmm...there might be kittens in Portland.

StG

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by StGermain

Hmmm...there might be kittens in Portland.

StG

Yeah, I've made a couple of inquiries on Craigslist. These two were unbearably cute, but were already taken.

[EmilyG]

They are so cute! I love cats.

[Chefguy]

An update on all this. The people next door have continued to allow these kittens to be outdoors, despite their young age. Neither of them have collars or tags. They're always looking for affection and food.

The woman who got them for her kids went on vacation with the kids and left the care of the cats with other family members. The grandparents also went on vacation, leaving their dog and cat and the two kittens in the care of the one remaining daughter and granddaughter, who also have a cat and a dog. The mother has a baby with developmental issues, so abdicates that responsibility to her five-year-old daughter. So the kittens have been let loose all day long to get into mischief or die or who gives a shit.

Yesterday, both of them were playing out in front of our house, being cute. A couple of young women/older teen girls were walking by and started gushing over the kittens. As they walked out of my field of view, I saw the kittens run after them. A bit later, the orange one was crying outside our door and black one was nowhere in sight. Then the remaining woman and kids departed town on their vacation, without bothering to make sure the orange kittie was inside the house. We took it in, figuring it was going to have to stay the night with us, but yet another person showed up to spend the night in the house and we turned it over to her.

It's now 24 hours later and the black one is still missing and obviously was taken home by someone. The woman and two kids came home this afternoon and of course they're upset that one of the kittens is missing. She sent the kids over to find out what happened instead of coming herself probably knowing she'd catch hell from me.

I'm actually glad somebody else has that kitten. Perhaps it's somebody who actually ought to own a pet instead of this fucking moron next door. I hope somebody steals the other one.

[Taomist]

Is there a chance you can offer to take the orange one off her hands since she obviously doesn't have the capability of taking care of it? The five year old can still play with the kitty; it'd be right next door!

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by Taomist

Is there a chance you can offer to take the orange one off her hands since she obviously doesn't have the capability of taking care of it? The five year old can still play with the kitty; it'd be right next door!

Now that it's become habituated to being an outdoor cat, I would not be willing to take it on. I would worry about it all the damn time when it's out (I do as it is). In the three years we've been here, they've had three cats and a dog (just this part of the family; there are still two other dogs and two other cats in the house). The first cat was killed in traffic. The dog was a collie that was never trained, and which was confined to their tiny yard, which drove it to psychotic barking and lunging at passers-by. She finally had to give it away, or at least I'm assuming that's what happened to it. Now the kittens, one of which has been taken. I fear its brother won't last too long. It makes me irrationally angry at them, which is not good for my blood pressure.

[Sailboat]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

It makes me irrationally angry at them, which is not good for my blood pressure.

Irrationally or rationally?

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by Sailboat

Irrationally or rationally?

Both. I told them what I saw and they seem spectacularly disinterested and unconcerned. I mentioned putting up fliers on this block in hopes the person who took the kitten would see it, but none have appeared so far. So....fuck it, I guess.

[Lynn Bodoni]

Now that it's become habituated to being an outdoor cat, I would not be willing to take it on.

We got our last cat in about the same way...negligent parents left the kitten outside while they took a trip, without any real care taken to make sure it was fed and watered.

Chaos spent most of her life up til then as an outside kitty who was occasionally allowed inside. She is perfectly happy to be an inside only kitty now, and has never shown the slightest interest in going outside. She LIKES having a steady supply of noms and fresh water and pettings.

However, it would be hard to take in a neighbor's cat, if the neighbor has kids who like the cat.

[flatlined]

Outside cats can become good inside cats. All of mine were strays who don't even look at the door anymore. Out here, the laws about roaming cats says that if they come into your yard, they are yours if you want them. Just saying...cause that orange kitten makes me want him, and I have sworn off kittens for the rest of my life.

[SeaDragonTattoo]

Just to throw this out there - Once kitten is neutered and kept indoors, he will be a perfectly happy indoor kitty. The rescue I work for takes in nothing but strays, that all get spayed/neutered and turned into indoor-only cats in short order. Once a cat is getting all he/she needs inside the house - food, attention, removal of reproductive organs - they're perfectly happy to stay in, and the "need" to go outside to get said food, attention, sex, is gone.

Left outside to do whatever, there will be more kittens soon.

[Taomist]

We have two cats that have been nothing BUT indoor cats. And they sure DO want to go outside! They don't go far when they do escape, 'cause they're too busy smelling every bush and leaf, but still, I think it's a little much to say cats will never want to go outside.

I do agree that outdoor cats can become content indoor cats, though, and won't eat you in your sleep if you keep them in even though they want to go outside and chase things.

At least, mine haven't...so FAR.

Next month we move to a house with a yard, as opposed to the tiny condo they've known their whole lives. They'd have a lot more room in the house alone, but things are going to be interesting regarding the yard. :O I'd be happy with keeping them in the house, but something tells me that the puppy we are also receiving when we move is going to pique their interest, especially when HE gets to go outside and THEY can't!

I might get eaten in my sleep then.

[Chefguy]

Well, the final scene has played out. I saw the orange kitty two days ago playing in the bushes outside the house. Yesterday, the moron who owns them came to the house with one of her kids: "Have you seen Sunny?" Not since yesterday, why? Well now he's missing too. Dead silence while I stared at her in disbelief, then glanced down at the weepy child and decided not to say what was on my mind. I have a bad feeling about this kitten. It was out all night, apparently, and there are feral cats, urban coyotes, raccoons, and stray dogs to deal with, not to mention traffic. Honest to god, this woman needs a warning sign hung around her neck to keep her from adopting more animals. Whenever I mention collars and tags, I just get blank stares from everyone who lives there.

[casdave]

I might have told her in no uncertain terms what was likely to have happened, the kid is going to get lots more of this anyway given the stupidity of the mother, maybe the child in tears and asking a few questions in only the way children can would have concentrated her mind.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by casdave

I might have told her in no uncertain terms what was likely to have happened, the kid is going to get lots more of this anyway given the stupidity of the mother, maybe the child in tears and asking a few questions in only the way children can would have concentrated her mind.

I've avoided confronting her in order to maintain good relations with the other people that live in the house. But this is becoming close to animal abuse, or at the very least, gross irresponsibility. While I don't think animal control would have responded to this situation, if I see her with more replacement cats sans collars and tags, I'm going to call them anyway. And Mr. Niceguy will be taking a vacation.

[purplehorseshoe]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

Well, the final scene has played out. I saw the orange kitty two days ago playing in the bushes outside the house. Yesterday, the moron who owns them came to the house with one of her kids: "Have you seen Sunny?" Not since yesterday, why? Well now he's missing too. Dead silence while I stared at her in disbelief, then glanced down at the weepy child and decided not to say what was on my mind. . .

I had an evil thought: kneeling down to look the kid straight in the eye and saying quietly,

SPOILER:

"I'm sorry your mommy doesn't love you enough to even put a simple tag and collar on your kitty."

That said, I 100% understand wanting to avoid confrontation to people who live right near you. I wonder if the Humane Society or local SPCA might have ideas for you?

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by purplehorseshoe

I had an evil thought: kneeling down to look the kid straight in the eye and saying quietly,

SPOILER:

"I'm sorry your mommy doesn't love you enough to even put a simple tag and collar on your kitty."

That said, I 100% understand wanting to avoid confrontation to people who live right near you. I wonder if the Humane Society or local SPCA might have ideas for you?

I'm thinking I might be able to sell a neglect complaint if I see the same thing happening again. Thing is, they're fed and have access to shelter, and are reasonably groomed. There's no law about letting your cats stay outdoors, so I pretty much only have the fact that they're not tagged to hang my hat on. Perhaps I should just mind my own business.

[Taomist]

I can't imagine laws for cats being different than for dogs, so being outside all night might not be against regulation, but being out all night with no tags and loose probably is.

Sorry you have to deal with all that, Chefguy.

And we are definitely getting collars/tags for our cats before letting them even in the yard in the new place. So far they really HATE even the fairly lose, breakaway collars we've attempted many, many times, but they definitely are not going anywhere without a collar. Period. They can just stay indoor cats forever, albeit with a lot more room than they've had, if they can't tolerate a collar.

Maybe after seeing the puppy running around outside with a collar will change their mind about it. :P

[SeaDragonTattoo]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

I'm thinking I might be able to sell a neglect complaint if I see the same thing happening again. Thing is, they're fed and have access to shelter, and are reasonably groomed. There's no law about letting your cats stay outdoors, so I pretty much only have the fact that they're not tagged to hang my hat on. Perhaps I should just mind my own business.

Do you know where the kittens came from? If she did adopt them from a shelter, I'd be surprised if there isn't an indoor only clause in the adoption contract. They would be very interested to hear about what happened with these kittens.

If the shelters in your area work anything like the ones around here, we all talk to each other, and when someone's on a "do not adopt" list at one shelter, they quickly get added to all the other shelters.

That doesn't help if she acquires her animals from "friends," as people who treat them as you've described often do. The only other thing I can think of is whether you're sure your area doesn't have leash laws. People often assume leash laws apply only to dogs, but if you pull up the actual written municipal code, the law applies to all pets, which includes cats. Sometimes the language includes "running at large" being against muni code, and would apply to any family pet allowed to run around outside without either fence for containment or under control of a leash. Getting a cop to come by and actually issue a ticket for someone letting their cat outside is, of course, another matter entirely!

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by SeaDragonTattoo

Do you know where the kittens came from? If she did adopt them from a shelter, I'd be surprised if there isn't an indoor only clause in the adoption contract. They would be very interested to hear about what happened with these kittens.

If the shelters in your area work anything like the ones around here, we all talk to each other, and when someone's on a "do not adopt" list at one shelter, they quickly get added to all the other shelters.

That doesn't help if she acquires her animals from "friends," as people who treat them as you've described often do. The only other thing I can think of is whether you're sure your area doesn't have leash laws. People often assume leash laws apply only to dogs, but if you pull up the actual written municipal code, the law applies to all pets, which includes cats. Sometimes the language includes "running at large" being against muni code, and would apply to any family pet allowed to run around outside without either fence for containment or under control of a leash. Getting a cop to come by and actually issue a ticket for someone letting their cat outside is, of course, another matter entirely!

Craigslist. Relieves them of any responsibility, apparently. There is a collar/tag law here, but few people apply it to their cats. There are a lot of loose cats in this neighborhood and we know a lot of them by name. But any time you see a kitten out loose, it's not long before the "Lost Kitty" posters start appearing.

[brainstall]

Awww. A sad, but not unforseen ending to the story. I had hoped that the wee kitties would end up with you, Chefguy. I really wish kittens weren't so easy to come by and perceived by so many as so disposable.

[SeaDragonTattoo]

Yikes. I've been seriously considering moving to Portland when I retire. If the animal welfare laws aren't similar or better than here, though, it might not turn out to be much of a retirement, going to work on the city/county codes! It's tough here as it is, and the leash laws are in place, though the newer TNR laws allowing ferals to belong to managed colonies might be confusing people again...

Your neighbor sounds like a real peach. I honestly probably would have handled things similarly to how you have. Especially without laws in place to back me up. There's not much worse than hatred between neighbors, to trying to stay civil is important. Too bad her children are suffering for it as well as the pets. Hopefully they'll learn better, and it makes me feel better to think maybe someone just took this little kitty home like the other one.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by SeaDragonTattoo

Yikes. I've been seriously considering moving to Portland when I retire. If the animal welfare laws aren't similar or better than here, though, it might not turn out to be much of a retirement, going to work on the city/county codes! It's tough here as it is, and the leash laws are in place, though the newer TNR laws allowing ferals to belong to managed colonies might be confusing people again...

Your neighbor sounds like a real peach. I honestly probably would have handled things similarly to how you have. Especially without laws in place to back me up. There's not much worse than hatred between neighbors, to trying to stay civil is important. Too bad her children are suffering for it as well as the pets. Hopefully they'll learn better, and it makes me feel better to think maybe someone just took this little kitty home like the other one.

People here are generally rabid about pet and animal welfare. The cats that we see in the 'hood are well-cared for, and most have collars/tags. Some were rescue cats and won't tolerate a collar. Dogs are almost always on-leash, and people are very good about cleaning up poop. In fact, yesterday our neighbor was out working on his trailer (which looks like something the Joads would own), and his damn dog was loose. Someone walking by stopped and asked if that was his dog. Yes. "Well, you need to go clean up the load he just dropped over there on the grass. And by the way, there are leash laws here." I wanted to applaud.