# Stray Cat In Basement **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444 "2025-01-01T16:39:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/1 "2025-01-01T16:39:05Z")
I spent my New Year’s Eve day trying to come up with a way to coax a stray cat out of my basement. I discovered it on my way to work as I was checking my cellar door which apparently had blown open. Someone in the neighborhood must have closed it as far as I can surmise. Arranged to borrow a cage from a coworker but that would have to be after the holiday. Called handyman who said he would stop down to look at my cellar door to see what could possibly be wrong. He installed a door in September and had to come by once to fix something as it was occasionally opening. It’s been fine since then but we did have howling winds a couple nights ago. Still…? Started getting texts in the evening from a neighbor asking if I had put the cat in my basement and how kind that was lol. I replied that I hadn’t and was trying to figure out a way to get it out. It’s a stray someone tossed from a truck several months ago and they have been “homing” it on their porch. They feed it and have constructed some kind of shelter. Once I realized it was likely not a wild feral cat I went down and was able to coax it out of the cellar with minimal trouble. Still wonder why my handyman did not show after he said he would. Going to work on that. But it was New Year’s Eve. So relieved to have resolved this issue before I went to bed. I’m calling her Karma Cat. The neighbors call her Ginger. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/2 "2025-01-01T16:54:08Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > I’m calling her Karma Cat. The neighbors call her Ginger. - I’m calling her “Yours”. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/3 "2025-01-01T16:59:49Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > I’m calling her Karma Cat. The neighbors call her Ginger. - > > I’m calling her “Yours”. > You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. No that did not happen and can’t. I would be in the hospital for sure. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/4 "2025-01-01T17:36:26Z")
If the situation arises again: tuna is usually a good way to coax a cat. However, if this cat, who has a home at your neighbor’s, discovers they can get tuna at your place, they’re more likely to show up at your place again. So, since apparently you can’t have a cat in your house, it’s just as well that you didn’t use the Tuna Technique. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/5 "2025-01-01T17:47:00Z")
You name it, it’s your cat. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/6 "2025-01-01T17:47:08Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > If the situation arises again: tuna is usually a good way to coax a cat. > > However, if this cat, who has a home at your neighbor’s, discovers they can get tuna at your place, they’re more likely to show up at your place again. So, since apparently you can’t have a cat in your house, it’s just as well that you didn’t use the Tuna Technique. That was my original plan. I was going to put some tuna in the borrowed cage. Thankfully it all worked out. I wish there was a better solution for the poor little girl. But it’s out of my hands … and my basement. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/7 "2025-01-01T18:32:08Z")
I think you should name her Suzy, after a similar story about Suzy Pupman, whose story went internationally viral 5 years ago when it happened - [dog found in locked home](https://www.today.com/pets/family-adopts-neglected-dog-after-she-wandered-their-home-t170158) BTW, Suzy just published her first book ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/8 "2025-01-01T18:48:38Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I think you should name her Suzy, after a similar story about Suzy Pupman, whose story went internationally viral 5 years ago when it happened - [dog found in locked home](https://www.today.com/pets/family-adopts-neglected-dog-after-she-wandered-their-home-t170158) > > BTW, Suzy just published her first book. That is such an awesome story. Tragic but heartwarming. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/9 "2025-01-01T18:49:34Z")
Obviously, you should name it either Setzer, Slim, or Phantom. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/10 "2025-01-01T18:52:05Z")
Those are good names lol. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/11 "2025-01-01T18:57:08Z")
As noted by others, it’s not a stray anymore, it’s your cat now. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/12 "2025-01-01T19:16:52Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > As noted by others, it’s not a stray anymore, it’s your cat now. It’s the neighbor’s cat. I cannot have them in my house. Tried that many years ago and ended up in the ER. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/13 "2025-01-01T19:18:24Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Tried that many years ago and ended up in the ER. How did you end up in the ER? Are you allergic? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/14 "2025-01-01T19:20:32Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > Tried that many years ago and ended up in the ER. > > How did you end up in the ER? Are you allergic? - Or tried to snorgle the cat’s soft, tempting furry belly. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/15 "2025-01-01T19:24:02Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > It’s the neighbor’s cat. I cannot have them in my house. > > Tried that many years ago and ended up in the ER. It’s up to the cat who’s it is. Best for you to move away and leave no forwarding address. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/16 "2025-01-01T19:32:33Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > Tried that many years ago and ended up in the ER. > > How did you end up in the ER? Are you allergic? Yes - severe allergic reaction. Cat allergies. Eyes swelled shut and couldn’t breathe. I adore cats but just cannot be near them for too long. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/17 "2025-01-01T19:33:09Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > It’s the neighbor’s cat. I cannot have them in my house. > > > > Tried that many years ago and ended up in the ER. > > It’s up to the cat who’s it is. Best for you to move away and leave no forwarding address. LOL - I can watch vicariously from my window! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/18 "2025-01-01T19:44:51Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Yes - severe allergic reaction. Cat allergies. > Eyes swelled shut and couldn’t breathe. Understandable! I was afraid it was because the cat was displeased with your choice of cat food. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/19 "2025-01-01T20:04:40Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > Yes - severe allergic reaction. Cat allergies. > > Eyes swelled shut and couldn’t breathe. > > Understandable! > > I was afraid it was because the cat was displeased with your choice of cat food. I’ve heard they can be picky little buggers! ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/20 "2025-01-01T20:32:21Z")
Just call him “Strut”, hopefully he’ll strut to his real home soon. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444.md?page=2)