# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/21 "2025-01-01T20:45:05Z")
String works really well for luring a cat out of someplace. Lay down about 10 feet of it near the cat. Grab the other end and walk toward the place where you want the critter to go. If he’s a real cat, he’ll follow. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/22 "2025-01-01T20:51:08Z")
The Cat who…came to dinner. ---
**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 2, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/23 "2025-01-02T01:59:52Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > BTW, Suzy just published her first book [Link](https://read.sourcebooks.com/a-stray-dog-for-christmas) to the book, if anyone is interested (& [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Stray-Dog-Christmas-Suzy-Adopted/dp/1728283922)) ---
**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 2, 2025, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/24 "2025-01-02T02:06:26Z")
@Spiderman Thank you for the book link. ---
**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 2, 2025, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/25 "2025-01-02T03:37:06Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s up to the cat who’s it is. I got that word wrong again. “Who’s” is not right. Should have been “whom’s”. ---
**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 2, 2025, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/26 "2025-01-02T03:42:23Z")
I love finding some of my typos and then needing to explain! All good. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/27 "2025-01-02T03:46:20Z")
I think Goo would be happy to be an only cat, but she seems to get along well enough with Abbey. I think Abbey would like to have a kitten to be a mother to. Perhaps the cat distribution system will sort things out. ---
**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 2, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/28 "2025-01-02T03:52:30Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > String works really well for luring a cat out of someplace. Lay down about 10 feet of it near the cat. > Grab the other end and walk toward the place where you want the critter to go. If he’s a real cat, he’ll follow. That’s an excellent idea! ---
**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 2, 2025, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/29 "2025-01-02T04:11:54Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > String works really well for luring a cat out of someplace. Lay down about 10 feet of it near the cat. > Grab the other end and walk toward the place where you want the critter to go. If he’s a real cat, he’ll follow. If the above doesn’t work, get 100’ of string. Then put on a full a suit of armor, followed by chain-mail, hockey goalie equipment & then baseball catcher’s attire, in that order. You _may_ be able to use the string to tie the cat up & take it where you want, if you’re _really_ good…possibly ---
**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 2, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/30 "2025-01-02T04:13:53Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@AskNott](#): > > > > String works really well for luring a cat out of someplace. Lay down about 10 feet of it near the cat. > > Grab the other end and walk toward the place where you want the critter to go. If he’s a real cat, he’ll follow. > > If the above doesn’t work, get 100’ of string. Then put on a full a suit of armor, followed by chain-mail, hockey goalie equipment & then baseball catcher’s attire, in that order. You _may_ be able to use the string to tie the cat up & take it where you want, if you’re _really_ good…possibly. Oh I think not! I’ve seen some of these cats in action when they are frustrated! Which was my original fear about confronting the little critter in 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 2, 2025, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/31 "2025-01-02T04:16:03Z")
Which is why one wears _four_ layers of protective attire! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/32 "2025-01-02T07:41:12Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > 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. How recent was this? You might check with your doctor – they have new anti-allergen medications now that are more effective. And there are some cat breeds that are hypo-allergenic. ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/33 "2025-01-02T13:58:53Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > some cat breeds that are hypo-allergenic. The chance of a stray being hypo-allergenic is low, but anti-allergy medicine is a possible solution, should she chose to come again. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/34 "2025-01-02T17:36:50Z")
That’s pretty much how we adopted Meave the cat. (That’s her over there ⬅) She turned up at our house about 15 years ago and never left. … though we didn’t try very hard to find out where she came from ! She wasn’t chipped (but had been spayed). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/35 "2025-01-02T18:41:48Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > Tried that many years ago and ended up in the ER. > > How did you end up in the ER? The OP had a knife. The cat had a gun. ---
**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 2, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/36 "2025-01-02T20:07:00Z")
@pjd Meave is adorable! ---
**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 2, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/37 "2025-01-02T20:10:08Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > 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. > > How recent was this? > You might check with your doctor – they have new anti-allergen medications now that are more effective. > And there are some cat breeds that are hypo-allergenic.. This was a good many years ago (late 1990s/early 2000s I believe). If I were a good bit younger and had more social support I might consider this as I love cats. But a pet would just not fit into my life at this point. It would not be fair to the animal to be left alone for so long each day when I work and for long periods of time when I travel. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/38 "2025-01-02T20:37:55Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > @pjd > > Meave is adorable! When I first saw the pic, I thought it said Move the cat, as if it were a challenge! ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/39 "2025-01-02T21:05:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Or tried to snorgle the cat’s soft, tempting furry belly. Death by snorgling is how I want to go. ---
**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 2, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444/40 "2025-01-02T21:14:07Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > > [@running\_coach](#): > > > > Or tried to snorgle the cat’s soft, tempting furry belly. > > Death by snorgling is how I want to go. - It’s not the snorgling that’s fatal, it’s the feline version of Death By A Thousand Cuts, [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cat-in-basement/1012444.md?page=3)