https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:50:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stray-cat-cat-advice-needed#post-318847 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:55:19 +0000 blackbird 318847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cats are easy peasy! Take it to the vet for a check up, keep it separated from everyone for the time being, and just feed it and whatnot. There are no issues being pregnant and having a cat--i still clean the litter box, and my doctor says I can, as long as i wear a mask. They're smart and you can train them quite easily. </p> <p>He was obviously someone's pet who's been declawed. Poor little guy! So he's probably already somewhat trained and such. </p> <p>Mine don't jump on counters or mark or anything. They are lazy boys who just like to sit on the couch near me, meow at me for food, and don't scratch on doors or furniture or ANYTHING. They are totally chill! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stray-cat-cat-advice-needed#post-317885 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 20:28:33 +0000 anonysquire 317885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a crazy cat lady I thought I should weigh in. I would for sure take it to the vet but don't feel bad if it is too sick to take care of. Do not feel guilty! Make sure the cat eats enough and if it is a kitten go get some kitten formula from the grocery store. Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stray-cat-cat-advice-needed#post-317606 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 15:52:34 +0000 DigAPony 317606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you're willing to give it a shot, it would be lovely of you to try and keep the cat! LittleFox wrote a lot of great tips so I won't repeat them. As for cats on the counter, I've heard some people have success with the foil method--lay down aluminum foil on the counters--they hate the noise so if they try to jump up there they'll be deterred by it. After a little while they have no interest in trying. I also never give my cats any food in the kitchen (no tuna, no tuna water, etc.) so they never bug me while I'm in there.</p> <p>If you decide not to keep the cat, find a no-kill shelter or rescue! I hope it works out! You're doing a really great thing by rescuing this poor cat--whoever abandoned it is a monster, especially considering the cat is declawed, therefore incapable of really protecting itself/climbing trees. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stray-cat-cat-advice-needed#post-317598 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 15:46:51 +0000 littlecasita1122 317598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You're definitely doing the right thing by taking it to the vet first. They make even have some suggestions of foster homes or other solutions besides a shelter if you don't end up keeping it. </p> <p>If you do keep it...we have two cats and they've been perfectly fine with our LO - he's 3.5 months old. The biggest problem we have had with them is they're not getting as much attention as they were used to so they have eaten through a few cords (like my phone charger cord) and do other annoying stuff like knock over their food bowls. We've been trying to get better with cuddling with them more so they are basically back to them normal selves. Our cats are definitely lap cats, though, so you may not have to worry about the attention thing if this cat's personality is more independent. Thankfully we never had any marking issues with them or I think my husband would have had it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stray-cat-cat-advice-needed#post-317595 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 15:44:39 +0000 CATWOMAN 317595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This breaks my heart! If I were in your situation, I'd give it a shot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stray-cat-cat-advice-needed#post-317591 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 15:43:00 +0000 LittleFox 317591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Plenty of people have both cats and babies! The pregnancy precaution is for toxoplasmosis, which can be dangerous to come down with during pregnancy. Basically, pregnant ladies should not clean the litter box (it's a job you can give to your partner during pregnancy). But pregnant ladies and babies can coexist just fine with a healthy cat up to date on his/her shots.</p> <p>Since you just got her, keep the cat quarantined from your dogs (which it sounds like you're doing), and don't pick her up for as many snuggles until she's vaccinated against rabies (less picking up = less chance to get bitten). Call your vet ASAP and schedule her to have a basic checkup, shots (most cats need an initial FVRCP series and a rabies vaccine at the very least- you don't know her vaccine history, so it's best to assume she's had none), and to talk about spaying (or neutering- I've been assuming girl, but maybe this is a boy?). A spayed/neutered cat is much easier to get along with (no going into "heat" for females, less chance of spraying urine for males, less stinky urine for males, and either sex tends to live longer), so it's a good idea to look into. You can also ask them to scan her for a microchip and get one if you intend to keep her and she doesn't have one.</p> <p>Other than that, cats are basically like dogs but easier in some ways. Sure you have the litterbox, and they're smaller so they can get into a little more, but you don't have to walk them and many cats keep to themselves pretty well much of the time. You can train cats to not jump on things (maybe start once you've done the vet care and give kitty time to adjust), and you can also just close doors to keep them out of rooms where you don't want them. Good luck! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stray-cat-cat-advice-needed#post-317580 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 15:37:17 +0000 DillonLion 317580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This happened to us recently. A cat wandered onto our property. She was very, very sweet to me but we already had another cat and a dog as it was. We took it to the vet to make sure it wasn't carrying anything that could make us or our other pets sick. The cat was healthy. </p> <p>The good news stops there, however. Introducing a new cat into the picture totally threw off the balance in the house. She was marking everywhere (favorite place was DH's pillow!!!) and then our other pets started to follow suit when they had never had any potty training/obedience issues previously. The cat did not get alone with anyone in the house besides me (not DH, not our dog, not our other cat). It was a disaster. So, we decided to not keep the cat anymore. </p> <p>Anyway, that was our experience. I tried to do what I thought was best and help care for the stray, but it just did not fit in well with our family at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stray-cat-cat-advice-needed#post-317560 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 15:20:27 +0000 MrsH 317560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our neighbors said someone dumped a cat in our neighborhood last Friday (9 days ago). This morning I saw it and the poor thing was so skinny that I took it home, fed it, gave it some water and now I just don't know what to do.</p> <p>It is not that I dislike cats or animals. We already have two labradors and clearly I have a soft spot in my heart for animals. I've never been super big into cats but this one seems super sweet and loving. It doesn't have front claws so I imagine that it was someones house cat that they decided they didn't want anymore. Perhaps it is just past the cute kitten stage and they don't really want a cat - I dont know. I don't know how anyone could just dump an animal someplace.</p> <p>So I guess my plan is to take it to our vet and make sure that it is healthy or mostly healthy. I'm fine with treating it for paraisites etc but not comfortable with treating a cat with lukemia. </p> <p>With all that said I'm not sure how a cat will fit in with our family - the dogs don't seem to mind the limited time they have spent with the cat (we are trying to keep them segregated until we know the cat doesn't have any bugs it can pass to the dogs) but what about cats and any future babies? I feel like I have heard cats and babies/prgnant ladies don't mix well. I've never cared for a cat. I'm not sure how I feel about cats on the counter. But I really don't want to just drop it off at a shelter and hope for the best. </p> <p>Thoughts? Please be nice, I really am trying to help this cat and figure out if it will work out to keep it. </p>