I adopted a stray cat from an office block but I am worried about him running away when I let him outside?

Question

I adopted a stray that was being fed by employees working at the factory where he had taken up residence, they took him to be neutered and de-wormed and were feeding him. He is really skinny and his coat is dull and dirty, he also has a bloated tummy. I have never owned a cat before so I am not sure what to do to prevent him from running away the first chance he gets. Someone suggested that I keep him closed in a large room for at least a week and give him his food and water at regular intervals so he gets used to associating me with food. I feel cruel keeping him closed up but he seems to be happy. He purrs and immediately comes to lie on my lap when I go in to see him. I am taking him to the vet on thursday to sort out his bloated tummy but I am still not convinced that I am doing the right thing keeping him locked in a room? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. He is such a loving boy and I want to make his life a happy one.

Answer 1

You are doing the right thing by taking this cat in, please don't doubt that.  I highly recommend you simply keep this cat inside and let him have the run of the place and never let him out again.  Cats do not need to be let outside. He sounds as though he's incredibly relieved that someone finally took him in & is willing to give him a home.  He may never want to go outside again.  This would not be unusual.  Keep him inside if at all possible.  He will be the most healthy and live the longest if he's kept in a safe, controlled environment.  He most likely was someone's pet before he became a stray. You are not cruel to keep him indoors, trust me.  You are doing him a favor.  

I would also recommend you get this cat tested for Feline Leukemia and FIV when you go to the vet on Thursday, before you do anything else.  Since he was outside, trying to survive on his own, it's possible he contracted one of these cat diseases if he fought with another infected male cat.  If you Google these two diseases, you can find out more info on them.  Cats with Feline Leukemia can live several years, depending on the stage of the disease.  Cats that are FIV positive can live a very normal life.  Again, I would get your cat tested for both of these diseases before you do anything else on Thursday.  It's a simple blood test and you will get the results back in about 20 min while you're still at the vet.  Neither of these diseases is an automatic death sentence & I do not want to cause you alarm in even mentioning these but unfortunately, they are a sad fact of life for many abandoned cats & I think it's wise to have him tested.  If he would come back positive on either of these, this should only confirm to you that he must not go back outside ever again.

Your cat may simply need wormed again.  Most times, one dose doesn't get rid of all the worms or if he's hunted since he was wormed the last time, he would have them again.  If he was hunting to survive before people started feeding him, he could have a very bad infestation of worms.  Your vet should de-worm him for the different kinds of worms cats can pick up from hunting & being outdoors.  Take a stool sample with you on Thursday so the vet can easily check for the worms. This is how a cat is diagnosed & the vet can see what kinds of worms are still present by looking at the sample under a microscope.  He'll give you the results while you're there.

It sounds as though your cat needs TLC.   He's so grateful to you for taking him in.....can't you see that?  

Please consider just making him a strictly indoor cat & letting him have the run of your place.  You can purchase a cat tree or cat window shelves so he can look outside.  Place a birdfeeder near a window for entertainment and buy him some catnip and one of those laser lights and a feather teaser for him to play with.  You will find this cat will be a wonderful companion for you.  Thank you for taking this cat in.

Answer 2

The truth is that, in the beginning, he won't mind being locked in one room, and there is a chance he may prefer it.  Cats expand their territory over time, though, so within 20 days or so, he's going to want very badly to see the rest of your place.

Cats adapt very well to a single apartment, and will run the length of their domain to exercise now and again.  Keep him indoors.  Indoors he will live to the mid-teens or more if you do things right, feral cats have an average life expectancy of about 18 months.

Get him tested and immunized immediately for FIV and FLV.  It may save you a world of heartbreak later.  These diseases are fatal.

Under your care, his coat will shine and he'll fill out.

Answer 3

Really, it would be best to leave him in the room. He will get used to his new home and owner that way. Once he realizes that you are feeding him and giving him love and a home, he will come back once let outside.

Answer 4

First of all and most important in my mind is DON'T ever let him "outside" to roam free again.  Why should he have to?  Do you not realize that his quality of life inside with you in your home will be longer and better because he will be free from death by cars, dogs, disease, humans, and toxic chemicals that humans leave out for cats like anti-freeze, and of course the occasional "stray cat" that decides your cat is in its territory and decides to fight your cat.

If you have this cat isolated in one room of your apartment at the present time that is fine.  It gives this cat a chance to get familiar to where the litter box is located.  But when your home, let the cat out to roam your apartment and move around to explore at will.  Your cat is purring because he is happy.  If you'd been living on the streets in all kinds of heat, cold and begging for food wouldn't you be thankful for love, warmth, cool air, and a clean place to live?  This cat couldn't feel luckier and even if it appears that it might be interested in the outside world again, I assure you, it's a fleeting thought and more in your mind than it is his.  Like children, you wouldn't let your child place his hand on a hot stove because they wanted too.  Cats will test you and want to do things that aren't for their own good as well.  So I hope that you'll continue to do the right thing by this lucky cat and keep it as an inside pet.  Good luck at the vets.  

Answer 5

There is nothing wrong with keeping the cat confined to one room for a week. - If it makes YOU feel better, let him out to explore the rest of your home (but not the outdoors)...You are keeping him safe while he acclimates to his new surroundings, and I think he recognizes that by showing you affection. - In time, he won't run away from "home".

BTW, thank you for taking-in a homeless kitty! You'll be amazed seeing what your compassion for the fella can do, to make him grow & shine! - The reward is the long friendship you two will have. :)

Answer 6

If he's already acclimated to you (and sitting on your laps suggests that he is) there is no reason to keep him in one room.  Give him the run of the house/apartment.  If you're at all worried him running away simply don't let him out of the house.  There is nothing wrong with keeping a cat in the house.

Answer 7

the cat is already happy with you. try to not let him out if you can avoid it. he or she  already is happy having food and warm place to sleep and love. that's really all they need to be truthful. a few toys would be nice.

Answer 8

i am sure that when he adjusts he won't try anything to tricky. i adopted a stray and he is almost afraid of the outdoors! you are doing the right thing, he will live a longer happier life now with you! Good Luck!

Answer 9

Why not keep him as an idoor-only cat?  Cats live longer, healthier lives indoors and seem to like it just fine.  There are plenty of dangers outside, like other animals and the diseases they carry, parasites, cars, theft by strangers, the weather (cold/heat/wet), etc.

As for his bloated belly, you might want to take him for a general checkup to make sure his worms really are gone and to otherwise make sure he's healthy.