Catsitting Advice

Help a brotha out. Im babysitting two (well technically three) cats. All are outside cats. One is scared of absolutely everything, so I haven't seen him yet. The other two are really loving and nice...they seem to like me. The old one though seems to be picking fights with some other yellow cat from next door, and I think he got a bit missed up from their recent spat. He's hiding under my car now..doesn't appear to be too badly hurt, but I can't seem to get him from under the car. Is this normal? If I find any blood or something I'll call the vet.

Also, is there any way to prevent the other cat from coming over in the future? I know the old cat has stood tall on a number of occasions but Im starting to think he's risking a lot with this younger one.

Unless you can keep them indoors, you won't prevent two cats from fighting, and they probably are since it's mating season right now.

For the timid one, I would just leave out food where he can get it, and not worry too much about him.

Be careful with cats that like to hide under cars - they can climb up into the cooling fan area, and if you start the car without checking...

  On 6/14/2013 at 7:05 PM, Joyrex said:

Unless you can keep them indoors, you won't prevent two cats from fighting, and they probably are since it's mating season right now.

 

For the timid one, I would just leave out food where he can get it, and not worry too much about him.

 

Be careful with cats that like to hide under cars - they can climb up into the cooling fan area, and if you start the car without checking...

oh wow i had no idea that happens :( now im terrified to start my car.

well I went back outside to check on the oldboy, and he seems to have run off...so I am assuming he's ok, was just a little dizzy from that scrap.

I usually leave some dry food out for them, and now Im wondering if this is what's causing the problem...I noticed this cat up on the porch fucking with it a few days ago.

If they have access to inside the house via a catflap, I would leave the vittles inside.

Yeah, my mom killed a cat like that once back in the 60's. She never forgot it. I always check if I know kitties are around.

quick update.

The cat still hasn't shown up to eat....been over 24 hours. I know he's a regular outside cat, but Im worried he was injured after the fight and is somewhere dying. WTF do I do about this? Are there any special tactics to luring a cat back to its territory?

maybe you should contact the owners over something like that

only way they are contactable is by email...i sent one out.

ill leave some wet cat food out but otherwise i guess ill just have to hope for the best. i feel like shit about it though.

Isn't the point of cats they can't be catsitted? Not unless you put them in a cage. You've been asked to do the impossible.

if you replace the cats with kids (or maybe keep them as cats even), and add some schwarzenegger-esque gems such as 'its naht a tummaa', we could have a VERY adorable and hilarious comedy on our hands. anyone else imagine sr4 finding them on top of ceiling fan blades, taunting him, just bein zany all over the place and him losing his shit?

sorry. i guess thats inappropriate since a cat is hurt and MIA. but i think we can all agree that it would have been better all around if the incident was just a bunch of zany mishaps rather than hurt and missing cats. be sure to update us, especially if the cats end up all being ok, and start sassing you real hard. i bet theyre just playing some elaborate trick on you already.

  On 6/14/2013 at 7:05 PM, Joyrex said:

Unless you can keep them indoors, you won't prevent two cats from fighting, and they probably are since it's mating season right now.

Wig-Twisting Season

When some could get their wigs twisted back within reason

You don't watch cats. Cats watch you.

  On 6/16/2013 at 9:11 AM, MisterE said:

if you replace the cats with kids (or maybe keep them as cats even), and add some schwarzenegger-esque gems such as 'its naht a tummaa', we could have a VERY adorable and hilarious comedy on our hands. anyone else imagine sr4 finding them on top of ceiling fan blades, taunting him, just bein zany all over the place and him losing his shit?

 

sorry. i guess thats inappropriate since a cat is hurt and MIA. but i think we can all agree that it would have been better all around if the incident was just a bunch of zany mishaps rather than hurt and missing cats. be sure to update us, especially if the cats end up all being ok, and start sassing you real hard. i bet theyre just playing some elaborate trick on you already.

it's inappropriate because you are the one saying it.

  On 6/16/2013 at 5:11 PM, essines said:

 

  On 6/16/2013 at 9:11 AM, MisterE said:

if you replace the cats with kids (or maybe keep them as cats even), and add some schwarzenegger-esque gems such as 'its naht a tummaa', we could have a VERY adorable and hilarious comedy on our hands. anyone else imagine sr4 finding them on top of ceiling fan blades, taunting him, just bein zany all over the place and him losing his shit?

 

sorry. i guess thats inappropriate since a cat is hurt and MIA. but i think we can all agree that it would have been better all around if the incident was just a bunch of zany mishaps rather than hurt and missing cats. be sure to update us, especially if the cats end up all being ok, and start sassing you real hard. i bet theyre just playing some elaborate trick on you already.

 

it's inappropriate because you are the one saying it.

 

maybe youre just a dick?

the cat still hasn't shown up. This time I did an even more thorough search of the yard, adjoining household (with the help of the neighbors), and walked around a few blocks yelling his name like a frat asshole. I have no idea if this is his normative behavior; still waiting for a response from his owners (who are overseas).

I think Im convinced that I will not be owning pets for at least another 30-40 years, and I am certainly convinced I will never housesit again.

  On 6/16/2013 at 10:07 AM, thanks robert moses said:

You don't watch sit cats. Cats watch sit you.

Fixed!

well, good news and bad news.

The good news is that I found him!!!! He was wandering around looking very, very dazed around 1am in the morning. Im glad I kept my search up.

The bad news is that he doesn't look very good. I took him to the vet, and they are keeping him over night. He definitely has a bad infection around his neck, and I found a few maggots while waiting in the examination room with the doctor.....poor oldboy...who knows how long he was laying out somewhere.

So think good thoughts WATMMers, this guy is a tough MFer and probably my best feline friend ever. Can't wait to hear that I can pick him back up from the vet.

holy shit that sounds bad. amazing that you found him!

Some closure

Great news: he's back from the vet! The wounds look a bit nasty, but he's already returning to his feisty old self. I figured caution would be the name of the game, and put him in the bathroom until the family returns. Set him up with a few towels for laying around, a box of kitty litter, and some wet/dry food which he is already destroying.

These past few days have been stressful as fuck, but I'm so happy to see him back and recovering.

Wow what a trip. Speedy recovery for the little cat guy :)

awesome, glad to hear it sr4!

is he on antibiotics for the infection?

thanks for the well wishes guys. i knew i went to the right place asking on a cat-lovers board.

nene, he isn't on antibiotics, but they gave him a TON of shots to ward off future maggots, flies, etc.

The wound itself looks really gruesome in size and scope, but its actually healing amazingly well, only a day has passed and its already starting to "skin up", you know that yellowy goopy stuff that is the very first stage of scabbing.

The only thing they gave me is a bottle of scarlet oil, which sounds like something I used to buy on the Oregon Trail computer game to treat typhoid or snake bites. Im supposed to rub it on the wound once every day. Applied the first dose today with little problems, he was struggling to get out of my grip but otherwise it didn't appear to sting or irritate him. It has a really strong pepperminty scent, my guess it's also meant to ward off the cat from clawing at it?

He also used his litter box successfully overnight, which was honestly my biggest worry.

But the little guy is recovering! Poor guy wanted to rub his face up against my legs, but I wasn't about to have ANYTHING touch that wound other than medicine, so he'll have to go without leg love for a day or two.

Awesome. Glad you were persistent! He might not have made it without your help.

Being a lifelong cat owner, I feel bad for probably having recommended you not to worry and not even bother searching ... I can't recall ever intentionally finding a cat, they have a habit of turning back up once they can be arsed again, but this one actually needed your help. Good thing I didn't see this thread!

You are the best cat-sitter ever! The owners really owe you one! Nicely handled.