Purina Cat Chow: Cat Care Center: Emotional: Strays and Outdoor Cats

Physical. Emotional. Complete.® - That's the Purina® Cat Chow® Way of Life®

Subjects in this section include: how to keep your cat happy when you're away, toys and playtime, bringing a new animal into your home, feline depression, and more.

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Author, cat lover, and a big believer in simplifying vet medicalese Specialty: Emotional

Topic: Strays and Outdoor Cats

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My cat disappeared for 2 months and just by luck I found her and brought her home (she is declawed). She does not seem to be happy to be home. I have noticed that the hair around her neck is falling out and she is fighting with the other cats. She will only come to me and does not like the other cats near me.

Can cats live on their own, without anyone to take care of them?

A wild cat gave birth under our deck about 3 months ago. We've been feeding them every day. Will they learn to find food on their own?

My cat was an outdoor cat with her previous owner, but I don't want to let her out because we live on a very busy road. I bought a leash with a harness and she doesn't seem to mind it. However, is letting her out on a leash for a few minutes hurting her or helping her? She is always crying to go out now.

My 18-month-old male indoor cat slipped out of my apartment two weeks ago. I've seen him twice in the woods behind my building but he runs away before I can get near him. Any suggestions on how I can draw him back home? He was an outdoor cat prior to my adopting him over a year ago, but he hasn't been outside since living with me.

We took in a stray cat found living in our garage. We've had her about three months and if it's just me and her she is fine, but when my husband is around she is so mean to me she attacks my legs by biting and scratching. Any ideas why?

How do I help my cat adapt to become an indoor cat when it has spent five years as an outdoor cat? She is keeping me awake at nights growling, wanting to go outside. It isn't possible for her to go outside since there are raccoons, possums and armadillos out there.

I have a cat that I had intended to be an indoor cat. She has gotten out once by accident and now never wants to be in the house. When she is in the house she howls and moans like she would were she in heat (even though she isn't). I don't want her to be an outdoor cat. How do I get her back to liking the indoors?

I have a cat that was once feral. Within weeks of taking her in, she became a "lover kitty." Is this normal? I thought it would take much longer.

All of my cats are indoors. One of them slipped out without my knowing it about 3 days ago. I cannot find him anywhere. He is about 2 years old, and is neutered, so I find it unusual that he would just "take off." My question is do cats have the same "sense" that dogs have as far as being able to find their way home? I feel like that is my only hope because I have looked everywhere, put up signs, and called Animal Control. Do you think he has the ability to find his way home?

I have five cats that are outside my house. One of them is an adopted stray named Scruffy. Every day, when Mew, which is another of my cats, comes and smells Scruffy, he starts growling. Then he scratches him and start fighting with each other. How will I stop Mew from attacking Scruffy before it's too late?

I just adopted a stray cat that my friend has been feeding for 7 months. She also let Sammy sleep inside at night for the last few months. I adopted Sammy two nights ago and today let him out to play. He came back about 3 hours later and ate. He then left again and hasn't returned. I'm worried he might try to go back to my friend's house, which is 2 miles away. Do cats do this?

I rescued a male stray cat two months ago. He is neutered, very affectionate and sweet except he has a terrible habit of howling at a fevered pitch and scratching excessively at every door and window. How do I stop this behavior?

My cat is an outdoor cat. She lives in our barn. Her sister died, and now she is alone. She doesn't like other cats to be around, and if they come near her then she will run away or fight. But sometimes she seems lonely. Should I get another cat or not?

My cat is about 2-1/2 years old, he was once a stray and he hates everyone (not violently) he just runs out of the room when anyone new comes in, even regulars in my home seem to just scare him off. He's an absolute guts even though we feed him twice a day like the vet ordered and he only comes to you involuntarily when you are in the kitchen (where his food is). Is there anything I can do that could make us both happy?

There is a stray cat that has been around my apartment building since I moved in. This cat comes out and meets me at my car when I come home from work or anywhere else. For the first month or so I didn't really pay much attention to this cat, until it started acting very hungry. So I started to feed it. This cat has now become my little friend and loves sitting on my lap and loves getting a lot of attention. Can cats choose who they want as their caretaker? How does this cat know my car?

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	Mentor Steffen Runquist shares her years of experience in this video series

Cats are curious and explorative creatures, so make sure to provide a variety of toys. Consider giving her a few fur mice, plastic wheels and balls with bells. The different textures, noises and shapes will keep your kitty investigating.

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