My 3 kitties

[mainguy]

I caught three stray kitties in the bush next to my house one month ago. They are a female (Lily), a male (Smokey), and one unknown and assumed-male (Tiger). Lily and Smokey are very COOL kitties, especially Lily. She will try to get as much attention as she can. And for Smokey, whenever I come near, he will run a distance, pause, then slowly walk toward me. Put he lets me pet him. Lily and Smokey won't bite, scratch and hiss at me.

I have bathed these two kitties. They are clean and waiting to go to the vet for vacine and spaying.

But I have a problem with Tiger, as soon as I brought him in the house, he runs behind my table and hides it. He would hiss, bite or scratch every attempt I tried to be close to him. He only comes out in the evening and will run right back to his hiding place if there is any noise or movement. I'm even scared of coming near Tiger. I have too many scratches on my arms and hands already. Then, he also cries out in the evening and climbs to the window to find a way out.

What should I do with Tiger? Should I just let him be? How can I take him to the vet? He hasn't been washed since day 1. Also, Tiger starts getting bigger now. I'm afraid it's harder for me to try to catch him.

One good improvement is that Tiger starts to play with Smokey when I turn off the light in the evening. But Tiger doesn't like Lily. He would hiss at her.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[mainguy]

How many cats are we allowed to have in a house? Beside the three newly caught kitties, I have a five year old male cat, Lucky. My friend said that we were allowed to have only three cats in a house. Is it true? I don't want to get in trouble with the law or the human society. But, I also don't want to separate any of these kitties. I love them all. I still love Tiger. Just hope that he will like me one day.

Thanks.

[AmberLee]

Originally posted by mainguy
How many cats are we allowed to have in a house? ...

I think it depends on your local community's laws. In my home community there is a three cat limit, but I don't think it's strictly enforced. Purrley, in Utah, had a nasty experience with her local condo association limits. You may want to check your lease if you are renting.

Good luck. I THINK (warning: just guessing here) almost all communities allow you a litter of kittens while you are taming them and looking for homes ...

Oh, Tiger just sounds young and scared to me. You might want to sit in a room with him, quietly (maybe reading, meditating, writing, whatever quiet activity you enjoy) and let him approach you. Perhaps a cat toy that works at a distance like feathers on a string on a stick, once he starts approaching you? This could take some time, but it's got a higher success rate with shy cats than approaching them. Good luck!

[lynnestankard]

Hi Mainguy and welcome to Pet Talk.
I'm with AmberLee on this one re: Tiger. Leave him and sit quietly near him - talk to him and don't try and get him out. He's obviously feeling safe in his 'hidey hole' and when he's sure it's safe 'out there' he'll come and explore. It may take a long time - go at his speed.
We had this with our Ketchum and it took ages to get him out of the computer room (hidden under the desk!). These days he still has his own hidey hole and thats under our bed! He's safe there and no-one bothers him. He's a very nervous cat - but such a lovely boy.
Don't give up with Tiger - I'll bet he'll grow up to love you so much.
Do you really have a limit to the number of cats you can have in your home, over there? I didn't know that. Wayne has 12 - but thats in Kansas!

Lynne

[Cataholic]

Hi Mainguy, welcome. I think the kitty will come around. Maybe before he found you he had a bad experience with humans..As to the number of cats allowed, each community is different. I simply wouldn't advertise the number you have until you know what is permissible. Good luck with the taming. Kittens should come around to really delish treats from your hand...you might try some deli meat, or some cooked chicken or burger...and that will establish a bond.

[mainguy]

Thank you every body for giving me great advice and welcoming to the discussion forum. I definitely stick around.

The only thing I'm afraid that Tiger may have a disease or fleas. When I bathed Lily, I took out more than 50 fleas on her body. She is a white cat, so it's very easy to take out the fleas in her hair. I bathed her frequently the first few weeks she came, and now she has none. I wasn't that sucessful with Smokey since he is a fully gray cat. It's hard to see. But I am trying my best to wash him frequently.

Just want to make sure both of them are clean and well-behaved when I bring them to the vet and do all the routine vacines.

But with Tiger, I totally give up. I'm afraid he may have fleas that keep sucking blood out of his body. People say that all stray cats usually have fleas, right? At least Lily and Smokey had them.

One time, I tried to feed Tiger with a very delicious food. When my hand reach 6 or 8 inches from him, he jumped toward and scratched my finger. So, I have left him alone since then. I put food and litter box near his hiding place.

Tiger is also getting bigger now and probably with more strength. He is bigger than Lily and Smokey.

Just some thoughts that concern me. Thank you for reading. I can't share this with anyone.

[Cataholic]

You don't say if these are indoor only cats...so, I am going to mention a couple of things..first, if you have treated (bathed) the two tamer kitties a couple of times, they should be able to be treated with something more permanent..like the little drop that goes on their shoulder blades (though I think they have to be a certain age for that, maybe six months)- and then you must treat the house, the area they spend most of the time in. Wash the bedding that you can in the washer. Use the flea powder on the carpets and furniture. There is also a foam. You can 'bomb' the house but you and the animals have to leave for awhile (instructions are on the packaging). As to the little untamed one...have you thought about putting him in a sack and at least powdering him? I was also a little more successful with the frontline spray...and I sprayed my hands then rubbed the kittens. You have to have a system in place to kill the fleas AND the larvae (spelling?) too. Something like the eggs hatch days later? Good luck.

[mainguy]

Sorry, I know this topic is needed to end soon. Don't want to bore you ...

But I just want to share with you the pictures of my 3 new kitties:

This is Lily.

[mainguy]

This is Smokey.

[mainguy]

And finally, this is Tiger.

[mainguy]

Thank you Cataholic for your advice to clean out all the fleas.

And thank you every one for reading my posts.

And finally, this is Lucky-the-Cat's pic. He has been my dear companion for the last 5 years.

He almost died a few months ago due to a blockage in his bladder. But he came out all right after the operation to remove the stone.

Currently, he has been confused a little bit about too many kitties around him. Smokey loves Lucky very much because he follows Lucky around.

Okay, I should shut up now

[toughCookie]

if Tigar is mean to Lily, you might want to separate them.
as far as Tigar goes, leave his cage out with the door open so he can get used to it, and instead of trying to catch him, maybe you could just offer him food, and a toy on a string or wand, so you can play with him without touching him. then he will learn soon enough that you aren't going to hurt him. give him some toys to play with by himself too. cats learn pretty fast if the person is ok or not, then he will come out on his own.
good luck

also-- you should keep new cats away from your pets that you already have, so they don't catch anythin from the new ones. I have found that out the hard way

and maybe make a comfy bed for him, so he feels like he has his own safe nap place.

I have 5 cats, I don't know how many are allowed, but as long as they are cared for and in a clean house(most of the time LOL)

I don't think there is a need to hurry and end this topic, or for you to "shut up" LOL

those are such sweet, pretty kitties!! so adorable

[lynnestankard]

Originally posted by mainguy
Sorry, I know this topic is needed to end soon. Don't want to bore you ...

Hey Mainguy what do you mean - bore us?!! Never! Your talking about the cutest furbabies and we LOVE IT! Those pics were great all so different all too cute!!!

Your Lucky is beautiful and from the sound of it Smokey has found a 'Dad' to love.
Please continue with the updates and let us know how their all getting on etc etc.

Lynne

[Cataholic]

Mainguy- those are the most adorable kittens in the world! I want them all!!!! And the picture of Lucky atop the computer is so classic cat!!!!!!

[sasvermont]

Welcome to Pet Talk Mainguy. And your topic is not boring and it does not need to end. All of us love our pets so, and don't mind listening to someone else's problems, since we too have them with our beloved pets.

I would check in to the Advantage liquid stuff that you put on the cat's shoulder blade behind their neck. Frontline is also a good product. I think I should buy stock in the company.

As far as Tiger goes, well, maybe once you have him altered, he will become your buddy. He is probably scared. I would confine them until you feel comfortable with the flea situation and the personality problem with Tiger. I didn't read all the posts, but think that everyone here usually has great ideas and somewhere between them all, I am sure you will resolve your problem.

Fleas can be a disaster and hard to control. Once you get rid of them and start using the monthly dose of meds. on EACH cat, your problem should go away. I use the meds. only in the summer, although my cats don't go out except on a leash, every now and then, but seldom. I don't treat them in the winter. Depending on where you live and how badly your home is infested, you may need to treat for a longer period of time. The stuff is expensive, but worth it!

Keep us posted.

I loved the pictures of the cats......keep em coming!

And again, welcome!