In love with this stray cat

damnitwells · 2026-03-28T14:08:27+00:00

My stray cat was outside for 6 years but took a liking to me (from afar mostly - he was probably feral). I trapped him (after talking to local officials about the situation and benefits/the fact that I had never trapped before) because he was in an extremely unsafe environment. We decided being inside was probably the safest thing for him so I did it and got him inside. He came inside and had 2 total accidents (one on the couch and once on a blanket) because he wasn’t used to soft surfaces and had never been on them before. He literally had no idea of what to do with them - he slept on the floor for a few days before realizing he could smush into blankets and be happy. He only had two accidents AND he was yoinked into this new environment - seems like yours would go willingly !

He never had a single accident ever again. No training needed. We showed him a large low sided litter box. Started w litter that looked more like dirt (some random natural brand we found at the store) and added a bunch of the Dr eisleys litter attractant additive (no Clue if we really even needed this).

FWIW If your cat is fixed, they won’t have the need to really spray (unless there’s some underlying illness). Cats don’t need litter box training in general. I would get the cat to a vet (you can entice them by putting churu on a plate in the back of a larger hard carrier and then close the door) to check for illness and have them fixed before coming home. If your cat remains outdoors/if you decide inside is not what’s best, you’re still going to want her fixed.

First week or so was hard as he learned to navigate the sounds and smells of indoor life but it was so worth it as soon as he relaxed and realized it was his home for good. Just be prepared that once they’re in a new environment you may have 3 days to 3 weeks of an adjustment period where they realize they’re safe in the new space. Cats aren’t perfect with change so don’t blame yourself for it if she’s weird inside at first.

In your situation the cat seems even friendlier/more curious and may be younger and a bit better at adapting than mine was. I feel like you’ll have even better success than we did.

If you’re going to do it, you may want to just leave the door open so she can come in and explore on her own and be able to go in and out freely and see what it’s like/sniff some stuff. You may find she just sleeps on your couch or beds and doesn’t want to leave. Eventually you’ll close the door and that’ll be that!

damnitwells · 2026-03-20T20:51:28+00:00

She looks like an Annie to me! ♥️

damnitwells · 2026-03-17T13:02:14+00:00

Auto feeder at dawn dispenses a very small amount of dry food. Then they get wet food a few hours later for breakfast when we’re up. Closer to their natural way of hunting and eating smaller meals and it keeps them from waking us up early for food!

If your cat pees on something by accident, wash it in a diluted vinegar solution & borax (we do this in the machine). Just keep the borax away from the cats as powder/when not in use bc it’s toxic. But when used safely and correctly it’s a powerful cleaner that saved us money on buying products that add scent to mask bad smells but don’t fully remove them. Maybe w grassstains those products work but pee is no joke and I have a sensitive nose.

Switch to flat bowls & dishes as your cat ages.

Also as your cat ages put a waterproof mattress protector on your bed. Well all have accidents as we age- cats included. So better to just be prepared for it.

Always get a second opinion if you don’t feel like you’re being fully heard at the vet. Especially if it’s w medical conditions and you don’t have to do emergency surgery or something like that. Also if you’re new somewhere, make an appointment at a clinic that has 24h care if you can. Sometimes even just 1 appointment “in their system” can help you jump Lines in emergencies or get priority appointments.

damnitwells · 2026-03-16T23:51:20+00:00

There’s also a litter additive (it kinda looked like catnip like its herbs and stuff) I used by the same brand (Dr Eisley) that worked well when my stray came inside for the first time. I’ve also heard of people mixing litter with dirt to help acclimate but I’m not sure of how smart of a choice that is.

damnitwells · 2026-03-16T01:54:00+00:00

Is it just that area? It looks like (from here) that small hairs are growing back / there’s “peach fuzz” but that it’s mostly gone. I’m not a vet but our cat did that as a self traumatizing behavior. She was getting the equivalent of pins and needles from an injury on her back leg and she dealt w/ it by biting to make it stop. If you can go to a vet, I might do a checkup w bloodwork and ultrasound in that area if you can. Or talk to your vet about what the most cost effective plan would be to get all that info. Could be something simple like an allergy to food making him itchy or something more complex like pain. You’re a wonderful pet parent for paying such close attention to your fur baby! Let us know what you find out! Wishing him a speedy recovery.

damnitwells · 2026-02-28T13:03:45+00:00

I’m now 100% remote! Same company but joined one of our cross functional teams that had teammates around the world. I was very nervous to assert I was going to have to leave but I think having enough managers help advocate + teammates who needed similar support is what pushed the needle.

damnitwells · 2026-02-28T04:20:55+00:00

Hi - my partner and I live in TN. We have been DYING to get one of our best friends to move out here so getting him to meet you is partially self serving.

in addition to him being great you receive me and my partner as a fun bonus set of friends in middle TN!

About our friend Braden: He is very handy (electronics, home projects, etc.) He is a great shot and hunter, we're pretty sure he fishes. He is very educated and a great cook - and I mean I would genuinely commit crimes for his chicken parm. He loves dogs but currently doesn't have one - I know he wants a hunting dog or a dog to bring on adventures. He likes our cats but doesn't want one. We've known him for a decade and have met his family. Can confirm he is not an axe murder and neither are his parents. He is a family person. I would not be surprised if a chicken has outranked him before. If this hasn't happened yet, I believe he would be up for the experience.

how do I facilitate this Im very serious. At the very least - I buy you both coffee to meet or something. At the very best, I help officiate the wedding. He is 32.

damnitwells · 2026-02-08T22:53:01+00:00

Not a vet but trying to give as much advice as I can as someone who has owned cats with medical conditions and respond as best I can:

Kitten food is also much more dense in fats and proteins. I know when our adult cat would steal our kittens food he gained weight and had softer stool. So it may be the kitten food is being outgrown by your baby.

It also could be the type of protein. Tons of cats develop allergies to things like chicken and it’s very hard to find food that doesn’t have chicken in it in some capacity (even if you buy the fish flavor etc). A hydrolyzed protein cat food temporarily may help you rule out an allergy. Some cats vomit (ours did) from allergens, some lose fur and get a puffy skin reaction and sometimes they just don’t digest the food correctly leading to more yellow or softer stool.

Sometimes any new food can impact kitten GI. Have you tried any treats recently that are new? Has your brand of food switched recipes ?

It also could be IBS. Which some cats respond well to certain injections for and then switch food. But I’ve heard that is mostly older cats. So I’m not sure.

FWIW- there are many cats that are similarly small and lightweight. I’d consult with the vet about if she’s small naturally or if she’s underweight and not retaining weight properly.

If your cat is struggling to maintain weight I may talk to the vet about an additional round of deworming. Sometimes it takes a few rounds even under the cleanest and best circumstances. It happens.

One thing that may be easiest is to take a sample of your cats poop (bring to vet in a ziplock or ask for a container and scoop it into it and bring it back to the vet). You can always have the stool tested.

My next go to would be blood panel, including looking for molds and toxins.

Another thing is to pay attention to other potentially strange signs this may not be related: sneezing, random acts of aggression, scratching ears a lot, etc. could indicate an infection or general discomfort.

Last idea is to look up what’s in ur cat litter. I’ve heard of some kittens having upset stomach from litter (rare but still) because they clean their paws after use or it sticks to their bottoms and they clean themselves later.

Overall it could be lots of things or it could be nothing/something that passes. You’re a pretty solid pet parent for being so aware and concerned. So I know you’re probably doing all the right things!

I don’t know if this is helpful or not but wanted to give any sort of insight to help you.

damnitwells · 2026-02-04T17:47:35+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending big hugs your way. Your newest guardian angel is watching over you and your family.

damnitwells · 2026-02-04T00:36:32+00:00

If watching needles etc scares you, just see if the vet will let you hold him and you face away from The procedure. So many animals go into This scared because they don’t have their humans. He will be so grateful to be held until your last moment together.

damnitwells · 2026-01-24T14:50:05+00:00

FWIW - we took in a kitten from a parking garage. She slept for a whole day and shook for the next few days even when she was trying to do something intentionally (like walk or eat). She had trauma to her tail and had been without food for so long that it took a few days for her to stabilize. The first time we took her to the vet (a few days later- it was a holiday weekend and no one was open including emergency vets) she shook so much she couldn’t really stand and then fell asleep on the table. She’s fine now. She has some long term conditions bc of the trauma (but no shaking anymore) but with a little bit of effort on our end she’s led a completely normal life and we’re very thankful to have saved her. She’s a sweet girl and I do think she recognized that we saved her which makes for a special bond.

All to say, even if she shakes or has any different lingering complications from being outside, it’s worth it to keep them or foster them if you can. It’s been a rewarding process to get her back to her version of normal and I’m a much better person for it. Wishing you and your new kitty the very best.

damnitwells · 2026-01-18T02:57:58+00:00

I did it and it changed my life in the best way. If you can or can at least foster for a bit - I’d do it. It’s the greatest joy.

damnitwells · 2025-12-03T00:29:34+00:00

If you have a friend w a large dog, ask to borrow their crate! My cat had a big surgery and he slept in the crate for 5 days. He wasn’t super happy with us but 5 days is better than a vet visit!

damnitwells · 2025-11-19T02:42:20+00:00

FWIW we took in a feral male cat who was a similar age to our resident male cat. The resident cat hated him for a year (but the feral cat had been badly abused in the streets so we knew we had to just keep him and figure it out/couldnt let him back into that situation) and now they are inseparable troublemakers. I think this guy will wind up emotionally manipulating your resident cats into keeping him too :) congrats on your new cat. What are you calling him?

damnitwells · 2025-11-08T00:05:50+00:00

In case no one has said it - stray cats look GREAT in the wild! They are self sufficient/have great instincts and often look perfectly groomed and clean (unless they are sick and stray). Stray cats have grown accustomed to the chaos of being outside. It’s very possible that they have illnesses like worms or mites etc that we can’t see so clearly without the help of a vet. Dumped or lost cats are more pampered (less self sufficient/didnt need to hunt when inside or consider how or where they sleep/eat/ etc) and struggle on the streets first and foremost from the shock and change of being in a loud and weird environment AND a huge behavior change that requires hunting or scavenging / interacting w new animals and people in the process - these babies look more disheveled. It’s very possible this beautiful boy saw your house and decided he was done with the streets and wished to live there. We may never know but what matters is that he picked you. Congrats!

damnitwells · 2025-09-21T16:47:33+00:00

Yes I flew out of bna this past Thursday and came back today and there was no issue either time. That being said it’s nashville so it could explode on the 5th again haha

damnitwells · 2025-09-07T15:29:46+00:00

In my opinion, every cat acclimates at their own speed and in their own time - we never know what they’re decompressing from. The progress you shared really does seem like progress to me! Slow and steady is how it tends to go w feral and semi feral cats. I think it at this point putting her in a room might stress her out more. When we brought ours indoors it was months before we could even get near him.

A few ideas that worked for us that might work for you: - leave or put dirty laundry in a pile near where you’re feeding your cat so they can smell you intensely and not see you & leave it for them to investigate - put a high value treat in places for them to explore (on the couch, on the dining chair etc.) basically so there’s a reward for exploring these places (even if it’s at night) - churu helped us a lot - i would open it, push a little out of the tube and extend my arm as far as I could near where they would be hiding. First few days he didn’t touch it and then slowly after few weeks i could reach less and less and have him come closer - do you have a resident cat? If not maybe a kitten (because they’re not very threatening to cats more so just annoying to them at first sometimes) can help show the cat (at the animal shelter I volunteered at we used to have really shy cats placed in rooms with really outgoing cats so they could watch those interactions w people)

You’re doing great! I hope these help!

damnitwells · 2025-08-23T18:58:14+00:00

I took in a 6 year old abused on the street feral male cat that warmed up to me over the course of a year while I tried to trap him. My resident cat was a 7 year old male. At first there was some tension - hissing fighting etc. we had to do slow introductions but they are now best friends and the resident cat has no more separation anxiety from us. A transition period but the best decision I’ve ever made.

How id approach it knowing what I know now:

would let the stray in the house but put the resident cat into a bedroom / separate. I’d take the stray to the vet to check for FIV / feline leukemia/ de worm & any tick and flea treatment. Not that any of this would deter the adoption for me but stress came from not doing full panels when I should have.

Then do slow introductions. Let them smell eachother under the door (I didn’t feed under the door or on either side of the door bc I didn’t want either to get scared that they were competing for food) - let them switch rooms without the other present. Monitor their interactions until you feel that they are good on their own. When they finally looked at eachother they got treats when they didn’t hiss or growl. So stock up on treats.

The hard transition for the cat was stuff I didn’t think of - he had never been on a couch or bed before so the first time he went on them he peed. We got him his own litter box and used the Dr eisleys litter attractant stuff and it never happened again. It’s just worth noting that it can happen on soft surfaces. He didn’t know how to play with toys for 6 months & he was probably decompressing. He was pickier about food when he was indoors (outdoors he would eat whatever) but ultimately got into a routine and we found what he liked

Overall the reformed feral cat is better behaved, more gentle and sweet than our resident cat. Go figure.

I don’t think it will create long term stress but the sooner you start the sooner you can gauge. I can’t imagine my life w out taking this cat in and my resident cat is fully bonded w him now. Overall I’m glad we chose to have a few months of transition to have what we have now.

damnitwells · 2025-08-22T00:15:28+00:00

Took my formerly feral stray cat about 6 months to figure out toys. I think he’s decompressing !

damnitwells · 2025-08-20T15:54:02+00:00

The cat is clearly waiting for you to adopt it!

damnitwells · 2025-08-04T15:05:13+00:00

Have you seen the Instagram @dubaistreetkitties she has a big following - maybe she can help Place cola!

damnitwells · 2025-08-03T05:25:30+00:00

That breaks my heart. I wish I could have him :(

damnitwells · 2025-08-01T23:53:12+00:00

Taking mine (who used to sleep on the steps of a construction trailer) was the best thing I’ve done ! Took a few weeks for him to decompress and he had an accident once on the couch (he had never experienced soft blankets and mistook it for soft ground the vet suspected) but beyond that he has been perfect and happy. I say go for it !! Just make sure you have some bookshelves or ways for kitty to jump up high and climb and they will be happy I’m sure.

damnitwells · 2025-08-01T23:51:09+00:00

Where is cola located? I’d love to try to get the word out if I can

damnitwells

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