Abandoned Cats

[kittyluv1]

Hi!
I live in a moderate sized apartment complex.  People move in and out on a regular basis.  A week ago,  a couple moved out and abandoned their two adult cats (one male and one female).  The cats had been staying within the complex and meowing loudly as if to find their owners.  I started putting some food out for them and they both ate well (they were starving!).
Then, after a few days, they started coming up to my patio and apartment window (ground floor apartment) and eating the food I put out on the walkway near my apt.  Both of them had been running away from me when I tried to get closer to them.  The female finally let me pet her and play with her after she ate and then spent the night on my patio (sleeping on my patio chair).  The male would only let me pet him for a minute and then run away, but he came back for food every morning.
Three days ago I was able to get the female into a carrier and took her to a local Animal Hospital that has an arrangement with a "no kill" shelter.  They let me make a Good Samaritan drop-off without charge to me.  They will keep it until the shelter picks her up and the shelter will try and find either a foster family, an adoption or keep it and not euthanize her.
I am trying to do the same thing for the male, but with limited sucess at this time.
The problem is my indoor cat can not tolerate his presence --- (he is now sleeping on the patio furniture!).  My cat will paw at the window and hiss at the other cat and just goes crazy!  I can't leave my screened window open for fear of what might occur.  
Until I am able to get the male cat into a carrier and safely to the Animal Hospital, does anyone have any suggestions how to keep my indoor kitty sane???  I know that the male cat is fixed, and my female indoor cat was spayed when she was only 6 mos old.  I think she is just an alpha cat and can't tolerate seeing another cat anywhere near "her" window/  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I am very upset at my former neighbors for abandoning these two precious cats and am glad that I found this Animal Hospital --- after a few phone calls ---    I simply could not just take them to any other shelter where it would be probable that they would be put down simply because their prior owners left them behind.
PLEASE -- if you can no longer care for your pets, DO NOT just turn them out.  It is cruel and unjust and I only wish there was someway to prevent this from happening again.  I know that people are having financial problems and my former neighbors probably had to move where their pets were not welcome,  but I found a rescue shelter and can only wonder why they didn't try to find one themselves!
Thanks,
Carol

[kittyluv1]

Thanks so much for your support on this issue!  It isn't too much of a bother for me as I am disabled and at home most of the time.  I used to leave the window open when I left for short periods, but keep it closed now just in case the male comes calling at other times than his meals.
I can't imagine doing this for a larger number of cats --- congratulations to those who do work with feral cats.  They deserve a special halo ---
I let my apartment manager know about this male cat and she is getting the maintenance people to be aware and on the lookout for him.  I doubt they will be able to catch him, but as long as he comes for his food I have a better chance of getting him myself.  I'm going to try and get a trap cage and go from there.
Wish me luck!

[kittyluv1]

Thank you so much for your suggestions.  I will contact the rescue shelter and see if they have a trap cage I can borrow.  My own cat carrier (which I used to get the female cat) is only medium sized and I doubt this male cat will fit into it comfortably.  I don't think I would be able to close the door after him!
Right now, the male comes every morning around 5:30am for his breakfast.  I sit on the porch and "talk" to him while he eats. (It's getting cold outside!)  He is still very skittish, but has allowed me to pet him for a few minutes after he finishes eating, so we are making progress,
My kittycat gets up every morning and goes to the window to see if he has arrived.  Still hissing at him, but seems to be a little more accomodating to the fact he is around,
I really can't adopt him (my apartment isn't large enough to have room for more than one cat).  He really is a pretty cat and I hate to think of him being alone in the absence of his "sister", but I will continue making efforts to get him to a shelter.
Thanks so much and I will keep you posted.

[lonewolf07]

When my son and DIL moved into their place, it was full of abandoned cats and kittens and the whole neighborhood was overrun with abandoned cats who had turned feral.  They managed to catch most of the cats and kittens and took them to the local Humane Society which has a no-kill policy.  The animals were just dumped by the previous tenants.  There were fleas and filth and all the rest of it.  They managed to "trap" the cats using food as bait and trap cages (like in the post above).  Most of the cats survived.  Some had already passed.

Fortunately, my son has always been around animals so he was able to rescue most of them.  He even managed to tame a feral kitten and find him a good home and took in a cat himself who proceeded to have kittens.  Mother cat and one kitten are now spayed and spoiled.  Anyone who would do things like this should be held legally responsible.  Where I am, animal abuse is illegal and punishable by jail time.  Hope everything works out for you and the cats.

[Mrs_Savas]

I use a trap cage to catch uncooperative felines.  They are a bit expensive, but you might be able to borrow one from a local animal rights group, anyone that does rescue work.  It would be worth calling around and asking.

Trap cages are easy to use and totally safe for the cat.  Otherwise, maybe you could lure him in with food.  I've done this by putting a plate of food in the back of the carrier and sitting real still nearby.  If the cat goes for it, you can quickly push the door closed behind him.  Admittedly, this is easier if you have a decent sized carrier, harder with a small one because the back of the cat might still be on the outside while he eats!

All I can say about your indoor kitty is that generally cats do get used to each other in time.  If she does get out when he's there, I doubt anything would happen other than the male cat running away.  Maybe a few hissed threats!  He's obviously skittish and she was there first, which makes a big difference to cats.  Even if he did get inside, he would just hide, at first, and eventually they'd tolerate each other or even be friends.  Happens every time, certainly in my experience.

Good luck.  And thanks for doing what you're doing.  A lot of people wouldn't have bothered.   It's too bad they had to be separated, but that's the fault of their abandoners.  I also wish there was some way to stop people from abandoning their animals, but other than improving the human race, I don't think there is one.  

Come on back if you have any other questions or concerns.  Good luck!

[PrettyKitty1]

First of all, God bless you and your actions. What you did with the female was awesome. I hope you can catch the male soon so your kitty can live once again in peace.

Your cat may get used to seeing the male outside. When you introduce a new cat to an old one, things sometimes go totally wrong. Good thing the male isn't inside. Can you keep the windows closed until you can resolve the problem with the male kitty? I know it sounds kindda unfair to your cat, but it will save her stress.