The stray kitten on my patio
 

I'm not taking it in. I'll tell you that right now. However cute it may be, I'm not of a mind to take in a cat. Nor is my landlord of a mind to allow me a cat. Which is fine by me.

But...

But as I was finishing my walk tonight, I was almost back to my townhouse when I heard the distinct meow of a kitten. Foolishly, I stopped, looked around, and spotted a little gray-on-white kitten who ran right up to my roommate and me. No collar. Of course.

So we walked the few remaining doors back to our home, kitten following close behind. I stopped on the patio to finish my cigar before going inside. The kitten hung out by my feet. And that's when I noticed it had a cough. My roommate and I decided there'd be no harm in giving it a little food and milk to help it through the night. It devoured both. Before too long I finished my cigar and went inside, perfectly content to leave the kitten to its fate. After all, it's not all that cold this time of year in Vegas. It might actually survive as a feral cat, or it might find some other sap to take it in.

Then I found myself looking outside thruogh the window every few minutes. The cat was sitting in one of our patio chairs, presumably soaking up the heat remaining from my roommate's ample bottom. I decided to take a few old towels and set them on the chair so the kitten could cozy up.

Now, five hours later, the kitten is still sitting on the chair, staring at me with its adorable little kitty-cat eyes every time I peek through the blinds. What am I to do? I'm not taking it in, but I can't in good conscience let it starve. But is it any better to let it die of exposure? I can't say that it is. Still, I've already done the kitten a huge favor by giving it some food and milk. Surely I've added days to its life expectancy. Maybe even given it the chance it needs to survive. How much more would my conscience expect of me?

You could uh... Take it to the animal shelter? At least it'll be living a little better than on your patio.

If you don't know anyone who would be willing to take in a kitten right now, the shelter is probably the best bet. The poor thing isn't likely to have a chance on it's own.

That's not a bad idea. The Dewey Animal Shelter is a no-kill shelter just a few miles from my house. Funny how some of the most obvious solutions just don't spring to mind for some reason.

Aww i don't know how you can resist it, i'm a wuss when it comes to stray animals, i even had a duck a few years ago ( thanks to a very naughty son!)

The animal shelter is the best option if you can't give it a home yourself.
x

how could you sleep knowing that poor animal with the big eyes is staring at your blinds?

what more can be said

http://www.celticdesade.com/upload/P...ots_square.jpg

Since you have a no-kill, take it there. No-kill shelters do amazing things. I volunteer for ours, and the results are generally good.

Think about giving them a donation, too. It's a nice thing to do. Sometimes they need things as simple as newspaper and cleaning supplies.

You should have let the kitten finish your cigar, man.

Edit: Yes, to the Alan-Mobile at once. Take it to the shelter! However, I think you secretly want us to urge you to take it in so you can say you did it for us.

From the sounds of things, it doesn't seem as though it would take too much in the way of persuasion, at this point. ;)
Somehow, however, I don't think that the landlord is going to be as easily persuaded. "You've got a WHAT?!?!

When dave and I talk to people about renting, even if they have a no pet policy somehow if I mention a cat its ok to have one lol Most of them dont like dogs, but its like a cat isnt in the "pet" category lol (and we've had several tell us that for a cat we dont have to pay a deposit, but we would for a dog)

it doesnt hurt to ask, the worst the landlord can say is no....

I had a hamster in a no-pet house when I was at university. I used to hide him in my wardrobe if a landlordy visit was ever threatened. Has nothing to do with anything really, just reminded me.

His name was John and he lived for ages. He was bald and grey when he died.

cats are evil. You did well not to take it in. You would have been forever cursed!!

Cats were worshipped as Gods by the ancient Egyptians, and cats have never forgotten this!

Oh take him in! It's not like the landlord's going to throw you out over a kitten at Christmas. He'd be a fucking bastard if he did.

Yeah and look what happened to the Egyptians!!

Take the kitty. S/he's adopted you! They have been comforted by your presence! If you take in the kitty now, you can train her/him to be the loyal lap cat you never knew you needed. You can get her/him to come when called, play silly games, and have her/him waiting at your door for you to come home, at which point they will be ecstatic!

People don't know how to accept unconditional love these days. :D

Yeah, look, as somebody in a three-cat household, I can tell you: you're 90% of the way to taking it in already.

I didn't realize unconditional love involved shedding hair all over your clothes, peeing on your clothes and putting a stinky butt in your face and breathing tuna breath all over you :lol:

not feeding the cat tuna will take care of one of those problems :p ....and as a person who's had to endure many a cat butt I've never noticed that its stinky (maybe cause mine doesnt eat tuna?)

Our cat only pees on clothes when I've been too lazy to clean the litter pan and/or when it hasnt been spayed/neutered

look at the cat hair this way....maybe the OP has a really annoying person that comes to visit and maybe that person is allergic to cats....the shedded cat hair would help to keep that person away in the future riiiiiiiiiiiiiight?

Oh that's another thing... litter boxes are sooooo gross. ok so you don't feed a cat tuna. I have yet to smell a good smelling version of cat food. Plus cats ignore you and do nothing but sleep all day. You can't play fetch with a cat or do anything fun with it.

There's no type of argument that can make me change my mind about cats. :D

gucci, I didn't realize you were such a wimp! :lol:

My female cat has taken to peeing in the bathroom sink while I'm trying to get ready when her litter isn't clean enough. *sigh*

My cats are very affectionate loving animals. I'm sorry you have only met boring cats who weren't allowed to be anything but house ornaments. :*

one of my favorite things to do with my cat its watch it try to kill plastic bags and my socks..... she also gives me massages on command. There is something very satisfying and calming to me having her asleep on some part of my body.

oh and yes you can play fetch....I had a cat once that would fetch balled up cigarette pack. We'd take empty ones and crush them up and throw them across the room and he'd go and get it and bring it back every time

oh...and yeah litter boxes are the greatest things in the world I agree with that.

eewwwwwww........ i'm not brushing my teeth at your place anymore. wait I never did. :)

Heh--don't feel pressured to take a cat. I did when a friend picked up a stray and couldn't take her (because she already had 2 other cats). I love that cat, but I think I would have been happier if I had refused. It's a bit of extra responsibility in my busy life. And now I feel like I'm committed to keeping the cat forever.

Good for you, however, for thinking about its well-being--I can't imagine *vegas* is a place where stray non-desert animals do very well!

Hey I'm not a wimp!! I just don't like smelling cat pee!! Cat pee is the worst smell evar.. it never goes away.

and EWWWW gross.. in your sink?!?!?!

Ok so some cats play and stuff.. but you can't take a cat for a walk in the park or take it for a ride in your car.

It can be bad... and the sink, it's not so awful, really. I'd rather that than the rug or something. At least I can rinse it away, use bleach to clean it, and no smell lingers at ALL. (by the way, our apartment doesn't smell like cats, I promise).

Ours sure do - and they have lines to be in the backyard, not that it works extremely well or anything. And Punkin goes for car rides all the time with me - when we pick up Quadro, there's his kitty waiting!

Better the sink than in your basement or in your shoes...

My cat kicks ass... through his jube of power is the nastiest (it's a prolapse but don't tell him, he get's embarassed)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ber2003001.jpg

that's a good pic for stuffonmycat.com :)

see!! ^^^ cats are evil! Charlatan's already has his war helmet on. Cats pretend to be loving just so they can try and take over the world one day.

charlatan what are you doint with my cat!!!!!!!! ok so the nose is different hehehe

http://www.celticdesade.com/images/sarah.jpg

If we're going to have kitty pictures here...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...edsabrina2.jpg

Is your cat sticking its tongue out, Shani, or am I just blind?

And if so, isn't that kind of rude? I mean, not to be an asshole or anything, but I don't even know your cat. I don't appreciate him dissing me.

oh yes SHE is sticking her tongue out hehehehe

she's dissing guccilvr not you hehehehe

Ah yea, he deserves it. :)

keep stickin that tongue out.. I hear the restaraunt down the street is paying double for cats that stick their tongue out..

:p

:hmm:

What kind of restaurant is that?

you know... one of those restaraunts that have cheap buffets ;)

EVIL EVIL EVIL EVIL EVIL EVIL

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...vr/CatHiss.jpg

Despite the goofy hat... my cat is a badass... it's just that he's Canadian so he's a little too tolerant...

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/attachm...id=13238&stc=1

PS: He said all you are getting is some coal for Christmas.

Two years ago, we had a stray take up stay on the wicker on our front porch. It hissed at us and treated us as something wicked every time we stepped out the front door. My wife fortunately didn't want it any more than I did. Nevertheless, it is on my ass now the minute I wake up in the morning wanting its breakfast.

As for the landlord, if you are a good renter, pay on time and aren't assing the place up I''ll wager you will find it easier to get forgiveness than permission as far as keeping a cat goes.