Cat who seems to have adopted us...

[swampangel]

and we're not sure we're ready for it.

This sweet and loving black and white cat showed up on our porch a few days ago and hasn't left. He's visited other neighbors, too, but seems to have really chosen our house as his new digs. My kids love him and so do I. My dh does not like cats. We're just not sure we're ready to take on the responsibility for a pet right now.

He's covered in fleas, too. I was going to treat him with those drops but I'm really hesitant to use pesticides with my kids in close proximity to him. And I'm just not sure how safe it is with my kids around him. I thought I'd tell them not to pet him for a few days, but I know I would continue to worry about it.

I posted on Craigslist and a guy responded asking if he was really friendly and could be picked up. I was hoping to find the owner, but if someone else wants to take care of this cat, I'm tempted. But it makes me a little nervous passing him off to a complete stranger.

What would you do?

[Oubliette8]

I would ask around the neighborhood, maybe pass out some "found- cat" fliers. It may be someones pet that they've let run loose. Sometimes, you even hear about several people who all think they own the same outdoor cat, because it makes the rounds and they all feed it. I don't necessarily agree with outdoor cats, but I would hate to think about someone sitting at home wondering where their cat got too and if he's dead or alive because you chose to rehome the cat. I wouldn't expect them to be checking craigslist, particularly if the cat still wanders by their house occasionally.

If it was up to me, I would take the cat to a shelter. If it has an owner, thats where most people look for lost pets. Since you all seem to love the cat, and you have a potential home lined up, I would put out some fliers in the neighborhood, and call the shelter and some local vets with the cat's description and your information in case anyone reports it missing. I'd give it a few days, maybe a week to see if anyone responds, then rehome the cat.

For the fleas, I would use a topical flea treatment (like the drops). However, the store bought ones have been known to cause reactions in some cats. I mean, generally, they are safe, but there is a risk associated with it. The ones from the vet tend to be more effective, and, i think, have a better safety record. They shouldn't harm your kids, assuming they are old enough that they aren't constantly putting their hands in their mouths. just have them wash their hands immediately after petting the cat for a few days. There are natural and organic flea products, but if the cat is infested, chemical preparations will bring faster relief. Also, make sure that you get a product specifically labeled for cats. The dog products can kill a cat.

The good news is that the fleas should be fairly easy to take care of if the cat becomes a house pet- because you'll be removing it from its environment and placing it in a flea-free environment, you won't have so many issues with reinfestation from the environment. If/ when it moves in (with you are someone else) it should get a good bath IMMEDIATELY (to prevent fleas from getting loose in the house)That will remove most of the fleas. Then starting on flea control program should take care of any that hatch out later from any eggs left on the pet.