Problem with stray cats...

[sealion]

Hi everyone !
We moved in Tunisia, and here there are TONS of stray cats. Since I love animals, there is one female cat which we feed and stays in our home during the day, but has to go out at night since she doesn't know how to use a litter box. There is also another male cat that meows at our door all the time ! We would occasionally feed him but he would never come in as he would fight with our new "adopted" cat.
So here is the problem: When we will move to France in 1-2 years, we want to bring the female cat with us as we love her so much. But she is terrified at the fact to be carried ! To bring her in France, she would have to go to the vet for all the papers and stuff, but she would probably bite the vet and run away (if we can even put her in the carrier first...). We also want to spay her but don't know how to bring her to the vet...
The other problem is that today I decided to pet the male cat who always meows at our door, and he is sooo sweet ! He sat on my laps and was just so adorable ! So now I would like to bring him and her in France. I think he wouldn't mind the vet too much, but he just doesn't get along with the female cat...
Do you have any ideas to make them get along ? Would spaying both of them help ? Can I give them a medicine or something that will make them sleepy so we can bring them to the vet without them get scared ?

[Seonta]

There are vets that spay and neuter stray, feral, and wild cats. Just call and explain you want to turn them into pets and I'm sure there is a vet that will help you out and tell you what you need to do. The vet may even have "sleepy" meds to put in their food. As far as them getting along, cats are finicky sometimes. It might take a while for them to like each other but over time they can learn to accept one another. Sometimes age even has a lot to do with it or she could be scared of him. I would get both fixed regardless.

[Toadies]

There are tranquilizers that you can give cats for travel to the vet, groomer or across country. The issue I would consider is how to get it down the cat and, if the animal inadvertently bits or scratches, what problems would arise from that. If you can get some from your vet, you could spike a tasty treat with it and then place your baby in the carrier after he/she becomes sleepy. I know that my vet will come to my house, if necessary, to take care of my creatures. That may be another option for you.
PS - It took two years for two of my cats to even sit under the same table together, but they eventually did.

[sealion]

Thank you so much for your replies !
We will go to the vet to ask him about tranquilisers and stuff. Yes, we will try to fix them both (I am a minor and live with my parents, and they are ok with bringing the female cat to the vet to get her fixed, but since we just "met" the male cat today, I don't know if they even thought about adopting him. But my mom said that if he gets along with her, he could come in. Now we just have to bring both babies to the vet !)
I hope everything works out and they can both come to France with us. I love them so much !

[JD In Van]

While you're at the vet get them some rabies shots. If there's so many strays in your neightborhood they're definitely at risk.

Advantage flea protection would be a good idea too.

[Sugar&Ellie]

vets are experienced people. They wouldn't give up if the cat bit them and ran away. They would examine that cat and eventually give it it's required shots.

If you scruff the cat (It doesnt hurt, if the cat struggles or screams out it is just trying to make you let go by impulse) and carry it that way, supporting it's hind quaters at the same time you can pretty much do anything to it. Including getting it into a carrier. If you cover the cat's head with a small towel, scruff it and then lower it into the kennel (by tipping the kennel onto it's back so it's facing upward) the cat will generally let you because it does not know what you're doing. After getting this cat spayed, it should calm down and learn to use the litter box. If the cat is not spayed, chances are it is pregnant. Cats go into heat every month and if there are plenty of male un-neutered cats around, she will get pregnant. You need to get this cat to the vet for proper care before allowing her into your house. While you're at the vet, you need to tell the vet that this cat is a stray, he or she will take the proper measures to vaccinating and treating this cat to live in your house. I.e- Flea/tick/lice treatment, rabies vaccines, kennel cough and DHHP

As for the male. They are probably fighting because the cat you are allowing into your house is nervous and used to establishing territory outside of your house for survival. Which makes her think she needs to establish that your house is her new territory. The male cat has foreign smells on him and when he comes into your home or you pet him leaving his scent on you, she will lash out and again, try to establish herself. If you take them to the spay/neuter clinic together, chances are they will bond in a strange environment. Male cats have extreme dominance when they are intact. You NEED to get them both fixed if you are planning on having them live together. After their vet care, they have a better chance of bonding.

[Dav423]

We frequently have to give our dog medication that makes her very drowsy before visiting the vet along with a muzzel because she has a tendency to bite when examined by the vet . She's the sweetest thing at home but becomes an entirely different animal when out of her comfort zone.

I imagine there is certainly something similar that the vet can provide for your cat(s) to make them more manageable.

As for the behavior issues... I'd recommend going onto a forum dedicated to cats and asking about it there, should get a great deal more feedback on the issue and ways to make your cats get along better with each other.

[sealion]

Here are some news: normally, we were supposed to bring the female cat with us in France, but now (I don't know why) my parents don't want to. They said that she can only come if she becomes more social as ther don't want her to run away when we will be in France. So we will see how it turns out...I am also trying to convince them to also bring the male cat as he looks so old and I'm sure he would love to have a loving home for the rest of his life.
Good news ! Today, they didn't fight with each other !
I told my mom that we should bring them to the vet and all, but she said that they are strays and they'll stay strays...I hope they change their mind...

[Katie_Kutthroat]

I have two semi feral cats and I went to a shelter type place and got humane traps for them. You just bait them with food and when the kitty goes into eat it, it shuts and viola! Trapped kitty. You need to line the bottom with newspaper because they have wire bottoms. And if you throw a sheet of the cage it makes them relax a little bit more. Once you get them in there to get neutered the vets can handle the rest as Sugar&Ellie said. Word for the wise, throw down a tarp or something easy to clean because they may or may not want to pee in your car. Most places try not to drug the cats, but if the baited cages don't work they might give you something to sedate them. Talk to your local shelter, most have feral/stray cat programs.

And as for the stray's will be strays forever bits of business, it mainly depends on the age and the level wildness of the cats. The two I had were totally wild when I found them, but since their young they are growing more accustomed to humans. They allow me to pet them and pick them up, and it was a thousand times easier to litter train them. Also once you get a cat neutered they loose most of their urges to roam. The cats I have mainly stay in my backyard and are within calling distance.

I hope that you can keep them, and every thing works out for you.

[sealion]

I think there is a shelter here but it's impossible to find ! I just found their name somewhere but no telephone number...
Today it was raining, so my mom agreed to let both cats come in. Now they are sleeping on their chairs.
Normally we will bring them soon to the vet for shots and flee stuff.
The male cat came onto my laps today ! He doesn't mind being carried, so normally we should bring him with us ! The female cat only accepts to be petted, but maybe with time she'll be okay with being carried.

[1frankie7]

Originally Posted by Sugar&Ellie

vets are experienced people. They wouldn't give up if the cat bit them and ran away. They would examine that cat and eventually give it it's required shots.

My dog had to be held downwhen he had his ear infection because it hurt so much but he did end up getting the meds.