Rescue

[EmGem]

Bet was an extremelly un-nourished baby kitten when we found her in an italian rescue centre, rejected by her mother. (My dad lives in italy, i live here). The vets said she would never make it, she could hardly stand and was at least half as small as a kitten her age should have been. Anyway we looked after her and she grew strong.

Because she was ferrel dad never let her outside because he believed she would have just run away, and there is a strong possiblity that that would have happened.
Dad then moved in with his gf, who has 6 cats. When he transferred Bet into that house he said for months she moved around like she was half-dead from fear - and there is a particular cat in that house which hates her and they would fight.

Now they are over-feeding her and what Bet used to be is now gone...I want to take her away from there, here in england.

My worry is that when i let her go outside she will run away. will this happen? how do you train a cat to come home? she is now about 3 years old and has lived in italy all her life.

And does anyone know the rules for bringing animals into this country from italy?

[EmGem]

Bet is the cat in my picture by the way :)

[1993Kat1993]

I wouldn't think that there are any laws against the transportation of animals such as cats from Italy to England.

I doubt she would run away once she is used to you. I had kittens that lived inside for a couple months and after that due to the fact that we were renting (and I was so young, I didn't see anything wrong with it) but they always stayed close and never ran away. But why would she have to go outside??

-~Ketlin

[Punkygirl0101]

Well, obviously you can't bring her to a new home, and expect her to stay in your yard the first day.

She needs to be in your home for months, she needs to bond with you and your family. Why couldn't she be an indoor cat?

[S t e p h]

She's Cute!

[Chicknesholay]

All of my cats that were strays stay in and around the yard. Even when they first showed up they stuck around. They come in and out but always come back.
Probably has something to do with them knowing where the food they want is.
So I would keep the cat in for a little bit, get her used to you and then let her have the option of going out. Make sure she has a collar and identification and is up to date on all her shots.
But I personally don't think you will have a problem having her come back. Even complete feral cats will return to the same house time and time again if that’s where they get fed or where they have made their home.