Potential abandoned cat- what to do?
Discussion
There is a cat living in the bushes near us that seems to have been abandoned. She's a young tortie and so friendly and sweet. The locals are feeding her and giving her water and someone had put a collar on her with the reasoning that if she is someones, they'll take it off and then the feeders will know she has a home.
The vet says she isn't chipped and everyone is a bit worried as it's getting colder, but want to ensure she gets a good home as is the nicest cat ever met, rather than just RSPCA'ing her.
Would it be ok to rehome her do you think? She's very young and hasn't been done but very loving. Shes been living there nearly 2 months and apparently came from the block of flats near by but there is no cat access (only about 20 flats) or sign of owners.
What would you do?
The vet says she isn't chipped and everyone is a bit worried as it's getting colder, but want to ensure she gets a good home as is the nicest cat ever met, rather than just RSPCA'ing her.
Would it be ok to rehome her do you think? She's very young and hasn't been done but very loving. Shes been living there nearly 2 months and apparently came from the block of flats near by but there is no cat access (only about 20 flats) or sign of owners.
What would you do?
I found a stray cat last week although his circumstances were a little different in that he was emaciated.
I took him to the vets for a microchip check and they said there wasn't one present, so I took him to the Cats Protection League who made him comfortable, contacted a potential owner who had reported a missing cat in the same area and I thought that was that.
Yesterday morning he hadn't been collected by anyone, by yesterday afternoon he was re-united with a very happy owner who was so thrilled to have him back she asked CPL to pass on her details to me so she could thank me personally. She even wanted to give me a reward but I didn't rescue him for that reason so told her I'd rather she donated something to an animal charity. On the phone it turns out he is microchipped, and had wandered several miles away from his home. Frustratingly, some microchips aren't picked up by the readers but that doesn't mean the cat isn't someone's pet. If she is friendly and in good condition I would suggest that she is very much someone's pet.
My point is even if you want to rehome her yourself the best thing to do is to hand her into a rescue (not RSPCA IMO, they are useless). They are best equipped to try and re-unite her with her real owners, and at the end of the day if they don't surface you can still rehome her anyway but you have the knowledge that you did try and do the right thing. Hth
I took him to the vets for a microchip check and they said there wasn't one present, so I took him to the Cats Protection League who made him comfortable, contacted a potential owner who had reported a missing cat in the same area and I thought that was that.
Yesterday morning he hadn't been collected by anyone, by yesterday afternoon he was re-united with a very happy owner who was so thrilled to have him back she asked CPL to pass on her details to me so she could thank me personally. She even wanted to give me a reward but I didn't rescue him for that reason so told her I'd rather she donated something to an animal charity. On the phone it turns out he is microchipped, and had wandered several miles away from his home. Frustratingly, some microchips aren't picked up by the readers but that doesn't mean the cat isn't someone's pet. If she is friendly and in good condition I would suggest that she is very much someone's pet.
My point is even if you want to rehome her yourself the best thing to do is to hand her into a rescue (not RSPCA IMO, they are useless). They are best equipped to try and re-unite her with her real owners, and at the end of the day if they don't surface you can still rehome her anyway but you have the knowledge that you did try and do the right thing. Hth
Take her into your house. Feed her, give her water, and cuddles. She will decide if she wants to stay with you. In the meantime place a few posters around the local area, and if no-one contacts you, you have just become a slave.
In your situation I got the RSPCA involved, and after a lot of chasing about I eventually got the cat from them, but to say there were hopeless was an understatement. She would have been sat in a rescue centre for ages otherwise (she had a few medical problems as well) So in future I will just cut out the middle man and take the cat from the street myself.
In your situation I got the RSPCA involved, and after a lot of chasing about I eventually got the cat from them, but to say there were hopeless was an understatement. She would have been sat in a rescue centre for ages otherwise (she had a few medical problems as well) So in future I will just cut out the middle man and take the cat from the street myself.
Superficial said:
I took him to the vets for a microchip check and they said there wasn't one present... On the phone it turns out he is microchipped... Frustratingly, some microchips aren't picked up by the readers
I didn't know that. It rather makes a nonsense of the whole system and creates more work and distress for everybody.Put out the usual 'Found' notices far and wide.
On the collar put your contact details. If she has an owner they will ring to ask why you have put a collar on their cat.
If no one claims her within a few weeks then it is unlikely she is from around your area and has wandered. Without a Chip the chances of tracing her owner are slim.
On the collar put your contact details. If she has an owner they will ring to ask why you have put a collar on their cat.
If no one claims her within a few weeks then it is unlikely she is from around your area and has wandered. Without a Chip the chances of tracing her owner are slim.
Jasandjules said:
Take her into your house. Feed her, give her water, and cuddles. She will decide if she wants to stay with you. In the meantime place a few posters around the local area, and if no-one contacts you, you have just become a slave.
Lucy, you just got a pet cat to play with the Rabbits 
And they will play nicely together once the Cat gets used to them
ali_kat said:
Lucy, you just got a pet cat to play with the Rabbits
And they will play nicely together once the Cat gets used to them
If I bring a cat home I'll be divorced by supper time.And they will play nicely together once the Cat gets used to them
Found notices been up and no-one called the lady who put them up. She's very well fed because EVERYONE is feeding her! Am trying to persuade inlaws to take her.
Jasandjules said:
You can always find another man......... One that likes cats and/or rescues for starters.....
He loves cats- we just don't have the space for one. It all started going down hill when we got a hamster... Which turned into a black rabbit... Who then needed a friend.... Besides, we're in a flat at the mo and it wouldn't be right for the little mite.
Jasandjules said:
You can always find another man......... One that likes cats and/or rescues for starters.....
He loves cats- we just don't have the space for one. It all started going down hill when we got a hamster... Which turned into a black rabbit... Who then needed a friend.... Besides, we're in a flat at the mo and it wouldn't be right for the little mite.
littlegreenfairy said:
He loves cats- we just don't have the space for one. It all started going down hill when we got a hamster... Which turned into a black rabbit... Who then needed a friend....
Besides, we're in a flat at the mo and it wouldn't be right for the little mite.
Well, I am sure your flat would be better for her than the street....... Besides, we're in a flat at the mo and it wouldn't be right for the little mite.
Jasandjules said:
littlegreenfairy said:
He loves cats- we just don't have the space for one. It all started going down hill when we got a hamster... Which turned into a black rabbit... Who then needed a friend....
Besides, we're in a flat at the mo and it wouldn't be right for the little mite.
Well, I am sure your flat would be better for her than the street....... Besides, we're in a flat at the mo and it wouldn't be right for the little mite.
Especially if she's been living on the streets, she'll be glad of the warmth & to stay inside for a while - cats don't really like to be outside in the rain & cold...Besides Lucy, you are only 'fostering' her until a home can be found
Somewhere where she is safe & won't be put down She won't then leave
Only advice I'd add is ringing round all the local vets as well as putting up posters - most owners who lose an animal will let their vets know.
If you want her I'd take her in for a couple of weeks, if in that time no one claims her then she's yours, get vaccinations/microchip/flea/worm treatment sorted then.
One note of caution, if you've got other cats already it's worth considering testing the new cat for Feline Leukaemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Viruses first - if she's carrying either of those viruses she could infect your cats. Test is a simple blood test, should cost £50-£70 at a vets.
If you want her I'd take her in for a couple of weeks, if in that time no one claims her then she's yours, get vaccinations/microchip/flea/worm treatment sorted then.
One note of caution, if you've got other cats already it's worth considering testing the new cat for Feline Leukaemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Viruses first - if she's carrying either of those viruses she could infect your cats. Test is a simple blood test, should cost £50-£70 at a vets.
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