Cat and moving house

[chazola]

I'm (hopefully) moving house fairly soon but I have a young cat that's basically adopted me. She visited from when I moved in over a year ago, and made herself at home pretty much straight-away. She now spends half the day asleep on my bed or sofa, and expects breakfast and dinner. When she's outside she spends most of her time in my garden, or off exploring at night. She has no collar, and none of my immediate neighbours own or know if anyone owns her. She uses a litter box and seemed happy with human company from the off so I'm wondering if she has another servant, I mean, owner somewhere else...

Anyway, I'm probably going to be moving to a flat, which will likely not have easy outside access for a cat. Having grown quite attached to her and if I can't find an owner I'm wondering if it would be cruel to take her with me to a new territory where she'd probably be stuck inside or do you think she could adapt to being a house (flat) cat?

[Steve Evil]

Best thing to do would be to take her to a vet and get her checked for a Microchip, this will tell you if there is another owner around.

If not, it's a really tough decision to make, as you can't really just abandon her, she may well take to living inside OK after a period of adjustment, or you could contact a few local adoption agencies and see whether they'd be willing to take her on.

[Jasandjules]

Rather than leave her to starve there I'd take her.

If she doesn't settle into being a house cat then you can consider your options?

[smileymikey]

We have exactly the same situation with a cat that adopted us three years ago, we have just moved from the outskirts of a village, where she used to roam for miles and stay out three or four nights a week. To a Victorian terrace with small garden in a town. She didn't want to leave the house for about three weeks, and still hasn't stayed out all night. She does however seem happy with being fed twice a day (excluding work top raids on whatever we are foolish enough to leave out) and sleeping rights on the nearest pile of fresh washing or today's newspaper. I would suggest taking her to the vet to check she hasn't been micro chipped. If not get her chipped and take her with you, if she doesn't like the new area, to be frank she will do what cats do in this situation which is sod of and find a cushier billet.

[chazola]

Thanks for the replies, I will take her to the vet at some point and see if she's been chipped, if not I'll have to take her with me I think as I'd feel too guilty leaving her!

[Simpo Two]

You certainly can't just leave her there; that's only one step from the people who dump pets at the roadside.

[bexVN]

Yep get to vet for chip ck there may be some one missing her. Something that all people should do for strays.

If she is a stray there is a chance she has not been spayed. She will need vaccinating and worming (I making an assumption that she needs both this stuff doing)

If you are happy to do all this for her and you've done all you can to find her a home welcome to the world of being a feline servant

[chazola]

I already am I think she knows she's got it good here (no other cats, comfy places to sleep and regular meals) so she spends most of her time here. I just worry some old lady is missing her cat if she's not a stray, if she is I'll have to get her chipped/shots/neutered like you say and take her with me when I move.