I need to get rid of a cat - advice
Discussion
Can anyone suggest an effective and HUMANE way of getting rid of a stray cat which has started coming in to my house. I keep finding it asleep in the dining room, it eats my own cats' food and my cats and my toddler are scared of it.
I don't know if it has a home or if it is a true stray - it doesn't wear a collar.
I would lock the cat flap for a few days if I thought it would work, but I suspect that would only drive my cats mad, and the little sod would be back as soon as it reopened.
Would the RSPCA or similar take it away if there is no evidence of an owner?
WARNING!! If you wish to post advice which includes poison, air rifles, sacks and bricks, acid, electricity or anything similar, please find another thread!
I don't know if it has a home or if it is a true stray - it doesn't wear a collar.
I would lock the cat flap for a few days if I thought it would work, but I suspect that would only drive my cats mad, and the little sod would be back as soon as it reopened.
Would the RSPCA or similar take it away if there is no evidence of an owner?
WARNING!! If you wish to post advice which includes poison, air rifles, sacks and bricks, acid, electricity or anything similar, please find another thread!
We had a similar problem recently. Our life was made a misery by a 'stray' cat that was camping out in our back yard. Our two cats are mainly house bound and were getting stressed by this cat banging on the cat flap. He was a lovely friendly cat and I would have added him to our family like a shot if our two hadn't been so aggressive towards him. We made the mistake of feeding him. He was soooo hungry and gulped down the food which made us think he was a stray.
We took him down the vets to check for a mircochip with no joy and I then tried the local cat sanctuaries and they were all full. I made up some posters and put them round the village and through the letter boxes of our neighbours. Turned out he belonged to one of our neighbours. The girlfriend had gone away for two weeks and the cat (Thomas) was not impressed with being left with the boyfriend who was filling in the void down the pub. As soon as the girlfriend returned Thomas went back home and we haven't seen him since.
I do sympathise tho - we ended up boarding up the cat flap as he was damaging it trying to get in.
We took him down the vets to check for a mircochip with no joy and I then tried the local cat sanctuaries and they were all full. I made up some posters and put them round the village and through the letter boxes of our neighbours. Turned out he belonged to one of our neighbours. The girlfriend had gone away for two weeks and the cat (Thomas) was not impressed with being left with the boyfriend who was filling in the void down the pub. As soon as the girlfriend returned Thomas went back home and we haven't seen him since.
I do sympathise tho - we ended up boarding up the cat flap as he was damaging it trying to get in.
The RSPCA will take it but its probably worth trying to see if it has a owner ( advert in local shop). We had a stray doing the same and ended up taking it to a RSPCA rehoming place, but 2 days later GF decided she wanted it back and so we have still got it.The other cats weren't too impressed to start with but seem to have got used to it.
NO! We had 2 cats and were adopted by a third, it pissed the other 2 cats off and was starving, it ate salad and a pickled onion it was so hungry. It used to open doors and do that trick with the can, hence the cats name Arthur. It had been abused and kicked, it's ribs were all fused together. We head Arthur purr for the first time and he really was a special cat. He was old and had his last few years with us. The other 2 cats accepted him and seemed to know what the deal was.
If you get it put down, you have no soul.
Yep. Be easy on the little tiger.
He's hanging around yours because for some reason he can't hang out where he usually does.
Best to lock the cat flap if yours are all in, and try to manage the situation for a week or two. Maybe owners will return from holidays and then the problem will solve itself.
If the cat persists in trying to get in, then after a while best trawl around the neighbourhood. If still no joy, then take the cat to a rehoming centre.
Personally, I think that one of the measures of mans humanity and development is the way that we treat other creatures. If we mistreat animals it reflects on us as the barbarians we can be.
Respect the critter and do the right thing.
He's hanging around yours because for some reason he can't hang out where he usually does.
Best to lock the cat flap if yours are all in, and try to manage the situation for a week or two. Maybe owners will return from holidays and then the problem will solve itself.
If the cat persists in trying to get in, then after a while best trawl around the neighbourhood. If still no joy, then take the cat to a rehoming centre.
Personally, I think that one of the measures of mans humanity and development is the way that we treat other creatures. If we mistreat animals it reflects on us as the barbarians we can be.
Respect the critter and do the right thing.
We were adopted once, few ads in the usual places and the owners turned. It had wandered too far and got lost and followed ours in.
Much the same as one of ours did once. Checked with the local cats protection and there was a report of a large ginger tom found. Bingo.
Mind you, a few years later he broke out of the catery when we were on holiday.
Much the same as one of ours did once. Checked with the local cats protection and there was a report of a large ginger tom found. Bingo.
Mind you, a few years later he broke out of the catery when we were on holiday.
If you just want to encourage it to go elsewhere - put half water filled old fizzy drink bottles (ideally clear) around anywhere you think it enters you're property - This is supposed to work because a chemical reaction with light causes a gas to be given off which they don't like.
Good luck!.
Good luck!.
Several friends have "adopted" strays - in 2 cases the owners have told them they want their cats back - but the simple truth is the cats are not happy with their original homes (if they still have one) for whatever reason and thats why they go elsewhere. Thanks for those that have made kind remarks. See Mr.Silverback, I can sometimes agree with a Policeman!! Having worked for RSPCA and other animal charities and constantly witnessing unwanted pets, it is pleasing to see kind comments. If you can't give the cat a home, take it to RSPCA or local sanctuary. Hopefully, it will find a new home - unfortunately if wild or not so tame, this is less likely.
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