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Stray cat - why has it latched onto us??

13 replies

Jaybee · 17/12/2002 15:38

We have a beautiful black and white cat that seems to have been hanging around our street and the school (which is behind our street) for what must be over a month, it seems to be increasingly desperate to get in anyone's house or garage - I initially thought it was just one of those cats who plagues its neighbours but I have asked all newcomers that I am aware of and any other neighbour I catch if anyone knows who it belongs to, everyone seems to recognise it as the cat that just seems to hang around but no-one knows who it belongs to. It has decided that it likes our house and tries to get in whenever we open the door - sits looking at us through the patio doors and keeps getting into our garage whenever we go in there. It has been there constantly for about a week. I have been loath to feed it as I was hoping it belonged to someone and it would just go home but I did give in and fed it last night with some of that dried complete food and it was so desperate to eat it that it was taking massive mouthfuls of the stuff.

My question is what you would do - we cannot take it in as dh is allergic to cats, I am loath to take it to the RSPCA or Cats Protection in case it does belong to someone. I am thinking of taking it to the vets to see if it has been microchipped (unlikely but possible) and possibly taking it's picture and advertising for it's owner to contact me - what do you think?? It is a shame as it is a beautiful, very friendly cat who just seem to be crying out for some warmth and affection.

Appreciate your thoughts.

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SoupDragon · 17/12/2002 15:45

I'd contact the RSPCA/CPL and see what they suggest. Photographing it and sticking posters up or leaflets through doors is a good idea. The RSPCA can check if it's chipped.

I assume you've not recently moved in and that the cat doesn't belong to a previous owner?

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Jaybee · 17/12/2002 15:51

Soupdragon - thanks for the response, no we have been in our house for seven years. I did wonder whether it may have followed someone to the school and not found it's way home. It just seems a shame that it is stuck outside in this weather but I also don't like the idea of it being stuck in a RSPCA cage over Christmas - am I soft or what??

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SoupDragon · 17/12/2002 15:59

Very soft

We took in rescued CPL cats 7 years ago and loved them to pieces. We had to leave them behind when we moved this year as they were scared of DS1 & 2 and moved in with our neighbour of their (and her)own free will.

I'd put a poster up at the school, local shops, trees in roads near you, the local vet(s) - actually, the local vet(s) may recognise the cat if it's at all distinctive.

Other than that, the owners may have contacted the RSPCA/CPL to see if anyone's found the cat. Could you let it live in your garage or shed over Christmas?

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threeangels · 17/12/2002 16:08

I recently had a situation like this before I moved. One day my kids and I came home and before we opened the door this stray dog came running up to us. I felt so bad because it looked like it desperatly neede some food. Not thinking we fed it a couple things and bfore I even realized it I almost fed it half my frig (just joking) but pretty close. The more food we gave it the faster he ate and the more it ate. I felt so awful. This dog was absolutly starving to death. This is exactly what we gave him from what I remember.

  • Half a sub
  • 3 taco tortillas
    *package of cupcakes
  • about 1/4 of a bag of cereal
  • slices of cheese
  • several slices of bread
  • a whole bunch of crackers

    This is only what I can remember. I know its all junk and not good but I felt so bad and I figured a tummy ache was better then him begging for food. After he ate it took 2 days for him to go away. I really didnt think about what I could do with him at the time but I did learn not to feed a stray because they will keep coming back for more.
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Jaybee · 17/12/2002 16:20

threeangels - I agree which is why i had not fed it but how long can you ignore a, what seems to be, starving animal - dh has just called me at work to say he has bought some cat food for it - he hates cats but it seems that even he is feeling sorry for it.

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threeangels · 17/12/2002 16:30

My dd was so upset because we couldnt keep the dog. Shes been bugging for a dog forever. I would of thought about keeping it but I wasnt sure if it had any diseases since it was a stray and I really want a much smaller dog if we decide on one. I also found it so hard to ignore.

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Philippat · 17/12/2002 16:56

Personally, I'd say it would be better off and happier at CPL (don't take to RSPCA if you've got a CPL near, they're much nicer!) than wandering around cold and starving. If you do advertise in all the very sensible places Soupdragon mentions, then can you let it live in the warmth somewhere and feed it in the meantime? You'll not forgive yourself if it gets run over/frozen to death while you're thinking about it.

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Jaybee · 17/12/2002 17:01

Thanks Phillipat for making me feel more guilty than I do!!!! (joke) - I have to admit seeing it scoffing that food down its neck last night made me feel awful - I think I will pop it to the vets tonight if I can fit it in before having to go to the kids play - in fact I will go home now - boss is not here and he will never know!!!!
Signing off!!

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willow2 · 17/12/2002 21:55

Why not buy a collar along with the little cannisters that you can leave a note (normally of your name and address) in. Put a note in asking for the owner to contact you. I know that if my cat came back with a strange collar on it I'd be quick to phone up the person who had put it on! If you don't get a phone call and the collar stays on I'd say you've got a stray on your hands.
One word of warning. Make sure you don't buy the collars with the length of thick elastic on - they are bloody dangerous and every vet I have spoken with believes they should not be sold. While the elastic allows the collar to stretch if the cat were to get caught by it, all to commonly cats get caught, then try to use apaw to release themselves, then end up with their arm through the collar as well. This then freaks them out and they quite often go awol as a result. I have seen some truly horrendous injuries to cats that this has happened to - basically the collar digs in and saws away at their flesh. Sorry to go off on a tangent - but suddenly had this image of you following my advice and ending up with a dying cat!!!

Would also second taking it to the vet to see if it is chipped. (Probably a lot less hassle than the above!)

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SoupDragon · 17/12/2002 22:10

But without the elastic, a caught cat remains caught and could strangle itself trying to escape. Both my cats came home without their collars which were later retrieved from fences, trees and garage equipment. I guess you can't win!

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willow2 · 17/12/2002 22:27

Soupdragon - you can buy collars that are held together by two threads of elastic rather than the thick white stuff that holds up "yer knickers" - these threads snap easily if the cat gets caught unlike the thick stuff. Seriously, having seen the damage that these collars can do there is no way I would put one on my cat. Stomach churning stuff.

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Jaybee · 19/12/2002 13:19

Willow2 - thanks I may get a collar but, would you believe, went home to take it to the vet on Tuesday but it wasn't there - I have not seen it since - the food I have left out has gone but there is no guarantee that it has gone into that cat - will wait and see if it reappears.

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helenmc · 19/12/2002 13:31

Our gorgeous fluffy ginger and white neutered male used to go on walkabouts - he'd disappear for 10 days then just turn up for breckfast. So perhaps your cat has gone back home.

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