I've found a dead cat and I don't know what to do

[spingley]

I was just on my way to work when I saw a cat on a sort of raised grassy flower bed on the side on the road. I thought it was having an early morning sunbathe but when I called it it didn't respond and I realised it had actually died. It didn't look hurt but it wasn't exactly in a sleeping position either. I called the RSPCA but they couldn't do anything and the council is closed. It looked so much like my little black cat that I felt horrible leaving it but I have no idea what to do. I just don't want someone finding their cat there and thinking no one tried to help.

It was pretty near a block of flats and I saw a woman coming out but she didn't know of anyone who had a cat, but she's said she'll put it on the local Facebook groups.

I'm just wondering if there's anything else I can do? I'm worried if I call the council they'll treat it like road kill and whoever owns it will never find their cat or know what happened.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble, just not what you're expecting on a Monday morning. Any help hugely appreciated

[joopy79]

Can you ask your locale vet to check to see if it's microchipped?

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

I agree with Joopy, take it to a vet to be scanned for a microchip. Bless you for caring OP

[cozietoesie]

Thanks for caring. I know that probably sounds daft but the family have had several cats who have met a car late one night and it's good to think that people might not have just walked on by without giving a second thought to the little body on the side of the road.

[spingley]

Thanks for your responses. It's horrible because I care but there's nothing I can do! Microchip is a good idea. I didn't have anything with me to get it to a vets as I was on my way to work, but maybe I'll give a local one a call. They probably wouldn't come out but it's worth an ask. Maybe the council has some way of trying to locate a dead animal's owner?

[cozietoesie]

The council should (that's a 'should') have a chip reader as the vets do so be able to contact the owner via the chip company. It's worth a try if you can't get the vets out.

[mrstweefromtweesville]

phone the council, they'll remove it.

[timtam23]

The vets are unlikely to come out, certainly not without payment I would think, your best bet is to phone environmental health at the council & ask if they could scan for a chip when they remove the cat. Both councils near me do this & one in particular seemed to go to great lengths to locate an owner if at all possible

That's kind of you to want to do something to help

[spingley]

Thanks everyone for all of your help . It's not always easy to know what's best to do in these sorts of situations.

I called the vet and they could only do something if I brought her in, so I called the council and they were really helpful and said they'd go and remove the cat, but they promised they'd check for a microchip first. Hopefully whoever owns her chipped her so they'll be able to find out what happened to her. Poor little thing!

[cozietoesie]

Well done, spingley. It will make a big difference for the owner because even if the cat wasn't chipped, your calls will likely mean that someone at the vets or the council will remember the incident. Not knowing can often be the worst thing.

[spingley]

Thanks cozie, I hadn't thought of that. It makes me feel a bit better. And thanks for your advice!

[PeanutButterOnly]

Aww so sad when this happens. Reminds me of the time a good few years ago when I found a dead cat after dropping an elder dc at nursery. Without really thinking I took my younger dc out of the buggy (must have been around 18mnths) and put the cat on a shopping bag in the buggy. Dc went behind propped up on the buggy board. Think the vet thought I was mad, but a few weeks later I got a lovely card saying thanks from the owner

[ExitPursuedByABear]

That's so lovely peanut

[spingley]

That's really nice of you peanut. I did feel bad to leave it, but I couldn't really put it in my work bag. It was gone today so hopefully the owners have been found.

[iamlionesshearmeroar]

Please can you say what part of the country you're in? My little black cat is missing and I'm so upset that I might never know what happened to her, thank you

[spingley]

Oh no lioness, I hope she's come back. I'm on the border of Herts and London, I hope that rules me out!