He followed me home - can I keep him?

[OneMillionScovilles]

First up: Only kidding on the keeping front!

A beautiful cat followed me home last night after I stroked it - I went into the house and thought no more of it. It made its way into our back garden and when DH opened the door to put the bins out it came inside and had to be shooed out again. It was still hanging around the (closed) back door this morning as if it thinks it lives here, and has come in and had a wander around when I opened the door.

I'm familiar with the cat-stealing neighbour threads, so I haven't fed it, shut the door behind it when it's wandered in, etc. - hoping to appeal to collective MN wisdom on what to do if it keeps hanging around. It has no collar (flea or name) but looks in far too good condition not to belong to someone. Is there a chance it doesn't know how to get back out of our garden having made its way in? How long would you leave it before you took it to the vet to scan for a microchip? I hate the idea of someone else being stressed out about their lost pet...

Apologies if these are common sense questions - we aren't cat people as DH is a little allergic, so don't really know 'normal' behaviour (although I'm tempted to let this particular cat rub all over the soft furnishings to see if he can really tell - did I mention it's gorgeous?)

[stairbears]

You shoo it out every single time - no entering home allowed!

[karinmaria]

Um... If you happen to live in Hertfordshire and it's a very skinny light coloured Bengal with what looks like black lipstick on its lips, then it might be my cat (who hasn't come back in two nights ). I found her collar in the garden.

If it's that friendly I'd take it to a vet and get the microchip checked (especially if the cat looks well looked after).

[DamsonInDistress]

Personally I'd turf it back out on to the street it followed you down. It should have some memory of its route so probably stands the best chance from there. I wouldn't be taking it to the vets yet, hopefully it'll bugger off by itself before that's necessary.

[TheoriginalLEM]

at the vets where i work the policy is no chip and advertised on their fb page for a week =you keep the cat. They keep the cat in though so that way if its just a bit of a wanderer then the owner will report it missing.

[Twodogsandahooch]

Are you my great aunt Mary? She catnapped around 10 of the neighbourhood cats. The poor owners didn't stand a chance when she left out delicious fresh meat. We'd receive birthday cards signed from MarYSmokey Ginger Puss etc!

[RachelRagged]

Bless You for caring OP..

i agree with DamsonInDistress .. If it keeps turning up go vet and see if puss is chipped.

Karinmaria I hope your cat returns, I know the upset and ache inside of a pet who seemingly vanishes . .Bengals are beautiful cats.

[karinmaria]

Thanks Rachel, if she's not back tomorrow I'll be reporting her missing to all the local vets etc

[UniS]

If you live in our village, at some point, Benny , the village cat will follow you home, possibly climb in your car and hitch a ride. He owns the whole village, follows his owner to school and hangs out by the school kitchen door or the pubs or the shop ....

[Mimigolightly]

As well as seeing if she's microchipped & advertising at vets, FB, etc you can print out paper collars from the internet that you can attach to a stray cat with your phone number on it asking anyone to contact you if it's their cat IYSWIM.

[OneMillionScovilles]

Thanks all! Sorry, I'm not Great Aunt Mary and it's not your cat, Karin I'll have a go at lift-and-shift down the street, hope it can find its way back. Should I turf it out before checking the chip? I'm a little worried that the next home it wanders into wouldn't be so concerned about reuniting it with its real home IYSWIM.

Funnily enough Mimi I was saying to DH that I should get it a collar and attach a note: eg "I've made friends with #555 X Rd - do I belong to you? Please call us" Didn't think about paper collars...

[OneMillionScovilles]

Pics as requested Fab - jet black and sooo pretty

[OneMillionScovilles]

(It's a little camera-shy I'm afraid)

[Lilicat1013]

You could contact your local Cat's Protection (either on Facebook or phone number on their website), they will likely know if the cat is missing locally and can assist you with checking for a microchip and putting a paper collar on.

[wannaBe]

if it's only been overnight I wouldn't do anything yet. would just ignore, not feed, and encourage it back in the direction from whence it came.

If someone else takes it in then that's not your responsibility. Cats do wander, some people will feed them, others won't, but presumably if the owner is concerned about it they will start looking for it before too long.

[OneMillionScovilles]

Thanks Lili, wanna

I guess my concern comes from not really knowing cats - I know they wander, but if someone's dog was in my garden overnight I'd definitely be doing something sooner rather than later, so I don't know what's a reasonable time to let Puss sort him-/herself out.

If it got into the garden (fenced) it can get out, right?

[OneMillionScovilles]

Ps kill me ^^ - I've already given it a working name AND that name is just awful

(Apologies to any 'Puss' owners)

[ohtheholidays]

This is how we ended up with a cat.

3 years ago on Boxing Day my DH saw a cat outside sitting on top of someone's gas meter(in they're garden)it was freezing cold,we'd had loads of snow and the poor cat was shaking and had bits of snow froze to it's coat,no collar.

We were both really worried,the neighbors that lived there came out of they're house,looked at the cat and got into they're car and drove off.

We didn't know what to do,DH say some other neighbors we know really well and asked them about the cat,they said they'd thought it was the other neighbors(they'd not long moved in)but that the Cat kept constantly going into they're house and lots of other people's houses and was always looking for food and crying.

It was really thin(she's a Maine Coon bread)they're very big cats and shouldn't be skin and bones.

She followed my DH back to our house and he let her in,we dried her up,fed her and gave her a drink,got her warm and then I dealt with her fur.She was so matted the poor thing she was in pain.

She's pretty much been here ever since,she goes in and out when she wants,we pay for any vet checks,any treatments she needs and there's been a few,she decided it would be a good idea to have a fight with a couple of young foxes one day,scared the life out of us when we saw her.

The neighbors know where she is but don't give a damn,thankfully they haven't gone and bought any more pets.

[TTWK]

Cats don't have owners, they have staff. The cat has obviously selected you as its next slave. Keep it. Lavish love and affection on it until a better prospect moves in close by, and then it'll piss off and forget you ever existed, leaving you broken hearted.

[Lweji]

It looks like my cat!

Except mine is at home now.

But he's the type that would follow you.

Anyway, look for cat websites, local shelters and vets for pictures of missing cats first.

[OneMillionScovilles]

TTWK never a truer word spoken. If DH wasn't convinced his throat would close and kill him from Cat Evulz I'd be changing into my servant garb as we speak! (He's exaggerating a fraction - it's no worse than my (brutal) hayfever, and he's still allowed inside after mowing the lawn - but expecting him to take antihistamines 365/365 might be a bit harsh.)

[OneMillionScovilles]

Right - have called the vet, they're posting description / pics on my behalf. They've advised me to feed him if he's still hanging around tonight, and can scan him for a microchip. That'll have to wait until DH can run us in the car as I don't think he'd make it all the way in my arms...!

I haven't the heart to chuck him right out again yet, although he's currently taking an unhealthy interest in my gerbil...

[lutra3d]

He has you wrapped right around his paws doesn't he?

[OneMillionScovilles]

Oh yes. The beautiful scumbag!

[TTWK]

although he's currently taking an unhealthy interest in my gerbil

Meals on wheels?