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Original poster

What to do about abandoned cat?

47 replies

TanaFrench · 17/05/2024 13:23

Hi, 8 months ago my neighbours started letting their young male cat outside. He was not (and still isn’t) neutered, vaccinated or microchipped. I spoke to the neighbours about this and they said they couldn’t afford it. They started just leaving him outside and not letting him in at all, despite his cries all day long at their door. Every time I looked outside he was always there no matter what time and no matter what the weather conditions were like. He was sleeping in the bushes. I started feeding him and wanted to let him in for shelter but he is aggressive to my cat and there’s been a couple of fights that have scared me so I can’t let him in anymore.

At the time, I spoke to my neighbour and asked if she could let him in but she just said he wants to be outside. Anyway last week they moved house and the cat is still here! I messaged her and she said they couldn’t find him to take him as he was out and they couldn’t wait around for him (this isn’t true, he is ALWAYS hanging around trying to get in). I almost offered to get him and bring him to her but I’m reluctant because what if she just leaves him outside again and none of the new neighbours feed him like I’ve been doing?

My husband build a cat house and has put it in the back for him. But my cat is scared of him and now he’s always hanging around. So far I have contacted 7 rescues/cat shelters to ask if they can take him and every single one has said they are full. Please could I have some advice on what to do? Do I just continue feeding him and letting him live on our back and keep trying the shelters every week? I just feel so bad for him because he WANTS to be indoors. I hear him crying and yowling all the time. Plus he is unneutered and has never had any vaccinations so he is at risk!

OP posts:
DaisyChain505 · 17/05/2024 13:27

Your neighbour is a piece of shit!

I would keep feeding him and offering the outdoor shelter and keep contacting the rescues for when they have space.

RandomUsernameHere · 17/05/2024 13:29

DaisyChain505 · 17/05/2024 13:27

Your neighbour is a piece of shit!

I would keep feeding him and offering the outdoor shelter and keep contacting the rescues for when they have space.

Completely agree! Well done for looking after him, OP.

Overtheatlantic · 17/05/2024 13:32

If you can afford to please have him neutered and ask the vet for help with rehoming him?

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viccat · 17/05/2024 13:33

If you get him neutered it's very likely the aggression issue will resolve itself.

DeclineandFall · 17/05/2024 13:35

That's so awful and good on you for looking after him. If you wanted to keep him and could afford it you could get him neutered and he and your other cat would more than likely come to terms with each other.
Or you could contact your local Cats Protection League to see if they can help you with the neutering. There might be local charities who do this as well.

BritishBeatleMania · 17/05/2024 13:37

I would bring him in (if you have a spare room you can safely isolate him in in the short term). Get him checked and neutered and allow the cats to very slowly get to know each other. You may be surprised what changes with neutering and care.

having said that, if you don’t want / can’t afford another pet I think you’re doing the right thing watching out for him and checking in with shelters

Scampuss · 17/05/2024 13:39

If your local CPL do neutering/chipping vouchers that might be a good place to start. Could you then fund vaccinations? Both these things might make him less risky to your cat, and then you can re-assess. It will also make it easier for him to be re-homed if need be.

C2190 · 17/05/2024 13:40

He needs neutered. Poor wee thing doesn't deserve this shit in life. Shame on these arseholes who get animals without thinking of the long term commitment.

AltitudeCheck · 17/05/2024 13:40

Take him to the vet as a stray and have him neutered, at least that will keep him a bit safer on the streets and also make him easier to find a home for. Then I'd post on local FB pages and see if anyone will take him in, say owners have moved away and dumped him and surely some cat lover will find room 🥹

CrunchyCarrot · 17/05/2024 13:44

I think the kindest thing you can do OP is to get him neutered and vaccinated asap. That's 2 problems out of the way. After that, up to you whether you want to try to get him comfortable with your kitty or whether you keep trying to find him a new home.

Poor little guy!

edwinbear · 17/05/2024 14:20

I'd suggest having him neutered if you can possibly afford it? He'll likely be much less aggressive and stop fighting with your cat. Poor little thing, that's so sad, you're really kind to be looking out for him the best you can.

Original poster
TanaFrench · 17/05/2024 14:23

I can’t take him in, I already have 2 cats. One of them doesn’t go outside and I usually put her upstairs whenever I’ve tried to let him in. But my outdoor cat hates him and is scared of him. I don’t want 3 cats and I definitely can’t afford another.

I can see how much it is to get him neutered. But it’s kind of annoying that because someone couldn’t be arsed with their cat, I’ve now got to pay for them. He isn’t my responsibility. But I just can’t leave him, I’m constantly worrying about him I can’t relax at night knowing he’s alone outside. Not too bad now that we are going into the summer but he needs to be rehomed by autumn because I won’t be able to cope knowing he’s out in the cold. I’ll call the vets and ask about prices

OP posts:
Deathbyfluffy · 17/05/2024 14:26

That's so sad - if our cat was remotely friendly with others I'd offer to take him in.
I really hope he finds a good home - he's probably just feisty because of his shit start in life and because he's not been neutered.
I bet with the right owner he'll be a cuddly ball of love in no time!

Top marks to you for looking after him by the way.

Gymmum82 · 17/05/2024 14:28

Take him to your local vets and say he has been abandoned and (this is the very important bit) you’ve noticed he is a bit lame. If you don’t say this part they will just send him right back with you. If you make up a small inconsequential injury they will take him in, neuter him and rehome him

Proudbitch · 17/05/2024 14:31

TanaFrench · 17/05/2024 14:23

I can’t take him in, I already have 2 cats. One of them doesn’t go outside and I usually put her upstairs whenever I’ve tried to let him in. But my outdoor cat hates him and is scared of him. I don’t want 3 cats and I definitely can’t afford another.

I can see how much it is to get him neutered. But it’s kind of annoying that because someone couldn’t be arsed with their cat, I’ve now got to pay for them. He isn’t my responsibility. But I just can’t leave him, I’m constantly worrying about him I can’t relax at night knowing he’s alone outside. Not too bad now that we are going into the summer but he needs to be rehomed by autumn because I won’t be able to cope knowing he’s out in the cold. I’ll call the vets and ask about prices

Oh gosh you poor thing, and also the poor cat! I’m also now worrying for the cat.

On our neighbour residents group, we have p people who post about cats they have found and people jump at the opportunity to take the cat in. Could you try something like that? Understand that isn’t your responsibility but in your situation I would feel the same.

Original poster
TanaFrench · 17/05/2024 14:37

Gymmum82 · 17/05/2024 14:28

Take him to your local vets and say he has been abandoned and (this is the very important bit) you’ve noticed he is a bit lame. If you don’t say this part they will just send him right back with you. If you make up a small inconsequential injury they will take him in, neuter him and rehome him

Last year there was a very very sick cat hanging around the front. I knocked on all of the doors and no one admitted to it being theirs. I took it in and put it in the spare room, gave it some food but she (not sure if male or female but let’s just say she) couldn’t keep it down and just vomited and had diarrhoea everywhere. I called the vets and they said to bring her in and they will take her. I got her to the vets, she was examined and upon instant examination the vet said she could feel a tumour. Her advice was to put her back where I found her and maybe someone will claim her (she wasn’t chipped). I said no absolutely not. I said your reception staff told me you would take her, she is obviously very sick! Not wanting an argument, she reluctantly took her in. I called them 2 days later to ask about her and they said they had to PTS because she was severely poorly and had tumours.

From then on I’ve been sceptical about calling the vets for strays because if I didn’t push back that vet would’ve had me just put her back on the street in her condition. If I take a fit and healthy stray to them there’s no way they’ll keep him. They may neuter and give him back to me though which I guess is all I can hope for at the minute, until a rescue somewhere can take him

OP posts:
LeaveTheClocksAlone · 17/05/2024 14:42

Bastards!!!

ginasevern · 17/05/2024 14:49

Well done you for caring for him. I had exactly the same situation 8 years ago. My neighbours were abusive to their kitten and eventually left him behind when they moved. I already had a cat but I took him after getting him neutered, flead and vaccinated. I just couldn't leave him outside in the winter.

Please take him to the vets and, as another poster suggested, say he has been abandoned and feign a minor injury and get him neutered.

Please do not advertise him "free to a good home" on FB or online. Ads like this can and do attract animal abusers who are very good at making themselves appear normal and decent human beings.

If the vet doesn't suggest something, contact the Cats Protection League. Have you looked for very small charities in your area? We have a woman in our city who takes in stray cats and does her best to rehome them. She is excellent.

LakeTiticaca · 17/05/2024 14:51

Contact your vets for advice. You might be able to get a voucher for neutering. It needs to be done ASAP to prevent adding to the legions of unwanted kittens. Living in a box outside is fine at this time of year as long as its waterproof, I think you need to keep trying with the local volunteer rescues, they might be able to out him on a waiting list for a foster carer

sauceslurper · 17/05/2024 14:53

We had this. Cat appeared in garden and we couldn't take in as 2 other cats. Fed for 3 months and rang cat rescue all the time until a space came up. I rang to hear how she was to find she'd been claimed by original owner who was overjoyed to have her back. Messages had been left for owner who hadn't got them. She'd had a family emergency overseas and cat had escaped from her friend who was supposed to be looking after her.

I now volunteer with a cat rescue centre in a new area. Sometimes we get cats dumped outside in carriers so have to take them in. I wouldn't advise this unless situation is dire - if you can keep feeding and tell rescue centre it's abandoned and keep calling you will hopefully get a spot eventually. Good luck

Gymmum82 · 17/05/2024 14:55

TanaFrench · 17/05/2024 14:37

Last year there was a very very sick cat hanging around the front. I knocked on all of the doors and no one admitted to it being theirs. I took it in and put it in the spare room, gave it some food but she (not sure if male or female but let’s just say she) couldn’t keep it down and just vomited and had diarrhoea everywhere. I called the vets and they said to bring her in and they will take her. I got her to the vets, she was examined and upon instant examination the vet said she could feel a tumour. Her advice was to put her back where I found her and maybe someone will claim her (she wasn’t chipped). I said no absolutely not. I said your reception staff told me you would take her, she is obviously very sick! Not wanting an argument, she reluctantly took her in. I called them 2 days later to ask about her and they said they had to PTS because she was severely poorly and had tumours.

From then on I’ve been sceptical about calling the vets for strays because if I didn’t push back that vet would’ve had me just put her back on the street in her condition. If I take a fit and healthy stray to them there’s no way they’ll keep him. They may neuter and give him back to me though which I guess is all I can hope for at the minute, until a rescue somewhere can take him

Show quote history

It depends on the vet to be honest. Some will push back and say you have to take it back, but getting him neutered will be much better for both him and your own cats. Larger practices are more likely to take him in and rehome as they will always get lots of strays in. So if you have a large practice nearby take him there over a smaller practice

ConstanceMartensCat · 17/05/2024 14:57

There was a sick stray cat hanging around our local school a while back and one of the staff called the RSPCA who gave them a code to pass on to a local vet so they’d treat him and could claim back the cost. I ended up taking him in and the vet gave him antibiotics and suggested releasing him back where I found him. I pushed back and eventually they found a place at one of their clinics where he could stay until a rescue space came free. So RSPCA could be worth a call in the first instance.
thank you for looking after him OP 😻

TabithaTimeTurner · 17/05/2024 15:10

Poor thing. We got our old cat 13 years ago after she’d been left behind when her owners moved. Who the hell does that?

I think if you can just get him neutered for now, he will be a lot happier. Give him a bit of food everyday and hopefully he’ll get a place at a rescue before winter 😢

Where abouts are you? Can some kind Mumsnetter help out?

Original poster
TanaFrench · 17/05/2024 15:13

Sorry to not tag specific people in my reply, there’s too many so I’ll just reply to all in one.

It is smaller rescues that I’ve been contacting. They have said that they can’t help. One of them was more helpful than the others though who said to leave it with them and they’ll see what they can do. I did contact the RSPCA who said they will not help with strays unless injured.

I have contacted my vet who says it is £90 to neuter and £70 for vaccinations. Honestly ouch. I honestly would do anything to help out animals, I will never just leave one to suffer. But I’m so angry that someone else has abandoned all responsibility and now I’m the one who is going to have to deal with it. I mean I don’t HAVE to, sure I could leave it but morally I can’t. I don’t have the money right now but will have it in a few weeks once I get paid.

OP posts:
Original poster
TanaFrench · 17/05/2024 15:13

TabithaTimeTurner · 17/05/2024 15:10

Poor thing. We got our old cat 13 years ago after she’d been left behind when her owners moved. Who the hell does that?

I think if you can just get him neutered for now, he will be a lot happier. Give him a bit of food everyday and hopefully he’ll get a place at a rescue before winter 😢

Where abouts are you? Can some kind Mumsnetter help out?

I am in the Tameside area in greater manchester

OP posts:
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