to let the cat in?

[tharsheblows]

I'm fine with being unreasonable on this, but please tell me the cat will be ok overnight if it's a stray.

There's a cat outside meowing to get in. I had let it in earlier - thought it was another cat that visits all the houses around here. That one comes, hangs out and leaves, we don't feed it, the owner is fine with it. Anyway, this cat is not that one. It's thin and now, after checking with my neighbour that it's not hers, I put it back out. The cat is very affectionate, so it must belong to someone?

Would I be unreasonable letting it in? It'll be fine if I don't, right? It's just that it's sitting outside the window, meowing so pitifully....

Amen to that Bendy.

Oh mysparkling, i just had a nosey at your pic of sparkling cat,she looks just like my Alfie cat who is also attacking the Christmas tree right now!

Op you are doing the right thing, I hope someone would take care of my cat if he ever went missing.

Is that him as a kitten on your profile blizy? So cute. We had SC when she was about two, I always thought she would have been a beautiful kitten.

Yes, he was only 8 weeks old in that pic. He was a little ball of fluff, he will be one in feb.

She's seems to be a teenage cat and went through our bins last night. Also has no issues with jumping up on the counters! Super cute and lovey though.

stray teenage girl cats have a habit of getting themselves knocked up - can you tell if she's spayed? I expect the vet will be able to give her a quick check. You might just want to take a quick look where you think she was living just in case she's had kittens there - it happens.

Is he pedigree blizy?

No idea, we got him from a rescue centre. The vet just told us he was a British short hair? I am a tad ignorant to cat breeds .

We don't know about Sparkling either, so i just wondered. People keep asking me what breed she is but I think although she looks posh she is just a moggie.

• Sparkling cat even...

Oh, can you imagine how our cats kittens would look? they are both very beautiful creatures.

They would wouldn't they blizy? Little grey balls of fluff.

Oh your cats are beautiful!

Aww thanks Jux.

Any news thar?

Marking place to find out if the cat is chipped.

I'm so pleased you didnt turn her away, it was -4c here the other night.

No chip! But he's a boy and he has been castrated or has undescended testicles. The vet's firm opinion is that no chip means the cat is a stray (so chip your cat if you haven't!!) and she thought that the fact he seems to have no visible balls is irrelevant. I double checked this and she gave me a number of ways it could happen. She also said that she thought he's had some hard times outside due to the condition of his teeth and claws.

He's looking much better actually, he's not so painfully thin and we haven't been overfeeding him. He's also a lot less nervy and will actually go outside again now of his own accord, but only when he needs a wee or poo, and he shoots right back in.

Anyway, the receptionist checked her list of missing cats and I left my details for anyone who reported him missing. There are two noticeboards I didn't get to last night (need to find a waterproof folder for them, they're outside) but will do them today. We said we'd take care of the cat (we're calling him Pika even though he has long legs, long ears and a long tail) and give anyone until after New Year's to ring us then go from there.

Thanks for all your help! :)

Ahhh Pika - Happy Christmas with your new mum & dad!!

awww looks like you have gained a cat :)

Aww. Looks like he may be yours then. Can we have a picture if you get chance? When the vet said no chip were you secretly pleased?

Aww... YADNB Unseasonable

A happy ending!! I'm so pleased (and, yes, I am secretly hoping that no owners contacts you!)

Have a happy furry Xmas!

Any news thar? Any owners turned up yet?

Thus far, no one has rung. I am pleased to have him, although I would have been happy to hand him over to a worried owner, too.

He's a sweetie and is currently sleeping on my chest as I slouch on the sofa. :) Here's a not great pic.

Awww it sounds like he was looking for a bit of company and affection. He looks lovely.

Tharsha,

All I will say is thin end of the wedge.

We have a cat who adopted us. She did have a chip but came from another area of London all together. Despite our vet calling the vet where she was chipped, it seems she was abandoned. We also advertised her in "Battersea dogs' and cats' home" which is apparently the standard procedure in London, but no one came forward. She had obviously been someone's pet but equally obviously was now stray.

You have to remember that feral cats are not litter trained and also have no natural appetite control, so will eat whatever is put in front of them. Unless your cat is going to be an indoor cat, they will also require a cat flap which, for us, as we have a glass door, cost about £150 to install.

Fast forward 4 years and two children, and our cat is close to obese despite only being fed a diet of low fat expensive dry cat food (on the vet's advice). She clearly sources food elsewhere. On the other hand, she is an affectionate family cat. Not sure we could have gone through what we did with her with a famliy, though. So, you need to think about whether you are prepared to put up with the house soiling and furniture destruction sooner rather than later. It would be very unfair to adopt a cat and then change your mind.