to adopt this cat?

[myownperson]

It has long hair and is both beautiful but manky. We moved in a couple of weeks ago and have a closed up cat flap.

For

She bangs the catlap night after night meowing loudly. It's driving me mad. If I let her in I'd get some sleep.

I'm newly single and would really like a cat for company.

I think she might have fleas. Have spotted a few in the house. Need try to try sort out this weekend. If I adopt her I could de-flea her or whatever you do (have never had a pet).

She's beautiful and rubs against my legs.

My DC would love a cat.

Against

She probably has an owner. I can't verify this. Some of the neighbours a bit scary.

Another mouth to feed.

My ex is allergic so seems a bit insensitive as he comes/goes with kids.

Can you just adopt a cat? Is there a sad owner somewhere ?

[YourNewspaperIsShit]

Also the cat could have been flead yesterday by the owner who's struggling with flea treatments so please don't give anything thay could "overdose" the cat on medication until you know for sure that it isn't owned.

[YourNewspaperIsShit]

Please constantly check for an owner, there's a siamese that does this to my house but it only lives over the road and my neighbour told me one of mine (before she was a house cat) used to cry at her door to get in all night while coming nowhere near my house In fact that's why she's a house cat so someone doesn't keep her.

Although it sounds like you would give her a better home (be prepared for hair everywhere I have long-haireds) you don't want to upset anyone's kids, etc.

[TeaRexit]

You have to flea then worm a week later. Then flea evety 4 weeks & worm every 12 weeks. One wont work without the other.

My vet charges £10 a month for this including vaccinations.

[AnotherUsernameBitesTheDust]

I'm glad you're going to try and find the owner.

It's quite raw to me. We lost one cat last year to a family that kept feeding it, despite knowing he was ours and us keeping him in for 2 months they still carried on and we rarely see him now, he runs from us.

And now two blokes who live opposite have been feeding our other cat, and they know he's ours, and he's not actually been home for a week. Looks like we're going to lose him too.

Both these people already have cats, I've got a bloody mind to take theirs and see how they like it. I've got upset kids here who don't understand why these people would deliberately choose to steal our cat.

Sorry for the rant, bit of a sore subject atm.

[myownperson]

Ok. Thanks for all the replies. I will set about finding possible owners. Thanks for link Emma and advice all. I would not want to break the heart of a loving cat owner.
She is beautiful. Will try get a pic tomorrow.
Urgh, fleas to tackle tomorrow.

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

Picture of the floofy cat please!

Also seconding taking her to the vet for a chip scan, and asking about if the scan is a no-show. Good luck.

[sm40]

We adopted a cat that turned up. Did microchip (none), paper collar, posters. Vet said cats choose their owners! She is a lovely cat, think neutered so somebody loved her. Think might have been left after house move, or delivery van! Did upset me that somebody might be missing her, but did try my best. Get cat to vet (scanning is free) and they can advise. They also start flea treatment etc.

[torthecatlady]

Lots of good advice here so far. Keep up updated!

[ReginaBlitz]

No it's not your cat ffs. Sounds like it is the previous owners or just a greedy fuck trying to get food.

[TeaRexit]

How long have you lived at the property? It could be her old house.

See if shes microchipped, if she is - they may even tell you if she used to live at your address.

[PersianCatLady]

bumsexatthebingo
I see what you are saying but the majority of posters on here didn't advise her to just keep the cat, they tried to advise her about what to do.
However I totally understand your point about not stealing other people's cats.

[NameChange30]

Firstly, try and find the owner. There is really good advice on this page, as well as a template paper collar and poster you can put up: www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/straycats

If the paper collar and/or posters don't work, you should take the cat to the vet to check for a microchip. You could also get the cat treated for fleas at the vets (two birds, one stone!) as the treatment vets prescribe is stronger and more effective than the OTC stuff you can buy.

Tbh in your position my main concern would be fleas in the house, I've heard they can be a complete bitch to get rid of so you should get on it ASAP. I've heard Indorex spray is good... But get advice from a vet or the wise Mumsnetters in the Litter Tray section for the best course of action!

[bumsexatthebingo]

It's more the replies that say 'yeah just keep it, it's fine' that annoy me. If you want a cat buy a cat FFS - don't steal someone else's. If it's not chipped and you've looked for owners/it's being neglected and you're genuinely rehoming it then that's different obviously. But really - don't just keep it. It could be a well loved pet that's missing and a family could be distraught.

[eightbluebirds]

Don't do this without looking for an owner first. Try googling and looking on local FB groups for lost cats.

[PersianCatLady]

These threads pee me off.
The OP is asking for advice on what to do and she may not know as much about cats as you do. That is why she has asked for advice and people have advised her about getting the microchip checked.

[PersianCatLady]

Frontline no longer works.

That is not strictly true after using FL for several months, fleas in your environment can develop an immunity to the active ingredients in it. There is scientific evidence to suggest that some fleas can develop a resistance to the medications in FL, making it less effective than it should be, after a period of continued use. So the advice is to change to a different brand.

This problem is not unique to FL, it can happen with any flea treatment.

Personally (on my cat) I have used Frontline, Stronghold, Advantage and a couple of others. I tend to use the same product for around a year and then change.

The Persian is a member of the "healthy pet scheme" at the local vets where for a monthly fee they do her annual jabs, flea treatments and worming tablets.

[bunnyfuller]

Our Bengal got himself 'adopted'. Comes home occasionally looking very well fed. He's chipped and had a collar and is an obvious pedigree. Kids were heartbroken.

[Bogburglar75]

Paper collar and/or posters up. A charming little black and white cat persisted in coming into our house and demanding food a couple of years ago. I got to the point of putting posters up, whereupon his equally charming owner from six doors down called in

We stopped feeding him but he still drops in.

If it does have an owner nothing to stop your finding yourself a cat of course! Litter tray is a good source of advice about breeds which are less allergenic.

[FoxesOnSocks]

Yes cats will be enticed by food. But it's not the same as being the owner. My cat tarts himself out to many a house around here, but this is his place.

I too, considering the cat flap, wouldn't be surprised if she did live there previously.

The vet and an microchip would answer that.

[bumsexatthebingo]

Cats will go wherever someone entices them with food. That doesn't mean you should do it if it is someone else's pet!

[DietCockBreak]

Adopt the cat. Get some advocate for the fleas (just a dropper on the back of the neck), give him/her a good brush, frequently, it'll be fab. Congrats!

[FoxesOnSocks]

Paper collar, ask around and posters, check for microchip at vets.

Then adopt!! Yes you can adopt a cat like that - pretty much cats choose their owner. Though I'd be inclined to say if she has fleas and is manky there's no sad owner (unless she got in a delivery van of course)

Microchip and register her if she's not, get your worm/flea from the vet too.

[TroysMammy]

My friend's ex was allergic to cats. As soon as they split up she got two kitties.

[WorraLiberty]

I agree with bumsex

It's not fair to take someone elses cat without checking too see if it's chipped.

[waitinglistquery]

Does she look skinny?

I agree with the paper collar idea - not fair to just "adopt" someone else's cat.