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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a bit upset with this visit from the RSPCA

103 replies

HelenaDove · 07/10/2016 21:30

While i was in town doing the grocery shop the RSPCA came round to our home and spoke to DH about our 15 year old cat.
He said our cat was looking a bit thin. DH explained that our cat has a thyroid condition. Which she is on medication for One pill a day in her food.
DH also pointed out the collar she is wearing. The RSPCA officer didnt know what it was. Its a dermatological collar She has something similar to dermatitis. The collar treats it and gets renewed every six months. He didnt even ask about it much less know what it was DH had to tell him. DH also showed him vets bills , told him about the regular trips to the vet including a visit to an emergency vet at 3am one morning when her back legs kept giving way. He wanted to come in and see her so DH let him in.
DH told him not to pick her up or stress her out and he just touched her head.

After that he said that she is obviously being looked after and he left.

But last year they told me to leave my elderly cat outside overnight in favour of a snake that had found its way into my flat. And i told them on the phone then that my cat is/was elderly.

They didnt seem concerned then.
Im really worried that they are going to come and take her away from us. We have had her for 15 years She used to belong to an ex neighbour but decided she preferred it here with us.

She has brought and still brings us a lot of joy. We love her so much. We go without things so she can get her treatment. But we dont mind cos she is MORE than worth it.

She may be coming to the end of her life and we want to make her time that she has left with us as enjoyable and stress free as possible.

Last years thread when i was told to leave her outside all night.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2424973-to-be-really-scared-and-pissed-off-with-the-RSPCA

OP posts:
Horsegirl1 · 07/10/2016 22:17

Seems vvwy weird why they are showing so much interest In you

Horsegirl1 · 07/10/2016 22:18

Very *

Original poster
HelenaDove · 07/10/2016 22:18

Ive only had this one visit from them.

OP posts:
sonlypuppyfat · 07/10/2016 22:26

They can be funny someone reported me for mistreating my staffy, I've never had a staffy I had to bring him in and show him my cats bowl and no dog!

IWasGintyMarlowe · 07/10/2016 22:35

a close friend of mine was reported maliciously to them.....very sad. fortunately they came round and saw her pets were fine. her neighbour had a bee in her bonnet for some reason

Cherrysoup · 07/10/2016 22:41

You know you don't have to let them in, don't you? I know it might help to show meds, bet hills, but they have no power of entry or arrest and can frankly fuck right off as far as I'm concerned. Coming out to hassle you about an elderly thin cat!! Where are they when a horse is dying due to neglect or a dog is living in the most abject appalling conditions? They give me the rage. I swear the Alan Davies RSPCA programme is basically a massive advert for the times they do actually manage to do good.

Wolfiefan · 07/10/2016 22:42

The thing is that if someone reports they have to visit. You have shown that your cat is well loved and cared for. You have provided regular and effective vetinarary care.
They can't ask for more.
Maybe a new neighbour who doesn't know you. FWIW in her final couple of years my girl was skinny and (until I found furminator) often knotted unless I groomed her three times a year. I think the only reason no one reported us was because she never left the garden.

Sara107 · 07/10/2016 22:44

Somebody must have reported the cat. You obviously look after her very well, and that's just how she is. We had a cat when I was growing up who was very old, and honestly he was so thin you could see every bone in his body (he didn't have much fur left either) - the key thing I think is the quality of life. If the animal is comfortable, not in pain, and still able to do the things cats enjoy ( sleeping in the sun, sleeping in your bed, sleeping on your lap, etc!!) you have nothing to worry about. Hopefully the RSPCA will be completely reassured by the visit and convinced the cat is well cared for. I can't imagine any case where they would take her away from you now they know she is ancient and poorly and that is why she's thin.

sparechange · 07/10/2016 22:55

I've hesitated about whether or not to post this, but will...
My DF was reported to the RSPCA for a thin cat. When they visited the house, no one was at home but they saw the cat on the road/front garden so took it with them.

When the cat didn't come home, DF put up posters and even phoned the local RSPCA home to see if she had been handed in. They said no.

A week later, the RSPCA visited again with some pseudo-Legal paperwork which threatened legal proceedings for animal cruelty
It was only at this point that they admitted that not only had they taken the cat, but they had put her down the same day.
They lied when they denied the cat had been handed in, and took over a week to actually confess to what they'd done.

Yes the cat was thin, but she was elderly, on regular medication and the vet was happy with her.

They didn't even get an apology. Just a crappy letter saying a mistake had been made.

If I were you, I would follow up with them in writing and insist on them confirming to you in writing that they have no ongoing concerns about the cat, and acknowledge you are doing everything required under law.

ChequeOff · 07/10/2016 23:01

Bloody hell, that's horrific spare Sad
So sorry that happened.

Original poster
HelenaDove · 07/10/2016 23:05

sparechange that is heartbreaking. your poor DF and that poor cat Thanks

i will definately be contacting our vet.

OP posts:
Oliversmumsarmy · 07/10/2016 23:07

Dont know if it will help but our D old girl at 18 was looking very thin and very depressed,(she had lost her brother the year before and I think she was mourning him). Ate very little and would hardly venture outside the bedroom.

We took in a stray who was pregnant and we kept the stray and all the kittens. D.old girl is 20 now. She queues up with the other kittens to go out in the morning. Waits with them in the kitchen for breakfast and dinner and generally thinks she is a kitten again. They have definitely given her a new lease of life

Similar thing happened with our first cat who at 15 was given only 1 year to live (kidney disease). New kitten came to live with us. D.first cat lived another 8 years and was given the all clear on his kidney disease

IWasGintyMarlowe · 07/10/2016 23:07

SpareChange i am gobsmacked. how horrible

gonetoseeamanaboutadog · 07/10/2016 23:30

I don't think you're being unreasonable to feel a bit upset about it, but you'd be unreasonable to have a problem with the visit. It sounds like on this occasion he did his job and accepted there were no concerns.

Sadly some animals really need a visit like this to get them out of dreadful living situations. I think you should take it at face value; you've been crossed off the list.

AmeliaPeabody · 07/10/2016 23:38

I remember your thread from last year!

The veterinary treatment alone is proof your cat is being well cared for, I don't think you need worry about any further action being taken.

AmeliaPeabody · 07/10/2016 23:39

And no, you're not unreasonable to have been upset.

JellyBelli · 07/10/2016 23:41

Keep all your receipts for food and vet care in a folder where you can get to it without hunting,. Ask your vet for a statement about the state of your cats health, his age, and the care he gets. I think you'll be ok but you cant be too careful.

OlennasWimple · 07/10/2016 23:49

We had a visit from the RSPCA about our cat once: someone had reported us because we let her go outside. Hmm The man was very nice, said that some people thought that cats - especially posh looking ones - should be kept inside, but of course that wasn't always correct. He had a short "conversation" with our friendly cat (the one that was the cause of the report), noted we had another cat that didn't want to talk to him, and asked if we could give him the details of our vet so they could speak to them too.

At the time I was shaken, upset and angry - how dare someone suggest we were neglecting our beloved cat! But with a bit of time, I came to the conclusion that I would prefer them to follow up on reports than not if it meant that animals who really were suffering could be helped. And they were very nice in how they behaved with us, which made it more bearable.

Nothing further ever came of it except I could never look at the neighbour who almost certainly made the report again and I'm sure that will be the end of it for you and DoveCat too Flowers

Original poster
HelenaDove · 07/10/2016 23:52

In my case i have absolutely no idea who it could be.

OP posts:
JaceLancs · 08/10/2016 00:23

Had something similar here with my oldest cat someone reported me ax apparently he was starving howling and in pain
Vet confirmed he has arthritis but not in pain is deaf and doesn't realise how loud he's yowling and is slightly underweight but healthy
I solved it by having a long conversation with the local busybody and asked them to spread this around - which vet he was registered with and if anyone had concerns to talk to me or his vet - I've heard nothing since
Really upset me though and I'm still wondering who reported me
I've lived here and kept cats for over 25 years

NovemberInDailyFailLand · 08/10/2016 00:55

Helena, strangely enough (given how the rspca are generally useless) the precise same scenario happened to us with our 14 year old cat a couple of years ago. They showed up at our door asking questions because she was thin and frail.

Nothing came of it, aside from upsetting my autistic eldest child.

Original poster
HelenaDove · 08/10/2016 01:13

I just want to clarify that the reason Dovecat has missed 9 of her daily pills in two and a half months is because she pushed them out of her food and refused them Shes taken all the rest and is currently taking them.
Vet was told about this at last check up and told us to keep going with the meds which we are.

OP posts:
Janey50 · 08/10/2016 01:21

Agree with WorraLiberty. Myself,and several people I know,including an ex-boss,have found them to be pretty useless. I am a massive animal lover,but this is one animal charity that that I will not give to. From my own and other people's experiences,they are all too quick to to interfere when it's not necessary,but won't do anything when it clearly IS necessary.

AmeliaPeabody · 08/10/2016 01:29

Yes, I'd agree with that, Janey. I can vaguely recall them being disinterested when I called about some injured wildlife I'd found. I think they said something about not being able to help with that Confused and suggested I take it to my vet.

Original poster
HelenaDove · 08/10/2016 01:35

Thankyou all for the kind reassurances on this thread. Thanks Thanks

OP posts: