Stupid Neighour Disowned Cat.

[tararabumdeay]

He's been an outdoor cat for so long. A fella that sits on car bonnets to keep warm as soon as we pull up. He's 19 and obviously good at looking out for himself to last that long since she chucked him out for weeing and pooping in the house about 10 years ago.

He's nervous, but when it was cold my son managed to entice him to a warm place on the telephone table in the hall.

She's now stopped feeding him (outside) because she's assumed that he's our cat now and we've got no cat food. If I wanted a cat I'd not chose a 19 year old one but he's a little life that deserves respect.

What the hell can I give him? We're non meat eaters but have a tin of salmon. I can't see him cold and hungry.

I've never had a pet/animal apart from a fish that died when I was watching the 'Golden Shot' when I was 5.

The AIBU is why should I pay for cat food because neighbour has taken umbrage or sees an opportunity to save a couple of quid a week?

I can't afford it either as not yet met Mr Micawber's definition of Happiness.

Cat has just scoffed half an Aldi burger - that can't be good for him. Aldi burger is DHs choice of lunch. I'd kick him DH out in the cold for that if I could.

You might find some better advice here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray

Do you know any other nearby neighbours who might have some food or even might take the poor soul in? I'd hate the thought of them him being put down or left in some sort of rescue centre for the end of his life

OP might not be able to afford to keep a cat. Also if dcat becomes unwell who is going to pay vet fees and for euthanasia if and when needed? A responsible owner needs to think if these things before they take on a pet. Cats protection prob best bet imho.

This is a really weird OP. Cats are allowed outdoors you know!

I agree this cat has been stolen by someone who states she has no knowledge of cats and seems to detest her neighbour.

The cat was coaxed in then shut in and fed a burger by someone who won't just go over and see what the score is with the owner. That's straight up theft. If kindness was the goal then a conversation would be had to establish meds and diet at the very least!

It so lovely that your helping this lost little soul. Old cats particularly need a high protein diet, no carbs or salty foods. Salt can be very bad for their kidneys, especially since he's so old. Milk isn't good for cats. Please give him lots of water as older cats often require additional water due to kidney problems. Ham isn't too good for older cats as it's processed and high salt. Cheese isn't too good either. I would stick to fish or meat. Thank you you're doing a great job xx

How is this doing a great job?! She has taken in a cat when she says she knows nothing about cats, has no cat food and hasn’t even had the decency to inform its owners. She hasn’t asked about medical conditions, usual diet, anything.

Speak to the neighbour - if they have really stopped feeding him the contact a cat charity.

You should not adopt him - if you resent paying a few quid for cat food then you will never cover the inevitable vet bills. He is at the end of his life and needs warmth, food and love. Please make a couple of phone calls to ensure his last few weeks/months/years are good ones.

It seems this lost little soul was right outside his owner's home, so not actually lost at all just catnapped by a neighbour.

There are cat lovers and dog lovers and all in between. I made the decision years ago not to be any one of them. Too hard to let them go if I got attached in any way, and also do not like being a maid to a cat, and having to walk a dog every day whether I wanted to or not. Not to mention the hairs and the smells either Yikes!

My decision.

But OP, get advice from someone who knows about how to deal with cats, what vet things they need, what jabs, worming, flea baiting, having cat litter indoors etc.

Good luck, not saying you are wrong in any way, it would just not be for me, and I hope my views are respected.

@RainbowBriteRules you seem very angry. OP is trying her best to help. She's on here asking what else she should do. It's unfortunate that you need someone to spell that out to you. I hope you feel better soon and manage to calm yourself.

Rainbow is not coming across as angry at all she is just stating the obvious.

OP is ignoring any advice apart from "oh you rescuer you" which is becoming more and more dubious with each post!

Keep the cat he has been sifting on car bonnets to keep warm the poor guy.... at 19 he doesn't have long left. Cant you just give him his last few months a year tops someplace warm to sleep. And some food and attention make his last moments moments of feeling loved and wanted. You can get cat food cheap in Lidl and even cheaper in Aldi.. you said you have salmon give him that get a box cardboard or plastic shove a few old towels sheets in there for him to have someplace comfy and warm to sleep and to call his own. I want to punch your neighbour in the face and I'm not overly found of cats I'd never see one suffer I couldn't have a cat in my house with 4 dogs but I'd make dam sure I got him shelter and warmth even if it was the shed for the probably little time he has left

Can I just ask...if he was chucked outside for the last 10 year why havent you reported the owner to the rspca or done something....

hasn’t even had the decency to inform its owners.

RTFT.

If you don't want to tell anyone which area you are in so that we can try to help, perhaps look on here for a shelter, do not call RSPCA unless you want them to kill the cat. There are rescues that will take old cats, one is Goldies Oldies (Essex) there is also Cat Cuddles (South).

List of rescues by area on here www.catchat.org/index.php

Speak to the owner. She may have a cupboard full of cat medication and special dietfoods. Its not helpful when neighbours rescue an elderly tottery cat and stuff it full of burger. I repeat. A cat does not live to 19 by being neglected. Without vaccinations and vet checks I would have expected this cat to reach 8-10 years.

kittylovers, I sound angry because I find it awful that people are allowed to get away with catnapping. It may we’ll be that the owners do not want the cat ankle but the reality is that OP doesn’t know that for sure.

PrimalLass, I have read the full thread and nowhere does it say that OP has had a clear conversation with the owners (or in fact any conversation!) where they said they didn’t want the cat. In fact, she said she had to lure it into her house.

Terrible typos sorry!

If you're not sure if he's being fed, feed him. Better a fed cat than a dead one that people have ignored in case it's being fed elsewhere. That's the advice from rescue

My neighbours did similar, ok they fed the cat but they left him outside 24/7 as they said he would wee all over the house. I took him in on a night he was howling at my window in driving snow and wind (pedigree cat too). He was bloody frozen and he came in every night in winter then from 11pm - 6am and went out every morning. He never weed in the house. Also had no access to water all day apart from puddles and was struggling in summer with a long coat

Ollivander this is different, she had to coax the cat in against it's better judgement, it wasn't distressed and scratching to get in from a storm!

OP says that it has been chucked out for years. Maybe cat was concerned about coming in?
If anyone had seen the one I let in, he looked physically fine. When I got him in (he was scared), all his fur was so matted it was peeling away and he drank a full bowl of water

Oh OP you can feed him anything, honestly he’ll be fine. Bless you. Please ignore all the ‘have you asked permission’ comments your neighbour is an arse hole. It’s not your responsibility but if you have the compassion to help this old boy out that’d be so lovely of you honestly cat food is super cheap & you don’t need a litter tray his clearly used to going outside. Cats are one of the most independent pets, besides putting food & water in my cats bowls & giving him a cuddle when asked he does his own thing! Cats are great at deciding where they like best & obviously he feels that’s with you

I have read the full thread and nowhere does it say that OP has had a clear conversation with the owners (or in fact any conversation!) where they said they didn’t want the cat

They threw the cat out 10 years ago. What bit of bad pet owner is unclear?

Cat would not get to 19 and have all his teeth well enough to eat a burger if it had been outside with no attention for ten years, it would have gone long ago!

Some logic application would be good here.

No, that is unclear as she seems to correlate the cat being put outside (which lots of cats are) with being completely evicted. It is not clear that they do not want the cat or that the cat is never let into the house or has no outside shelter. It’s not something I would do with my cat but lots of cats like being outside. This thread is crazy!