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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call the RSPCA?

34 replies

expectingourmiracle · 21/07/2022 22:01

There are two lovely cats who live on my street. Their owners moved away some years ago and didn't take them with them, which is really sad.

Up until lately, our elderly neighbour has been feeding one of them, not sure about the other one. Recently, the one she feeds has been crying at her door really loudly for a long time, but the elderly lady seems to have forgotten about her (she has dementia). She doesn't let her in the house like she used to, and often they come into my house whenever the door is open (usually wet) presumably for some shelter.

I'm highly allergic but can't resist giving them some water at least, but it can't continue. Should I call the RSPCA? Or is it not my business? The neighbours daughter knows the situation but doesn't seem to care (can't blame her, she has a lot on her plate).

OP posts:
Greenday49 · 21/07/2022 22:03

You could, but I doubt they'd do anything.

Could you take them in? Or do you know anyone else who might?

Greenday49 · 21/07/2022 22:03

Apologies, just noted your allergies. Any other neighbour who likes cats?

Newyearnewname20 · 21/07/2022 22:04

Could you take the cats to a shelter? I know it’s not your responsibility at all, but it would be such a kind thing to do for the cats, and the shelter would then make sure the cats went to a good home.

FangsForTheMemory · 21/07/2022 22:04

Speak to your nearest branch of Cats Protection. I take it they are fairly tame and would be ok in a good home?

Original poster
expectingourmiracle · 21/07/2022 22:05

Greenday49 · 21/07/2022 22:03

Apologies, just noted your allergies. Any other neighbour who likes cats?

Yeah I'd love to take them on if I could. I could ask the neighbours, they cats are so lovely I don't know how anyone wouldn't want them!

OP posts:
Badgirlgonegood · 21/07/2022 22:06

Do you have a local cats protection?

My neighbour moved away and left their cat, another neighbour offered to feed it in their garden and keep an eye on it.
I said ok then will you also be paying its vets bills if it gets half ran over by a car or a painful illness? They said no. So I booked the cat in at a local rescue, caught him in my cat carrier and he’s since been adopted and living his best life.

I would call the local rescues and tell them the cats are homeless.

FlowerArranger · 21/07/2022 22:06

Of course the RSPCA will do something! They'll collect the cats and take them to their local shelter or foster care, with a view to getting them adopted.

Freeasabird76 · 21/07/2022 22:06

The RSPCA were absolutely useless last week when I called them about an injured cat who had been left out and alone while owners on hols.

Nikhedonia · 21/07/2022 22:06

I'm not sure id contact the RSPCA. Lots of cat rescue charities around, I'd contact one of them. The cats are clearly in need of care. It would be the kind thing to do.

Original poster
expectingourmiracle · 21/07/2022 22:06

Newyearnewname20 · 21/07/2022 22:04

Could you take the cats to a shelter? I know it’s not your responsibility at all, but it would be such a kind thing to do for the cats, and the shelter would then make sure the cats went to a good home.

We do have a local shelter, I could take them there but I do feel bad for the elderly neighbour. I was hoping the RSPCA would come and take them and do the dirty work for me 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
expectingourmiracle · 21/07/2022 22:08

FangsForTheMemory · 21/07/2022 22:04

Speak to your nearest branch of Cats Protection. I take it they are fairly tame and would be ok in a good home?

They're absolutely lovely, I'm gutted I can't have them myself. They just want attention and cuddles so I'm sure they'd be perfect for a family

OP posts:
Badgirlgonegood · 21/07/2022 22:08

I wouldn’t tell the neighbour to be honest but I’m all about the cats not people haha

cheekychatta · 21/07/2022 22:09

If you feed them then you could be classed as their owner . I would phone cats protection who would either leave them be and check up on them if they think their needs are being met as they did when a neighbor moved and left her 15 year old cat behind . The neighbours left food out for her. Cats protection gave her jabs and checked her health until she died as she was technically a street cat .

Original poster
expectingourmiracle · 21/07/2022 22:10

Badgirlgonegood · 21/07/2022 22:06

Do you have a local cats protection?

My neighbour moved away and left their cat, another neighbour offered to feed it in their garden and keep an eye on it.
I said ok then will you also be paying its vets bills if it gets half ran over by a car or a painful illness? They said no. So I booked the cat in at a local rescue, caught him in my cat carrier and he’s since been adopted and living his best life.

I would call the local rescues and tell them the cats are homeless.

This is my concern too. It's one thing the elderly lady feeding her when she remembers, but what will happen if the cats get ill, or it's minus temperatures in the winter and she forgets to let them in? I do think I need to do something.

OP posts:
JorisBonson · 21/07/2022 22:10

Definitely Cats Protection or a local cat rescue. Poor little things. How can anyone just leave their pets??

Original poster
expectingourmiracle · 21/07/2022 22:12

cheekychatta · 21/07/2022 22:09

If you feed them then you could be classed as their owner . I would phone cats protection who would either leave them be and check up on them if they think their needs are being met as they did when a neighbor moved and left her 15 year old cat behind . The neighbours left food out for her. Cats protection gave her jabs and checked her health until she died as she was technically a street cat .

This is why I haven't fed them, as much as I want to. I just leave the garage door open and put fresh water out so at least they have the basics.

OP posts:
Scrubsupswell · 21/07/2022 22:23

RSPCA aren’t your best option sadly, they do very little to help animals in my experience! Do you have any smaller local rescues? Grassroots organisations are often more willing to help. If you can’t have the cats inside could you make them a temporary shelter in your garden with good and water? There are good tutorials on YouTube. Good luck and thanks for caring for them!

Toddlerteaplease · 21/07/2022 22:26

Get in touch with a smaller local rescue. I found a cat that I was worried about, and the CP were rude and couldn't get through to RSPCA. A local rescue contacted me and were amazing. They took the cat in and he had two months of being loved and cared for, before he died comfortably and peacefully, surrounded by love.

ThinWomansBrain · 21/07/2022 22:35

"classed as the owner" ??
I used to work for Cats Protection (brilliant charity, do call them) - I visited a branch, actually a few pens in someone's back garden, and met the fattest cat I'd ever seen.
He'd been bought in and described as a stray, but thin and waif-like he wasn't. He'd still been taken in for rehoming, no questons asked, but no-one believed with the "stray" story for a second.

Badgirlgonegood · 21/07/2022 22:38

ThinWomansBrain · 21/07/2022 22:35

"classed as the owner" ??
I used to work for Cats Protection (brilliant charity, do call them) - I visited a branch, actually a few pens in someone's back garden, and met the fattest cat I'd ever seen.
He'd been bought in and described as a stray, but thin and waif-like he wasn't. He'd still been taken in for rehoming, no questons asked, but no-one believed with the "stray" story for a second.

But can’t some strays be overweight because everyone feeds them but nobody owns them??

Food is not the only necessity for animal care.

FlowerArranger · 22/07/2022 00:31

I wish people wouldn't knock the RSPCA. Whatever you may think of the national organisation, the local branches do sterling work and in my experience would certainly take responsibility for abandoned cats. I should know as I have fostered many.

Yarnasaurus · 22/07/2022 00:54

This thread is a good example of why we shouldn't assume everyone else is looking after stray/abandoned cats:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_litter_tray/4539318-not-sure-how-much-to-intervene-with-this-cat?

Please contact the RSPCA, Cats Protection or local cat rescue so the cats can be looked after properly.

Original poster
expectingourmiracle · 22/07/2022 10:36

Yarnasaurus · 22/07/2022 00:54

This thread is a good example of why we shouldn't assume everyone else is looking after stray/abandoned cats:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_litter_tray/4539318-not-sure-how-much-to-intervene-with-this-cat?

Please contact the RSPCA, Cats Protection or local cat rescue so the cats can be looked after properly.

This is my worry, I know she is being fed (mostly) but that's the absolute minimum she needs. She needs shelter and affection and I don't think she's getting that regularly enough. I feel the elderly lady lets her in when she can/when she remembers but it's not really enough.
I'm pregnant so feeling very maternal 😂

OP posts:
TheFormidableMrsC · 22/07/2022 10:39

RSPCA are utterly useless in my experience. I don't even know why they exist. It's really annoying. I'd contact a local charity or Cats Protection League. They need to be rehomed and it sounds as if that would be successful. Not everybody wants kittens.

PeloAddict · 22/07/2022 10:41

TheFormidableMrsC · 22/07/2022 10:39

RSPCA are utterly useless in my experience. I don't even know why they exist. It's really annoying. I'd contact a local charity or Cats Protection League. They need to be rehomed and it sounds as if that would be successful. Not everybody wants kittens.

That ^^
There's usually a local cat group/cat scanner who can help or a cat lady
I realised I was the local cat lady the other day when 2 children stopped at my garden to tell me they had seen an injured cat Blush