What do I do about my neighbours cat??

[ilyx]

I really need advice as I’m so stressed out about this.

Basically I saw this cat on my walk a while ago, gave him a stroke, he followed me to my house and I thought he might be a stray so fed him, and then he didn’t leave and stayed outside my house permanently. I took him to vets to see if he had an owner and he was microchipped and I found the owner, she lived round the corner so I went to her house. She basically told me the cat hasn’t lived with her for months and doesn’t stay there anymore as he doesn’t like the other cats who live with her. She just shrugged it off. She takes no responsibility for him at all and won’t do anything about it.

He’s a lovely cat but I can’t have him as he fights my other cats, who are very passive and scared of her. There have been times where they’ve been together in my back garden and he has fought my other cats and luckily I work from home so could break it up as I’d hear the commotion.

I know he’s not my cat but I’ve been feeding him (in the front garden as my cats never go in the front garden), flea combing him (he has an awful flea infestation and I’ve tried front guard but nothing is working), and I can’t bear him being homeless in this weather now the temperature has dropped.

My husband won’t let him sleep in the house at night as he doesn’t like him because of how vicious he’s been to our cats, he’s a bit of a beast, he’s huge compared to my other cats.

I just don’t know what the kindest thing to do is but I have no idea what cat shelters are like, will he just be locked in a cage all day? Because he’s used to being an outdoor cat and I’m worried he’ll hate that even more.

Just want some advice. I know people might tell me it’s not my cat not my problem but my neighbour is a complete idiot and won’t do anything about it. She’s washed her hands of him so I have to sort it out. I’ve told her I can’t take him in and she just doesn’t care he’s homeless.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you

@EmpressaurusOfWitchesBackFromTheDead

At the shelter you volunteer with what happens with aggressive cats? He loves people but is very aggressive with other cats

@EmpressaurusOfWitchesBackFromTheDead

Also what cat rescue do you volunteer for?

Most cats are aggressive towards others, and if you can't keep him, honestly the best place for him would be a shelter. He might not have his freedom, but he will be warm, safe, fed and have any medical conditions (including fleas) treated.

I've adopted older cats from shelters before, people do rehome them and if he is friendly with people he would stand a better chance.

I’m a fosterer for an independent rescue in London. I know some of the other fosterers have their own cats too, but I assume that if a cat is known not to like other cats, they’ll get allocated somewhere where they’ll be the only one.

Never been an issue in the shelters ive worked at/volunteered at - cat-unfriendly cats are housed singly and advertised as such.

Outdoor cats are matched up with outdoor homes, typically rural, stable yard type homes.

Indoor cats are matched up with indoor homes.

Cats aren't reallllllly expected to be cat-friendly, its not the big deal it is with dogs, ditto the outdoor living thing either tbh!

The cats that struggle for homes tend to be those with medical conditions, and the people aggressive ones.

Everything else.. theres a cat person for that cat out there somewhere!

If he's chiped, doesn't the rescue have to contact his owner? Will she tell them to rehome him?

Cat Protection League should be able to take and rehome?

@BMW6

Everything I’ve read online seems to imply it’s SO difficult to rehome cats 😩 that most people want kittens etc maybe it’s not true I don’t know though

Thank you for all suggestions btw sorry I can’t reply to everyone they’re all really helpful

See what other rescues are in your area & talk to them? A PP had a good point about needing to get your neighbour’s agreement if she’s still the official owner though.

Thank you for feeding him, he really sounds like he needs medical attention regarding the fleas though. Cats protection?

We need a picture please 😊

He won’t starve, he’s an outdoor cat. He will remain OP’s problem if she keeps feeding him.

Please don’t use anything on a cat that isn’t yours. Many over the counter flea treatments are ineffective/dangerous. One brand has been reported for killing pets.

Stop feeding it, shoo it away. It’s upsetting your cats and I think that’s really unfair. I’d be tempted to ask the owner if she’ll surrender it to Cats Protection league.

This is the one I used

www.catchat.org/shelter_centre/index.php?route=shelters/shelter&path=323&preview=1

Please please be very careful about contacting any rehoming groups you find on online platforms - do the research to ensure any you contact are proper rescues as there are some awful people out there.

You sound really nice, I would find it very hard myself to turn my back on a hungry homeless cat. Really hope you have luck with getting him a new home. Great advice from people that work in shelters.