Help with stray cat!!

[Rabarry]

Posting here because I need help, I am so distressed right now. I’ll try and keep as short and to the point as possible.

5 months ago a skinny young cat appeared on the back. I fed him off the batt because he looked like he hadn’t had a decent meal in months. I kept seeing him, he was just on the back crying all the time. I knocked on all of the doors around all the streets near me but no one knew where he came from. I put a paper collar on and FB posts but again, nothing came of it. I fed him regularly, I can’t keep him because I can’t afford him, I already have three cats. He cries all the time and it’s so distressing to hear. I try to let him in when it’s raining but he fights with my cats. I have a cat house for him in the back but I’m not sure if he uses it, I’ve never seen him in there.

I have been trying for three months to get him rehomed. I call cat shelters weekly, and they all just say the same thing, that they are full. I TOTALLY get that, if there’s no room then there’s nothing they can do. However they won’t even agree to contact me when there’s space. I keep calling but for three months now haven’t gotten anywhere. I just don’t know what to do? I have tried everywhere, even places an hour away as I’m willing to travel. Rescue centres have been like this for YEARS now and I fear that they are going to constantly be full and this cat will live his entire life outside.

I live in the Tameside area of greater manchester. If anyone knows of any small rescues that are currently accepting cats right now, please can you contact me? I’ve tried all of the big ones and all of the small ones that come up on a google search and I genuinely don’t know what else I can try to get this poor cat off the street. Can anyone help at all?

This is so heartbreaking. It at least makes me grateful for him that I’m here and feeding him and looking out for him. Some cats have been abandoned and are in far worse states and situations. It’s just so hard when you’re the one seeing the cat day in, day out. But I absolutely do understand the crisis of the situation and have never felt angry at the shelters. I know that they’re doing their best and it’s not their fault the situation is so dire

Thank you for this x

Wow thanks so much! I have already contacted 4 from this list but haven’t heard of the others so will be contacting them tomorrow when they’re open. Thank you

I did actually think of this, but all of the cat lovers I know already have cats! I’m going to keep looking after him and hopefully will be able to sort something out before the cold winter months

Check your local post and found page on Facebook and go through the posts nearing the time it started coming to your back door. If it's neutered then there's a good chance someone lost him months ago and gave up hope

I was in the same situation (with 3 cats of my own, and this little one desperately trying to move in, and my cats wouldn't accept it). Luckily for me another neighbour who was also feeding it ended up taking it in so she had a happy ending. It might be worth knocking on neighbours doors and asking if anyone can take the cat in.

I'm really shocked about this situation had no idea! I can't right now but making me think I should adopt a cat when I have my own home again.

I thought lots of money goes to animal charities. Am I mistaken in thinking this? What's going wrong? Is it to do with the cost of living crisis?

I may be wrong but I think there is just a massive over breeding problem. As well as actual breeders, a lot of people are not neutering their cats. And then they let them outside and they breed. Also I read somewhere a few years ago that cats are the most neglected/abused pet (may not be the case, but I did read it somewhere). And I have seen first hand a lot of times that people get kittens and then get bored of them as adult cats and just abandon them. I don’t know why it’s gotten so bad though. I’m glad that they have the new microchipping law but I wonder what difference it will make, how will it actually be enforced and policed?

Black cats are a good shout to adopt, they're so overlooked
I've had two black male cats and both have been the soppiest lumps you've ever met
This is my current boy. Can give him belly rubs all day and he just lies there purring happily

I wish i was closer to you op as i am looking to take on a cat but im in Norfolk.

Have you tried Pennine Pen and Millstream? They are usually full though :(
I saw Rescue Kitties already mentioned, they are usually full as well, sadly.
Further afield, possibly too far for you but I thought I'd mention these, there is Changing Lives @ Carrington (but their Facebook posts are usually saying they've no more spaces) Pawpurrs Halfway House in M21 (also bursting at the seams with so many cats) and the Society for Abandoned Animals in Sale
Thank you for caring and being kind to him. Please keep feeding and sheltering him if you possibly can.

Have a look at www.catchat.org

They list cat shelters/rescues by area/

It really upsets me this thread. I'm sorry CP or rescue kitties can’t help you, they would have been my suggestions. I think it must be because they have so many absolutely more desperate kittens in life or death situations they do have to triage

millstream is a good shout if you’ve not tried them already

it really annoys me there are still so many un neutered cats in the world. Why do people do this

I'm in the same position as you, and it's heartbreaking. I'm on (rescuing) my fourth starved stray and nobody will take this last one in. Managed to get her into a vets as she'd hurt her front leg quite badly. No chip, unneutured female. All our spare money is going on feeding her so was hoping a rescue could take her in and neuter her before the boys come sniffing. Nope, no chance 😥

Good luck, I hope somebody from that list will have your boy.

A bit further afield, but Boote Home for Cats in Liverpool is probably only about an hour and a half away and quite under publicised.

A mix of reasons- during Covid lots of people got cats but never got them neutered, now we have a cost of living crisis so not only are people less able to give to charities, more people are unable to feed their own cats or afford their vet fees etc so more cats are coming into rescue or being abandoned. If they werent neutered in the first place, we get more cats, and things just spiral.

Dont even get me started on people who deliberately allow their pets to breed so they can sell the kittens on the likes of Gumtree 🤬