I'm writing this on behalf of a friend.
My friend through no fault of her own was made homeless by a private landlord. She was moved into a homeless shelter with her 2 children. She could not take her pets. Through work, a colleague suggested an older lady who would care for her cat until she could have him back.
After a year they were moved to a temporary flat which also does not allow her to have her pets. She has now been there a year. So the cat has lived with the lady for 2 years. During this time my friend has provided all his food/treats/flea and worming treatment and taken him to the vets when necessary and paid. She visits him weekly with her daughter.
The issue is that the lady has of course got very attached to the cat and likes to treat him with food. She buys him wet food pouches and gives him a lot of not particularly healthy treats. The cat is now very overweight, has health problems and does not go outside. My friend has tried to kindly and gently address this with the lady while being incredibly grateful that she took the cat in and she knows the lady is not doing this out of malice, but just because she loves the cat.
She took the cat to the vet recently and they have said he is severely overweight. He weights double what he should. He can't groom himself properly and damage has been caused to his joints and fur. His teeth are also in a bad state as the lady has stopped giving him the dry food my friend supplies as naturally the cat holds out for the wet pouches and other treats.
My friend is at a loss as to what to do next. She is considering bringing the cat to her flat as he doesn't go outside now, even though this is against the rules and it is unlikely she will have a permanent home anytime soon. However, she knows the lady is very attached to the cat and would probably be lonely without him.
If anyone could give any advice as to how to deal with this it would be much appreciated.