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Original poster

A small fluffy bundle...

112 replies

purplewerepidj · 10/10/2011 20:21

I walk to work (about 10 minutes) and this morning spotted a small fluffy bundle on top of a wall. I didn't really have time to check it out, but it played on my mind all day.

I checked it out on the way home, and it's a dead cat Sad I work shifts (which is why I'm posting 12 hours after I first saw it) and have tomorrow off. I need advice on what to do:

a) Nothing
b) Go back with a cardboard pet carrier and rubber gloves and contact the local vet in the morning
c) Call the emergency vet and/or some kind of local council department

I don't think I'm heartless enough for option a. I was incredibly grateful to the stranger who took my cat to the vet when he was run over even though he didn't pull through. Option b seems logical but I would have to store it in the dustbin as I don't really want it in the house, but that seems disrespectful. Option c might be the proper way to do things, but I'd like to know that the owner knew what had happened.

I don't have dc's so am free to go with the MN verdict! Thank you Thanks

OP posts:
RightUpMyRue · 10/10/2011 20:23

C.

How will you find the owner with any of the options unless the cat is microchipped?

KatharineClifton · 10/10/2011 20:25

B.

I take it there was no id tag?

You're a good person.

Original poster
purplewerepidj · 10/10/2011 20:27

Thank you!

Katherine, I didn't get that close; the poor thing was curled up as if it were asleep and I didn't want to touch it without gloves should have nicked some from work

Anyone have any clues as to which department I should google if I go for council? Also, is storing someone's dead pet in the dustbin (empty) an ok thing to do?!

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 10/10/2011 20:30

our vet will scan dead pets to see if they are microchipped and then dispose of them if there is no way of id'ing them

so i would do B

MissPenteuth · 10/10/2011 20:31

Different councils might have different rules, but when we found a dead cat in our garden :( the council refused to take it. They would have taken it from the roadside, but not a private garden. So be wary of taking it home if you don't want to have to dispose of it yourself (or find the owners).

You're lovely for not just leaving it there though. Poor kitty.

Original poster
purplewerepidj · 10/10/2011 20:35

I've also put it as my fb status, and am off to google the emergency vet number. I can at least ring them and collect if they can't.

I was so grateful to the kind person who took my cat down when he was run over, this is my turn to do the right thing!

OP posts:
FroOOOOOtshoOOOOOOts · 10/10/2011 20:39

I have taken 2 dead cats in to my local vets (not at the same time!). I put them in a box and took them in.
The vets scanned them for any id and then send them to the crematorium with the other 'waste' Sad afaik.
I also put posters up.
I think they were feral cats though as no one ever came looking for them.

Original poster
purplewerepidj · 10/10/2011 20:46

The nice chap is going to get the duty vet to ring me back.

It's quarter to nine in the evening here, so I can't just walk into a surgery - which is why I pondered the carrier and dustbin (out of the way of foxes) idea Smile

OP posts:
whojamaflip · 10/10/2011 20:51

I used to work for the council as Animal Warden and we would always go out and collect the animal, check for collar or microchip and if no id would store it for 7 days in the freezer at the depot, to give owners a chance to report their pet missing. After that they would be sent for incineration if not claimed.

Give the Environmental Health dept a ring - check out your councils website for nos or email.

Or you could pop it down your local vets tomorrow and they should scan it foc. They most likely will dispose of it for you as well.

Original poster
purplewerepidj · 10/10/2011 20:53

Apparently my local council will just dispose, so the poor mite is going to stay in my bin for the night Sad

Then I can take it to the surgery in the morning, and hopefully the owner will be notified

OP posts:
Original poster
purplewerepidj · 10/10/2011 21:17

It's safe with me, the vet is only 2mins away so I'll take it in first thing tomorrow.

It's tiny Sad

OP posts:
KatharineClifton · 10/10/2011 21:20

Aw, that's so sad. Probably one of this years kittens.

Original poster
purplewerepidj · 10/10/2011 21:32

Oh, Katherine, no! Sad

OP posts:
Havingkittens · 10/10/2011 21:48

That's lovely of you. If it were my cat I would be really grateful to a kind soul like you for going to the trouble. They will be sad, I'm sure, but at least it won't mean they spend weeks looking for it and hoping it will come home. I think posters if a good idea too, giving the number of the vet you have contacted if you can't face breaking the news to the owner.

I saw what I thought was a dead cat on the side of a road at night a few months ago and called the local RSPCA number. They said they wouldn't send someone to fetch it but that they would make a note in case anyone called to report a missing cat.

SheepAreSuper · 10/10/2011 21:51

Not sure where you are but my local council dog warden will assist with collection and identification I'm these circumstances. Your general council contact number should be able to put you through to the right department.

Original poster
purplewerepidj · 10/10/2011 21:55

Thanks, the duty vet's advice was that our local council would dispose of the body like any other rubbish Sad

A wonderful person took my cat (the ginger one on my profile) to the vet earlier this year when he was run over. I never found out who, but did put an ad in the local rag to say thank you. So this feels like Karma - it's my "turn". Cynical DP agrees Shock he's away for work so didn't know til too late

OP posts:
Original poster
purplewerepidj · 11/10/2011 12:56

Blush For anyone still following, I have made a total twat of myself. It wasn't a dead cat. It was a toy cat. I dropped it off to the vet this morning, and they just rang back to tell me Blush

OP posts:
AKMD · 11/10/2011 12:58

So sad... until your last post. That is hilarious, sorry. Must have been a realistic cat!

LittlePickleHead · 11/10/2011 13:00

Sorry but I did burst out laughing! How did you not realise?!

Original poster
purplewerepidj · 11/10/2011 13:03

Don't woryy, the vet and I were in giggly hysterics! I don't know how I'm going to face them when the cat's jabs are due!

It was just curled up on top of a 6' brick gate pillar thing. I saw a cat face, and assumed the worst.

Am I the biggest twat on MN today? I must be!

OP posts:
missmogwi · 11/10/2011 13:04

Really? Grin and Blush for you!

JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns · 11/10/2011 13:06

I followed this thread all sorrowfull, but that, that's hilarious Grin

mistressploppy · 11/10/2011 13:06

HA HA HA HA HA

I was getting all upset (pregnant) so am very pleased to read the end of this thread! Classic!!

MrsDanverclone · 11/10/2011 13:06

Reading this with tears in my eyes, even more so, now I've read you last post Grin

Original poster
purplewerepidj · 11/10/2011 13:06

I'm not imaginative enough to make this up Blush

OP posts:
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