What to do with a sick cat?

[Canadadarling]

Me and my DH moved house about a month ago and since the day we moved in this cat has been coming into our house. She is so sweet and friendly so we are pretty sure she must belong to someone who lives nearby, but she will sometimes stay here all day/night. We always leave the window open so she can leave whenever, and purposely don't feed her so that she will go back home. Anyway, the past few days i've noticed that she has scabs under her fur that i can feel when i stroke her, and her hair is falling out in small clumps because of these. There is also something wrong with her eye as she keeps closing it and it has been very watery today. I dont know what to do about this because i hate seeing a cat unwell, but also she isnt ours and so i a) wouldnt want to take someones pet without their permission and b) dont want to be paying someone elses vet bills! I am also worried for our sake as we are ttc at the moment so i dont know if its safe/sanitary to have a random cat around me and the house when i am pregnant or have a newborn. Any advice on what to do would be appreciated.

I would take her to the vets where they can check her chip and treat her. If she was well I'd suggest a paper collar with your details, but as she's not well she needs vets as a priority.

Post a pic on local Facebook groups and missing pet groups. Someone in such a group (or a vet) may be able to scan for a microchip. Or,If she will let you write a note asking if she has an owner, fold it up and fix it round her neck like a collar. If no response I would call rspca or another rescue, although be aware as she is unwell they may just put her to sleep if no owner comes forward. I sympathise as I had to ask sspca to pick up A sick cat mine brought home, I really couldn’t afford to look after it.

Sounds like a flea allergy and an eye infection to me. I'd take the cat to be scanned to see if it has a chip and if not get the vets advice on what the cat needs to make it better and go from there.
In my opinion if a cat isn't chipped then it doesn't belong to anyone.

She's such a sweetie and i want to help but we don't have a cat carrier or any way of taking her to the vets. Plus even just the consultation would cost £50+ and we dont have the money to be spending on someone elses pet, having just bought a house and now preparing for our baby. I am debating the paper collar with a note, thats if she doesnt scratch it off or lose it before going home (if she even goes home)

I’d put it on Facebook and tag any local cat rescue charities. Someone will recognise the cat or the charities will be able to come and scan for a chip. Vets do though have a duty to treat any animal and I’m sure they wouldn’t charge you for brining in an injured stray (in effect).

You won't need to pay.

Don't expect a vet to treat an animal for nothing. Years ago I discovered a cat in the gutter near my house bleeding from its mouth. I called our vet and his first response was 'it'll be £170 for the OOH service before any treatment costs'. I ended up driving across London to go to an RSPCA centre instead. (Happy ending - the cat was sucessfully treated and rehomed - poor thing had bitten through its tongue as a result of a minor RTA).

If you have a local cat protection charity ring/email them and ask for advice. They might even have a scanner a volunteer could come and scan the cat with to check for an owner.

As a quick tip - bathe the cat's eye with a home made saline solution using a cotton wool ball.

Thanks for the suggestions. As I mentioned in the original post I don’t feel comfortable taking a cat that’s not mine to the vet or to a rescue centre as she’s always roaming outside and it’s clear she’s not a stray. I have been trying to keep her eye clean when she’s here and I’ll look out for it over the next few days to see if it gets worse.