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Original poster

Can I steal a cat?

26 replies

Shybaby · 26/04/2008 13:20

Short story. I have four cats. A stray keeps coming in my house through the cat flap. Now this has happened before and we've always managed to get rid of them with water pistol etc. This one is just not going away no matter what we do. Its been about 4 months now.

Stray cat is very very cute, affectionate and sweet but he stinks my house out with his spraying and I am sick to death of cleaning the walls every single day. I am embarrassed to have anyone around here because of the smell.

So, I can either:

A: trap him in the cat carrier, take him to the vets and get him done. To which he may run off anyway and its £40 I cant really afford.

B: trap him and take him to some sort of cat sanctuary. Even if he has an owner, he is not looked after, long haired with fur all matted up and lumpy. He's in a terrible state.

What do you reckon?

OP posts:
Lauriefairycake · 26/04/2008 13:26

how about trying the pdsa and the rspca to see if they can help with the cost

I would keep the cat 'cos like you I'm softhearted , bet he'd clean up a treat

VictorianSqualor · 26/04/2008 13:28

I posted about a similar issue before.
Can you write a note and stick it round his neck saying that you're considering rehoming him so if he has an owner can they call you?
That way you'll know if he has a home, it's unlikely that he'll disappear if he has no home and you rehome him as he is already seemingly pretty attached!
If you take him to the vets they can scan him for a microchip too. If no joy I'd be inclined to get him done and keep him.

Original poster
Shybaby · 26/04/2008 13:34

Bum, I was hoping for some horrid answers.

But Noooooo. I get the softhearted ones like me!

He is really nice.

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 26/04/2008 13:44

Sooo, whatcha gonna call him?

nooka · 26/04/2008 13:45

I'd ring up the local pdsa/rspca and see if they can help with the spaying. Five cats is a lot though! However I think that you have been formally adopted we had this a few years back (also a long haired cat) and I'm sure our cat had had an owner (he had a collar) but was also matted and wanting love (we found out later he had tried to adopt other neighbours) so we took him in.

We've also had a Six Dinner Sid cat with a nieghbour who really thought that he had adopted them (this was because he lived with dh's mum and dad and they didn't let him in at night) they were a bit sad when we canme home from uni and took him with us.

So difficult to tell, but if your stray hasn't been spayed and doesn't look cared for then I don't think it is a problem for you to take charge. Not sure I'd want five cats though - we've always thought more than two is getting into "cat lasy" territory

Original poster
Shybaby · 26/04/2008 13:50

I dont have four through choice. I did have eight at one time. Three were my own and the others were sort of "adopted". Anyone who finds a cat or wants to rehome always brings them to me first.

Ds just told me stinky cat is upstairs....sob.

More cleaning. That lil guy is going to the vets next week it appears.

OP posts:
ClairePO · 26/04/2008 13:55

I took in a stray that someone brought round, she was living locally but owners had chucked her out as she stole food off counter and she was living on top of a wheely bin and suspected to be pregnant. Plan was to keep her in spare room and getting her spayed if she wasn't pregnant rehome her. When I took her to the vets the spaying was cheaper due to am RSPCA contribution as she was a stray. So maybe call your vets and see if there are any such campaigns on now?

SeniorMelly · 26/04/2008 13:56

Oh I would keep him.

A little 4 months old[ish] one followed me from nursery into local shops last week. It was rubbing around my legs and all. I have 2 cats and 1 dog though so couldn't just take him.

I left him in the shop.

Poor kitty.

Original poster
Shybaby · 26/04/2008 13:58

I dont think I can get any help with the cost can I? I thought that was only for people on benefit?

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Lovesdogsandcats · 26/04/2008 14:10

PDSA, RSPCA will only help if you are on benefit (even housing benefit counts). However there are other agencies like Blue Cross (01993 822651)

Do a search in your area. You are more likely to get help if you are going to keep the cat because rehoming is a huge problem to all the animal charities.

Why not ring Cats Protection, tell them your story and they may help? Here's the number for the National Helpline:

08702 099099

beautifulgirls · 26/04/2008 15:16

Cats protection league are the best to talk to for helping with costs of neutering. They should also be able to advise you what to do re checking about an owner too before you get him done.

ClairePO · 26/04/2008 20:44

I'm not on benefit, it was just a neutering campaign they were doing I assume. I only realised when I checked the bill and there was an RSPCA discount listed. I was just saying it may be worth asking the vet. I had mentioned she was a stray I was going to rehome (I didn;t, she is still with me, she was far too lovely to rehome).

tbh I did think it was a bit odd but I didn't argue as the spay was £110 AFTER the discount. I'd had my male young cat neutered about 10 months before and he only cost £40ish.

KerryMum · 26/04/2008 20:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ClairePO · 26/04/2008 20:49

I have three and we have agreed no more but if one turned up on the doorstep..........

PrettyCandles · 26/04/2008 20:54

Personally I'd go for option B.

Cat's Protection League

Original poster
Shybaby · 26/04/2008 21:01

£110!!!!

Where do you live!!?

OP posts:
Original poster
Shybaby · 26/04/2008 21:02

I mean, I know females cost more but....heck.

OP posts:
ClairePO · 26/04/2008 22:35

I was shocked too, and even more so when I looked over the bill and realised I'd had a discount. It's a very expensive vet in the middle of my market town that I no longer go to. And they didn't even stock the right meds for my old boy. And wouldn't even buy them in either. Rubbish.

Have you decided what to do?

mymblemummy · 27/04/2008 00:14

So long as your current cats don't mind, keep him, poor thing.
He sounds lovely, just think what he would be like neutered and cleaned up.

itsahardknocklife · 27/04/2008 00:18

Keep him. Contact the RSPCA as they quite often run free neutering schemes, where you get a voucher from them and the vet claims the cost back. Failing that, the Celia Hammond charity has vouchers for money off neutering - or they used to at least.

Lovesdogsandcats · 27/04/2008 08:48

mymblemummy i agree, bet he looks a stunner when he's been brushed and cleaned up.

as for the spraying, well, he's

  1. an unnuetered tom
  2. spraying his territory. Looks like he's already claimed you as his owners

Had a thought- why not ring a nice vet in your area and tell them the situation ..ask if you can pay it off weekly. They may do it cheaper if they know he's a stray?

He sounds lovely to be honest and if I were you I would definitely keep him.

Lovesdogsandcats · 27/04/2008 08:50

kerrymum you are obviously not a cat lover. If you were, you'd understand.

KITTENSOCKS · 28/04/2008 10:22

Even if an owner could be traced for this cat, it is highly unlikely that he would be returned to them as he is so obviously neglected. You have obviously been adopted!!!!

If you do call Cats Protection, they will love you forever for taking in this cat, or just for caring enough to help it. Chances are they will try to subsidise the cost of neutering, even if they can't pay for it all.

If it is possible, try to find out where the cat came from by talking to neighbours; you may facilitate the RSPCA in prosecuting the owners and save a few more animals as well.

KerryMum · 28/04/2008 15:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Shybaby · 29/04/2008 20:11

Im already referred to as the crazy cat lady!

Im wary of CPL, ive had a bad experience with them before. I took in a cat once. A friend found the poor thing caked in oil wandering around a trading estate and brought her to me. I cleaned her up and tried to take her in. Ds was a toddler at the time and it nearly scratched him to bits just for walking past, attacked my other cats quite badly.

I took it to cpl for rehoming, explaining how I came to "own" it and they phoned me up for weeks afterwards demanding to know if it had been given any jabs (how would I know?), didn't I know it was a boy and had a problem with its undescended bits..erm no, thats why I thought it was a girl. Didnt I know it needed a very expensive operation and I should be ashamed of myself etc etc etc. In the end I got very uppity with the woman and told her not to phone me again.

Update anyhow, stinky has been in, had some food and fuss. Will phone up somewhere as soon as I can work out who! He's started "talking" to me every morning now for his breakfast (grumble grumble).

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