Helping an abandoned cat

[flibbertigibbert]

My neighbours have gone on holiday and abandoned their cat, who is around 9 months old - I saw the litter of kittens last year. I've been in contact with the RSPCA who say that they can't act for 48 hours, so in the meantime the poor cat is in the garden crying constantly. I can't get to it because I'm in the flat above and would have to climb into the garden. There is a hole in the fence at the back of their garden which would allow me to put some food out. Bearing in mind it won't have eaten much, what's the best thing for me to feed it?

Is there any other way I can help it? I feel so upset having to listen to it crying constantly.

Also, does anyone know what the RSPCA would be likely to do once they get to the cat? I'd possibly be interested in adopting it though I'm not sure it would be practical. I've been considering getting a cat for a while, though it would have to be a house cat as I'm in a maisonette. I'm guessing the transition from stray to house cat wouldn't work...

Do you know how long the neighbours have gone on holiday for?
It is unlikely that the RSPCA will do anything much at all if it's for a week or so. Are there any other animal charities nearby that would help? If its used to be booted outside for days on end then it will pobably be adept at catching its own food. It wouldn't be a great idea to keep the cat inside your home as an "indoor" cat- that just wouldn't be fair

I don't know how long they've been away for. The cat has been crying since Friday, so at least that long. It occurred to me that they could be stranded because of the flight situation. I don't know of any charities nearby, and I'm not sure what they'd be able to do as they couldn't enter the property either.

If you could place a bowl of cat food through the hole in the fence, it will be fine....it will find its own shelter. I think you just need to keep an eye on it

Thanks for the responses. I'll leave some food out for it and wait for the RSPCA to get in touch.

Just climb over or use the hole. The poor thing is probably confused and starving .

Are you sure that no-one is coming to feed the cat? Lots of owners ask friends or family to pop by to feed and check their cat and thus leave their cats home. However, having said that the cat should have access to shelter, food and water and if any of these are not being adequately provided then there is potentially a case of cruelty to be made there.
If you are unsure why not pop a letter on their front door "to the cat feeder" to ask them to confirm the cat is getting the necessary attention. Hopefully someone could then put your mind at rest.

The cat doesn't seem to have access to the house. I can see into all of the gardens on the row and there is no food or water in any of the other gardens. I was talking to a neighbour on my floor who was also being kept awake by the crying and he put a tin of food out yesterday and a bowl of water. When he put the food out the cat jumped on it and licked the bowl clean. It seemed really hungry. The family are not nice at all and don't seem too fussed about the cats even when they're at home. Another neighbour said she had to get social services involved with the family after the little girl almost set fire to herself whilst playing with a barbeque unattended. There have been lots of other incidents like that. I'm worried that if the family do find out I've been interfering it could get very nasty.

Would you expect a cat which is almost a year old to be fully grown? The cat still looks very small to me. It hasn't really grown since the summer.

Yes at a year old the cat would be fully grown. Some cats are just very small though so it is not necessarily an indication of anything.