A cat has adopted us.

[LittleEsmeWeatherwax]

A little cat has been around the last few days - our elderly moggie has been put-out and slopes off whenever this little one appears. Day before yesterday, she scoffed our cats food (put outside) at an unbelievable rate, poor thing was starving.

We're feeding her and she's currently spent the third night in our utility room in the shoe box (I put down an old thick fleece blanket for her to cozy up to).

She's really tame and allows us to pet her so I can feel that she's skin and bone. Possibly pregnant too (although I'm far from expert) cos her little tum is swollen slightly. I also think she's had an injury at some point and healed without treatment as she walks with quite a 'square', rickety gait

What shall I do? Do I need to contact anyone to see if she's a missing cat?
Any advice greatly received.

You should take her a local vet to see if she is microchipped. Nowadays the vast majority of 'stray' cats are actually owned and we find more are chipped than not.

Although registered micro-chip owner may have died or moved away, or given her to a friend who never changed the micro-chip records. I would take her to a vet, too, try to wait a few more days to build up her trust. She's not going to thank you for Vet visit. Keep her indoors in meantime, at night at least.

Lizcat thank you. I'm going to take her to our local vet after work tomorrow. I just hope she hangs around enough for me to be able to do this. She's a sweet little thing. Quite young too, I think.

Right. Vets tomorrow, then we'll see what's what.

ragged, xposted. Thank you too.

What are my choices I wonder? Can I just keep her? Get her health sorted if possible? MIL would be happy to home her. Not sure how to handle the kittens thoughm should she be pregnant.

We had a cat living in the trees at the bottom of the garden, it looked thin so we fed it but couldn't get close enough to catch it to take it to the vet. November 5th the fireworks started she shot into the house and hid behind the radiators.
We took her to our local vets to see if she was chipped, she wasn't, we told all the local vets about her, a lady came to visit but she wasn't hers.
Any way 8 years later she is sitting on the kitchen table glaring at me as her 3rd breakfast is not being served quickly enough. So you can keep them but you need to inform everyone so that if the owners are lookinf for the cat they can find iy

that should say it

I am now definitely the only person in the whole wild world that hasn't been sent a stray cat.

Wild/wide. Works either way I suppose.

Wait for vet to confirm if she is pregnant & not the legal property of someone else.
If she is pg & you know you'll get to keep her, I would contact Cat Protection League or RSPCA if no CPL in your area. They are there to help you deal with the kittens.

We never see stray cats, either! Although I know local people involved with CPL & they insist there's no shortage of local people who can't be bothered to spay their cats. :(

Sparkling, where do you live? I am quite prepared to come over and put greyboy in your garden. You can claim him as a stray. I'd give you his chip details too

Just looked at your profile (and laughed again at invisible mother). Your cat is gorgeous. Almost as pretty as my ginger boy.

Worcestershire rip is that far from you?

inform the local rescues in your area that you have found her and are willing to keep her as they all have a lost and found register and if the original owner has been in touch with them they will have details

hi OP, are you in the south east?
someone on a local facebook page has lost her pregnant cat, and although it's unlikely i thought i'd just ask in case we can re-unite them lol

hers is a tabby

Ah no, South Wales.

And this cat is black with white socks and a white patch on her nose. She's still with us, sleeping in our shoe box. I caught a view of her taking a stroll around our garden earlier - she's most definitely pregnant, and quite far gone I'd say. She was almost waddling.

How do I stand in terms of Vet costs, if I take her along for an initial check and microchip check?

hating to sound mean, but got to prepare myself

Just lurking for advice as we was adopted by a cat this week too. Ours is defiantly pregnant and tbf she puts my waddle to shame. I'm not sure on vet things and such

Five hour drive sparklilng? No problemo.
OP, is it possible that the CPL will help you out financially? I think a vet would check for a microchip for nothing, not sure about the rest.

microchip check should cost you nothing but dont know about the vet check they may charge you for that an initial consultation check is usually around £15 without any meds

Any news LittleEsme?

Little cat isn't chipped, but neither is she pregnant.

However, she's poorly. She isn't in any pain thankfully, but Vet said that her abdomen is very swollen. She's also not a young kittie as I thought, but is actually 6 or 7 years old.

I've checked my local shops and Post Office to see if there are any notices up. Nothing. Vet also advised me to put up posters in the area and actively look for any owners for at least a fortnight, before the RSPCA will take any interest (unless of course she's really and obviously in pain).

Any ideas? I've been up to my eyeballs in work so have not taken any pics of her yet for posters. I'm going to keep checking local notice boards tomorrow. If anyone has any advice for me, I'd be grateful.

Oh, forgot to add, MIL doesn't want to take her. Can't say I blame her, really. She's 85!