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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

URGENT HELP now on stray cat legislation!

12 replies

Paddlinglikehell · 14/09/2013 09:06

We found a cat, there is a thread running. Took to vets not chipped, obviously abandoned in kitten.

Decided to take cat on, rang vets this morning to confirm, as they had said RSPCA could take it this morning if we decided not to.

Vet nurse now saying it HAS to go to he RSPCA because it is a stray and do 7 days, legally we can't take it on, dispite the vet saying we could transfer costs to ourselves.

I know dogs have a 7 day and that finder can keep but must hand over if original owner turns up until 30 days.

I didn't think there was anything about cats.

Can someone help quickly, as vets are ringing back.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 14/09/2013 09:16

I'm pretty certain there's nothing like that for cats. (Dogs are a whole different ball game.) I'll have a look see but someone else may know definitively.

(I think your vet nurse has picked up something wrong.)

cozietoesie · 14/09/2013 09:27

Found nothing so far - which is revealing in itself. One of the vets on the forum may comment - otherwise wait for the vet to get back to you. (Remember that the vet was laying out your options for you yesterday - if this had been an issue, I would have thought they'd have laid it out for you then.)

cozietoesie · 14/09/2013 09:35

Assuming it's OK, this will give you so much moral edge when it comes to persuading them on cost-only treatment.

Lonecatwithkitten · 14/09/2013 10:04

In law cats are not considered to be owned. However, to be fair for everyone the general advice is that cats without a microchip are held for a minimum of 7 days before being found a new home, we extrapolate from dog law in abscence of cat law.

Only last week we had a 'stray' cat heavily pregnant brought into our practice we found her owner after 48 hours the cat had got into her mother's car and traveled to the next town.
We have to look at it from both sides and try to be fair to both sides when a 'stray' cat is found. Whilst the law is not prescriptive you have to imagine that your cat has got in a car traveled down the road a few miles how would you feel if your cat was instantly re-homed. The advice the vet nurse is giving you is what you would be told in my practice.

cozietoesie · 14/09/2013 10:07

Thanks for that Lone - a useful exposition. But does the animal have to go to the RSPCA?

Methe · 14/09/2013 10:08

The RSPCA will put her down in a shot if they get their hands on her.

cozietoesie · 14/09/2013 10:11

Actually, I'd disagree on that Methe - not if they knew that she was 'spoken for', surely. I'm just a little concerned about making decisions about the cat's welfare when she's somewhere else.

thecatneuterer · 14/09/2013 10:38

I would call the RSPCA and get their take on it. I'm sure they aren't going to want an ill cat potentially giving birth in their care if they can avoid it. I don't think there is a specific law. Maybe they could give the vets a waiver or something.

If we feel that a cat is perhaps just lost rather than obviously long time stray and abandoned then we do wait a week until trying to rehome, but in a case like this one we wouldn't bother as she is in a state and so has obviously been a stray for some time, or she has been neglected and abandoned.

I'll speak to Celia a bit later to see if she has any advice.

Original poster

Paddlinglikehell · 14/09/2013 11:50

Thank you everyone.

I have spoken to the vet, who said that the vet nurse was incorrect in the effect that we could still take responsibility for the cat, but if owners turned up within 7 days, they could still take her back. Thankfully she doesn't have to go to the RSPCA.

The vet said it is very obviously not an 'owned' cat, as she has probably been out on her own for sometime, bearing in mind her condition and is quite happy to continue with us as owners (and picking up the the bill! .)

The vet is great and we had a chat about prognosis and I am quite realistic about the fact that the cat may not come out of it and even if she does, the kittens probably won't survive, so I hope she realises we do know the implications.

I did say that I was worried if the cat went to the RSPCA that they would probably abort the kittens and maybe put the cat to sleep and she confirmed this would be highly likely - I can understand the reasons why, but still think she deserves the chance.

So, all is OK for the moment. Crisis averted. I shall go onto the other thread with updates.

Thank you all so much x

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 14/09/2013 12:23

Best of luck to her, Paddling. I think you're regarding her as 'your cat' now, eh?

It all seems like a very confused area. Pity the poor vets and vet nurses who have to interpret it, particularly when they have sick (and potentially expensive) animals for whom they may be the last port of call.

Lonecatwithkitten · 14/09/2013 13:36

No cozie it doesn't have be the RSPCA those of us who are soft hospitalise them ourselves.
There is huge variation in RSPCA branches our local one is excellent and only ever PTS on welfare grounds.

lurkedtoolong · 15/09/2013 19:33

Feel the need to defend the RSPCA. Our local branch is amazing - they have animals in their care for months (current long stay resident has been there 18 months) and never PTS a healthy animal.

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