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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

Cat has adopted us

44 replies

Veneto · 21/10/2013 17:58

Right, we found a cat in our garden on Saturday evening and he has now decided he lives with us. Unfortunately our own cat isn't quite so enthusiastic about this arrangement and is quite stressed. So far, I have put notices up in the local chip shop and post office, and a couple near where we live, plus a notice will go in the local newspaper tomorrow and dd posted on a local rescue centre facebook page. We took a trip to be vets this morning and he is unneutered and not microchipped (why, oh why). The problem we have is that if we cannot trace his owner then we seem to be a bit stuck as the rescue centres are full. I do not want to keep him because our four year old girl cat doesn't like him. He has apparently been around a while as some people down the road have been feeding him and letting him into their shed. We can't keep him out of our house as we have a catflap. So I know none of you can really help, but any further ideas on what to do would be appreciated. Hope this at least sort of makes sense.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 21/10/2013 18:12

Stray unneutered males are incredibly common. He may well have had a home but they didn't get him castrated soon enough. He probably then got scent of a female (which they can smell from many miles away), went after her and got completely lost. This is how so many unneutered males end up stray. He could have been stray for a very long time and I doubt the notices will get any response.

All I can say is that I'm sure your cat will come round eventually. If you really don't want to let him in though you could get a microchip flap to keep him out and get him a cat kennel. They can be quite cosy. You'll need to get him neutered straight away of course.

It's lovely that you are taking care of him.

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/10/2013 18:19

I'd neuter him, it'll make him less feisty.

Then I'd probably keep him because unless you're resident cat is determinedly an only cat she will come around after she's sulked, stropped & thrown up on the bed.

Not to be clicked if you have pmt or half a bottle of wine in you

Sparklingbrook · 21/10/2013 18:22

obviously. This is exactly what would happen with Sparkling Cat should this happen.

Some rescues will put the cat on their books so to speak with you acting as Foster Mum until a home is found.

Original poster

Veneto · 21/10/2013 18:25

Thanks catneuterer. I did think earlier that a microchip catflap might be the way to go. Just a shame I didn't know about them before we put the ordinary one in. I think you may be right about the posters. He does appear to be well fed, although hoovers up any food given at an incredible rate. He also has a collar but one just with a bell, no information.

OP posts:

janeyjampot · 21/10/2013 18:26

Fluffy that's the cutest picture ever!

We adopted an unneutered male in similar circumstances (except we hadn't got a cat) and it's the best thing we ever did. Unlike you, it took us 8 months to gain his trust sufficiently to get him into the house. Now he's been with us for 10 months and he's the most affectionate, friendly cat... we all adore him :)

Original poster

Veneto · 21/10/2013 18:29

Flufflycloud that's just too cute. If we land up with no choice and keep him then he will definitely be neutered.

Sparkling can I abandon him in your garden? At the moment I feel jealous of anyone who hasn't been adopted

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Sparklingbrook · 21/10/2013 18:32

Sparkling Cat would be furious Veneto. She was at the Cats' Protection because she was taken on by someone who already had a cat and they didn't get on.

I think she patrols the garden checking for waifs and strays and chasing them off.

Original poster

Veneto · 21/10/2013 18:33

Janey he seems to crave human company, loves a fuss and has slept on our bed most the day. No wonder our own cat hates him!

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Original poster

Veneto · 21/10/2013 18:34

Sparkling maybe be we could borrow Sparkling Cat to guard our garden against future mishaps.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 21/10/2013 18:38

Pic on my profile Veneto, she doesn't look the stroppy type but she is highly territorial.

Lovethesea · 21/10/2013 20:37

It's the eyes. Huntercats go wild when he thinks he sees prey. Tortiecats go wild when she sees someone else in HER garden.

He hunts, eats and lounges friendly to all other felines.

She prowls, eats, guards and launches bodily at all other felines.

TeamEdwooooooo · 26/10/2013 18:36

Oh, we've been adopted this week too!

Gorgeous but very skinny tabby appears every time we open our porch door. Very chatty cat, loves attention and to be stroked, I think he's male but just because he looks like a boy!
DH is allergic, so he's not very happy and there is no way we could keep him. I've fed him a couple of times, mainly because he looks likes he could do with a good meal but also because it's been the only way to get out of the front door with out the cat sneaking in past us.

I'm not sure what to do, especially with the terrible weather that's being predicted.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/10/2013 19:01

Do you have a shed? He could have a cat flap in it. I have one in a gate!.

My dh is allergic too but he got used to it after a few weeks and two sorts of asthma inhaler but I don't see a causal link there

If its an entire male it's usually pretty obvious.

TeamEdwooooooo · 26/10/2013 19:26

I haven't got that close

We do have a shed at the moment. That may change during/after the storm.
He/She likes to sit tucked behind our bins or our neighbours during the day, but he's not there now so maybe he/she has an overnight spot that is more protected.
DH has told me off for letting the DC's christen him/her Syd.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/10/2013 19:42

Keep feeding & sheltering, owned cats tend to be a bit chubby so I think we can assume he's stray.

Could you put a plastic box with a fleece and a hot water bottle out overnight? Just so he's warm & dry.

TeamEdwooooooo · 26/10/2013 19:50

The thing is, whilst I don't want any harm to come to it, we also can't really encourage it. I've probably done the wrong thing in giving it food in the first place.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/10/2013 22:20

Ok, well you can ask a local shelter to take him in. They might ask you to feed him for a couple of weeks while he waits.

Aldi food is 42p a can, one a day should be plenty. Wet food provides the water they need plus protein. Dry food is cheap but is high in cereal, he would need water if he had that or they get bladder infections etc and obviously he has no vet care.

If he's outside he will need to grow an extra thick coat to protect him from the cold hence the need for a good diet.

Hopefully if he's fed he will stick close to you so you can trap him for the shelter when the time comes.

I hope you continue to feed him, it would make a huge difference to his chances of survival. I'm hoping if his maleness isnt obvious he is a neutered and chipped male and not an un-neutered female.

TeamEdwooooooo · 27/10/2013 00:52

He moves around a lot, jumping up (almost walking on his back legs to get to your hand!) so it's hard to get a clear view.

His fur is quite sparse along his spine. Could that be fleas or something? Otherwise his coat is soft and smooth, he really is a beautiful cat.

thecatneuterer · 27/10/2013 01:00

Team: you definitely didn't do the wrong thing by feeding him. Strays need people to feed them, even if they can't take them on permanently.

I echo what Fluffy said about a making him a shelter if you can.

Can you borrow a cat carrier from someone? If you can get him to a vet they can check for a microchip and also tell you if he is a boy. If he turns out to be a she then I would also ask for them to shave to check for a spay scar. The first two things should be free, but the latter probably not.

TeamEdwooooooo · 27/10/2013 01:05

Just been reading about the Celia Hammond shelter near hear. I'm going to put a paper collar on tomorrow.

thecatneuterer · 27/10/2013 01:07

I'm with Celia's. We wouldn't charge for anything. Make an appointment to bring him/her in to be checked out. You will need a proper carrier though. We can lend you a second hand one if necessary.

TeamEdwooooooo · 27/10/2013 01:12

We don't have a carrier. I'm in Hastings, so will call the Brede branch.
He's normally hanging around in the morning, so I'll try to feed him regularly and then trap him. Like I say, he's very friendly. Wish we could keep him, but fear I would lose a husband in the process!

thecatneuterer · 27/10/2013 01:15

Ah, Hastings is a bit different. We don't have vets on site there. They can still check for a chip though and tell you if he's a male or not. You should also be able to borrow a carrier from them.

thecatneuterer · 27/10/2013 01:17

If he's friendly and happy to come in the house then getting him into a carrier should be easy. Make sure that he is inside the house with the doors shut before you do it.

TeamEdwooooooo · 27/10/2013 07:44

Trying to convince DH to let the cat stay in the porch tonight (if it'll come in!)

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