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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

HELP I have found a kitten in my garden

89 replies

technicallychallenged · 07/12/2013 21:23

So yeah just that really
It's a little tabby kitten and it looks youngish I would say less than a year old.
DD(5) told me there was a strange cat in the garden I told her to leave it be. (She usually says things like that to get out of going to bed)
Anyway I went to take the rubbish out and there was a cat looking at me. It looks very thin and pitiful and it had no collar and it broke my heart so I took it in and gave it a little water and a little tuna.
I am wondering what to do now. Any help please?

OP posts:

Original poster

technicallychallenged · 09/12/2013 17:34

I can't have her spayed in case she is someones cat and they don't want that.
There is a possibility she is pregnant and if we still have her we are taking her back to the vets next week so they can check again.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 09/12/2013 17:42

Who said you can't spay her? Of course you can. If she isn't chipped then she doesn't technically belong to anyone. If an owner were to turn up later well they can't do anything about it and you certainly wouldn't be in any trouble and it would be absolutely the best thing for the cat. And if she does happen to have owners who didn't want her spayed then it is very lucky indeed she found you and very lucky indeed that she would be going back to them spayed rather than giving birth to two unwanted litters a year, every year.

And if she's pregnant then spay/abort is the way to go.

thecatneuterer · 09/12/2013 17:43

If this vet is reluctant to do it as he/she knows the whole story then just take her to another vet.

Original poster

technicallychallenged · 09/12/2013 20:47

Are you sure we wouldn't get in trouble? Also I am not sure how I would feel a about spaying someone else's pet.

OP posts:

GimmeDaBoobehz · 09/12/2013 20:56

You've done a lovely thing, technically.

I hope that you keep the kitten, because if it does have owners they have been absolutely rubbish ones and shouldn't go back to them.

Keep us updated on what happens with technocat.

TheBunsOfPanettone · 09/12/2013 21:02

Appreciate you feel a bit strange about it but truly no responsible owner would let their pet stray un-neutered and un-microchipped. It's in the better interest of the cat and imho abortion and spay will be necessary if she does turn out to be pregnant assuming you don't want to take on up to six kittens. FAR too many unwanted kittens (and I wish that wasn't a commonly found phrase) around these days

thecatneuterer · 09/12/2013 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ADishBestEatenCold · 10/12/2013 00:24

"Unchipped cats do not officially have owners and no one can do anything about you taking/treating/neutering an unchipped cat."

I didn't realise there was a legal requirement to have a cat microchipped in order to have lawful ownership.

When did that come about?

thecatneuterer · 10/12/2013 01:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DidoTheDodo · 10/12/2013 10:15

What have you called her? (I love Technocat!)

Original poster

technicallychallenged · 10/12/2013 20:23

Dido I like that too
We have told the DCs that we aren't naming her because she might have to go back to her real family. However I caught the older two asking her if she would like to be called Holly.
We have said that if the cat goes back to her owner after Christmas we shall look into getting a cat.
(Any tips on cat ownership would be great thanks)

OP posts:

boofted · 10/12/2013 20:44

Oh I hope you can keep her! Cats are wonderful.

cozietoesie · 10/12/2013 20:52

.....asking her if she would like to be called Holly.....

Sounds like a done deal to me, technically.

Original poster

technicallychallenged · 10/12/2013 20:56

Well either way we shall be having a cat squeals excitedly
However I have only ever had dogs so I am not 100% sure what to expect.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/12/2013 21:00

Oh boy.

Just read the board, I think - and stay flexible!

thecatneuterer · 10/12/2013 21:02

It's great that you're happy to keep her. What's happening about spaying her?

TheBunsOfPanettone · 10/12/2013 21:13

I so hope you can keep her! If she has "owners" at all they don't seem to deserve her and it sounds as if she's making herself nicely at home with you and your family

They make the most lovely companions as I think you are discovering.

One thing to be careful of is that her curiosity may lead her into potentially dangerous situations such as trying out the washing machine/dryer for a sleep - so check in there before you put it on. Also, a certain number of house plants, flowers etc are toxic to cats, lilies are the worst and poinsettia are apparently poisonous too.

Original poster

technicallychallenged · 10/12/2013 21:28

We are taking her to the vet next week anyway so we will ask them about spaying etc and we shall go from there.
Thanks Thebunsofpanettone luckily we don't have any plants because DH seems to be allergic to most flowers. Plus we usually check the washing machines because my DS likes to put cars in it and leave them as a 'surprise'

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/12/2013 21:33

Cats are really pretty straightforward, technically, although you wouldn't always think so from reading this board - where so many of the posts are about problems.

Food, water, littering, vet care and parasite treatment are mostly your obligations. With loads of love and fun in return.

Applecrumbly · 11/12/2013 20:10

Technical sigh! My story sort of mirrors yours.It would take too long to go into it all but we have always had a dog and I found a 7 wk old kitten last june and came on here like you and now we have a 7 mth old kitten we simply couldnt be without.
I have however found another cat in my garden and am going through it all again although its a bit different.Have a read of my threads on here in the litter tray.
Good luck with little holly.

Original poster

technicallychallenged · 12/12/2013 20:40

Awh lovely story applecrumbly
We thought her owner had come forward yesterday someone got in contact asking about her. However they failed to identify 2 rather obvious marks she has and they were very vague when describing her and her age and personality so we think they are fake.
When we asked them why they hadn't identified the marks etc they hung up and we have heard nothing since.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 12/12/2013 20:50

Well swerved, technically.

TheBunsOfPanettone · 12/12/2013 20:58

Very well handled, what a creepy call!

Original poster

technicallychallenged · 12/12/2013 21:00

Thanks cozietoesie. We just got lucky and a big thanks too all of you for telling us what to watch out for.

OP posts:

TamzinGrey · 12/12/2013 21:34

I'm really hoping that nobody claims her as she's obviously landed on her feet with you Tech.

Holly is a great name for a little tabby.

You should read "Somewhere a Cat is Waiting" by Derek Tangye.

She's chosen you.

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