Worried about a 'neighbours' cat

[redrubyindigo]

A couple of years ago long haired beautiful cat would wander into my garden all groomed with a collar with a tag that said 'Do not feed me. I am on a special diet'. I think she is a Maine Coon. She was always beautifully groomed and gorgeous.

She would have hugs and scratches and go on her way. Now she clamours to get into my house and runs past me to get to my cat's food. I pick her up and put her out mindful of the collar.

She now has no collar, she has lost weight and her coat is getting matted.

This is over the last two weeks. I want to pick her up and take her to my vet.

Can I do this if she has an owner?

I have a very elderly cat of my own so cannot take her in.

[Bonzodoodah]

Just a thought - seeing as notes on the collar seems to be the norm for communicating.... why not put your own note on her collar saying your concerns - ask if she is okay or just getting old. Say you are worried her owners are in trouble and put an email address or your house number on so they can get back to you if needs be. Then if she is being cared for still you will hopefully get a reply.

[cozietoesie]

Her collar is gone, Bonzo. That's one of the things that worried me.

[Bonzodoodah]

Ouch - that is worrying. Maybe get a cheap one then and put a note on it?

[redrubyindigo]

She didn't turn up last night but I bought a cheap collar today so I can pop a note on it when I see her. I am off work on Friday so if she pops round I can get her to the vet without her being missed if she does still have an owner.

I find it difficult to believe she is not microchipped as I said upthread she was always perfectly groomed before and felt almost 'powdered' so they almost certainly used something on her coat.

Thanks for all your replies. She is such a gorgeous cuddly cat.

[cozietoesie]

Fingers crossed for her.

[redrubyindigo]

Ok. She just turned up looking groomed, clipped and matt free and smells lovely. So obviously there is an owner who cares for her. She does look very thin but happy to have cuddles and scratches and let me pick her up.

She does look thin and I put the collar on her with a note asking if 'the special diet' tag applies and saying she is begging for food at my door.

My hunch says she is well cared for but maybe like my old gal she maybe has medical issues. My cat is on tablets for her kidneys and she looks a bit unkempt sometimes but she is not unloved.

I think feeding her might be the worst thing I can do if she is on dry food/special diet and I give her meat.

[cozietoesie]

Well that's a (good) turn up for the books. And yes - you've put the collar on her with the note so see what happens there.

I still wonder whether something happened in that household - someone in hospital, maybe, and they couldn't get the cat in before they went or something like that. It all seems very odd indeed.

[Bonzodoodah]

Ah that's good news! Relief for th e owners and cat!

[Bonzodoodah]

Did you get a reply via collar-com?