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Neighbours kittens

767 replies

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 01/08/2014 09:38

We've recently had new neighbours move in next door. Towards the end of last week two kittens appeared in their garden, I'm not sure whether they'd just got them or had been keeping them inside for a few days.
One of the kittens kept popping its head over our fence and watching DCs playing.

Yesterday when I went to take the bins out the same kitten was sat on my path mewing. As soon as she saw the open door she was in the house. I ushered her out the back door, but she spent the rest of yesterday coming back in, or playing with the DCs toys in the garden. Every time something made her jump she ran to me and hid under my long skirt! By about 6.30 she was clearly hungry, had jumped up and eaten some scraps in my kitchen and drank DSs milk, so I shooed her back out the front door where I'd found her as she just didn't seem to want to go over the fence back to her own garden.

She was v v thin and seemed confused about where home was. Yesterday she was coming in the windows from the garden and mewing a lot. What do I do if she comes back today? It's obviously more interesting here as neighbours are out most of the day and we are home from lunchtime onwards most days and have a garden full of toys and balls etc which she spent hours playing with yesterday. I'm worried about how thin she looked but don't know a lot about cats or kittens so don't know how normal that is. Any advice would be v much appreciated!

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HopefulHamster · 28/08/2014 23:24

If you do chat to the neighbours you can always say "How are the kittens doing, I saw them roaming about quite a few times when you were away?" in a friendly way. I say that like it's easy - I know it isn't.

I understand your despair but they might be just be keeping quiet because they want to keep them in. I have everything crossed they are safe and can come back to you soon.

But I do think it's healthy to see this other little kitten too. You can't replace one with the other, but she can perhaps help you heal.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 28/08/2014 23:50

Hmm have just been having a look at rescue pages again and a pair of male short hair black and white cats were added today. The ages are wrong but I might give them a ring in the morning to double check as it's a very very local shelter.

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ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 28/08/2014 23:51

Should have said, there's no photo on the website so I can't see if it's them iyswim.

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Pipbin · 29/08/2014 00:22

Give them a call Shadow. They most likely won't tell you who brought them in but they might give you some information.

HansieLove · 29/08/2014 01:09

You could go to neighbors and ask about the kittens. Say that they were so good for you daughter. They really helped her cope when she was anxious, or something.

diggerdigsdogs · 29/08/2014 03:27

Sill thinking about you shadows. I'm so sorry they are such arses.

I think popping round with old baby clothes is a great idea btw.

honeysucklejasmine · 29/08/2014 05:39

Just found this thread. I'm so sorry Shadow! Hoping so much for a positive outcome.

msrisotto · 29/08/2014 08:49

It might be worth giving them a call to find out. Fingers crossed for you.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 29/08/2014 08:58

I'm not trusting myself right now. This is the description of the boys listed on the shelter site "a pair of very likeable lads who charm everyone they meet. They are very close and have always lived together so need to be homed as a pair. They are used to young children and sitting on their laps so a young family for them to grow up with would be ideal although they would fit in with anyone."

I can see myself ending up with ten cats if I don't get a grip! Luckily I don't have infinite money!

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msrisotto · 29/08/2014 08:59

Yeah, it's hard not to adopt everything in sight!

Madratlady · 29/08/2014 12:11

If you don't call you'll always wonder if it was them.

Ruhrpott · 29/08/2014 12:17

Give them a ring and get an email address off them and email them your pictures to see if they are the same cats.

Fluffycloudland77 · 29/08/2014 13:42

Ring them now.

WithernseaWoes · 29/08/2014 14:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 29/08/2014 15:48

It's not them, these boys are neutered and definitely over 2yo. She asked if I was interested and I had to make an excuse to get off the phone as think I'd have ended up saying yes. They are apparently in the shelter because the owners decided they wanted a puppy. How the hell is that fair! She said that black and white cats are always harder to get adopted and even more so for a pair that have to go together.

Will be heading off in an hour or so as it's a 30 min walk to bus stop, but kitten lady's house is on the bus route is that's good. I am an actual bag of nerves. Just keep saying to myself that this doesn't mean I'm giving up on the boys, have real guilt there.

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ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 29/08/2014 19:32

thecatneuterer and any other cat welfare related people can you gather ... I need some advise. I've just got back from the " breeders" house ...

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Pipbin · 29/08/2014 19:36

and.....you can't leave us hanging like that. I'm guessing it wan't good.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 29/08/2014 20:00

Sorry am trying to do bedtime.

Arrived at house, bit grotty looking. Woman I'd spoken to wasn't there, her partner was. Basically they have 11 cats. Two of those are toms, the rest are related females. I saw 4 litters while I was there, three all milling about downstairs, one very tiny litter in a box in kitchen. Saw three of the females, grandmother who has a litter and her granddaughter who also has a litter. The grandmother seemed fine, the granddaughter was shockingly thin. I could feel huge knobbles of spine under her fur and not much else.

I put on a bit of a ditsy "coor arent they luverly" act and just fired questions at him. They've just sold a tom as inbreeding was becoming an issue and they tend to sell all male kittens and most of the females. None are neutered, ever. The kitten I went to look at seemed healthy. She was fairly timid, but handled well when I was handed her. I have no idea if she's timid because of the surroundings, personality or ill treatment. She didn't tremble or flinch, just backed off and watched from under the coffee table. They're desperate to get rid of her because she "won't sell cos she's dark and shy". I did watch her for a bit and she was playing with and being a wee bit rough with some of the smaller kittens. She seemed incredibly small for her age aswell, she's apparently more likely to be 14/15 weeks than 12, man wasn't sure. They are treated for fleas with "Johnson's" which I haven't heard recommended? And re food he said "she eats anything".

So I need advice on what to do re this kitten and the situ as a whole. This needs reporting yes? Who to, how, anonymity? Etc. Now onto the kitten. I would like nothing more than to scoop her out of that house but am just a wee bit concerned - if she's timid is she going to find it stressful coming into a house with two small kids? The "breeders" have 4 kids so they are well used to children. If she's timid would she be better going to a house with another cat, does she need cat company?

I am due to go back on Sunday to get her, and I do still want her, I just don't want to risk her being unhappy here. Kids are gentle but can't maintain "indoor voices" all the time. But then she witnessed DS screeching today as he was tired and definitely didn't flinch or sprint for cover. She just backed off and watched, I'd say it's most likely to be her personality than anything else. She is beautiful though, and did let me pick her up and stroke her, they've all been handled a lot.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 29/08/2014 20:06

Fluffy cat was shy when we first met him. He came out of his shell on the drive home.

I'd report that to the RSPCA. It's a kitten farm.

I'd still take the kitten but I'm a massive softy.

FannyFifer · 29/08/2014 20:26

I really don't think I would take the kitten from those people.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 29/08/2014 20:33

Can I ask why Fanny? Obv no money is changing hands and the shelter have talked about taking her to their vets to get checked over and that they would offer advice and support if I needed it. It's just an unusual situation because the shelters round here seem to be pretty much full, although I'm sure if I said I couldn't take her they wouldn't turn her away.

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FannyFifer · 29/08/2014 20:35

In breeding, unlikely to have had any vacs, prob riddled with worms & fleas. Could be all sorts of health issues.
I really don't think its a good plan and you should just report them to the RSPCA.

Itsfab · 29/08/2014 20:46

I have just read this thread from start to finish with my heart in my mouth and it wasn't just you that fell in love with the boy kittens.

I would ring the rescue place for advice and go and get the kitten asap and have her checked at the vet.

We have 2 rescue cats. Absolutely gorgeous looking, gentle, loving and they had been abandoned Angry. One was so hungry she once ate cooked broccoli. We have had both cats since May 2013 and there still is an element of them remembering when they were starved.

hugoagogo · 29/08/2014 20:58

I know you meant well OP, but this reads as a cautionary tale.

If you had contacted the RSPCA when you found the kittens shut in and obviously in need of food and water, then they may have been able to remove them. They would hopefully have been rehomed and your ndn may have been charged.

I know it's not perfect, but these people were highly unlikely to just let you adopt their kittens right from under their noses.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 29/08/2014 21:00

Yes I'm thinking that vet treatment as a matter of urgency would sort the flea and worm issue. Another shelter I spoke to have kittens they want to rehome and I registered an interest with them - they take all your details, family circs and then get back to you. So that's also an option. What will happen to her if I don't take her? Btw I'm still looking out for the boys, but honestly would have no issue with having 3/4 cats, it literally means I sell an extra item a week via my small business, which is totally doable. I've just become a cat person I think and want to rescue them all Grin

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