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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.

Original poster

any vets out there who wouldn't mind a PM to discuss an animal welfare issue?

52 replies

lurkingfromhome · 04/09/2014 11:13

I can't ask my own vet about this for reasons that will become clear. I am concerned about an animal but really need to discuss implications of what I want to do. Anyone who knows a bit about this?

OP posts:
Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 04/09/2014 14:20

Yes, the way it works is that owner would be "strongly advised" to sign over cat to SSPCA. However, if he absolutely holds out and won't do it (and he is young, cocky and full of shit so might well do that), the cat then goes into rescue centre until the case involving the other animal comes to court. The outcome of that would decide whether he was given the cat back or if it could be rehomed.

Poor boy. He is currently asleep on a fur throw on my sofa, purring in his sleep and entirely unaware of all the angst he is causing me. I am so fond of him Sad and could not hate his owner more.

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cozietoesie · 04/09/2014 14:23

Hah! Good point, Lone.

I'm always one for honesty lurking and it's my experiences that someone who is a 'pillar of the community' in Scotland will have few fears about comeback in the event of trouble. (They know too many people.) Is there any chance that you could just head over to their house with a bottle of wine and tell them the score? I think you might be agreeably surprised by the result.

Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 04/09/2014 14:24

How could I get a solicitor involved, lonecat? Or would that be up to the SSPCA?

I have to decide tonight, really, which route to go down. New owners are ready to have him tomorrow so I either take my chances that the vet won't be too bothered about him being chipped as long as the new people don't say they "found him abandoned", or I come clean with the SSPCA and start this whole process and tell the people they can't have him just yet until the legalities are dealt with.

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Lonecatwithkitten · 04/09/2014 14:29

Solicitor would be advising him as client about animals in the care of the SSPCA.
What I would say is take care one set of lies leads to another and eventually almost always the whole thing blows up.

Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 04/09/2014 14:30

Yes, cozie, you may be right. I deliberately haven't told them anything that might have implications as if this is going to come back and bite anyone, I want that person to be me.

I don't think it would bring any trouble, as such, to their doorstep, but my worst-case scenario is the vet scans the chip, has to contact the old owner, old owner comes and claims the cat and I find out when it's too late. I won't have a new address for him, so if anything goes wrong I wouldn't know where to send the SSPCA to go and seize the cat.

It's all such a mess, potentially. I never meant to get so involved but when you see a cat trying to shelter inside an empty carrier bag in absolutely torrential rain and lying in the carrier bag in two inches of water all night because its owner hasn't let it in for 48 hours, then you have to act, don't you? And that was the least of it.

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MarshmallowFarm · 04/09/2014 14:35

Can you phone sSPca anonymously and discuss it all hypothetically? See what they say if you explain everything to them. They may be more amenable than you think. It would cost them a fortune to keep the cat for months whereas you are offering a fostering and adoption solution.

FoxyHarlow123 · 04/09/2014 14:36

In an animal welfare case, I'd lie through my teeth to ensure the animal isn't returned to the owner and I'd lie to anyone and everyone about it. As suggested up thread, take cat to random vet and say you bought it or your mum gave it to you cos she cant cope with it or you've owned it a while and it's condition has recently deteriorated (clearly you could only do this if it isn't covered in burn marks, for instance). I can't imagine a vet scanning in this circumstance.

cozietoesie · 04/09/2014 14:38

.... but when you see a cat trying to shelter inside an empty carrier bag in absolutely torrential rain and lying in the carrier bag in two inches of water all night because its owner hasn't let it in for 48 hours, then you have to act, don't you? And that was the least of it....

Lordy. I'd go see them directly and tell them all anout the lad.

Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 04/09/2014 14:44

I sort of did discuss it hypothetically, marshmallow as I've been dealing with them re the other neglected animal of his. They seem to think the animal would have to be taken into a centre even though I said I would be more than happy to foster him in the interim. I'm scared to say too much in case they have no option but to intervene.

Yes, Foxy, that's kind of how I feel. I will do anything not to let him get his hands on the cat. The cat is actually looking fantastic now since he's been staying with us - shiny coat, put weight on, scratches have healed.

Thanks again everyone. Lots for me to think about.

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Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 04/09/2014 14:46

The other complication is that the SSPCA asked me if the cat was at this moment in a state of neglect and I had to say no, but only because it had been living me me for a week or more... God. What a mess.

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cozietoesie · 04/09/2014 15:15

It's only a mess because you're trying to do things by the book - which, sadly, doesn't always have regard to the immediate needs of the animal.

It sounds to me as if his current 'owner' would be real amenable to some gentle persuasion on the matter. Know any 6 footers?

Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 04/09/2014 15:22

My husband, who has jojned forces with me on this, but unfortunately he's not the fighting sort and is rather a big softy. I think I have actually seen him shed tears over this cat so he'd be bloody useless in a fight Grin.

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cozietoesie · 04/09/2014 15:39

Ach - there would be no need for fighting. If he can lean in an interesting manner, that will work just fine.

FoxyHarlow123 · 04/09/2014 15:54

Say the cats escaped and disappeared. If its thriving, it doesn't sound like it needs a vet. If it was in my care, I'd get it back to health, then drive out to the middle of nowhere and release it so it could spend its life being a cat - hunting mice and being free.

Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 04/09/2014 15:54

He is a firm believer in the power of the word not the fist so a well-chosen put-down and an intimidating lean might just do it. Smile

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cozietoesie · 04/09/2014 16:08

I said I was one for honesty and I am. I never said I wouldn't assist the needy though. (You can tell why I get on so well with Siamese cats - I'm basically another Spartan.)

People who knowingly mistreat animals are nowt but bullies and cowards - and bullies and cowards are always the first to crumble, even though they may bluster a bit. Remember that.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/09/2014 17:18

My vets never scan my cats chip unless I specifically ask, they didn't even ask how we'd acquired him.

cozietoesie · 04/09/2014 17:39

Me neither.

Bamaluz · 04/09/2014 19:01

Foxy! That would be abandoning the cat, which is worse than neglect.

cozietoesie · 04/09/2014 19:11

Yes - not every cat can manage to support itself outside. The Lodger did but I would back the Lodger to survive in the middle of a war zone. And it was at some cost to his teeth.

What's the average age for a tom in the wild? 3-5 years?

FoxyHarlow123 · 04/09/2014 20:24

No way on gods green earth is that in any way abandoning the cat or worse than neglect. Any cat can fend for itself if in the right environment and be a dam sight better off than at the mercy of some cruel bastard.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/09/2014 20:29

Not all cats can, we had one who was utterly clueless due to being kept in a house for the first 7 years of her life.

She didnt even know how to play chase the string. Just no prey drive.

Original poster
lurkingfromhome · 04/09/2014 23:44

Well it's all academic now as he called the police on us and they made us hand the cat back to him. I called the SSPCA again trying to get someone down to seize the cat as an emergency measure but they refused. So cat was last seen being bundled into the back of a van (no carrying case or anything) and a neighbour overheard him saying he was getting taken to the female cat to get that next litter underway. Then he will be brought back, taken away from our lovely leafy street and cooped up in some flat, not allowed out at all and we won't be there to step in and take care of him. Fucking fuck. I feel like I have totally failed him Sad.

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cozietoesie · 04/09/2014 23:59

That makes me angry - but you didn't fail him.You tried very hard.

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/09/2014 07:12

The authorities are failing him not you, it ought to be illegal to sell moggies.

You need to keep on at the RSPCA etc, I've learnt to never give up from dh.