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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

Stray Cat - What to do

27 replies

francis223 · 01/08/2015 20:33

Please could you advise?!
We currently rent a house on a private manor house estate, it is quiet with around 30 other houses and apartments, no busy roads though cars come and go and lots of woodland/ gardens/ parkland. There are neighbours who own cats that wander the grounds of the estate.
For the past month we have been visited by this little fella/lady (see photo) who sits and waits by our patio door, is confident in walking in the house, is very friendly towards us (rubs against us, licks my hand, wants a lot of fuss, tail vibrates etc) and isn't jumpy or nervous at all.
I have asked two separate long standing residents as to who the owner of the cat is, both have replied that he doesn't belong to anyone, that a few different neighbours feed him, that they believe a previous resident left him when they moved.
My dilemma is this. I love the cat and would love to adopt him but we are moving house in about two weeks, to a less rural location (not city, just a suburban street). Am I wrong to consider taking him in, or better to leave him in an environment that is familiar?

Stray Cat - What to do
OP posts:
Jo4040 · 01/08/2015 20:36

Take him in. Keep him in when you move, see how it go's. If he's not happy to you might have to take him back, however with him being quite confident he might just adapt.

pumpkinpie5 · 01/08/2015 20:42

I'm going to stick my neck out and say that cat is female. Especially given that it is tortoushell. If you are seriously considering taking it I would take it to the vets and ask them to scan it for a chip so you can be sure she's not living somewhere nearby. At the same time get the vet to give her a basic health check so you know you are not going to be taking on problems. If all this is ok, I see no problem with moving her and would agree with pp re: keeping her in for 10 days to ensure she is settled before letting her out. Also get her vaccinated and chipped for peace of mind in case she is inclined to wander. Good luck!

timtam23 · 01/08/2015 21:08

Poor little thing, how sad that someone has abandoned it. That's so kind of you to want to take it in. I wouldn't be able to leave it behind, especially as the weather will get worse as autumn approaches. I agree with the suggestion to take it to the vet, find out if male/female, chipped or neutered, and hopefully you will be able to take it with you...I expect it will settle ok in a new environment although you will have to keep it indoors for a few weeks. Some years ago I lived semirurally & then moved to a much more urban environment with less green space...I had 2 cats and they adapted well enough, just had to get used to their territories shrinking and lots of other cats in close proximity. The roads were a worry but I think by that stage the cats were fairly streetwise.

Good luck with the cat & please keep us posted

Original poster
francis223 · 01/08/2015 21:10

Thank you! I was thinking of taking him to the vets whilst we still live here, have him checked for a microchip and overall health etc.

He keeps trying to paw at the door which leads from the kitchen to the rest of the house and upstairs. I've been wary to let him wander the rest of the house and so he just wanders the kitchen, rubbing himself against the furniture, door, us! He then usually just wanders outside, he sits around the grounds etc.
Is there a danger he might try returning to here and get lost? We are moving approx 1 mile away.

OP posts:
timtam23 · 01/08/2015 21:17

I think if you kept him in for a few weeks in the new house, maybe used a Feliway plugin or spray, made a real fuss of him and got him very used to being "your" cat in the new surroundings, he'd probably be so grateful for a living home that he'd not roam too far. Make sure he is chipped & neutered, and maybe mention to those other neighbours that you are adopting him, just so that yhey know in case he turned up back at the old address?

timtam23 · 01/08/2015 21:18

loving home

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/08/2015 22:07

I'd put a paper collar on her neck saying is this your cat? please ring this number.

I'd taker her to a vet anyway to get her scanned for a chip.

If no one rang I'd keep her. If someone put a paper collar on mine I'd ring pretty sharpish.

It's a girl btw. Torties are always girl cats.

Mamabird3 · 01/08/2015 22:12

I'd agree with previous posters that he is a she, having worked with animals before (although not a vet!) I've never come across a tortie boy cat yet! I'd do the same as above as well, paper collar and microchip check at the vets and asking neighbours if they know who she belongs to. If nothing comes of them then I would take her with me! If she doesn't have an obvious home then she would obviously have a much better life with you in a loving home! Cats seem to always choose their slaves owners and it seems to me that you've been picked by this little lady!

girliefriend · 01/08/2015 22:16

She looks well fed I think she may have another owner....

Agree with pp re paper collar and def get her checked for a micro chip.

Original poster
francis223 · 01/08/2015 22:19

Thank you all!
I have learnt something new about Tortoiseshell cats and genetics!
We will take her to the vets next week after speaking with one of the neighbours that is known to feed her. Will keep you posted x

OP posts:
Original poster
francis223 · 01/08/2015 22:21

Apparently she is fed by a few of the neighbours so isn't short on food by the sounds of it.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 01/08/2015 22:24

She still needs a home though, food alone won't get her through a winter.

thecatneuterer · 02/08/2015 06:26

Ask the vet to check that she's neutered - they will need to shave a patch to check for a spay scar.

Original poster
francis223 · 02/08/2015 06:36

Thank you for all of your responses and advice.
I will ask the vet to check that she is neutered too. If we are unable to id an owner and return her, we would get her neutered straight away.

Would there be any issues with her adapting to using a litter tray whilst we kept her indoors initially - she is obviously spending most of her time outdoors at the moment? Are they generally adaptable little things? I've always had dogs, so am new to cats!

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 02/08/2015 06:48

I've never known a cat to not know what a litter tray is for. Even ferals that have never even been in a house let alone seen a litter tray. Just show her the tray and she will use it.

Jo4040 · 02/08/2015 07:42

Please can I ask a really quick question?

We also have a cat who sits at my conservatory door. Big fluffy thing. Extreamly bonny face. However when they turn around he/she has so many patches of lost fur it breaks your heart. I really would like to take it in. She/he comes in at night anyway through my other cats cat flap.

How much would it be if I took her to the vets? I'm really skint atm and literally this month don't have any spare money until I next get paid, however this cat really needs sorted out.

I know this cat as no home as somebody who used to live near me once left their pregnant cat, this cat And now there are about four black cats roaming around that the pregnant cat gave birth to. The ex pregnant cat got taken in by other naibours, the kittens are wild and this fluffy cat is in a mess and is obviously not used to living outside

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/08/2015 08:03

Are you entitled to any help off a charity like cats protection or PDSA?.

If you have a good relationship with your vet they might be open to a payment plan.

I think legally vets have to provide basic care to relieve suffering. Poor girl must be in pain.

Tinfoiled · 02/08/2015 08:03

JoJo, it's really hard to predict how much it might cost at the vets tbh. If it's a chronic skin condition it could end up costing a lot of money over time. Or it may be something that's relatively easy to sort out - very hard to say. It's very kind of you to want to help her.

Jo4040 · 02/08/2015 09:50

I'm going to phone my vets to ask their advice. Not really got a good relationship with them, my own cats v young.

She must be in pain, I have never seen as many patches on an animal. So bonny as well. She comes in my conservatory every night. I put a blanket on the Sofa and when. I come down she bombs it out of the cat fkap. The blanket is always filthy!! I hope this cat is a boy tbh, saves it getting pregnant

timtam23 · 02/08/2015 10:35

Hi Jo40, it's really kind of you to want to help this cat. Where I am, my vet charges around £30 for a consultation alone & then the cost of any treatment is on top of that. As PP said, you could try PDSA, Blue Cross if you receive benefits I think they can help for free or reduced fees? Maybe speak to your vet & see if they can do anything to help as the cat is stray & poorly. I hope you manage to get somewhere. Please keep us posted also!

Original poster
francis223 · 02/08/2015 11:17

Jo40 I hope you can help your little visitor too! I know my vet offer claims via Blue Cross or similar with treatment for those in receipt of benefits etc.

I've bought a carrier to take her to the vets this coming week. She's been to see us this morning and I let her have a wander around the rest of the house. She was purring loudly, coming for head rubs and rolling over. Was quite confident in wandering around the house sniffing around.
I will obviously wait until the Vets scan her before getting too attached and feeding her. As this isn't the house she would be settling in, I don't want to confuse her, just wanted to spend some time with her really.

OP posts:
Original poster
francis223 · 03/08/2015 17:16

A disappointing (for me) and happy (for cat) update. Her name is Jelly and our neighbours clearly don't talk to everyone here despite it being a communal living estate, as she belongs to someone on opposite side of courtyard. I asked him outright if she belonged to him, he said yes.
I feel a mixture of disappointment but am clearly glad she is loved and has a home. Her owners said she is 'too friendly' but sounded surprised that she had been at our door regularly.
We'll off to Cats Protection once we're in our new home. Thanks to everyone for your advice xxx

OP posts:
girliefriend · 03/08/2015 18:32

Ahh well I am glad she has a home, cats are buggers for 'adopting' other humans though Wink my cat thinks every flat in our block is his. I have seen him coming and going through neighbours windows Shock

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/08/2015 19:16

It's good she has a home though. If you're near Bournemouth theres a mumsnet who is in a pickle with her cat. Youd be doing them both a massive favour Smile

girliefriend · 03/08/2015 22:01

If you are near Somerset/Devon I know of a local shelter that has 20 kittens desperate for homes at the mo!