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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

Have I been adopted?

21 replies

anolderandwiserkitten · 22/08/2015 11:58

What should I do now?

I have a very old male cat - he is 17.Lovely boy and I love him, so do not want him upset.

A new kid has appeared on the block. He is very thin, had bones sticking out and could barely walk. He started sitting on my front drive. He has got so thin and just sat there. I felt I had to feed him.

So, I put a plate out. ( mistake?).

He scoffed the lot.
Came back next day ...... and now three weeks later, is still thin but getting a meal from me a day. He isnt appearing to be so thin now, can walk.

I am afraid to ask him in. I dont know how he will get on with my cat.

I dont know who he might belong to. However, I have seen this previously cat further up the road I think. The house he used to be at is up for sale
(empty and owner had passed away).

He is neutered. He is friendly. He lets me pick him up. I do not know where he is going at night.

Has he adopted me? What should I do?

If he has no one and could get on with my cat, I would take him in but right now I am concerning myself with just getting him fatter and giving him a shelter as clearly its going to get colder from now on in.

OP posts:

Northernlurker · 22/08/2015 12:08

This happened to my parents. They took the stray to a rescue who took him to the vet, neutered him, dealt with an infected tooth and then assessed him to rehome. They felt he had been living rough for a while and would be hard to rehome. So in the end my parents bought him home and he lives in their garden. He goes in parts of the house, is well fed and has a name - Highway . He seems to be tolerated by my parents four other cats

Hurr1cane · 22/08/2015 12:11

Can you get a paper collar free from CPL just to check he doesn't belong to anyone first?

thecatneuterer · 22/08/2015 12:24

Well if he was that thin and now he's eating what you give him he is putting on weight, then he certainly doesn't belong to anyone. Or, if he once did, he is now lost/abandoned. So you certainly did the right thing by feeding him. You have probably saved his life.

It would be an idea to get him seen by a vet and at least scanned for a chip. After that either just keep feeding him (it's better than leaving him to starve to death) or invite him in. Rescues are generally full so I doubt you'd have much luck there, though you could certainly try (but not the RSPCA - they would probably PTS).

thecatneuterer · 22/08/2015 12:29

And in this situation I wouldn't do the paper collar. If he does belong to someone he goes home to, and they obviously don't feed him, then they are not the sort of 'owners' whose feelings need considering. If he were very thin and despite your feeding him remained thin then that would be a different matter as he could have loving owners and be ill, but the fact that your food is making a difference shows that isn't the case here.

Fluffycloudland77 · 22/08/2015 12:36

It's never a mistake to feed a starving animal.

Northernlurker · 22/08/2015 13:53

I agree about rspca. Cats protection are usually good or a specific local rescue who have a policy of not pts a healthy cat

timtam23 · 22/08/2015 14:58

Poor little cat. How kind of you to look after him. Great advice above, I would be taking him to the vet to get him scanned for a chip I think. From your description he sounded half-dead when you found him. Any chance that you could take him in, assuming old boy isn't upset? (I have had old cats & had to unexpectedly introduce a young stray so I know it's not a straightforward decision). I wouldn't do a paper collar either, for the reasons TCN gives

Fluffycloudland77 · 22/08/2015 15:33

It sounds like his owner passed on/moved house and they just locked up and left him to his own devices.

The myth that "cats can look after themselves" really annoys me. We had to leave one of ours once for a week with a neighbour feeding her and she was skinny as a rake when we got back to collect her.

Rarity08 · 22/08/2015 18:02

Poor thing.
Good job he perchanced upon you. I think you've been adopted, I'm sure you'll other cat will be ok, especially if he's neutered.

timtam23 · 22/08/2015 18:21

Depends where you live but there are thunderstorms forecast for parts of UK tonight, could you take him in overnight to keep him dry & not scared?

Original poster

anolderandwiserkitten · 23/08/2015 19:23

Well, I invited him in and he didnt hesitate. He spent the night in my kitchen. I have kept him there.I have put a flea spot on him and next I will worm him.

No real problems between him and my own cat yet. Neither are friendly and they have eyed each other up and passed by on opposite sides of the kitchen , but they do not seem to want to come to claws.

I think Hugh (thats the name I am giving the newcomer - as in " Hello You" , which is what I have called him for the last weeks) is too weak and thin and Mick ( my old boy) is too old and arthritic.

I love my Mick but I think we have enough laps available for Hugh. But Hugh must stay in the kitchen until I find out if he is healthy.

OP posts:

timtam23 · 23/08/2015 19:49

I was thinking about him (Hugh) last night, the rain here was terrible. I'm so pleased that you took him in and that Mick is tolerating him! Fingers & paws crossed!

ShipwreckedAndComatose · 23/08/2015 21:31

So glad he's found you, what a lovely thing to be able to do. Love his name!!

RoosterCogburn · 23/08/2015 22:19

You were chosen by him, so it was meant to be. He's a lucky boy.

Fab name.

acatcalledjohn · 23/08/2015 22:29

I instantly like people who care for suffering animals.

Have him scanned at a vet. My DP found a skinny, partially hairless (bloody fleas) but very friendly cat about two years ago. Took him to a vet, found he was chipped but the phone number had been disconnected. Kept him on file for about two months, but no one claimed him. We assume his owner passed away.

He now loves laps, strokes, attention and terrorising his older 'sister'

He will make a lovely addition to your family. Introduce them slowly by keeping them in seperate rooms and using a toy/blanket/bed to get them used to each other's smell, before a proper face-to-face intro.

acatcalledjohn · 23/08/2015 22:30

Oh, and a big thumbs up to Hugh. Fab name!

thecatneuterer · 23/08/2015 23:43

That's great news. Do please post a photo :)

TamzinGrey · 25/08/2015 22:10

Bless you OP for taking Hugh in. Keeping my fingers crossed that the two cats will get on. Please keep us posted.

RainbowRoses · 25/08/2015 22:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AlwaysOutnumberdNeverOutgunned · 02/09/2015 09:39

am also interested to know what the vet said?

timtam23 · 02/09/2015 10:48

How are things going OP?

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