Neighbours seem to have left their cat behind

[LegoWalker]

Our next door neighbours moved out on Thursday night.
They had two cats, mum cat and her kitten. The mum cat had the kittens less than a year ago. Most of them were sold however the neighbours decided to keep one kitten.

They did tell me that the kitten was causing problems in the house, it wasn't coping with being left for a long time during the day and it wouldn't eat the samefood as the mum cat and. It sometime scratching furniture. I did notice she seemed to be outside a lot more recently but didn't really think much of it.

So yesterday DS1 told me he thought he had seen the kitten but I said he probably hadn't and it was probably someone else's cat as the neighbours have left. However about an hour ago I could see the cat outside the neighbours house. She doesn't have her collar on though. So I tempted her into our house which is where she is now.

I have seen no sign of the mum cat so I am guessing that they have taken her and just left the kitten.

I don't really know what to do with her. She seems fine in herself but I think the neighbours have abandoned her here.

I am hoping you will have some advice on what to do with her.

£4-5 a week food
Litter £5 a month.
Vaccinations £70 a year.

For me
Food £20 a bag, lasts 6-8 weeks
Flea treatment £10 for 3 treatments at 1 per month. Have just switched to Bravecto which is £22 and 1 treatment per 3 months as it covers ticks as well as fleas and my cat keeps coming home with ticks. If you don't live in an area with ticks, flea only is fine
Insurance £15 month
Vaccination £40 once a year
Litter about £10 for a huge bag, which lasts for ever as he prefers my garden. If she uses a tray regularly it will obviously cost more
One off costs - litter tray, feeding bowls ( but just use old cereal bowls or something, no cost),cat flap if you don't want to be opening and closing doors on demand.
Don't buy a bed, they sleep anywhere. Toys can also be free ( feathers, loo rolls, wine corks).
They don't cost that much. Congratulations on your new owner

Oh and forgot to say, I have a monstrously huge cat so his flea and worm treatment costs a few pounds more than normal size cat versions!

Poor wee cat, but it's lovely that you're looking after her for now at least.
Box of 12 food pouches £2.50 approx, biscuits £2ish but last for ages. Litter under £5 prob last around a month (don't need litter if the cat will go out to toilet like ours does). Vaccinations vary but £60ish, cost to get spayed (recommended and it's a one off cost) prob around £80. Then there's insurance if you want it and cattery costs for holidays, unless a friend or neighbour can help out.

Cats are relatively cheap, low maintenance pets and great company. If I were you I'd keep her, mine was a dumpee too and she's lovely 😸

Sorry, got the vaccinations wrong as I have dogs too, it's prob around £30-£40 for the cat per year. There are pet plan schemes too that cover vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and may save you money over the course of a year

Also with food and litter you can shop around a bit. So I used fetch to order this month as it was free delivery, 15% off and I used quidco for cash back too. Pets at home do a VIP card which is free but gets you vouchers and stuff
Or somewhere like morrisons and use their points card. We also have a pet supermarket place locally that is cheap if I'm driving past

I have 3 cats and their food costs me €20 a week, wet food, tuna and treats. I also buy prescription food for 2 of them, one big bag, can't remember weight, cost €45 x probably 5 bags a year and the other smaller bag is €20, probably 5 times a year. I don't have pet insurance and so far this year, I've taken 2 of my cats to the vet which has cost €60 each - and that's cheap compared to what I was paying sterling in London 15 years ago. One of my cats takes medication which costs €45 and i buy several times a year. 2 of them take painkillers everyday which costs €14 several times a year.

You also have to buy their food bowl, food mat, toys, litter tray, carry box for vet visits, from €20 upwards, flea, worm and tic treatment.

Hope that helps you.

Hi OP, i'm lucky in my cats eat Aldi wet and dry food which is well priced, i use catsan litter as find it the best for trapping odour, about £10.50 for a big bag, does about 4 litter changes. Initial cost is vaccinations then boosters, but I don't find the feeding and litter expensive. I bought toys and the bloody things ignore them in favour of cardboard boxes with peep holes in

The Cats Protection League were fantastic with helping out with neutering costs when I catnapped my girl. They would have paid the full amount, I did pay a small amount towards the cost. Maybe about £20 or so? It was about 7 years ago so I'm not too sure. It didn't make me keel over with shock .

I flee and worm treat less often than others as mine are indoor cats (due to where I lived until a couple of years ago, now too soft/scared to go out)

Day to day costs are relatively cheap for a cat. Zooplus is a good website for litter and food; £50ish for annual vaccines (we're London so possibly more expensive). Vet bills are the biggest expense more so with an older cat so decent insurance is a must; also worth putting a bit aside each month to cover the excess or anything not covered. Our now 14yo cat didn't cost much until a couple of years ago so the insurance/savings are most useful.
Cattery or cat sitter for holidays although neighbours/friends/relatives will often help.

I take my cats and dog to our local The Vet practice. They are a franchise set up. I'm sure it must vary greatly because of that but our local one is WONDERFUL! They are very reasonably priced. I can't remember how much the cats vacs cost but my dog's just cost me £24.99 for her boosters. That is pretty much half the cost at normal vets. You might find you have to take her to a specific vet practice if the CPL help you out with neutering. But after that you can shop around.

Can you google getting her spayed as I'm sure my neighbours went through a charity and only gave a donation they are on a low income but your story might help?

I pay £12 a month for insurance. My food costs a lot but you can get six tins of Butchers choice or Sainsbury's finest food is £3 a box. Wet is more expensive than dry so if you can get her to take some dry it will save you. Mine won't unless I give her three dreamies first and make a little trail to wards the dry food. Please don't let they put you off!!! You think you won't be a slave but you will. Don't buy a bed they don't use them, keep your cardboard boxes for play. I would invest in a decent scratching post and catnip. She's the same age as mine it's a lovely age. I'd never had a cat before and I couldn't imagine how boring my life would be without her. We need photos!!

Spaying and a cat carrier of course! How could I forget that. Scratching post as well, but if she's a horizontal scratcher, you can get cardboard ones for a couple of pounds from the likes of B and M for a couple of pounds. Upright ones are easy to make rather than buy. Not all cats react to catnip so try a small bag or cheap toy first.

Mine costs a fortune but they don't have to, I made a rod for my own back! If you've got an Aldi nearby their food gets good reviews and if 19p a tray. Butchers Classic is also good value and grain free. Harry also has dry food (make sure it's a good quality one) and a £10 bag lasts months.

Insurance varies between companies and area but I would say go for the best cover you can afford and make sure it's a 'covered for life' policy.

Food for mine costs about £7 a week on average but she eats slightly more expensive wet food and has iams as her dry. She has one wet pouch a day and dry down all the time. And dreamies as a treat. Can't remember how much her last vaccinations were but you can insure them for the unexpected vets trips!

People are so cruel sometimes. My old neighbour left her elderly cat, with multiple ailments, but took the younger one, when she moved.

I am a firm believer in what goes around comes around.

Evil bastards.

Ooh I've just realised vaccinations are £35 a year, that's purevax too.

Wilko do good carriers. You'd need a plastic one.

Cats protection league paid for my girl to be spayed when I took her in.
I rang for advice and they offered a vets voucher for the full cost if I agreed to keep her. I pay about £10 per month for a vet scheme that includes all vaccinations/worming/flea treatment.

Food is really cheap, aldi, costs me about £4 per week

We got 2 cats from CPL. We pay about £30 P/m but I'm sure that's on the steep side! We also got a carrier and litter tray from the CPL for a small amount so it could be worth seeing if yours sell donated items.

Food wise we stock up when it's on offer, Asda usually have Felix at 2 for £5, plus mine have biscuits which we get from the supermarkets when on special.

They do sleep wherever they choose. We put old towels down initially but now they find warm spots on the carpet, blankets etc (one likes it warm, one likes it cool!). For toys they like anything that can be chased, corks and tinfoil especially! One of mine meows for blueberries to chase around the floor!

Good luck!

Thank you everyone. I have decided to keep her, as I think we can do it financially. We are calling her Pip. I haven't told the DCs yet but I will when they come home from school and then I shall take them to buy cat toys etc

I have called the vets and made an appointment for her to be spayed in a couple of weeks. Luckily she isn't showing interest in going outside so it shouldn't be too difficult to keep her in. She is only goes if the kids are out with her and she sticks close to them and follows till they come back in. I think maybe she is worried that we won't let her back in if she stays outside by herself.

I have included a picture of her that the kids took this morning before school for everyone that wants to see her.

Congratulations she looks beautiful and sassy. So glad that there are nice people like you looking out for animals.

She's beautiful. How lovely that she's got a home with you now.

Aw she's beautiful..I'm on a tight budget but it is possible.. I use butchers choice tins-6 for £2.50 and leave some dry knibbles down all the time. A cat carrier will cost about £20 but you might get one second hand and once you have it then you won't need to replace it. Blankets etc I knit myself from old wool I'm given ( I knit them for rescue group too) there's lots of free ways to make toys to keep her amused or pet hut/ poundshop/ b and m do cheap good toys too. I get my litter from b and m- I use the silicone one-£2 a bag and lasts well. If you need a cat scratcher you can get them much cheaper online- my current big one cost £30 and is used by all my cats..the cupboard ones from home bargains/b and m go down well too...as do silly things like paper bags ( with handles ripped), old boxes with holes cut in them.
I hope she has a very very happy life with you

A lovely girl right enough.