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Do we take him/her in??

25 replies

sofreakingtired · 09/07/2017 22:59

Hi all.

Am after a bit of advice here - to start with, we have three cats already. A 13(ish) year old female and two 8 year old brothers. We live in an area with absolutely loads of cats, and we see a few regularly near our front door as they seem to sort of congregate. Anyhow, a new cat turned up a couple of weeks ago. A beautiful long haired little thing. Today we saw it for the first time in daylight and it had a really bad lesion on its neck. So bad that we called a friend who is a vet, and they advised we call the rspca. We did, and managed to trap the cat and get it to the vet. They think it's either been burned by a hot car exhaust or had a really bad reaction to something. However they think it's too tame to be a stray, but we cannot track down whose it might be. We have asked the nosiest neighbours and nobody knows. The vet has said that they will keep it overnight and treat it on rspca's authority, but will then have to try and find a shelter, and if they can't...

I feel so guilty that it may be someone's cat, but if it is it shouldn't have been out in that state (bad open wounds). It's not chipped and had no collar. Vet has asked if we will take it, but what if the other cats won't accept it? Also I have a baby and really don't want more cat hair round the place. But I don't want it to be destroyed or anything if they can't home it... what do I do???

Sorry that was so long Confused

OP posts:
TheCatOfAthenry · 10/07/2017 00:24

You could try giving the car a home and contact a no-kill shelter if it doesn't work out? I think you want to and I think the cat loves you. Smile

TheCatOfAthenry · 10/07/2017 00:25

Cat, not car!

thecatneuterer · 10/07/2017 00:30

Don't feel guilty about the 'owners'. If people are stupid enough not to get their cats chipped they to have to accept that they might lose them. And anyone who cared about their cat would want someone to take care of it if it got lost rather than just ignore it.

Your existing cats will get used to it. And really you will hardly notice the difference between three cats or four.

RamblinRosie · 10/07/2017 00:44

I think you know what you have to do...

The lack of a chip is worrying, it doesn't suggest a good owner, is it neutered?

Have you checked local Facebook groups and your local newsagents, I once found an owner through mine's notice board.

However, if you can't realistically keep it and it's pretty and friendly, do you have any friends or friends of friends who might want a cat? You could ask if a local cat charity would list it even if they couldn't take it.

sofreakingtired · 10/07/2017 07:55

I'll be speaking to the vet today to check it's ok, will ask all of the questions today that I should have asked yesterday (sex, neutered etc) then likely have it chipped to us, for now at least. I'll keep an eye on Facebook etc but it was only yesterday that we "took" it so they may not class it as missing yet. I just know we're going to end up with number four aren't we Confused

OP posts:
YetAnotherSpartacus · 10/07/2017 10:53

then likely have it chipped to us, for now at least [...] I just know we're going to end up with number four aren't we

Yep. Sounds like it ... :) Do keep us updated!

sofreakingtired · 13/07/2017 08:23

So it looks like we'll be taking this cat in today / tomorrow - vet was told to put him down if they couldn't trace owners, and we can't have that! Any advice for introducing him to our existing cats?? They do sort of know him from being in the area, but never been in our house as we have a chipped cat flap...

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 13/07/2017 08:25

Cat international do an advice sheet on this, the trick is to take it really slowly & not to rush it.

What will you call her?.

TheCatOfAthenry · 13/07/2017 08:28

So excited! Grin

sofreakingtired · 13/07/2017 08:50

She's a he, and he's going to be called Rocket. Looks like the cat/fox thing off Guardians of the Galaxy film. Ha ha. Getting neutered today...

OP posts:
YetAnotherSpartacus · 13/07/2017 08:50

There is no way that anyone could possibly advise without pictures of the cats in question :)

sofreakingtired · 13/07/2017 10:32

Ha ha, well indeed - my apologies. We have Frank and George, the black and white brothers, and Shadow who tries to tell me she has arthritis but can leap a 6 foot fence... photos uploading!

OP posts:
sofreakingtired · 13/07/2017 10:32

Pics...

Do we take him/her in??
Do we take him/her in??
Do we take him/her in??
OP posts:
SparklyMagpie · 13/07/2017 10:35

Oh wow! Can't wait to see photos Grin

Hoppinggreen · 13/07/2017 10:35

He matches your sofa - you HAVE to keep him!!!

YetAnotherSpartacus · 13/07/2017 10:41

Oh they are so lovely! I do hope that they accept their new brother.

sofreakingtired · 13/07/2017 10:52

So do I... they were friendly enough with him when he was outside the other day - the old girl is likely to be the problem as she beats the other two up already. Miserable old woman, ha ha.

OP posts:
YetAnotherSpartacus · 13/07/2017 10:57

Well, the newbie will just have to learn who is the boss, won't he? :)

caffeinestream · 13/07/2017 12:35

Oh how cute! So glad you're keeping him :)

sofreakingtired · 15/07/2017 08:18

So, here is the new cat! Came home from the vets yesterday and has taken up residence under the sofa...

Do we take him/her in??
OP posts:
Oliversmumsarmy · 15/07/2017 08:23

vet was told to put him down if they couldn't trace owners

Who said that. That is disgusting.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 15/07/2017 08:24

Oh that face! He is sizing you and his new digs up ...

What an absolute darling! I am so glad you decided to keep him.

sofreakingtired · 14/08/2017 22:08

I need some more help please... we took this cat in (obviously) after he was neutered etc. All was fine, other cats ok with him.

However - fast forward a few weeks and we had him chipped and let him out. He came back for the first few days, cuddling up on the sofa of an evening as usual. Then he disappeared for almost a week. He comes back every few days, but only for food. Our big tom has started hissing and batting at him as soon as he sees him. Anyone got any ideas how to calm the tom down? I'm guessing the "rescue" cat is either just a wanderer or actually does have a home locally with all of the disappearing acts that he pulls, but it won't be helping that he's not being made at all welcome by The other cat!

Any advice?

OP posts:
Wendigoed · 14/08/2017 22:17

Put a paper collar on him with your phone number?

francis223 · 14/08/2017 22:20

I was going to suggest a paper collar too, just to establish whether he is owned by another family, perhaps someone who doesn't use FB.
Posters / leaflet neighbouring streets to see if someone comes forward as his owner? He's clearly not going terribly far.

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