What to do...? Abandoned cat.

[StillMedusa]

My Mum has two cats... and feeds a heck of a lot more..she is the original mad cat lady (won't go on holiday or leave the cats alone for more that 2 hours just in case they need her )
Her neighbour was a nice but flakey woman... alcoholic but sort of coping, but a few days ago she did a moonlight flit from her rented property. I say moonlight but she dug up her pond and took that with her so obviously planned !

However she has left her cat. The cat, Elsie, is THE grumpiest most unfriendly bad attitude moggy ever. Tailess after an accident, my mum has been feeding her regularly as said neighbour wasn't often sober enough to remember. Elsie accepts food but won't be stroked.. bites everyone , but would move in if she could. Mum's cats hate her.
Mum doesn't know what to do. Even if she could get Cat's Protection to take her, Elsie is not very rehomeable due to her nature. Mum is in her 70s and not well, and really doesn't need the responsibility of another cat, especially one she can't keep safe.
I have suggested that for now she feeds her outside ..Mum has a shed with a cat bed all made up for moggies in need...pretty sure Elsie will camp there.. but Mum will WORRY about her..she can't bear the thought of a neglected animal. Mum lives near Poole if anyone has any suggestions!

If it helps your mother to know, a past neighbour of mine had two semi-feral cats who lived in her garden and shed for years. The neighbour fed them twice a day in her garden, and they both seemed happy enough.

Alternatively, I've noticed that Cats Protection in my area offer "mousers". They sound a bit like Elsie - cats who aren't suitable for living in a house, but would be fine on a farm or small holding type set-up where they'll catch mice in return for some food and a warm place to snuggle up outside.

And ...

... she took her pond!

Your mum lost her tail in an accident? We need details! Or at least a diagram. :o

She took the pond but left the cat?!

Cats Protection might be able to find her a foster home? Have you googled any local, smaller cat rescue charities or asked the vet. The biting might be because she is in pain.

Poor old girl

I was wondering about pain too. Poor cat being abandoned like that.

She needs to be caught by Cat's Protection and taken to see one of their vets. She probably has dental problems, worms and fleas and will really need seeing to.
I expect once her pain is gone she will be a lovely cat. i adopted an Elsie, turned out mine had severe gastric problems and once treated was a lovely cat, still is. Call CPL asap.

Poor Elsie. Yes to contacting local CP, as a previous poster said she may calm down after seeing a vet (probably not whilst there mind!). Are there any other smaller local charities who could help either.
If your mum is happy to feed her maybe she could come back and use the shed as her shelter or CP may offer a better solution.
Is quite bizarre she dug her pond up!

I really should proof read my posts first Mum has health problems but definitely no tail...

Elsie is in good health.. to be fair to her previous pond stealing owner (we are all somewhat gobsmacked at that!) she did take her to the vets for her jabs etc and Elsie has always been a total grump...she terrorises the other local cats and enjoys it, so I genuinely don't think she is in pain, she just isn't a friendly cat. I think a farm style life would probably suit her as she is a hunter...I shall suggest to mum that she rings CP and see if she could be rehomed that way. Failing that I know that Mum will make sure she has a very warm cosy bed in the shed , but she will then worry.
Mum's two current cats are rescues... one was a kitten that some kids decided to bathe...in boiling water (a neighbour's where she used to live) so she took it off them and he recovered although he is very neurotic, and the other was from a different neighbour ..he had infected cancerous ears and was totally neglected and she asked to buy him off them, paid vast amounts to make him well again and now he's a plump smug little sod despite his somewhat reduced ears! Both are high needs cats due to their backgrounds and she really doesn't need another!

Can I just say your Mum sounds lovely? I hope CP can help rehome Elsie.