Another WWYD... this time my neigbour's cat

[StillMedusa]

My neighbour isn't very friendly. She has two cats which she hates ..they are her grown up son's... and they are out virtually all the time, not fed enough and certainly not given any affection.

Consequently they come running when they hear my car arriving and I feed them (outside) and try and give them a bit of attention. One is friendly, the other is a bit of a sod! Three strokes is her limit before she bites! However I persist because ..well she is a cat:) The biter is at least 12 years old as she was around when we moved in. With my 'top ups' they get enough to eat, but get noticibly thinner if we go on holiday :(

Anyway yesterday I got home and they came running. I put two dishes out for them and for the first time in a month, had a chance to pet miss biter. As I glanced down I thought how she suddenly looked thin. Stroked her and she is skeletal :( Every bone poked up and her hips were so thin she looked hollow. She did not feel like this a month ago :(
Called my adult son to have a look and he was horrified. Asked if we could take her to the vets. I don't THINK we can, can we? As she has owners. (I can absolutely guarantee that they won't have taken her). There is something very wrong and whatever it is is rapid.

I will gird my loins and try and catch the neighbour tomorrow , but I don't expect an encouraging response. But I don't want poor grumpy little Moomin dying in my plant pot out the front because no one did anything :(

If you're willing to take and pay, I'd do it. Obviously speak to neighbour first, but if you know she won't then I'd have the conversation more along the lines of "I was stroking Moomin yesterday and she's suddenly got extremely thin very quickly. She seems to be eating so I think she needs to see a vet - I'm very willing to take her and pay for the appointment."

Then she'll tell you not to interfere, then you'll have to decide if you do it by stealth anyway.

What if cat has something very treatable but expensive/ongoing? Will you keep paying?

Would your neighbour/her son let you properly adopt them?

See how your chat goes and then, if appropriate, maybe contact your local welfare organisations for advice.

Report her to the RSPCA for her suspected cruelty. Not sure if they'll actually do anything about it. I'd take her & her sibling to a vet for a check up. Cats need to go to vet at least once a year for a heath test. She possibly has hyperthyroidism and that means daily medication.

If you are prepared to pay yourself then take her to the vet and then take them both in. If you aren't prepared to pay/take them on then contact the RSPCA to report neglect. The RSPCA generally do nothing about stray cats, or cats giving birth in roads, or uncontrolled feral colonies, but they do generally act on neglect/cruelty reports.