This has made me sad but I don't know what to say

[gabrielleblue]

A friend rescued a very sweet cat from a shelter around two years ago. In that time the cat has never been to a vet, and has been massively overfed, but ignored/starved of affection at other times. In fact pretty much all she does with the cat is fill her bowl with treats. When she told me today that she was moving house and didn't want to take the cat with her and was going to be returning her to the shelter I just mentioned how sad that was (although maybe the cat can be readopted into a family that will take a little more care of her). I've just had my head bitten off by said friend who says if the shelter chastises her for lack of vet visits and overfeeding, she is just going to tell them to *&$% off.

That is sad, and really irresponsible. Makes you wonder why friend took her on in the first place. Are you, or someone you know, in a position to re-home, to save the poor cat the trauma of a return to the shelter?

Well, it's good that she's taking her to the shelter rather than just turfing her our or leaving her. That's me being all Christmassy and looking for an upside.

I think I'd honestly reconsider my friendship with someone who did that, unless there was a reason she couldn't take the cat with her.

The shelters are pretty full though, what does she plan to do if they can’t take the cat in?
Can you take it in temporarily?
Do you know if the cat has been neutered?

If she’s only or mainly feeding treats it will not be a very healthy kitty ☹️

Yeah I couldn't be friends with someone like that sorry

TheSpottedZebra and Redken 24 - yes, I know. It has made me completely rethink the way I feel about her because I'm not entirely sure how someone can do this - and not have any qualms about it beyond being irritated that I challenged her.

IntoTheFloodAgain - sadly I can't rehome the cat. It didnt even occur to me that shelters can say no. I have absolutely no idea what she might do in that case. She surely couldn't just abandon her.

Er, my cat hasn’t been to the vet in seven years, and is also the aloofest cat I’ve ever met. We see her when she wants food and otherwise she ignores us, she bites if we pet her.

I mean, yes, rehomingisnt great but she doesn’t sound that terrible an owner.

I certainly wouldn't be friends with her. And yes, all shelters are full, but if the cat came from then I think they are obliged to take it back and so will have to find room somehow (we tell anyone who adopts that if they can't keep it for any reason then it legally has to be returned to us - and I imagine most shelters work the same way).

And yes, at least she isn't just leaving it behind, which is something we come across almost daily.

My last cat 🐱 never went to the vets from being spayed until she died aged 24. My new 🐱 cat (2) sounds like your cats sister Anachron.
She's feisty and swipes at you if you try to pet her. Like a bit of feisty though!
Sorry, bit off thread there but I think the poor cat would be better re-homed.
Your "friend" sounds a knob, gabrielleblue.

What about annual vaccination boosters? Surely any non - indoor cat should be vaccinated.

None of mine ever have and they've all lived well over 20 with no illnesses. They've all had access to outside, although we are semi-rural.
Might need vaccinations if townie cats perhaps.
Not something my Mother, Grandmother or I have ever bothered with.
If course we worm and flea regularly and brush.

Btw. None of our dogs vaccinated either after initial Parvo jabs before 12 weeks. They all lived to grand old age as well.
Doesn't really matter as they'll never be put in kennels.

Sounds like she doesn't even like the poor thing. Cats are very loving, given half a chance. Hope it gets a good home when she turfs it out.

My vet feels that annual boosters aren't always necessary; he does blood tests to check titers as an alternative.

I would not be friends with her in a million years. Do you know anyone that would take her in?

The Shelter should take the cat back.
You know this friend OP? Say if you have a problem in your life they wont be there for you. If they treat an animal like shit they will also treat you like that given half a chance.
I'd make sure the cat got rehomed then dump the friend for good.