Possible stray?

[EyeBaggage]

We've had a very skinny cat visit us several times in the last month or so

I think it's a stray as I've advertised it as found on our neighbourhood FB page and Neighbourhood Watch and nobody's claimed it and it's v scared of people - can't get near it before it runs away

It got stuck in our spare room for at least two days and nights a few weeks back and nobody reported it as missing, although I'm aware it's not unusual for some cats to bugger off for that long and then come back

He/She's taken to visiting our cat late at night and yowling for him and playing with him (or trying to!) but twice now she's sat on the patio all night waiting, even in the rain

I don't want to start feeding it in case it's someone's pet but other neighbours have said it waits in their gardens too and it's very very skinny. Can't think of what else to do other than try and coax it into the house, shut it in and borrow my friends scanner to check? Less traumatic than trying to wrestle to the vets or trap it? Any advise welcome!

Yes borrow the scanner, I would feed it too if its skinny.

Borrow scanner and feed the poor thing. If it's gone walkabout im sure the owner would be pleased that it got fed, it's such a worry when pets go missing. Very nice of you to care btw

Thanks all - I'm going to feed it this evening if it comes and ask around the neighbours. Stunned our cat tolerates it to be honest - he doesn't really leave our tiny back garden and guards it fiercely - this one seems to have charmed him

Always feed a starving cat, it’ll be in a lot of pain being so hungry.

Ndn cat tries it on with me but his flubber gives the game away.

Yes, always feed a starving cat. It's obviously in trouble. If no chip then you will need to keep on feeding at the very least, and check it's neutered. And of course flea and worm treatment.

You could always put a paper collar on with a message if you want to be absolutely sure it doesn't have a home. But do feed!

I picked up a starving cat on the street a couple of weeks ago that had obviously been ignored by everyone who saw her. She weighed 2.1 kg and was on the brink of death. She has hardly stopped eating since and now looks healthy and happy. If a cat appears to be in trouble it's much better to err on the side of feeding than not to because of worry about possible owners.

Hi all - she (I'm assuming she) came last night at the usual time and ate the food I'd left out - all of it! In about thirty seconds...
I will keep feeding her to gain her trust so I can hopefully get close enough to put a paper collar on/shut her in the house long enough to scan her - im assuming from a data protection standpoint, the chip company would only give owner info to a vet or police? Was just wondering if I could nip round and talk to the neighbour if she's owned by someone nearby

You could contact your local cats protection with the chip number and they can have a look for you and contact possible owners.

But you are right the vets will not give you the info and if they keep the cat and it is not claimed most not all vets will unfortunately pts.

No vets would put a healthy cat to sleep. Where have you got that information from?

I would gladly take her in so if we get to stage where I can take her to vets to be scanned I will definitely let them know she'd have a home

Actually you would be surprised @Bananarama12 how many healthy cats are put to sleep. I volunteer for Cats Protection so unfortunately come face to face with the nasty reality of it all. :(

Glad to hear it @EyeBaggage this world needs more people like who are prepared to help. :)

Really? That is so sad!

Vets do indeed pts healthy cats all the time. And the RSPCA do it in the van, before they even reach the centre. There are just far too many cats for the number of homes and it is indeed a horrible situation.

catneuterer .... no way...what do they base their decisions on to pts? This is horrible. :-(

Print off a paper collar and write a message for the owner.
My old girl was skinny but on a special diet and rather unwell. She would have been made very sick if fed random food.

Can you rig up some kind of shelter in the garden, just a box or a canopy made of a blanket or something, so it's not outside in the rain?

Sounds like a stray if it's skinny.

Tika - it's because cats get dumped on vet practices all the time - left on doorsteps, brought in by the public and brought in for treatment and then not collected. If a vet can't home them and can't find a a rescue to take them in then I suppose they don't have much choice. Vet practices aren't rescue centres and there is a limit to the number of unwanted cats they can hang on to. I'm sure everyone feels terrible about it, but the oversupply of cats means horrible decisions have to be made.

That's so sad. I'm hoping my kitties last many years. We will care for them until their last breath.
And the little tarts are neutered. Enough tortie terrors round here!

If anybody ever needs any information on anything cat related just look at the cats protection website. www.cats.org.uk

Also if you have a stray or feral cat that comes and visits youtube have a lot of videos that give you advice on how to build a shelter especially for winter time.

I got a feral that comes to eat at mine this one and it can fit two cats comfortably.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0067GGXYS/ref=asc_df_B0067GGXYS52728603/?hvlocphy=9046606&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvnetw=g&hvadid=232014773702&creative=22146&hvpone&hvlocint&creativeASIN=B0067GGXYS&hvpos=1o1&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-422507103581&hvrand=5340147555946559697

It is also best if you stuff it with straw as straw stays dry and insulates the heat for them.

It is tragic but there are so many cats out there and not enough rescue places. Makes me wonder how bad the problem really is in countries where neutering is less common.
Our vets had a lovely old cat on their social media brought in who was found abandoned in a carrier. He is on the rescue site now with "interest shown" beside him so they do what they can but sadly a lot of humans treat animals as commodities.
OP I hope all works out with your stray and am pleased you're looking out for her.