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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Not sure what to do with this lovely little cat...help!

222 replies

Alabasterangel6 · 08/10/2019 19:51

I won’t dripfeed so apologies for the long backstory.

I had a cat for 22 years. I am a cat person. DS was born when DCat was 20, so for 2 years he was around cat, touched cat and grew up with a very furry environment.

When DCat died we said no more pets for a while. A year later, at 3, DS went into the home of a dog and with no warning at all had an acute and severe asthma attack. A&E blue light job. It isn’t the only dog he is allergic to because he has less severe but obvious symptoms if we even go in a car where a different dog has been. We are very very vigilant to avoid dogs (due to the acute and severe nature of the attack) and DS is now 8. We’ve always wondered if he is the same with cats but a) hoped not due to earlier exposure and b) daren’t risk finding out. Note we lived in the house that the cat had lived in for another 2 years but moved when DS was 4.

Minding our own business, going about life, and for reasons unknown to us this little cat arrives. She is small, fed (as far as I can see), clean, very used to humans and for some reason is also very very very determined to get into our house. We have NEVER let her in or fed her, not even once. DD (10) will stoke her if she’s playing in the garden but the cat is very affectionate and absolutely adores DD. When we come home from school Cat comes running miaowing. She spends hours every day miaowing on the kitchen windowsill or at the kitchen door. She stares at us through the door all evening and scratches at the living room door all evening (see photo!!). If DD or I go out to her she will literally jump from the wall or garden table to DDs shoulder. As I speak she is outside miaowing at the door.

I’ve been round circa 25 houses in the direction she most commonly comes from and everyone sees her but no one knows who owns her. So....

What do I do to locate her owner? I don’t want to take her to a vet, I don’t have a pet carrier for a start.

Should I put a note on a collar and put it on her? Would that work?

In light of the above, I don’t want to claim her as I am 80% sure she is owned but if she was your cat wouldn’t you want to know she was trying so badly to invade ours! I want them to know i haven’t fed her or tried to steal her!

DS has allergy testing at the end of Oct, but IF (if if if if) it turns out she’s a random, what are the chances of him being allergic to dogs but not
Cats?

Thoughts on the above, please?

Not sure what to do with this lovely little cat...help!
OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
LoveMySituation · 12/10/2019 20:42

Been lurking OP, your son is lovely. I don't know if this helps, but when my dad first got his current cat, he was allergic (he'd had a cat before, wasn't allergic to her!) the doctor gave him some tablets, but after a while he didn't need them and now he is allergy free and she is allowed on his bedGrin

AllTheNameAreTakenEvenThisOne · 12/10/2019 20:45

My friend's DS was allergic to cats, it made his nose run green snot.

It took them ages to realise as the cat came before the baby, they just though he was a snotty baby / toddler.

But the Dr eventually suggested it might be cat allergy so they gave the cat to a friend to look after and his snotty nose got better.

AllTheNameAreTakenEvenThisOne · 12/10/2019 20:46

No idea if that's just how it affects anyone other than my friend's toddler though!

My adult friend who was allergic to cats used to complain of itchy eyes, not a snotty nose.

Plump82 · 12/10/2019 21:49

Despite getting 2 new kittens ive got a pretty bad allergy to cats. Wheezing, tight chest, rash, runny nose and runny itchy eyes. Stroking any cat sets me off so with your son stroking Pip and being ok, it's sounding hopeful?

DobbyTheHouseElk · 12/10/2019 21:52

I have a friend who sneezes, and a friend who’s lip swelled up when my cat rubbed his face on hers.

My brother has itchy eyes and sneezes.

I really think Pip has come to live with you.

Hot water bottle treatment too, lucky cat.

Alabasterangel6 · 12/10/2019 22:07

I just keep encouraging small bouts of stroking from DS.

DD has been back down from bed in floods worrying about her. As I showed her pip is in cat luxury compared to last night and the night before. She’s been on the hot water bottle in the shed out cold for 4 hours now. She needed a really good safe sleep and we’ve done that.

I’ve just been out and swapped the hot water bottle for a new one.

You can only imagine how bad I was with a PFB. I contemplated putting the alarm on for 2am to reheat. I need to get a grip!

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 12/10/2019 22:10

Oh that face! Has anyone mentioned petal cleanse? Wipes for cat that helps reduce allergens? Not used them myself but may be worth a try.
Removable and washable covers on soft surfaces.
Only ever damp dust.
Cat grooming outside.
Wash hands after touching cat.
These have all helped me. Good luck.

LondonSouth28 · 12/10/2019 22:17

Fingers crossed for Pip staying in your family...looks unlikely that she will be leaving! X

PersonaNonGarter · 12/10/2019 22:22

This is a lovely story. Loads of cats live fine in sheds OP.

Alabasterangel6 · 12/10/2019 22:37

Yes thank you persona I do realise I need to give myself a firm shake. I’m transposing human feelings into DCat thinking she’s clearly upset that she’s not inside with us. Yet she’s happy where she is for now.

You know what? I’m absolutely walloped. So tired. Cat enduced exhaustion!

OP posts:
Girliefriendlikescake · 12/10/2019 22:37

Aww lovely thread, I would be getting the ultra sound booked with the vet though op as would be really concerned that she will be pregnant really soon if she's not spayed!

We had a similar situation when I was a teenager, beautiful cat turned up and never left. About a month after my parents accepted she was now our cat we realised she was pregnant!! I was over the moon and she had 5 beautiful kittens, am guessing you probably wouldn't be quite so pleased though 😬

chocolatespiders · 12/10/2019 22:42

How do you manage such a bad allergy @plump82 can you recommend anything?

Mia184 · 12/10/2019 22:42

OP, you and your family sound lovely and I can absolutely relate to you. I hope everything works out and Pip can stay - your son being able to touch her sounds very promising!

BTW, I recently had an allergy test because I have exercise-induced asthma and I turned out positive for cats. My pulmonologist told me not to worry since I have no symptoms and most cat owners are mildly allergic to cats.

Heartofglass12345 · 12/10/2019 23:07

Awww you all seem so lovely Thanks would antihistamines be an option for your son?

thecatneuterer · 12/10/2019 23:17

I would be getting the ultra sound booked with the vet though op

I'm very happy you're helping her OP. I would though just book her in to be spayed. The chances of her already being spayed, given the circs, are vanishingly small. Also an ultra sound really can't show if she's already done. It can show if she's pregnant but that is all that can be confidently diagnosed. The only way our clinic knows for sure if a female cat is neutered is by opening her up. So just book her in for spaying.

LizB62A · 12/10/2019 23:19

Yes, definitely get her spayed - it needs to be done either way and you don't want to have to rehome (or keep Smile) several kittens as well !!

Hecateh · 12/10/2019 23:29

My son is allergic. His partner's mum died leaving 6 cats, which she won't rehome.
The cats are not allowed upstairs but other than that a single daily antihistamine and DS's been fine

CatCave · 12/10/2019 23:43

I'm allergic to my cat, I take an antihistamine in the morning which keeps it at bay.

You've done a lovely thing OP, Pip is safe, warm and fed as well as having company when you are able to provide it.

I hope it all works out for you and she can stay, if not, you've made her little life a hundred times happier in the meantime.

Plump82 · 12/10/2019 23:58

chocolatespiders I dont really manage it very well other than antihistamines daily. But if i forget to take one or run out (like today) then I really suffer.

Lemond1fficult · 13/10/2019 00:19

Just adding my experience here - I had a lifetime allergy to cats, with asthma, hives, itchy eyes, but as soon as my housemate got a cat, I quickly became immune first to our cat, then to every other cat. It took about a month with our cat, then about a year for all others. The only time I get an allergy now is in a house with several cats, as I don't think my body can cope with the different antibodies. Hopefully your sweet ds will be the same - I'm so invested in your getting to keep her!

EL8888 · 13/10/2019 01:38

@ LoveMySituation this is similar to my brothers experience. We had a cat as children. Then as an adult him and his then girlfriend got 2 cats which he subsequently found out he was allergic to. He took antihistamines at first and then the symptoms receded. He’s absolutely fine now

acatcalledjohn · 13/10/2019 02:04

You and your family are lovely, OP, which is why Pip chose you.

Keeping my fingers crossed your DS is not allergic to cats.

Benji13 · 13/10/2019 02:51

I help out with a cat rescue in the West Midlands so not a million miles away from you in Staffordshire. If she needs a rescue space please do let me know. She looks and sounds lovely.
Has anyone scanned her for a chip? You could also drop a line and a photo to your local cats protection who can advertise her through their lost and found cats.
Hoping it works out for you but if it doesn’t please shout up xxx

Benji13 · 13/10/2019 02:58

Apologies I’ve seen further back on yr thread that you have had her scanned plus think you know where she cane from 😩
If you do need help moving her on do shout up or message little paws cat haven. Catchat also list other rescues local to you although all may well be full.
She looks beautiful ❤️