What to do about semi-homeless cat

[Medievalist]

Last year a cat started hanging around our house and coming in to pinch our cat's food. I put a paper collar on him but after almost a week nobody had got in touch so I took him to our vet. Prompted by the get, the 'owner' did then get in touch with me and said that the cat didn't get on with her other cat so didn't want to stay in. She did suggest I keep him as he seemed to have chosen us (no - he just worked out where he could get food). But it really wasn't practical for us. I often saw him hanging around outside where he lives.

For the last month or two the cat has been hanging around our garden again. I can't let him in as we've just taken on a puppy and have other dogs so just haven't got space to keep them separate. However I have been putting food out and have constructed a shelter for him under a bench. He's there all the time - day and night ☹️. I saw his owner a few days ago and said if she was worried about her cat she could find him in our front garden . She said again about him not getting on with her other cat and what could she do 🤷‍♀️. I suggested that as a responsible pet owner, if she couldn't provide him with an acceptable place to live, she ought to rehome him not leave him to exist on the streets. This was a few days ago and he's still in our garden.

What should I do? Is there any point in contacting the RSPCA? He looks so miserable poor thing.

The owner clearly doesn't care. He needs rehoming. If you can't have him, you need to contact a rescue, or, better still, persuade the owner to.

Honestly, if it were me I'd let him in and see if he likes your dogs/they like him.

Well I can't contact a rescue - he's not my cat! He's chipped and registered to her. Trouble is she lives in a block of flats and I don't know which one or know her name. I'm wondering if I can persuade our vet to contact the rspca if I take him in again.

Nottalotta - I don't really want him and honestly we have enough animals in this house! I'm not really a cat person - just hate to see an animal neglected.

Bumping for any more advice

OK. The first step is to get the chip changed. I'm not sure if individuals can approach the chip company direct, but vets and rescues certainly can. To find all the rescues in your area look here: www.catchat.org

So speak to a vet/rescue about the situation and ask them to help you get the details changed. The chip company will then contact the owners, normally by post, saying that an application has been made to take over the chip (it won't say who to) and that they have 2 or 3 weeks to object.

The ideal thing would be to change the owners to that of the rescue. If they can't help then you could get the details changed to you and so you will then be able to rehome the cat yourself or ask a rescue to take in.

The RSPCA are unlikely to be helpful as they don't deal with stray or abandoned or feral cats and of course they put so many cats down. You could consider them as a last option though as the owners are not going to put up a fight about keeping the cat.

Please make sure that you rehome to a shelter that does not euthanase unwanted animals.

you say you are not a cat person but cats have a way to your heart and they will help keep those dogs in line

The cat obviously thinks you are a cat person

Do you have a cats protection local? Ask them for advice