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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.

How do I help this cat?

9 replies

CognativeDissonance · 13/06/2020 22:42

About two weeks ago, a young cat popped into my garden. Fairly regular occurrence so I didn't think too much of it at the time. It then started to arrive more frequently and now it's here all day. It's clearly lost, possibly a stray but I'm not too sure. I put a call out on Facebook, no such luck but a lady that volunteers for a local rescue came round yesterday to attempt to scan the cat for a microchip and put a paper collar on. Cat was too frightened and wouldn't come near. Lady advised I try to get her in to the house to settle her. I have a spare room and volunteer lady lives minutes away so s/he could be contained comfortably for the short term. I'm wary of this as I have two unvaccinated cats of my own and I have no idea what this new cat could be carrying but at the same time, I feel so sorry for it! Yesterday it was pissing down with rain and it was too frightened to come in. It takes a few tentative steps inside the doorway (I make sure my two are out of the room each time) and will come near me but the moment I make a move, s/he runs. I've tried leaving a box with a blanket in it by the open door and just leaving him/her to come in when ready but then s/he tried to roam around my living room which is a risk I can't take for my own cats sake and again, the moment I move s/he runs. I have no idea what to do, I want to reunite it with it's family if it's lost or make sure no harm comes to it if it's not chipped but currently, it's just sitting outside meowing it's head off most of the day. It's not even a nuisance to me, I just want to help it but I have no idea how to. It's now facing another night sleeping outside on a garden chair, or gazing in at my two lounging on a comfy sofa!
Any advice?

OP posts:
Elieza · 13/06/2020 23:00

Can you make it a nest outside? I don’t think it’s to be cold the next couple of nights. Put the box with blanket under the garden chair with something waterproof over the top or wrapped round the seat as a roof.

It’s either that, while trying to gain its trust so you can paper collar and scan it, or a cat trap I would think?

Poor little.

Elieza · 13/06/2020 23:00

Kittie

Want2beme · 13/06/2020 23:08

Do you have a shed? Of so, you could leave the door open, and put a box and food in there for her. Maybe the lady from the rescue has a trap you can use? It took me nearly 2 years to get one of mine to become a member of the household, but even now he likes to spend a lot of time outside. I think you might have to ask the rescue to help a bit more, if they can.

CognativeDissonance · 13/06/2020 23:53

I don't have a shed unfortunately but I can put together some sort of nest.
Rescue lady was fairly against using a trap because she thinks it traumatises them. I don't have enough experience with cats to know how legitimate that is but spotted a fox in the garden this evening (both fox and cat seemed fairly non plussed and ignored each other) and I think trapping might be better than coming to any other sort of harm. I'll call CPL and see what they say.
Wish I had space for another, I'm already quite attached! No room at the Inn unfortunately!

OP posts:
SistemaAddict · 13/06/2020 23:56

Whereabouts are you? General
Area? Do you have a photo of the cat? You never know, someone on here might recognise him or her.

Fluffycloudland77 · 14/06/2020 07:48

Are you feeding her?.

FamilyOfAliens · 14/06/2020 07:50

Get your cats vaccinated?

CognativeDissonance · 14/06/2020 09:53

Yes she's being fed

My cats are going to be vaccinated, it just hasn't been scheduled to fit in with a random cat turning up at my house Hmm

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 14/06/2020 15:52

I don't really think your cats will be at risk. Unless the cat looks unwell I wouldn't worry about that. It sounds as though the rescue really need to trap, but maybe they're not that sort of rescue?

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