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

Original poster

Advice needed for stray cat

35 replies

lloe7 · 28/03/2021 11:28

A neighbour of mine found a cat five days ago who had wondered up to his farm- we are in a little village so not many cats wonder that far out. He unfortunately couldn't let her in his house as he has non cat friendly dogs, so she spent four days living in a make shift den in his garden. She is young, super skinny and full of ticks. She's been scanned for microchip but unfortunately doesn't seem to have one. I've taken her in and she is so so lovely- and so friendly so it's hard to believe she wasn't someone's pet, she also uses a litter tray. Is there anything I can do to find her owner? If not, can I get her chipped with my details and keep her?

Advice needed for stray cat
Advice needed for stray cat
OP posts:
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titchy · 28/03/2021 11:38

No idea but that tail!

Fluffycloudland77 · 28/03/2021 12:07

If you put her details up locally and no one contacts you you can chip her. Let’s face it it’s not unusual for cats to be dumped rurally is it?.

Hopefully she’s neutered. She needs her vaccinations too.

Weedsnseeds1 · 28/03/2021 12:13

I'd keep her if nobody comes forward as an owner, she's lovely 😁

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 28/03/2021 12:22

Check local FB pages for missing cat posts, but if nobody is looking for her, and as she's not even chipped, I'd keep her.

HobnobbingAboutHobnobs · 28/03/2021 12:31

So gorgeous! Like pp said, check local fb, shop noticeboards etc for a lost cat, but if she's not chipped then I doubt she's been missed.

Original poster
lloe7 · 28/03/2021 23:45

Thanks everyone- I'm going to take her to the vets to get looked over tomorrow and double check for a chip. If there's no chip I will make another appointment for a week or two later for her to get her jabs- to give any owner time to come forward before. Then hopefully I can get her chipped and welcome her in to the family Grin

OP posts:
Want2beme · 28/03/2021 23:50

I think she wants to stay with youWink She's gorgeous. One of my cats, also a stray, was just like her.

Mumdiva99 · 29/03/2021 07:15

How beautiful. Hard to believe she isn't missed.

Prestel · 29/03/2021 08:25

Most people get their cats chipped when they're neutered at 4 - 6 months, so as she appears to be quite young do bear in mind that she could have escaped a loving home and become lost before she got chipped. I would suggest you get in touch with any local rescues like Cat's Protection to see if she matches any missing cats that have been reported to them as this would be the obvious thing to do for someone who was desperately looking for an unchipped cat that they've lost. If none of them are aware of a missing youngster and there's nothing on the local Facebook pages then it should be okay to adopt and chip her but do talk it over with the vet first so they're aware she's a stray.

Fluffycloudland77 · 29/03/2021 10:35

If she suddenly develops a big stomach and her nipples become prominent you know why she’s out in the middle of nowhere.

Original poster
lloe7 · 04/04/2021 00:08

Update- she has been checked over by my vet, and double checked for a chip but sadly there's definitely no chip. I've contacted all the main vets in neighbouring towns, as well as the local two cat shelters, a few cats have been reported missing but none matching her description. I've posted on the Facebook groups, including the lost/found pets for my whole county- but no one has come forward to say they are an owner or that they recognise her. There have been a few accusations towards travellers who were in the area recently, suggesting that they dumped her but I suspect that that is people being discriminatory rather than factual. Hmm She has another appointment on the 22nd to be vaccinated and microchipped with my details, approved by my lovely vet who is happy that there's not another stray to be sent to a shelter!
I'm secretly hoping an owner doesn't come forward Grin but I feel I've done all that I can to try to find them if she does have a hone. She is so lovely!

OP posts:
CatChant · 04/04/2021 00:19

I think you've got yourself a very pretty little cat with a truly magnificent tail. Congratulations. Smile

Ozzie9523 · 04/04/2021 00:43

You’ve been chosen OP! Please keep her, she obviously feels safe and happy with you x

ILikeTheWineNotTheLabel · 04/04/2021 00:52

Congratulation on being chosen by such a lovely cat!

She’s got good taste as well as good looks- obviously knows you will provide a loving and caring home.

Bythemillpond · 04/04/2021 01:00

She certainly looks at home

user1471548941 · 04/04/2021 11:39

That is a lot of tail for a very small cat! How beautiful!

Sometimes cats just chose their homes and I think that can be the best way- it looks like you have been chosen!

Bargebill19 · 04/04/2021 15:21

She knew that you had a cat shaped hole in your life that needed filling. Well done!

Original poster
lloe7 · 28/04/2021 08:54

Hi, another update- her appointment got moved to yesterday. I had suspicions which were confirmed- she is pregnant. When we took her in she was super skinny so must have been just pregnant, only in the last week or so her tummy has started to swell. She couldn't be vaccinated but I have now had her microchipped in my details so she is officially part of the family! The vet thinks she is 12-18 months old so only a baby herself Sad Not sure if she had an owner and was abandoned or if she's always been a stray but I am so glad she has come into our life, and now she will have somewhere safe abs warm to have her kittens too.

Advice needed for stray cat
OP posts:
Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 28/04/2021 09:15

Delighted that she's found a new home - and that tail!!
You do realise that you are now duty bound to provide regular updates & photos once the kittens arrive?

sashh · 28/04/2021 09:21

What a sweetie.

Her Mistiness was a stray, I thought about 6 months but the vet said a year. Apparently if they have a litter before they are fully grown they stop growing.

Mine is over 10 now and people still think she is a kitten.

Of course we need pics of the kittens when the time comes.

thinziggy · 28/04/2021 09:24

This is lovely, yes please do put up pics of the kittens when they come

CatChant · 28/04/2021 09:30

Poor puss. How lucky she is that you took her in.

ofwarren · 28/04/2021 09:40

Aww, I love this!
We had a similar situation a few years back with a pregnant stray. I felt honoured to be chosen.
Looking forward to seeing her babies!

AlfonsoTheTerrible · 28/04/2021 09:53

Welcome to your new feline overlord! She is a beauty.

Fluffycloudland77 · 28/04/2021 11:18

Poor girl being pregnant so young. You’re a midwife now 😲