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

returning a ‘stray’ cat.

21 replies

sunshineandshowers21 · 02/06/2021 21:06

a cat showed up in our garden three months ago, and after going around all the neighbours and posting on various facebook pages no owner could be found. we’ve been feeding her for the past three months and she was sleeping in a basket in our shed. she was really skittish but lately she’s calmed down and now allows us to stroke her. she also now sleeps in the house. we’ve also been fleaing and worming her in the time we’ve had her. the cat is long haired and has lots of big clumps of matted fur that cannot be brushed out. we’ve been brushing her every day but some of these clumps are so bad i think it’ll be necessary for her to sedated whilst they are removed. we have a consultation booked at the vets next week to discuss this.

anyway, last week a lady came and scanned her for a chip and was able to locate her owner. her owner said the cat regularly goes missing and she thinks the cat is scared of her dogs which makes her wander. her owner now wants her back and whilst i know she has every right it’s breaking my heart that we’ve got to return her to a home that obviously causes her stress. we’ve been speaking through the scanner lady and the owner is seemingly unwilling to budge on us keeping her. i’m sat here in floods at the thought of her not being around. i don’t even know what advice i’m asking for, but any would be appreciated!

OP posts:
Biancadelrioisback · 02/06/2021 21:15

That sounds rough! How did it take so long to scan the cat for a chip?

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/06/2021 21:20

Oh that would upset me too! It would be tempting to keep quiet if she turns up again wouldn’t it & hope she doesn’t need a vet.

sunshineandshowers21 · 02/06/2021 21:32

it’s my fault i didn’t get her scanned sooner. i’m quite a way away from my nearest vets and with four kids my life is manic so it just kept getting pushed down the list of things to do. i was sharing her photo every week on our local facebook page and i posted in several local cat groups so i thought her owner would have contacted by now. it turns out the cat is from several streets away across a very busy road. anyway in the time since i’ve created the post the lady who scanned her has text me to say the cat’s owner has reconsidered and is now willing to let us keep the cat and have her microchip details transferred to us. i’ve gone from sobbing to relieved to on edge hoping she doesn’t change her mind in half an hour.

OP posts:
Henio · 02/06/2021 21:49

I'm glad she's changed her mind op sounds like she'll have a much better life with you 💕

sunshineandshowers21 · 02/06/2021 22:01

thank you! i’m so relieved we’re going to be able to keep her. first thing tomorrow i’m calling the vets to bring her appointment forward to get her shaved and have her boosters. she’s currently snuggled up next to me in bed, purring her head off and completely unaware of the drama we’ve been through today.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 02/06/2021 22:03

That’s such good news.

Bargebill19 · 02/06/2021 22:10

Fabulous news!!! (Get the chip details changed ASAP)

Tuna all round for tea!

Aprilwasverywet · 02/06/2021 22:13

Ime dcats choose their own abode.. Likely the dcat would have found it's way back to you anyway!!
Congratulations on your new addition..

ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 02/06/2021 22:14

That IS great news, but generally, this isn't a good way to get a cat...

Feeding a cat that isn't yours isn't a good idea - and waiting so long to check for a microchip makes it look like you were hoping not to find the owner at all. Lots of cat owners aren't on Facebook.

Gottalovesummer · 02/06/2021 22:20

Lucky cat to have found you.

Definitely get your details on the chip ASAP.

Photo?

milinhas · 02/06/2021 22:37

Lucky cat for having a nice new stress free home and lucky you for having a nice new cat!

However, I feel really really sorry for the poor owner who didn’t know where her cat was for 3 months. Our beloved cat was gone for just over a day last week and I basically cried non stop and was convinced she was dead (yes very overdramatic but really truly honestly). To other readers in the same position - please scan the cat as soon as you can.

SpiesRUs · 02/06/2021 22:38

OMG I am so happy for you and the cat

sunshineandshowers21 · 02/06/2021 22:56

to everyone saying i should have had her scanned sooner, i know that. i really do. and i feel bad that i didn’t. but like i said it just kept getting pushed further down the list as i had a million other things to do. we didn’t start feeding her with the intention of keeping her, believe me. we have three cats already that cost me a bomb in cat food every week! it was only after about a week of her hanging around non stop and stealing my cat’s food that i started feeding her. her owner has agreed that i could have her contact details so i’ve contacted her and apologised for not having her scanned sooner and assured her that we’ll take care of her. she’s asked that i keep her up to date with pictures and how’s she’s doing which i am more than happy to do. she’s said the cat has ran away numerous times but this was the longest she’s ever been gone, and the furthest! hopefully now she’s settled with no stress she can enjoy the rest of her days snoozing in the bird bath - with no more disappearing acts!

OP posts:
Editedby · 02/06/2021 22:58

Similar happened to my lovely MIL. A cat took up residence in her garden/wood store. She couldn’t let it in due to having a dog but the dog passed so the cat then made its way inside. She took him to the vets and a scan showed his owner. He was returned but by then the owner had had a baby and got another kitten. My MIL left her number to say if he goes missing again, call me and I’ll check my garden. She was gutted but I told her to be patient. 2 days later, the cat was back. No phone call. He lives like a prince now Smile

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/06/2021 06:44

You can’t scan a cat you can’t get near & it’s better to feed a cat than have it starve to death.

If mine had gone missing I’d want someone to feed him.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/06/2021 16:46

Is it your cat now?.

Want2beme · 04/06/2021 22:07

So glad she has you, a loving and decent home. That's the most important thing. She sounds adorableSmile

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 04/06/2021 22:10

Oh I’m glad you get to keep her!
I absolutely love my cats but if they were this miserable and had found a home they were happier at, and the humans were happy to have them, I’d sign them over too.

sunshineandshowers21 · 05/06/2021 01:22

she’s officially ours! her microchip information was transferred over to me yesterday, and she’s booked in at the vets on monday to have her fur shaved and booster vaccinations. the kids are over the moon, especially my two year old who absolutely adores her and is currently asleep in her cot with the cat curled up at her feet.

OP posts:
Bargebill19 · 05/06/2021 02:13

Brilliant news!!

thecatneuterer · 06/06/2021 12:14

@Fluffycloudland77

You can’t scan a cat you can’t get near & it’s better to feed a cat than have it starve to death.

If mine had gone missing I’d want someone to feed him.

Exactly that.
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