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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.

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Original poster

Cat desperate to come in - what to do?

91 replies

TurnipTales · 04/09/2021 09:39

We moved house in the last month, and saw a friendly black cat hanging around. It came into our house one night and was miaowing like crazy, so I gave it some tinned tuna on a dish outside.

Ever since then, it has been desperate to come inside, hanging around outside windows and miaowing. It got in this morning through a small downstairs window and we had to physically put it outside. It's currently sat on our living room windowsill outside, staring at us with sad eyes.

It (not sure if he or she) tries to come inside even after being fed so it's not food related I don't think.

What should we do?? Are we now cat owners?

OP posts:

BeaucoupFish · 04/09/2021 18:44

Hopefully @thecatneuterer will pop on soon

BeaucoupFish · 04/09/2021 18:45

Cross post ! Thank you

NotMyCat · 04/09/2021 18:46

Ah it's black and white. You've had it. My black and white NOT MY CAT has been visiting for 2.5 years now. He is outraged if the window is shut and will bang on it until someone lets him
In

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 04/09/2021 18:48

FB is good for this. We have a spotted in (area) page and people are always posting cats on there. 9 times out of 10 the owner comes on and says yup that's my cat.

My boy cat would love you forever if you have him some tuna. My neighbour caught him strolling out of his house with the neighbours just cooked chicken breast the other week

notapizzaeater · 04/09/2021 18:50

Do you have a local Facebook page ? One was posted on ours a few weeks ago and it's owner explained it was on a controlled diet so was 'starving to death' but please don't feed it

icedcoffees · 04/09/2021 18:51

@TurnipTales

Yes Facebook is a good shout.

The poor thing was absolutely starving, it wolfed down the food I gave it. If that makes me irresponsible then so be it, I couldn't not feed it. It was tuna in water and not brine.

Thanks for all the good advice!

My cats act like they're starving approximately two minutes after mealtimes. They're very well fed, just greedy buggers.

You should be doing things like putting a post on social media and asking if anyone has a scanner for it (a few people in our area have them as they work for rescues), not letting it in and feeding it.

Original poster

TurnipTales · 04/09/2021 18:52

@BeaucoupFish I've just put water out for him! I won't be able to go anywhere for the next couple of days as I don't drive, my partners away and I have a 1 year old to look after. I will keep an eye on him in the meantime.

@thecatneuterer thanks for your helpful advice!

Got some cat food today, he wolfed it down. Maybe he has been going to different households for food but sees us as his 'main people' now. He is the friendliest little cat, it makes me sad to think anyone would abandon this creature. I'm sat outside at the moment and he's jumped on my lap for cuddles.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 04/09/2021 18:53

Actually I think a few posters on trees might be good too. But scanner first.

dementedpixie · 04/09/2021 18:57

My cats aren't greedy, they are fussy so would probably have turned their noses up at your offerings

Nothing better than getting cat cuddles; only one of mine will occasionally sit on my lap

BeaucoupFish · 04/09/2021 18:57

@TurnipTales
Thanks for looking out for him and the updates, he really is a lovely cat, seems he likes you too, and not just because you fed him
Perhaps you can let us know the outcome eventually…..
Thank you

Original poster

TurnipTales · 04/09/2021 19:02

@dementedpixie

My cats aren't greedy, they are fussy so would probably have turned their noses up at your offerings

Nothing better than getting cat cuddles; only one of mine will occasionally sit on my lap

Yes I've met plenty of cats and have never seen one this affectionate! He just wants to be close to me and keeps bopping my face with his wet nose

OP posts:

Original poster

TurnipTales · 04/09/2021 19:03

[quote BeaucoupFish]@TurnipTales
Thanks for looking out for him and the updates, he really is a lovely cat, seems he likes you too, and not just because you fed him
Perhaps you can let us know the outcome eventually…..
Thank you[/quote]
I will!!

OP posts:

Driftingblue · 04/09/2021 19:22

If the cat is hungry or seems in need, please feed it and take care of it.
It is possible the cat is lost and the owners are looking for it so a chip check at the vet is a good idea.
If it happens to be a neighbors cat on the prowl for an extra lunch, that is 100% the neighbor’s responsibility. I’ve got 3 happy cats and no patience for cat owners who let their cats roam unattended and then complain when the cats suffer the natural consequences of the owners choices.

thecatneuterer · 04/09/2021 19:44

I don't agree with Driftingblue - it's not exactly easy to stop cats roaming. However the very small chance of slight harm that can come from feeding for a few days until a chip check and other checks can be organised is nothing compared to the vast amount of good that will be done if this cat is indeed a stray.

OP, when you take to the vets for a scan (which should be free), if he isn't chipped then ask them if they have paper collars - they might do. As the next step would be to attach one with a message written on.

LemonSwan · 05/09/2021 16:33

thecatneuterer

I am not talking about just weight, I am talking about the general looking condition of the cat.

If it has a clean coat, looks well groomed, does it have black bits in its ears (flea poo), is it itching etc. etc,

OP moved in last month. If she had lived their 20 years fair enough. But on the balance of probabilities, the cat looks very well cared for, healthy etc. I am going to assume its a neighbours cat.

thecatneuterer · 05/09/2021 16:37

@lemonswan Yes you're right really, and I have to say the cat in the photo does look very good. But, if he's only just got lost/been dumped then he won't have had time to look like shit. I think, after seeing the photo, the balance of probabilities has shifted in favour of him having a home, but it still needs to be checked out.

icedcoffees · 05/09/2021 16:39

OP moved in last month. If she had lived their 20 years fair enough. But on the balance of probabilities, the cat looks very well cared for, healthy etc. I am going to assume its a neighbours cat.

I would agree with this. It looks healthy and is obviously happy around humans too.

I cat-sit for someone with five cats, including a neutered male who is prone to disappearing for weeks at a time. He's clearly getting fed elsewhere as he always comes back looking rather round!

2bazookas · 05/09/2021 17:16

What should we do?? Are we now cat owners?

You are a Michelin star cat restaurant. In a week or two those sad eyes will be narrowed to an expression of scorn. " Gawd, not tuna AGAIN? When are you going to provide some chicken? Do as I say or I will wee on your carpet."

It probably lives up the road with owners who only offer Whiskas.

Beamur · 05/09/2021 19:29

He's a handsome boy. He may be adding you to his admirers! Probably still worth trying to find an owner but he doesn't look neglected.

Original poster

TurnipTales · 05/09/2021 19:48

He has been hanging around all day again today, he pops us within a couple of minutes of me being outside. He's more insistent on going inside the house when he's hungry (he darts in and I can't make him go back out). I can't open any windows more than a crack because he will let himself in! He did a weird acrobatic manoeuvre to get in the small top windows that are very high up!

I spoke to the neighbours and apparently he's a neighbourhood cat they see but no known owners.

I don't want the responsibility of having a cat, and really hope it has an owner.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 05/09/2021 20:20

I don't think he cares that you don't want the responsibility of having a cat - it would seem you now have one. Do get him chip checked though.

Emmelina · 05/09/2021 20:23

He is so sweet. My guess would either be he belonged to the previous owner and he’s got out and made his way back, or the previous owners didn’t know who he belonged to either and just provided him with what he needed when he asked!

BeaucoupFish · 05/09/2021 20:26

@TurnipTales
You have been chosen 😻

EachandEveryone · 05/09/2021 20:27

Bless him he sounds lovely and maybe he will be ok visiting and eating in yours if he’s homeless you’ve obviously bonded😃. Can you not just continue what you are doing if the neighbours say he has no home? Sounds like they are sharing him anyway.

minipie · 05/09/2021 20:43

My guess would be his owners are on holiday and he is unhappy with the frequency of cat sitter visits.
Or he could be lost.
Or abandoned.
Or greedy.
Really the only way to know is to send local messages - Facebook, neighbour whatsapps, nextdoor if you have it, local online forum or posters. And most importantly get him scanned at a vet.

As you don’t have a cat carrier does anyone local have one you could borrow?

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