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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.

Original poster

Stray cat - would like to keep

151 replies

Mistressofnone · 01/01/2022 13:24

Over the summer, a sweet little cat started to appear on our shed roof. Always too timid to be approached though.

In November, our neighbour remarked that it was a stray. In December I went in our shed and discovered it must be living in there - it had made a little bed from an old patio chair cushion, covered in its fur.

I built it a little den and put an igloo style cat bed inside and have started to leave out food and milk/water. She/he loves it there and looking much healthier already. She now comes in the house and is so gentle with the kids. We have no other pets and would really like to keep her.

I have checked with neighbours and our local WhatsApp group but no takers. Also checked the local missing cats Facebook page for a match, but am wary to post on there in case someone unsavoury claims her.

The vet has said to bring her in next week (now early Jan) to check for a microchip. This is where I'm curious, does anyone have experience of taking in a cat who turns out to have long lost owners, and if so were they ok with you keeping it and signing over details?

We're really quite taken with her!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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RandomMess · 01/01/2022 13:32

Milk isn't good for them!

The vet can check for a microchip but sounds like you have a cat 🐱

Original poster
Mistressofnone · 01/01/2022 13:36

@RandomMess

Milk isn't good for them!

The vet can check for a microchip but sounds like you have a cat 🐱

Thank you I didn't know that about milk! I haven't had a cat in years. Need to hang out on the Litter Tray more I think Smile
OP posts:
AlfonsoTheGoat · 01/01/2022 14:29

If she is chpped, contact the owners to let them know you've found her. If they're not interested, ask them if you can adopt her.

You'll need to pay the Litter Tray Cat Tax, OP. And congratulations on becoming a cat slave!

RandomMess · 01/01/2022 14:32

Litter tray tax is a photo, preferably several btw GrinWink

Haus1234 · 01/01/2022 14:36

It would be nice if she was unmicrochipped and you could keep her (and not unusual, the local cat rescue finds loads of them!).

I would imagine if she does have an owner though they will want her back and their kids will love her just as much as yours do and miss her dreadfully.

Gingernaut · 01/01/2022 14:38

There is specially processed, lactose free cat milk, very creamy looking and a lot of cats rate it as high as Dreamies.

Iamanicepersonreally · 01/01/2022 15:48

It sounds like you might have a new cat. Please get her spayed and please don’t give her milk, it really isn’t good for cats.
Do you have a photo of her?

HunkyPunk · 01/01/2022 15:54

It’s just that many cats are lactose intolerant, so I’d get cat milk (or I assume any lactose-free milk is ok?)

thecatneuterer · 01/01/2022 16:08

I work in a cat rescue. There are as many reactions to finding cats with chips as there are cats. Firstly, most stray cats have no chip (and are also unneutered). Of those that have chips, probably nearly half are uncontactable - out of date phone and address. Of those we can contact probably around 40 per cent are thrilled and want their cat back. The remaining 60 per cent tend not to want them back for a huge variety of reasons. Very often they will say that they had given the cat to someone else a long time before, but hadn't changed the chip details. It often then transpires that the person they had given the cat to had moved and left the cat behind.

So no one can answer your question about what is likely to happen. There is only one way to find out. If no owner comes forward then the first thing you need to do is check that the cat is neutered.

Original poster
Mistressofnone · 01/01/2022 16:49

Thanks so much for all your help so far, it's really helpful to know what to expect!

@Gingernaut I will look that up right now! I didn't know there was any cat crack like Dreamies 😁

@Iamanicepersonreally I certainly will get her spayed once I speak to the vets next week and chip records checked.

@HunkyPunk fab I will make sure I give her water or the special cat stuff. She seems to guzzle milk but I'd hate it to leave her with a sore tum.

OP posts:
Nomoreusernames1244 · 01/01/2022 16:53

If she’s been there since the summer and no kittens I would think there’s a good she’s neutered already.

If you want to keep her you have to make “every effort” to find an owner- chip check, social media as you have done, maybe some flyers? If no one comes forward she’s all yours Grin

Original poster
Mistressofnone · 01/01/2022 16:53

@AlfonsoTheGoat and @RandomMess please accept my tax as follows!

Her she is on her shed roof where she was slumming it.
By her little den where she likes to chill with her head poking out the door.
And on the sofa where I think she belongs! Grin

Stray cat - would like to keep
Stray cat - would like to keep
Stray cat - would like to keep
OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 01/01/2022 16:55

Well 'she' is a 'he'.

Original poster
Mistressofnone · 01/01/2022 16:57

@Haus1234

It would be nice if she was unmicrochipped and you could keep her (and not unusual, the local cat rescue finds loads of them!).

I would imagine if she does have an owner though they will want her back and their kids will love her just as much as yours do and miss her dreadfully.

Totally yes, I'm trying to manage my expectations as I'd hate to take her from a loving home. There is a large housing estate over the fields that she might have come from, that's my main concern. But it is quite a distance.
OP posts:
middleager · 01/01/2022 16:58

She's adorable! Thank you for looking after her. Hope it works out for you all.

RandomMess · 01/01/2022 16:58

How can you tell it's a boy from those photos?

middleager · 01/01/2022 16:58

He!

Original poster
Mistressofnone · 01/01/2022 16:59

@thecatneuterer that's really good to hear it from your point of view having worked in cat rescue. I guess I'll stay hopeful and see where the microchip (or not) leads.

How can you tell so easily she is a he? Amazing!

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 01/01/2022 16:59

@RandomMess

How can you tell it's a boy from those photos?
The face. That's a boy face and he seems to have the beginnings of tom cheeks.
Gensola · 01/01/2022 16:59

@thecatneuterer how can you tell?

milly74 · 01/01/2022 17:03

Please don't steal someone's cat? Get the chip checked and take her home if she has one
She/ he - I think tom cat as well

RandomMess · 01/01/2022 17:03

Oh I wonder if that's why my boy has cheeks as he was de-baubled at 3 (retired stud!

It's either a boy or spayed girl for sure.

Nomoreusernames1244 · 01/01/2022 17:03

I was going to ask if you’ve checked the sex- if it is a stray boy will be more likely with no kittens appearing.

HunkyPunk · 01/01/2022 17:04

Aw! He/she (I wouldn't have been able to tell either Confused) is gorgeous and looks right at home Smile

Chanel05 · 01/01/2022 17:04

My two previous cats were both strays and made their way indoors and themselves at home very quickly Smile.

Sounds like you have a cat Smile, as other posters have remarked. Taking in a previously unwanted cat is a joy; it's extra special to see them so happy, knowing what a life they could have led before.