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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:
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Original poster
Mistressofnone · 03/01/2022 19:58

@thecatneuterer I would think you are far better placed to estimate the number of strays than that census. It sounds very half-arsed. How are you supposed to conduct a census on an animal for which the phrase 'it's like herding cats' was coined!

Especially as they are so good at hiding away. They would need huge patrol teams and tagging systems surely. I imagine the lockdown increased the number of strays considerably, with all the new pets taken on and veterinary facilities harder to access. I wouldn't be surprised if we have a lockdown tom on our hands after speaking to you!

I'm eager to call the vets tomorrow. Will post an update Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Mistressofnone · 03/01/2022 20:03

Posted too soon - managed to get a cat carrier from my sister so I can call and book in with the nurse now as they suggested

OP posts:
violetbunny · 03/01/2022 20:34

@thecatneuterer OMG that's shocking, I can't believe the vet never noticed!

I have a similar story. One of our (very fluffy) cats we had years ago got taken to the vet to get spayed. Turns out she was a he! The person who sold him to us said he was a girl and the vet performing the procedure was a student vet and didn't think to check. They didn't realise until after they'd made the incision!

Anyway, the poor cat had two procedures that day instead of one. We didn't change the cat's name, so that's how we ended up with an enormous, muscly man-cat named Sheba Grin

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 04/01/2022 23:20

OP, I keep coming back to this thread to see if you have an update - and a new cat!

Our (very fluffy and a tiny bit podgy) pure white cat likes to sit under a particular bush in next door’s garden. We had new neighbours a few years ago who we didn’t meet for a week or so, and it turns out they were planning to capture her and bring her to the vet because they assumed she was a stray. She doesn’t wear a collar but is chipped, and seriously could not look less like a stray cat! We are great friends now, and they actually feed the cat if we go away, but it still blows my mind that they didn’t knock on the door and ask if she was ours. I think because it was over summer she was out a lot more - she is always, always indoors overnight - and not on her usual perch on the back of the sofa looking out the living room window to the street. She is a very friendly soul, but I would not have fancied their chances at getting her in the cat box.

bruffin · 05/01/2022 00:28

@Judystilldreamsofhorses
Our Cwtch was in beautiful condition when she turned up on our door step.But she was starving,and not chipped. I registered as found at the vet, put her on several websites, put on a paper collar and put up signs as well, nobody came forward

Original poster
Mistressofnone · 05/01/2022 10:34

@Judystilldreamsofhorses thanks for checking Judy! I called the vets yesterday to see if I could get an appointment. They said the nurse clinic is between 1 and 3 but hubby was at work and I have a baby & toddler! However I'm working today so going to pop back in my lunch break and attempt to get him in the carrier.

Same as @bruffin he was in lovely condition with a beautiful coat but when I held him he felt very bony and lots of war wounds! I have a few more neighbours to check with but think most covered now. Can't wait to get chip checked as getting more attached by the day!

Will update in a few hours 😬

@violetbunny poor little Sheba (Heba)! I hope you weren't charged for double spaying 😄

OP posts:
Original poster
Mistressofnone · 05/01/2022 10:57

@Judystilldreamsofhorses but agree I can't believe your neighbours didn't knock first! Especially if she looked so happy and healthy and given it was summer when they love to be outside. Dusty's white paws were a bit on the grimy side but he is working hard on them!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mistressofnone · 05/01/2022 16:17

UPDATE

So I took little Dusty to the vets on my lunch break to get scanned. Immediately heard a beep - there was a microchip. The nurse said I could wait in the waiting room while they tried to contact the owner.

She emerged some time later and said the owner was thrilled that her cat had turned up as she went missing 4 months ago! Turned out she had crossed the fields about a mile away and set up camp at ours. I was told to leave the cat at the vets and the owner would be along in an hour to collect her.

Of course I cried all the way home! I had been reassuring poor Dusty we would be going back soon, so felt awful leaving her there for good, without a cuddle goodbye.

The owner called a little while later to thank me and said they had been so upset not knowing what happened to her. She said she wondered if it was because her house was a bit noisy and busy. They have three children, two dogs and have since bought two more cats. She said the poor thing ran straight upstairs to hide and looked very nervous. Then she asked if we would still be open to keeping her.

What a lovely thing for her to do! So I quickly went back over, cat carrier in hand - she wanted me to collect her before her children got back from school so they wouldn't get confused, and she would tell them she has a nice new home.

So it's official we now have a cat! Going to get the chip details transferred across.

Thank you all for your help on this thread. Special shout out of course to our @thecatneuterer. You were right, the outcome could never be predicted when it comes to strays and microchips.

Cat food recommendations welcome!

OP posts:
Rupertpenrysmistress · 05/01/2022 16:20

What a lovely story. I am so glad this turned out well for everyone concerned and thank you for doing the right thing.

thecatneuterer · 05/01/2022 16:22

Excellent news. A girl! Well I never. I need to brush up on my cat sexing techniques Smile

ranoutofquinoaandprosecco · 05/01/2022 16:23

Woo hoo what a lovely ending

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/01/2022 16:24

Aww, well done! What’s her original name or is that too outing?.

Haus1234 · 05/01/2022 16:25

What a lovely ending to the story OP, thank you so much for taking her to the vet so her former owner knows she’s safe!

Original poster
Mistressofnone · 05/01/2022 16:35

@thecatneuterer

Excellent news. A girl! Well I never. I need to brush up on my cat sexing techniques Smile
Well you were going on my terrible photography of her face with eyes shut! Plus spraying up the front door (wtf Dusty?!) 😄
OP posts:
Want2beme · 05/01/2022 16:52

Glad she's got a home with your good self. She'll be happy as Larry Smile

iatetoomuchcheese · 05/01/2022 17:11

So glad there's a happy ending to this thread 😻

bruffin · 05/01/2022 17:16

That's a lovely happy endingSmile

thecatneuterer · 05/01/2022 17:20

Did they confirm that she's neutered?

TheMadGardener · 05/01/2022 17:55

Yay! Congratulations on your new family member. Hope you'll be very happy together.

notagain2021 · 05/01/2022 18:00

What a wonderful story !

needmyhatandscarf · 05/01/2022 18:08

Just read the whole thread and I'm so pleased Dusty is home where she belongs. Gorgeous kitty too, although I think all cats are gorgeous.
Enjoy being a cat mum, it's incredibly rewarding Smile

mumofEandE · 05/01/2022 18:09

Congratulations on your new family member!
Re:food - there is a lot online (negative) about Felix at the mo - I am not one for Facebook conspiracies AT ALL but I have changed my cat's food

JoanOgden · 05/01/2022 18:12

This is a lovely thread. It has everything: a cute cat, lovely OP, suspense, accidental misgendering and a happy ending Grin

CornflakesOnTheSolesOfHerShoes · 05/01/2022 18:58

Gorgeous thread! Just read the whole thing and am thrilled for you. She couldn’t look more at home on your sofa.

JellyfishandShells · 05/01/2022 18:59

A relative of mine persuaded themselves that the little cat who was hanging around their garden sometimes was feral or abandoned as a kitten and had managed to grow into young cat hood by itself.

They started taking care of it, though it would disappear off for days and then it started spending most of its time with them, including overnight. They hadn’t seen any any posters up locally but, as it had appeared in early lockdown and they were shielding, they hadn’t taken it to a vet to check it out and see if it was chipped, despite my urging once things opened. Invested heavily in equipment, toys and emotionally.

Took it finally to the vet and discovered it was chipped. It was returned and they are devastated. I don’t know the other side of the story yet - I assume there was a family who had been missing their cat and were thrilled to get it back.