Rehoming Neighbours Cat

[mogkat]

Afternoon all

I need some help with a decision so would really appreciate some advice/opinions.

My next door neighbour has asked me if I'd like to have their cat.

We've been neighbours for about 5 years. The cat was only a kitten when I first moved in so I've got to know it over those 5 years. I've fed the cat when my neighbour went on holiday, the cat spends a lot of time in my garden (and house!).

My neighbour has now said he can't keep the cat anymore due to his new partner having allergies and also the costs as he has lost his job.
He said he is going to rehome the cat - but before he puts an advert out online he asked if I'd like to adopt the cat. I've told him I'll think about it and get back to him tomorrow.

Of course there are some pros such as the cat already knows me, is used to the street/surrounding area etc and also my neighbour could still see the cat.

However I'm not sure. I am very fond of the cat and would miss seeing him around but I wonder if it'll be confusing for the cat to know he now lives here and not next door? What if my neighbour splits with his new partner and changes his mind and wants the cat back?!
Would it be better to let the cat have a fresh start somewhere else?

I am a cat lover but have never had one of my own as a pet. I live alone and work from home.

Any advice welcome!
Thanks in advance

My sister did this for a neighbour who got a dog. Dog and cat didn’t get on. Has worked fine but I guess it helped that the cat was staying out more and more to avoid the dog.

Cats tend to bond with a territory rather than a person, so it would be much less stressful for the cat to remain living in the same street, albeit next door to its original home, rather than be rehomed miles away.
However, it’s a big responsibility for several years- cats can survive past the age of 20 if well cared for. You would need to be sure that you want to take it on, and can afford the food and vet bills etc.

If the cat spends a long time with you atm anyway, I would do it - provided you can afford vet insurance and the cost of food, flea and worming etc

You could keep him in for four weeks. They go where the food is.

I think for the cat coming to you would be ideal in the circumstances. I think the big question is do you want to have the responsibility? You shouldn't take it on just because it is convenient for your neighbour. If you do take it I'd insist on something in writing so the neighbour can't just change his mind down the line.

Yabu to not accept your calling.
Congratulations on your new dcat op.

My neighbours did this, they adopted a cat who lived across the street as the owners no longer wanted it. It soon worked out who was giving it food and attention!

Cat will very quickly learn that food now appears at yours and not original house. Best thing though would be to keep cat indoors for a couple of weeks so cat gets used to new territory and you as the owner.

If you decide not to adopt the cat, please tell original owner to rehome via Cats Protection or RSPCA and not an ad on facebook or gumtree.

If you intend to keep the cat (and I hope you do), get it microchipped to your address. If it's already chipped, ask the neighbour to get the details changed. I hope it's neutered/speyed.

As someone else has said, cats live for 15-20 years. (mine is 18 or so)

You'll need - a couple of warm, cosy places for it to sleep - cushions or blankets. Beds are a waste of money - every cat I've ever had in 42 years of owning cats - has refused to use a cat bed.

You'll also need a litter tray with clean litter regularly, some toys, decent food (don't bother with cat bowls, use old side plates for food, old dishes for water.

Flea and worm treatment on a regular basis (once every couple of months) from the pet shop/supermarket.

Pet insurance isn't all it's cracked up to be and doesn't cover everything (tooth extraction etc). Vaccinations aren't necessary - not one of my cats ever had vaccinations, they were fine and lived to old age. Collars are unnecessary but dangerous too.

Good luck x

Thank you all very much for your replies.

I'm so torn as I really do like the cat and I could give him a nice home.

But I also worry my neighbour might change their mind and want the cat back or it might cause ill feelings between me and my neighbour for whatever reason. And I don't want that.

Is there any 'official' way of taking ownership of the cat or would it just be the case of having the cats microchip changed to my name and address?

Think I need to sleep on it!

@MyQuietPlace

If you intend to keep the cat (and I hope you do), get it microchipped to your address. If it's already chipped, ask the neighbour to get the details changed. I hope it's neutered/speyed.

As someone else has said, cats live for 15-20 years. (mine is 18 or so)

You'll need - a couple of warm, cosy places for it to sleep - cushions or blankets. Beds are a waste of money - every cat I've ever had in 42 years of owning cats - has refused to use a cat bed.

You'll also need a litter tray with clean litter regularly, some toys, decent food (don't bother with cat bowls, use old side plates for food, old dishes for water.

Flea and worm treatment on a regular basis (once every couple of months) from the pet shop/supermarket.

Pet insurance isn't all it's cracked up to be and doesn't cover everything (tooth extraction etc). Vaccinations aren't necessary - not one of my cats ever had vaccinations, they were fine and lived to old age. Collars are unnecessary but dangerous too.

Good luck x

Thank you, lots of useful tips there! I am a cat lover but have just never had my own one before.

Pet insurance isn't all it's cracked up to be and doesn't cover everything (tooth extraction etc). Vaccinations aren't necessary - not one of my cats ever had vaccinations, they were fine and lived to old age. Collars are unnecessary but dangerous too.

Another perspective on this from a former veterinary receptionist.

Pet insurance is optimal but if you couldn't lay your hands on several £k immediately in an emergency, you should strongly consider it. My dog has cost £6,000 in six months; an uncommon condition but not super rare.
If a cat got clipped by a car, for example, a fractured pelvis could cost thousands to repair. Older cats commonly develop conditions such as hyperthyroidism; if you wanted to cure this (rather than manage with daily medication), radioactive iodine therapy is £2k+. Many policies don't cover dental cleaning and extractions (most older cats need a dental or two), or conditions that are preventable by vaccinating if you choose not to vaccinate.

Vaccinations helped prevent serious diseases including Feline Leukaemia and Panleukopenia viruses. I've seen unvaccinated cats due from both and it's not pleasant. Vaccines also provide some protection against cat flu (bit like human flu vaccines, it may not completely stop them getting it but reduces severity). More info here: icatcare.org/advice/vaccinating-your-cat/

Collars - the quick release types are very effective & personally I use these. I use a reflective collar with a bell to discourage hunting & make it clear my cats are owned so no one starts feeding the "poor starving stray" aka Loki Three-Dinners. They lose them on a semi-regular basis
I've only seen a couple of collar injuries in cats with buckled collars with elastic segments, rather than the type that quick release, where they'd managed to get a leg through it.

For flea treatment I'd also advise Advantage - it can be bought online without prescription. You may want to use an additional tape wormer every 6 months or so (Drontal/Milbemax).
I'd highly recommend avoiding Bob Martins. It's crap and there have been some rare but serious reactions.

If the cat could speak, he/she would choose you, rather than a strange new home. 100%.

Take a leap of faith, op. If you’re a cat lover, it’ll be fine! Also handy to have someone the cat knows to feed it if you’re ever away

@MyQuietPlace

If you intend to keep the cat (and I hope you do), get it microchipped to your address. If it's already chipped, ask the neighbour to get the details changed. I hope it's neutered/speyed.

As someone else has said, cats live for 15-20 years. (mine is 18 or so)

You'll need - a couple of warm, cosy places for it to sleep - cushions or blankets. Beds are a waste of money - every cat I've ever had in 42 years of owning cats - has refused to use a cat bed.

You'll also need a litter tray with clean litter regularly, some toys, decent food (don't bother with cat bowls, use old side plates for food, old dishes for water.

Flea and worm treatment on a regular basis (once every couple of months) from the pet shop/supermarket.

Pet insurance isn't all it's cracked up to be and doesn't cover everything (tooth extraction etc). Vaccinations aren't necessary - not one of my cats ever had vaccinations, they were fine and lived to old age. Collars are unnecessary but dangerous too.

Good luck x

I've only had cats for the last 30 years, so don't have quite as much experience as you, but I've had them in several different countries and I also now foster. I agree with most of this apart from the insurance and vaccinations. You are really lucky that your cat/s haven't developed a tumour, had a serious fight or been run over, insurance then doesn't seem so pointless. Also as AwkwardPaws said, vaccinations are important against the likes of FelV etc.

She's also right about collars, quick release ones aren't dangerous and are a more obvious indication that the cat is most likely owned.

As for cats beds, some like them, some don't, I have them dotted about all over the place and my current foster has 2 distinct favourites and when I had to re-arrange my flat due to new arrivals, she found "her" bed in another room and took to sleeping in it in there instead of her usual spot!

Insurance isn't an answer to all ailments, but it is IMO an absolute necessity. Especially for an outdoor cat. A traffic incident or fight can end in a bill of THOUSANDS, which is paid in the case of insurance. I've been burned by insurance with long term Illness- they raise the amount yearly until you can't pay any more and have to face euthanasia as a lower cost ( circumstances change- now I could afford £35 per month but then? No) but even though I've faced that I still Feel insurance is essential, and life saving. Fronting thousands just isn't realistic to most. Whereas The £180 for euthanasia instead of surgery? It often happens.

Im not trying to put you off op- I'm very certain that the cat will have a happier longer healthier life with you. Shelters are forced to euthanise healthy cats often. Her territory is yours- hugely important. You like her, and could love her. She likes you, could love you. So important. Presumably neighbor would give you her scratch post, cat bed, litter box and bowls- they are hers and to be re homed with them would be so good for her. Her scent is everything and bringing her current norms to her new home is amazing for her . She already willingly comes into your home and sees your home as her part of her territory. She already trusts you and doesn't and won't suffer from the trauma of a usual re home. Without question, in my opinion, you are the perfect perfect choice. The dream candidate really. For the cat anyway.

As I understand the law has recently acknowledged that dpets are property.. The registration of dcat to you and receipts of jabs /treatments should enable you to prove ownership.. Get ndn to sign over microchip forms..

Have to agree re vaccinations - absolutely essential, especially for an outdoor cat.

If you were to rehome (and I totally think you should) find out which vet they're registered at as they may have a healthy pet club and then for a fairly low monthly fee (think mine is £15), you get jabs, fleas, worming and checkups every six months which make it well worth investing in.

It's so lovely of you to consider taking on the cat, and would certainly be less stressful for the cat that being rehomed somewhere else (I also worry about ads online and whether animals actually do end up in good homes from them, I am sure largely they do, but there are some horror stories out there as well :-( - although that bit is not your problem).
If you decide to take the cat, make sure you get a potted health history from your neighbour (is the cat neutered/vaccinated, are there any current or historic health issues, what vet do they use etc). Ask your neighbour to sign something transferring ownership.
If the cat is chipped, swap the chip to your name and get them registered at a vets in your name.
If the cat isn't chipped, neutered or vaccinated do those asap.
Find out the average costs that you're committing to taking on a pet - what food do they eat, how much does that work out at. We're on a plan for vaccines, flea and worm treatment etc that works out at £15 per month at the vets. And we have insurance, it's a must, we have had massive bills where if we hadn't had insurance we might have had to consider euthanasia due to treatment costs. Get quotes for cover - I would get lifetime cover up to £6000 a year and get one that includes dental too if you can - many don't.
Bear in mind as they get older, costs for health care and insurance tend to increase. Most I've paid for an older cat with health problems is about £45 a month insurance. We've found decent cover for young healthy cats via price comparison sites for £5 a month to start - but it goes up every year of course.
Hope I haven't put you off, but it's important to know what you're taking on.
Enjoy if you do decide to go ahead - I always think that a cat makes a house a home :-)

If I ever moved, I would also be asking my neighbour because my outdoor cat would find moving too stressful. Cats are very happy in their territory, and your house is already included in this cat's

I unexpectedly adopted a cat in April 2021. It was the singular best thing we have ever done- the LOVE is insane.

And regardless of all logic, that is why you should take this cat into your lovely sounding home!

You keeping the cat would be a good outcome for the cat (and you).
Get the chip details transferred to you.
Personally I would vaccinate and insure. My vets has a 'healthy pet club' which is a cheap way to get flea and worm treatment, check ups and fixed price dental work.
Cats are not expensive pets - even with these costs and are great companions.

Agree that the cat is very likely to move in with you very happily! Yay!

I would talk the neighbour about this needing to be a permanent solution no matter what happens in his life, how heartbroken you’d be if he tried to reclaim the cat etc, and ask him to sign something to say this is a permanent adoption and that the microchip, vets paperwork etc will be in your name.

If he doesn’t see the good sense in doing this, then it’s probably best to re home the cat elsewhere, which is slightly ironic in that he would be unlikely to be able to reclaim the cat that way either, but it’s best to address it now and make sure he faces up to the reality. As you say it would be horrible for you if he turned out to be an unreasonable dick about it in the future, and confusing for the cat if he tried to lure the cat back to his. I definitely agree that you need to make sure he is committed to the change. I think a decent person would be happy to put something on paper.

Hope it all works out for you 🐈🐈‍⬛