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

Original poster

I appear to have cats

329 replies

ZestyDragon · 20/09/2022 21:32

Hi all, I am posting here for some advice please. I moved into a small country cottage three weeks ago and it appears that the previous owner left their cat behind 😮 One of the neighbours told me a few days later that they had left him behind. He had mostly been living outside but is slowly moving in - actually maybe not that slowly seeing as he is asleep on the sofa beside me right now.

So....do I just try and get him to a vet for a check up? I am assuming that he has been neutered but actually I don't know. Also will he need vaccinations etc?

Secondly - there are a LOT of cats around - the neighbour down the road is a farm and have 14....so when a mummy cat and baby were hanging around I assumed that they were from the farm. Turns out that they do not and now they seem to live in my shed.

So I have gone from no pets to one house cat and two ferals that basically appear to have moved in. I'm feeding them all but I am worried about the mummy and baby - the mum let me stroke her once and her belly seems kind of large. Could she be pregnant again?

I have wormed and flea-dropped the indoor boy (Apparently his name is Kevin) - should I do the same for the others?

First pic is the baby - he likes to hiss for attention at dinner time.

Second is Kevin - who is in the bad books for stealing a piece of chicken.

Third is mummy - I am worried about her potentially being or getting pregnant again.

BTW I am in NI.

I appear to have cats
I appear to have cats
I appear to have cats
OP posts:
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Original poster
ZestyDragon · 20/09/2022 23:21

Muezza · 20/09/2022 23:10

That kitten looks suspiciously related to Kevin, he definately needs to be checked for troublepuffs 🤣😻

@Muezza I do have my own suspicions about that too to be honest. And Kevin is very good with them - they all eat together and hang out. Instant family....

OP posts:
Original poster
ZestyDragon · 20/09/2022 23:29

Banana2079 · 20/09/2022 23:21

I can’t tell you how jealous I am! I do feel sorry for you though you didn’t know this when you moved in ha ha but your post really made me laugh -actually made my night!
A feral cat would never let you touch her esp her tummy so she is obviously just Stray/ farm cat

The cats look well fed have you asked who has been feeding them
Any cat protection agency or rescue would never advise rehoming feral or farm cats -they would Just tell you to leave them be as they are perfectly capable of looking after and feeding themselves, The baby included.
The previous owners obviously fed them if they’re coming round at dinner time and if you Read them they will keep coming round to yours as well.
As for the cat they left behind if you don’t want the cat then have that one rehomed Hey no kill shelter but leave the others alone, I would recommend that you keep her as she’s Mainly living outside anyway And maybe the reasons why her owners cruelly left her

The farmer up the road is clearly quite gaga about cats and dogs (of which he has three) but he is very sure they aren't from his farm and that they just arrived into the area one day and stayed. I am sure he fed them too. He was feeding Kevin as well because he knew he had been left and he was the one who told me about him and told me his name. He was like "and you know they left Kevin!" and me "er, who's Kevin?"

In other news the 84 year old next door was hoping to set me up with the farmer as I am in my 40s and him in his 50s - she was very hopeful there for a week or so. This road is about a mile and a half long with no more than 20 houses and they all know everything about everyone. I'm the first new person there in years and people are very excited about this outsider (and cats).

I think the cat that was abandoned (Kevin) lives with me now. I'm not sure I have a choice and he is rather cute.

BTW - the drinking from the toilet....is this a thing? The paw prints on the toilet seat gave him away and he is now banned from the bathroom.

OP posts:
PeloFondo · 20/09/2022 23:34

Yep. Mine begs me to turn the tap on. He would rather drink from a puddle than his lovely clean water bowl
They're weirdos basically. Don't buy expensive toys, they prefer a box
The flat scratch pads are good, and also mollys catnip mice if you want to see them go mad or drugged. Mine will play for ages with a cotton bud Confused and his favourite food is a jacket potato

hilariousnamehere · 20/09/2022 23:43

Ahhh so gorgeous!

Yes mine are banned from the bathroom and it's the only door in the house which is always shut because one of them spent half her kittenhood trying to drink out of the toilet. They have loads of bowls, a pint glass and a fountain as well as outdoor access so it's not like water wasn't available, they're just furry weirdos!

Congrats on your new fluffy family!

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 20/09/2022 23:56

Yep it would appear that you are the chosen one!

Kevin is gorgeous, I really hope mama cat isn't pregnant again but yes you need a cat box. And I so want that kitten!!

Bless you for taking them all on x

Dannifaye · 21/09/2022 00:28

How could anyone leave their pet behind?!
If you need any advice from a long term cat owner, drop me a message!
The cats are adorable by the way!

Wallywobbles · 21/09/2022 04:45

Vets will lend you a cat carrier. You should be able to negotiate a group price with the vet if you explain not yours.

Fraaahnces · 21/09/2022 05:00

This is such a lovely catmance. I am sure you and Kevin will be very happy together. I’m so pleased that you are such a generous soul.

Bestcatmum · 21/09/2022 06:42

Muezza · 20/09/2022 23:10

That kitten looks suspiciously related to Kevin, he definately needs to be checked for troublepuffs 🤣😻

Trouble puffs 😅

turquoisy · 21/09/2022 10:20

I have no advice but major cat envy right now.

Surtsey · 21/09/2022 10:40

ZestyDragon · 20/09/2022 22:06

They are I know! Although having Kevin climb through my bedroom window this morning to sit on my head wasn't so lovely....

Show quote history

You are the Chosen One and have proved yourself to be an acceptable slave.

Suck it up. 😂

QuantumWeatherButterfly · 21/09/2022 11:00

Well, they are all beauties, aren't they? I would keep the lot, but I am a cat-softie.

Re: Kevin and his bits - it isn't always obvious to the untrained eye. Our boys both have suspicious bumps even though they were supposed to be neutered when we adopted them, to the extent we asked our vet to double check. She confirmed they are indeed done, and that usually male neutering is done via keyhole surgery, removing the testicles but leaving the scrotum.

QuantumWeatherButterfly · 21/09/2022 11:03

Also - info here on neutering costs: manypets.com/uk/articles/cat-neutering-costs/

picklemewalnuts · 21/09/2022 11:13

With them being 'not your cats', the feral/rescue places may be able to help with neutering.

Perhaps ring and ask the vet's advice? They may know where to go.

HairyMothballs · 21/09/2022 11:15

All 3 are beautiful. All 3 will need to be neutered (male) or speyed (female). All 3 will need to be treated for fleas and worms, and to be microchipped if you plan to keep all/any of them.

Cat owner (42 years)

Loobyloo68 · 21/09/2022 17:02

Call cats protection, you can get a voucher and only pay £10 towards the operation and a microchip. I called when I had a feral kitten I had from a farm last year.

I appear to have cats
frazzledasarock · 21/09/2022 17:12

I’d take them all to the vets for a check up and fleaing and baby will probably need injections (look into getting insurance for them all as well), and book them all to be neutered.

then enjoy your life full of demanding furry tyrants who will steal your space in the bed, walk across your face at stupid o clock because they’ve decided it’s high time you got up and fed them, gifts of enormous moths (can’t just be mine who bring home mutant moths), or leaves if you’ve got an especially dopey one.
snuggly purry cuddles when you’re feeling sad, chirruping meowy conversations (is it a sign of madness when your cat talks back to you when speak to him/her?) and sleepless nights calling them when they go off and stay out late for the first time.

Ps they’re gorgeous!

frazzledasarock · 21/09/2022 17:17

One of our cat drinks out of the toilet. All toilets have lids down since I caught her doing it.

what infuriates me is that we have water downstairs and a cat water cooler on the first floor with lovely clean water changed often… so she chooses to drink out of the bog! She also pretends to be homeless and I tihnk at least two other houses on our estate think they own a cute little cat (they don’t she’s ours and chipped)

I appear to have cats
Trinity65 · 21/09/2022 17:46

Awww what a lovely Post.

They have chosen You, Op, you are Honored.

DorritLittle · 21/09/2022 17:53

Love this post and following for updates! I have two accidental cats and one thankfully relaxed intentional one.

DontKeepTheFaith · 21/09/2022 18:44

What awesome kitties, I am beyond envious😻

I hope you manage to get them to the vets.

Beamur · 21/09/2022 18:55

Congratulations on your cats.
I'd definitely get them spayed/neutered asap. If Mummy has more kittens on the way some rescues will take them and foster them out while they have their babies and find homes for the kittens, if you're happy to have Mama back that would probably be ideal.
Regular vax, flea treatment etc keeps them healthier. Not hugely expensive but you will have it X3.

Original poster
ZestyDragon · 21/09/2022 21:06

Soooo......the latest update.

12.30am Kevin comes through the bedroom window with a live mouse. I switch on the light as I can hear him playing on the floor. With an unfortunate mouse. Mouse escapes behind a wardrobe and cat gets turfed out. Mouse proceeds to scrabble about behind the wardrobe and 6am I find him wandering around. I am terrified of mice and basically he is still in the bedroom and there is a live mouse trap in there now. I'll be sleeping on a mattress on the floor in the spare room tonight. Kevin is in the bad books and my neighbour has said if the humane trap doesn't work he will be around with a shovel....

I have an appointment at the vets for him on Monday evening. They have suggested contacting Cats Protection about the other two as currently there is no way for me to catch them at this point. They would not let me get that close.

I didn't sleep last night and I am knackered. Kevin can sleep outside in the shed till I get the mouse situation sorted.

OP posts:
Beamur · 21/09/2022 21:34

Let him back in. Mouse situation will be sorted out...

MaisyMary77 · 21/09/2022 21:57

Kevin looks just like my cat! She’s a Turkish Van-they’re quite rare. Lovely personalities and very snuggly!
Hope he gets the mouse!!!