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Advice about what to do, farm cat and resident cats

5 replies

GingerRuby · 07/02/2024 10:21

Would really value advice from you knowledgeable people.

The farm where I used to keep my horse got a cat to keep the mice down, he came from a rescue, sad story, his owner had gone into prison, meaning as an uneutered male cat he was in council facilities for 18 months, very stressed.

He went to the rescue, he was neutered, tried fostering him and he attacked two people, hence looking for farm home. He was always 'my' cat, he would jump on my shoulder and I used to do all my chores one handed whilst carrying him. He then suffered a blocked ureter, emergency, taken to vets, when farm owners heard what cost would be said put to sleep. I asked if I could cover cost, they said yes and said he was mine. He came home to me to recover, had permanent catheter in, all good whilst poorly. I gave 2 cats at home, once he was feeling better, started spraying everywhere so I thought best he go back to the farm.

Subsequently, the farm has 2 more cats, he started stressed and spraying, then calmed down but in January had cat bite and I am about to take him to vet with suspected blockage again.

So I am really struggling, don't want to leave him at farm, should I try him at home again? If I call rescue, they would need another farm home and he is on expensive kidney food ( which I pay for), so how easy to rehome?

Would love to bring him home but is this best fir him or my 2 here? All advice welcome, thank you

OP posts:
GingerRuby · 07/02/2024 10:27

Sorry that was long! He is approximately 9 and has been at farm since 2019 if that helps.

OP posts:
lifeispainauchocolat · 08/02/2024 07:25

Can you not have him as an outdoor cat at yours? Let him roam but have a shelter in the garden with a bed, food and water etc?

GingerRuby · 08/02/2024 12:10

Thank you so much for replying, he will absolutely want to come in, he kept going into the farmhouse and they were letting him sleep there during the day until he was sick and is no longer allowed inside.

When collecting him from the vet yesterday, I asked about bringing him home to recuperate, the vet was very firm about that being a bad idea and causing him more stress.

OP posts:
lifeispainauchocolat · 08/02/2024 13:33

If you set up a "cat house" in the garden would he be happy, or is it human company he craves?

If the latter it's probably best to find him a new home.

LammasEve · 08/02/2024 21:05

There are definitely people who would take on an ex farm cat as a pet (me, for one!) and it's worth asking around local rescues for help finding a home for him. If you have one that specialises in ferals/farm/outdoor cats they elude be the best ones to approach.

He sounds lovely, it's a shame he won't get on with your own cats. Could you keep him in a spare room while he recovers so he's safe?

We've had a few ex-feral cats as pets and they've all settled well, some in seconds while some took a while. I love ferals and farm cats.

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