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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.

Would you try and catch this cat, or keep your nose out?

19 replies

MonsteraMama · 05/09/2024 15:08

We live rurally and have outbuildings, so an attractive location for cats. As such we're something of an unofficial cat hangout spot and we have many furry visitors from the village.

Recently we've been graced by the presence of a big Tuxedo boy. We think he's a little of an older man as he has lots of white flecking, though that might just be his colouring.

He's a pleasant cat who likes to sunbathe on the deck and shed roof, and will allow a tickle of his ears or belly. However he hisses, grumbles and growls to himself all the time. He'll just be walking about growling or hissing at nothing.

We initially thought he's just a bit spicy, but it's honestly constant and I'm concerned he might be in pain. The hissing and growling is particularly frequent when he's grooming his legs or tail, or rolling on his back for belly rubs.

He's a healthy looking cat, good weight, clean, no obvious sign of injury or illness, seems spry enough in that he leaps happily across the roof (while grumbling!). No collar and despite a couple of posts to the village Facebook no one has claimed him, but I think in his condition he must be owned.

What do you all think? The chronic worrier in me wants to catch him and take him to the vet, but then what? He's not my cat, it's not my place, but I hate the thought of an animal in pain. Are some cats just this noisy for no reason? I've never encountered such a grumbly cat!

OP posts:
NoShirtNoShoesNoSheldon · 05/09/2024 15:29

I think I would have to have him checked, I’d hate to think of an animal suffering. Cats hide pain really well so if he’s grumbling a lot he may be in agony. He may of course just be noisy but I’d want to know for sure.

Floralnomad · 05/09/2024 15:31

Could you catch him and stick a paper collar on and see if anyone contacts you .

RickyGervaislovesdogs · 05/09/2024 15:31

What happens if he does need treatment, would you pay… and then just put him back? Would you be allowed to….
I would want to take the cat to the vet too. Maybe ring the vet for advice? Do you have a local social media and could you take a photo and ask maybe?

@Floralnomad ah that’s a good one.

MonsteraMama · 05/09/2024 15:38

RickyGervaislovesdogs · 05/09/2024 15:31

What happens if he does need treatment, would you pay… and then just put him back? Would you be allowed to….
I would want to take the cat to the vet too. Maybe ring the vet for advice? Do you have a local social media and could you take a photo and ask maybe?

@Floralnomad ah that’s a good one.

Edited

That's sort of my concern. I'd happily take him to the vet and pay for it, but I have no idea what I'd do if they said he needs an op or painkillers X number of times a day or something that I'm not really in a position to do for him. I can't just steal him to make sure he's taking medication or something!

But at the same time if he's suffering I want to help him and sort of hang the consequences.

@Floralnomad paper collar is a good idea, I'll see if I can get one on him next time he asks for some fuss.

OP posts:
RickyGervaislovesdogs · 05/09/2024 16:08

Didn’t even think about having to give meds. The paper collar is a good suggestion, then depending what happens I suppose you might be inheriting a cat. He’s lucky someone is watching out for him.

Pixiedust1234 · 05/09/2024 16:18

As long as you let the vet know it's not your cat you will not be liable for fees. They can do a basic emergency check to see if he is in pain but will need owners consent to operate etc.

All owned cats should be microchipped by now (new law came in June) so they can scan him for ownership. If he doesn't have one then there are various options, ie you become his new owner, pts, let him remain a "stray", or maybe a cat rescue place (which are too full atm).

Personally I would get him checked.

Floralnomad · 05/09/2024 16:54

@Pixiedust1234 whilst I agree the law is they should be chipped I would imagine that there are many owned cats that have not been done yet . There are still loads of owned dogs that don’t have chips and it’s been law even longer .

FoxtrotOscarKindaDay · 05/09/2024 16:58

No it's not normal. Take him to the vet, tell them you've appealed for an owner and no one has come forward. He may be chipped, either way he needs to be seen by a vet.

RSPCA/SSPCA should also come out to an injured/hurt animal.

MonsteraMama · 05/09/2024 17:13

Thanks everyone, DD spotted him while I was in the shower and managed to get a paper collar on with our number so fingers crossed. She said he was growling as she put it on even though he was pushing her hand for pets so I do think the poor chap must be hurting. If I hear nothing I'll catch him and take him to the vet, he's a friendly fellow despite the hissing so hopefully he won't be too difficult to snag.

OP posts:
sunsetsandboardwalks · 05/09/2024 22:23

The vet should scan for a chip and either contact the owners or make arrangements for him to go to rescue while they put out appeals.

Pixiedust1234 · 09/09/2024 20:21

Hey @MonsteraMama did you manage to get him to a vet? Have been hoping he's not been in pain and it's just his "thing".

Pudmyboy · 10/09/2024 21:45

Another 'bump' hoping for an update @MonsteraMama

MonsteraMama · 11/09/2024 12:15

Hello @Pixiedust1234 and @Pudmyboy . I do have an update.

We didn't hear anything after putting the paper collar on and he was still wearing it for a few days bless him, so we caught him and took him to the vet. He was very good going into the carrier (growling and hissing the whole time but absolutely no claws or teeth!).

He was scanned and has no chip. The vet advised that they would be able to provide emergency care and then contact the local cat rescues to continue his care through them and then see if they could get him a home. They advised he is probably about 15. He's had some tests and it's transpired he has some massive kidney stones - so the poor thing was in pain.

He's in at the vet at the moment being treated medically, trying to avoid surgery on an older cat so hopefully the medicine will help break up the stones so he can pass them. Posters and social media posts have been put up to try and locate his owners, but as the local rescues are all full we've said we'll take him in if there's no luck finding his humans whatever the outcome of his current treatment.

We've preliminarily named him Frank (daughter's choice!), the rescue is giving the owners a couple of weeks to come forward. If nothing, we'll take him and take over responsibility for his care.

OP posts:
Frenchfemme · 11/09/2024 12:54

Congratulations on your new cat!! 🐈‍⬛

Imisssleep2 · 11/09/2024 13:01

Sounds unusual behaviour, I have experienced Bengals act like this, but they are spicy! We had a very come into the cattery like this but she was blind so can understand her being scared etc. You can get paper collars to put on to ask the owner to call you?

Floralnomad · 11/09/2024 17:23

Lovely update @MonsteraMama , hope his treatment works

Pixiedust1234 · 11/09/2024 17:45

Oh the poor thing!! And at 15 too!!

Thank you for noticing and caring ❤

Motnight · 11/09/2024 17:51

Sounds like Frank has landed on his feet with you Op.

We need a photo though! I think that I have attached one of my old boy!

Pudmyboy · 11/09/2024 18:54

MonsteraMama · 11/09/2024 12:15

Hello @Pixiedust1234 and @Pudmyboy . I do have an update.

We didn't hear anything after putting the paper collar on and he was still wearing it for a few days bless him, so we caught him and took him to the vet. He was very good going into the carrier (growling and hissing the whole time but absolutely no claws or teeth!).

He was scanned and has no chip. The vet advised that they would be able to provide emergency care and then contact the local cat rescues to continue his care through them and then see if they could get him a home. They advised he is probably about 15. He's had some tests and it's transpired he has some massive kidney stones - so the poor thing was in pain.

He's in at the vet at the moment being treated medically, trying to avoid surgery on an older cat so hopefully the medicine will help break up the stones so he can pass them. Posters and social media posts have been put up to try and locate his owners, but as the local rescues are all full we've said we'll take him in if there's no luck finding his humans whatever the outcome of his current treatment.

We've preliminarily named him Frank (daughter's choice!), the rescue is giving the owners a couple of weeks to come forward. If nothing, we'll take him and take over responsibility for his care.

Thank you for this update, lovely news for Frank (will he ever be Frankie, as in the Sister Sledge classic song?) in that he has a caring family now 😻
I do hope the meds make passing the stone easy for him, he obviously won't understand why it hurts to pee!

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