Picking up our cat that's been 'missing' for years

[KiffyKiffyKiffy]

Well not missing exactly but we lived at our old address and as our cat got older and we had kids and 2 dogs our cat spent more and more time with our elderly neighbour. We would try and coax him home but he always went back.

The neighbour loved him and spoilt him rotton.

2 years ago we moved house and we tried to catch him a few times to bring him with us but he evaded us. So we went to the neighbours house to ask him to catch him for us. The elderly neighbour said he would like him to stay (his wife and dog had passed away) as he was good company

So over time we check in on him, make sure he doesn't need vet care etc.
Neighbour has our number.

We just stopped by to check in and he asked if we could take him.

Of course!

But I'm worried as he's not seen our dogs in years. He's never been to this home and we have somehow adopted a stray cat here who treats it like his home and is basically out unplanned cat too now.

We are picking him up in an hour and I'm just a bit stressed at how to navigate this!!

We never planned to be apart from him but he chose the neighbour over us and at that time the neighbour really needed him.

Any advice please!

My cat started to get wobbly on her legs and I gave her this https://amzn.eu/d/47XjBt9

It worked absolute wonders! She lived until she was at least 20 (rescue cat so unsure exactly) and was such a character!

He looks very much like Vader!

I think he was about 2.8kg there, he was always tiny (stray for many years and survived alone, I adopted him when he was about 8)

He’s looking lovely! Are you going to take on his friend from your old neighbour too?

He was back at the vets this morning.

Only a 20g wright gain but vet said at his age maintaining is most important and he does have a decent appetite.

He's said he doesn't need to go back unless any other issues appear and doesn't feel the need to run tests etc.

Got him some salmon treats as an apology for the vet visit and he likes them.

No immediate plans to.
I have 3 dogs and 2 cats now and things add up. Food, litter, flea treatment etc.

I've not even looked into how much insurance would be for Vader and I don't think it would be worth it but it's a lot of expense to take on.

Maybe I'll feel differently once some times passed but right now I couldn't commit to it. Financially or emotionally

Oh so glad he is as fit as can be expected for his age, good news!
Joining in with the catio debate, if your garden is small, can you have a sort of mesh 'lid' on the garden to stop him getting out, assuming your boundaries (fence/wall) are in good nick? Obviously raised high enough for you all to use the garden..... feel free to tell me I am taking nonsense! Just wondering....

We could but my other cat won't be able to get out either and he's only young and likes to roam.

And I also feed the birds and squirrels and would be sad if they couldn't get in.

He's not come back downstairs since yesterday.

He's meowing and wandering alot.

I'm wondering if he may have a bit of dementia?

He sort of goes into a frozen state and then when you touch him he meows and demands attention. But sort of zones out if he's not being interacted with sometimes.

And he's also just wandering around meowing.

Cat dementia is definitely a thing, unfortunately. Could you take him outside in a harness? Or carry him? One of my cats is a bit precious about getting mud on his toes, so in cold weather I sometimes wander around the garden carrying him 😅 enforced fresh air and sunshine.

I wonder if he does have some sort of cognitive impairment, as you say @KiffyKiffyKiffy . Maybe video him and when you have a few/ get more concerned, show them to your vet? (The vet you use for your pets ..not a vet for you 🤭)

Might be to do with the hearing loss. Mine does that and I think he’s calling to see where we are in the house. He’s much more anxious recently

I think he's definitely 'looking for people' because he gets so excited when he sees us and wants attention.

We are a large household so there is usually someone about, he's not alone all day or anything.

Oh and he's using his scratch post too!

He's not a fan of the cat tree so far but he's used the post a few times.

He's spending less time in the crate, even with the heated blanket, and has decided the best place to be is on our bed. Which is fine by us :)

Gingercat is feeling a bit put out. He used to spend a lot of time in our bedroom but doesn't like to go in there now. Which makes me sad but I hope in time they will co-exist peacefully. Maybe even be pals.

Did you or the Vet worm him OP?

Oh my God. No!

😦

Can I buy a wormer that works without going back to the vet?

Actually his flea treatment might have been one of those that includes worms?

I think it was this one?

Yes, Dronspot pipettes are available from VetUK (online) without a prescription. They also sell (much cheaper) deworming tablets.

Asda sell Bob Martin pipettes but they cover a smaller range of worms.

Yes, you can bathe cats.

Best to trim their claws first and also equip yourself with welding gloves or purpose made can handling gloves.

A hand held shower attachment is a good idea too.

Like Pigpen from Charlie Brown :-)

Get a bottle of cat poop/ pee enzyme spray and clean the spots where you found poop or he'll do it again in the same places.

You'll need to do your entire house.

Hi, it's been 10 days since that post and the fleas are gone and it's all under control:)

Do call the vet to check, Advantage and Advocate have similar packaging. One does fleas, the other does fleas and a few types of worms. (Can't remember which way round.). I went for separate treatments, because mine need deworming every 3 months, but defleaing every month in summer. So Dronspot for worms, VetUK own brand imidacloprid for fleas (non-brand is SO much cheaper).

It 100% was not advantage. I don't feel it works and wouldn't pay for it.

But I will call to check he is covered.