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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.

Original poster

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

459 replies

KiffyKiffyKiffy · 03/02/2025 14:57

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!

OP posts:
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Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 07/03/2025 15:15

We're picking him up tomorrow at 11.20 :)

OP posts:
Pudmyboy · 07/03/2025 15:36

Did the vet give you any news or results @KiffyKiffyKiffy ?

Pudmyboy · 07/03/2025 15:37

KiffyKiffyKiffy · 05/03/2025 12:53

Also I just googled pet cremation services and this is the image. 😣

😿

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 07/03/2025 16:05

Pudmyboy · 07/03/2025 15:36

Did the vet give you any news or results @KiffyKiffyKiffy ?

No,
They said his results will be available at the discharge appointment.

They said he's been eating and drinking fine. Eliminating fine and they've not witnessed any seizures.

OP posts:
TidalShore · 07/03/2025 20:01

Glad he's coming home.

We had a very needy clingy dog once, who had to stop in the vets. We were worried sick about him being there on his own, not knowing where he was.

When we went to pick him up he was doting on the vet nurse and all in all had a lovely time, and wasn't a bit worried! They can suprise you how well they cope. Hopefully Vader has been happy and settled too x

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 08/03/2025 10:42

You aren't going to believe this 😱

Going to pick vader up in 20 mins and this morning I go upstairs to wake DD up and I'm greeted with shit and vomit EVERYWHERE.

It's gingercat that has been doing the pooing and sick upstairs.

Obviously the few poops in our room that I saw him do were vader and he did have the seizures and the dementia type stuff, back leg issues eyc

But the vomiting and ahitting in the hall was not him.

I just assumed it was 😭
So I need to go pick him up and settle a hefty bill and book gingercat in with them now 😩

OP posts:
stampin · 08/03/2025 10:46

Ginger cat is probably marking it's territory, the newcomer has upset it.

0psiedasiy · 08/03/2025 11:09

🙀

BulbousSpring · 08/03/2025 11:28

Gingercat had been silently celebrating that his strategic shitting had landed Vader on a one way trip to the vets. Then he heard Vader was not only alive but coming back....

WifeImprovementWorksInProgress · 08/03/2025 11:36

Oh no op 😱

Cats are total bastards. Adorable, but absolute bastards sent to torment their humans.

Poor gingercat, I hope you get to the bottom of it quickly x

BruceAndNosh · 08/03/2025 12:00

Gingercat stages a Dirty Protest

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 08/03/2025 12:19

Vader is home :)

Bloodtests and urine tests are all good, just one small issue with Globulin that he has some medication for.

Bill was only 130

Not sure how I feel.

More positive now that I know that the shit and piss wasn't him. But he obviously still has some issues but maybe they're manageable if he's happy?

Will probably have to take gingercat in next week.

OP posts:
spikefaithbuffy · 08/03/2025 12:37

I have read the whole thread Smile and would say just keep a careful eye

I let my boy go possibly slightly too early but then I thought "would I rather die peacefully with no pain at 85, or at 95 being rushed into hospital in pain at 3am with loads of health issues?"

Mine didn't have any continence issues, his mobility was ok but he had a urine issue that needed steroid injections, he was frail and tired. I just knew, and when I got him I promised he would never be cold or hungry or in pain again

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 08/03/2025 12:55

I am really aware of what I constitute him being 'unhappy/in pain'

I think much more so than DH.
When I thought he was pooping and vomiting everywhere I was erring on the side of it being closer to the time.
But having had his bloodwork done there's nothing wrong with him physically. He eating and drinking. Still plodding round.

I honestly would not let him suffer for an hour, even if that meant going against what my DH believes.

I will be watching him vigilantly and the second I feel he is uncomfortable or scared he will be taken to sleep

He's such a happy boy, I just don't think it's 'right now, today'

That could change tomorrow.

It's a day by day situation.

But I promise, with all my heart, he won't ever be a 'day too late' case.

OP posts:
spikefaithbuffy · 08/03/2025 13:22

100%, and wouldn't say you were but I think your DH might be the one that will struggle to get on board

Will say I found the grief easier because I didn't have to worry about if I had made the wrong decision, it was very much the right time

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 08/03/2025 13:25

spikefaithbuffy · 08/03/2025 13:22

100%, and wouldn't say you were but I think your DH might be the one that will struggle to get on board

Will say I found the grief easier because I didn't have to worry about if I had made the wrong decision, it was very much the right time

I too can see that being an issue but I'm prepared to have that argument and be the voice Vader needs.
DH isn't a scary or unreasonable man. He just loves this cat very much and I think he is scared of losing him.

OP posts:
spikefaithbuffy · 08/03/2025 14:47

It is awful. For me the waiting was the worst, the time between deciding and it happening. Kept randomly sobbing and the poor cat was soggy with my tears!
It was very peaceful and the vet was lovely

TwatOnAHotTinRoof · 08/03/2025 15:00

Doesn't sound like you need to think about that decision just yet @KiffyKiffyKiffy does it.

Mia184 · 08/03/2025 16:16

Should gingercat turn out to be okay healthwise and his pooping and vomiting be caused by stress because of a new cat in the house, maybe ask your vet whether you could try giving him Zylkene. It should calm him and has no side effects.

Binglebong · 11/03/2025 08:23

How's it going now?

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 11/03/2025 08:58

He's good. Just pottering about. Doesn't like his medication much. Eating and drinking really well.
Got him some new toys and he was chasing them round the room yesterday.

Noticed he does thisnthing where he goes for a pee in the tray then run out, straight to his scratching board and rips it up a bit 🤣

He seems to be using the tray fine for now.

Not seen anymore seizures.

He's put on about 150g

OP posts:
DazzlingCuckoos · 11/03/2025 09:43

KiffyKiffyKiffy · 11/03/2025 08:58

He's good. Just pottering about. Doesn't like his medication much. Eating and drinking really well.
Got him some new toys and he was chasing them round the room yesterday.

Noticed he does thisnthing where he goes for a pee in the tray then run out, straight to his scratching board and rips it up a bit 🤣

He seems to be using the tray fine for now.

Not seen anymore seizures.

He's put on about 150g

If they've given him metacam or arthacam (sp?), try putting it on the back of your hand to lick off.

I struggled for years to get it into various cats, hiding it in their food and them not eating it, only for one vet to say "oh, really, most cats just enjoy licking it". Yup - sure enough - can't stand it in their food, but will happily lick it off the back of your hand!

At least Vader's overnight vet stay helped you figure out what was going on. Poor Vader getting the blame!

The running after peeing thing is a flight response. In the wild, going to the toilet is a very vulnerable time, so cats will often just run away afterwards to escape any potential predators that might have been watching them!

Good that he's scratching the post and not a carpet/sofa!

Mia184 · 11/03/2025 12:21

OP, how is gingercat doing?

autumn1610 · 11/03/2025 13:46

Has gingercat been wormed? If they are outside might be causing the issues or they are having a protest! I foster a little ex feral and got given panacur which eliminated a lot of worms from the poor guy. But he was going in the tray but multiple loose poos a day

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 12/03/2025 10:07

autumn1610 · 11/03/2025 13:46

Has gingercat been wormed? If they are outside might be causing the issues or they are having a protest! I foster a little ex feral and got given panacur which eliminated a lot of worms from the poor guy. But he was going in the tray but multiple loose poos a day

Yes he gets wormed with his flea treatments x

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