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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

There is a kitten living in my garden

92 replies

onenightonlykitten · 12/05/2025 19:09

A kitten appears to have moved into my garden. She’s been visiting 3 weeks but hasn’t left my garden for the last 4 weeks so I caved and gave her something to eat as she looks to have lost some weight (the pic of her bugging close up is a fortnight ago)

I’ve posted in 3 local facebook groups and asked the local vets but no one seems to be missing her

What do I do now????

and I already have 4 cats so letting her move in is not an option

slightly concerned she’s going to get pregnant

There is a kitten living in my garden
There is a kitten living in my garden
There is a kitten living in my garden
OP posts:
MarchHairs · 12/05/2025 19:14

She looks like a well cared for cat. I would just leave her be, so she goes home for food!

Grazyna80 · 12/05/2025 19:16

Keep her ❤️

myplace · 12/05/2025 19:17

Get her scanned?

Overtheatlantic · 12/05/2025 19:17

Does she have a clipped ear? Vets sometimes do that to indicate a neutered cat. She does look healthy. Keep an eye on her. You might also put a paper collar on her to find out if she has a home.

RentalWoesNotFun · 12/05/2025 19:20

Paper collar.
If nobody claims her youve got another cat congratulations. She’s gorgeous.

autumn1610 · 12/05/2025 19:20

See if there’s a local person who can scan…usually a Facebook group for your area and someone will come and do it. Then if she’s not then that person is normally associated with a rescue and will trap her. Please try and paper collar or scan as these cats just get abandoned to fend for themselves and end up in the endless cycle of having kittens

Rollercoaster1920 · 12/05/2025 19:23

Squirt with water so she goes home. You have 4 cats, do they mind her being in their territory?

Are any male and unneutered?

worrisomeasset · 12/05/2025 19:39

If you think she’s a stray, then see if she’s been microchipped. Local vets will scan her for free and there are cat charities that will come and check for a microchip at your house. Please do it, she may well have owners who are frantic with worry about her.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/05/2025 19:40

What's in your cage at the back of picture 3 ?

If it is rodenty that might be attracting her ?

Original poster
onenightonlykitten · 12/05/2025 20:02

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/05/2025 19:40

What's in your cage at the back of picture 3 ?

If it is rodenty that might be attracting her ?

It’s a rabbit run that is protecting a patch of grass I’ve just seeded

😁

OP posts:
Original poster
onenightonlykitten · 12/05/2025 20:06

I’m not trying to keep the cat -she is very skinny when you get close up and is now on day 4 of not leaving my garden (although she has just been stalking a bird)

she’s far too skittish to be caught for scanning purposes or putting a paper collar on

the thought of her having a family is what me post on local facebook groups -one of mine went missing for 2 days and I was frantic!

my cats aren’t bothered about her in the slightest but that still doesn’t mean I want another

OP posts:
EmeraldRoulette · 12/05/2025 20:37

Sorry if this is a silly question

She has been out there all night every night, has she?

WildCherryBlossom · 12/05/2025 20:45

Oh she is lovely! Can you gradually try to earn her trust so that you can catch her take her to the vet and get her scanned? I think microchipping cats is legal requirement now isn’t it? So if she isn’t microchipped I suppose you could either keep her or contact a cat shelter to rehome her.

KittenKaboodle · 12/05/2025 20:53

We had a very thin cat appear in our garden one day. She didn’t leave the garden and just slept in the flowerbeds. That was about 2 years ago. She’s currently sleeping at the end of the bed. Congratulations on your 5th cat! 😂

herbalteabag · 12/05/2025 20:59

Has she definitely not left the garden, or does she go home at night?
I would take a photo of her and knock on some doors, lots of people don't bother with Facebook, especially older/young people.
We once had a young cat trying to live in our garage. We tried to find out the owner and we succeeded, but the cat was being mistreated and next time it came back we gave it away to someone else. (This was a long time ago, before chips.)
But one of my cats likes to sleep in my neighbour's garden, so maybe the cat just likes it and isn't really there all the time? Although it does sound excessive and if she is losing weight that's not a good sign - perhaps a rescue can come and scan her?

BobbyBiscuits · 12/05/2025 21:03

To me she looks healthy. Just being an inquisitive cat most probably.
I wouldn't keep feeding her as if she was a stray she'd look more manky and skinny than that.

Original poster
onenightonlykitten · 12/05/2025 21:19

EmeraldRoulette · 12/05/2025 20:37

Sorry if this is a silly question

She has been out there all night every night, has she?

She was there when I went to bed about 12.30
last night and then again when I got up for work at 6am so guessing she was there all night

OP posts:
Original poster
onenightonlykitten · 12/05/2025 21:21

BobbyBiscuits · 12/05/2025 21:03

To me she looks healthy. Just being an inquisitive cat most probably.
I wouldn't keep feeding her as if she was a stray she'd look more manky and skinny than that.

I am trying to avoid her getting to the point where she looks manky

OP posts:
EmeraldRoulette · 12/05/2025 21:22

onenightonlykitten · 12/05/2025 21:19

She was there when I went to bed about 12.30
last night and then again when I got up for work at 6am so guessing she was there all night

Show quote history

Then I think you've got a fifth cat.

BobbyBiscuits · 12/05/2025 21:25

onenightonlykitten · 12/05/2025 21:21

I am trying to avoid her getting to the point where she looks manky

Show quote history

I just can't believe you'd be the only person feeding her. I guess if she'll let you, take her to vets and see if she's chipped? But I would be wary of moving her in case her owners get panicked.

proximalhumerous · 12/05/2025 21:26

Is there also an elderly Korean lady?

CatChant · 12/05/2025 21:27

She is so pretty. Thank you for looking after her.

I would ask a local rescue to help you catch her so she can be taken to a vet and checked for a chip.

If she hasn’t got one then I think you have a fifth cat.

Original poster
onenightonlykitten · 12/05/2025 21:40

proximalhumerous · 12/05/2025 21:26

Is there also an elderly Korean lady?

That’s going back a bit!!

Grin

ive not checked my shed but unlikely -no one has asked to use the loo anyway

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/05/2025 21:49

onenightonlykitten · 12/05/2025 21:21

I am trying to avoid her getting to the point where she looks manky

Show quote history

It's difficult knowing what to do for the best as if she is running wild she will likely be pregnant if she's little (if she was little and spayed you'd have seen her baldy patch)
But if she is someones kitten then they could be looking ? Might be from out of your area

I'd contact a Cat Rescue , they can send a volunteer with a trap and at least find if she's chipped ?
She is very pretty .

worrisomeasset · 12/05/2025 21:57

she’s far too skittish to be caught for scanning purposes or putting a paper collar on

The charities that scan for microchips will have dealt with skittish cats before. I really think you should contact such a charity and explain your situation. A work colleague had her cat go missing for two years, it was returned to her because the cat took up residence in a garden, the owner of the garden contacted a charity who were able to scan the cat and return it to its owners. It works.