There is a kitten living in my garden

[onenightonlykitten]

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

I don't suppose you're in London or surroundings OP?

West Yorkshire

She does look bony on her back on your photo with the foodbowl . Hopefully she hasn;t already got a litter hidden somewhere and she's coming to you for food then get back to them quickly .

Granted the photos aren't showing her full body but she looks a bit full grown for kitten - and you can fill vertebrae on many healthy cats.

I take your point that she seems to have lost weight but many do in the summer. Also, it's summer with gorgeous weather, she may just like hanging out and snoozing in your garden - again, very normal cat behaviour, even over several days.

For these reasons I would hold off assuming she's lost / neglected. Unless she's noticeably bony, I'd be wary of feeding her right now too, that'll just encourage her to stay.

She could also be an otherwise-healthy, loved, cat with a health condition which has caused temporary weightloss, in which case she may be on a specialised diet.

Keep an eye and if you're really concerned have her chip scanned, but so many cared for cats take many mini breaks in the gardens of neighbours, especially when the weather is fine.

Cats are so clever at finding a loving new home. 😻

If you think.the cat is looking skinny and losing weight just feed it and care for her. One more cat makes little difference as if you say your own cats are not bothered by this cat. 4 or 5 is little difference in my view.

*UPDATE

caught her

took her to the vets to check for a chip and she’s not got one

vets will have her on social media for a week and if no one claims her we can get her chipped and spayed -and accept the fact that we are a 5 cat household

Well done!!!

You’re so kind taking her in.

My son at Uni seems to have adopted a cat. They thought it was male and called him Gilgamesh but now he thinks she’s female with kittens

We have two cats but I think it looks like he’ll be bringing her home to us. ( also not chipped and no takers on local Facebook ) but if anyone here is missing a cat near Pinhoe rd Exeter please let me know.

I did the same as a student adopting 15 feral cats in Birmingham 🤣🤣, some of us just can’t stop ourselves.

Well done! If she’s gone from skittish to catchable then you’ve gained her trust.
I hope there is a loving family out there who are delighted to have their cat back. If not then congratulations on your new cat! What’s one more anyway?!

So does he know where the kittens are?

I really wish people wouldn't try to dissuade people from feeding. There is an absolute epidemic of abandoned and stray cats. If anyone is at all unsure the right thing to do is to feed and to chip check as soon as possible.

That way, if chipped and living nearby then no harm done. If not chipped then you've saved a cat. In this case if the OP hadn't fed she would have had to carry on looking for someone who would. And even if she found someone that person probably wouldn't have bothered trying to get her neutered - so then she'd have kittens outside and, if the survived, a colony would be forming.

If in doubt always feed, but do get the cat chip checked as soon as possible.

It's very, very bad for cat welfare to tell people they shouldn't feed suspected strays.

Oh yes
In her tummy 😁

Well an abortion would be the best course of action.

She’s very big.
I think that’s why she’s taken up residence in my sons bedroom ( he’s ground floor with French doors to the garden)
I think she’s nesting in readiness.

We won’t let her remove them from the room. I’ve been in this situation before with feral cats having kittens in my house in Birmingham. We’ll either keep all of them or think otherwise. It seems a flat mate of my sons parents cats passed away a while ago and they have expressed an interest. Lots of loving students in the house!

@onenightonlykitten have the vets kept her or have you bought her home ?

We feed next doors cat all the time. Her owner has dementia now so I’m not sure the cats get fed often. I’ll know if the cat is hungry because she’ll come up to me and miaow. If she’s been fed, she won’t.
There are may situations where it’s ok to feed a cat that’s not yours.

You’re such a good person op.
Let’s hope she starts to put weight on soon.

Thank you for ensuring this kitten has a brighter future OP. I wish there were more people like you in the world.

Listen to the wise words of this lady - anyone who lives most of her life at the sharp end of cat rescuing knows what they are talking about!

A local cat charity can trap her and scan her. We had a stray hanging out in our garden and they trapped him and got him back to his owner safely.

She's been caught (by the OP) and scanned (no chip)
If there's no response to the Social Media from Vets , then OP has a New Cat after chippin'n'spayin'

Aww, thanks for the update. I was totally wrong assuming she'd have a home.

Well done and congratulations on your new cat!

You should call her... Chip ❤️

McCains