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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.

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Original poster

Neglected? cat

45 replies

cadburyegg · 12/03/2026 09:43

There is a cat that has been hanging around my house recently, with some fur patches missing and what fur he has left is really matted.

I posted on 2 Facebook groups yesterday about him and 4 people contacted me, 1 person saying they’d also noticed him hanging around and thinks he needs a vet, and 3 other people said that the owner isn’t interested.

I am going to try to get him to a vet to be scanned for a microchip. Just wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience and what they’d do next?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 31/03/2026 16:14

Did he come home in time for the snip, @cadburyegg ? Hope so. Clever boy, do you think he knew his knackers were on the line?

Original poster

cadburyegg · 31/03/2026 21:00

He didn’t come back last night so I went looking for him first thing this morning, and luckily found him near where I think he used to live. Had to reschedule his neutering for next Tuesday. !!! Nightmare because now it’s going to take even longer before he can be let out properly, I feel a bit concerned he’d gone back to his old haunts but hopefully when he’s neutered and stays in for longer that won’t happen as much. There were lots of lovely people feeding him before as they could see he was a stray, I might get him one of those “do not feed me” collars 🤣🤷‍♀️

OP posts:

Shedmistress · 31/03/2026 21:03

At least you found him, crikey. I've got a poorly boy in my downstairs room and he is desperate to go, but he has another week of antibiotics left to take and then he is going for a neutering as soon as he is better and it is going to be a long old week at best.

Sky1977 · 31/03/2026 21:20

cadburyegg · 12/03/2026 18:09

Aww thanks for the replies! Here’s a photo, excuse the mess this is under my 11yo’s bed 😆

I had decided I am going to make an appt for a proper vet check next week with the aim of getting him in for neutering and de-matting asap. (They will do both at the same time).

I have 2 cats already so keeping him away from them for the time being.

My kids are very excited but to try and avoid disappointment if our current cats hate him or it doesn’t work out, I have said we will play it by ear

Awww bless him, breaks my heart see animals like this, thankyou for rescuing and taking care of him, 🩷
I have a rescue cat, I have had her 7 years now and she’s a completely different cat these days from when I first got her, she’s so so loving and a beautiful little soul, 💖

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 31/03/2026 21:30

Oh phew, glad you found him!

Tonissister · 31/03/2026 21:34

Our scrappy stray moved in a month ago after sheltering from a storm. He has been on the sofa all evening, moving between DH's lap and mine. Has sat up to table on a chair to be hand fed roast chicken and is currently chasing his selection of pompoms around the living room. He's considering extending our probation period.

The vet who microchipped him said: Oh he's a total moggy.

Also black and white.

caringcarer · 31/03/2026 21:53

Worthalltheyears · 12/03/2026 19:57

I could have written this post pretty much word for word a few months ago.

We asked a Scan Angel to come and check the apparent stray that had been living in our garden for some months.
He wasn’t chipped so we took him to the vets after checking Facebook to see if anyone was looking for him.

No result so he’s now chipped to us and we couldn’t be happier. Cat seems quite chuffed too.

♥️

caringcarer · 31/03/2026 21:58

Limth · 17/03/2026 09:35

That's the face of the gentleman thinking "Bingo, found my servants for life. How can I take the total piss.... let me count the ways!"

Congratulations to you all and thanks for helping him.

What a stunner. He's gorgeous 😻. I hope the neutering goes well. He will stop spraying and the smell will go.

SheWillBeTheDeathOfMe · 31/03/2026 22:31

People who have taken in strays: Has it ever worked out if you have a nervy and territorial resident cat? We have a chipped stray in our garden and the local FB cat ladies are coming up with a plan. My cat who usually doesn’t go near other cats and runs away scared or hisses at them has run up and sniffed/kissed it a few times then run off & today they left the garden together and came back in over the wall and both laid in the sun, with my cat in the best spot that the other cat has been claiming when my cat is indoors.

I am taking this as a hopeful sign that we could rehome it. But DHs internet research suggests that things could be totally different in the house. I would leave the patio doors open and see what happens but assuming it probably has fleas.

Original poster

cadburyegg · 08/04/2026 21:46

Teddy is now…
Neutered ✅
Microchipped ✅
De-matted ✅
Tested negative for FIV ✅

OP posts:

Iamacatslave · 08/04/2026 21:52

Teddy you are beautiful.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 08/04/2026 21:55

Teddy is...
Gorgeous ✅
😻

Original poster

cadburyegg · 08/04/2026 22:08

Oh you MNetters might enjoy this as much as my kids did, the vet said he had very large balls 😂😂

OP posts:

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 09/04/2026 07:44

Who would have imagined that that little scrap hiding under the bed in the middle of March would have bloomed into this magnificent looking King in the middle of April?
What a dude! 😍And suffering his collar with such dignity, although his eyes are saying wtf? 😂
Go Teddy! 😼

StripedPillowcase · 09/04/2026 14:42

Those eyes are planning revenge for the indignity! Look out for dead mice on your pillow, OP

Original poster

cadburyegg · 10/04/2026 21:55

Thank you for the lovely comments! Teddy was most pleased to have the cone of shame removed today. Vets very pleased with him, although he’s somehow lost weight since living here?! My 8yo insisted on spending some of his birthday money on a bow tie for him 🤣

OP posts:

Pudmyboy · 10/04/2026 22:58

@cadburyegg the vet said Teddy had very large balls, and now he has lost weight: could this be cause and effect?

AltitudeCheck · 10/04/2026 23:14

Teddy is very handsome 😍 Hopefully he'll stop spraying now he's lost his trouble puffs!

Chemenger · 11/04/2026 09:15

He is gorgeous. Those lovely chubby tomcat cheeks!

justthecat · 11/04/2026 10:07

He’s looking very smart! Well done for taking him in and giving him a nice home

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