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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.

Made a mistake and don’t want a cat!

311 replies

DontWantACat · 05/07/2026 00:37

About a month ago, a young cat turned up in my garden (live rural, lots of farms, horses/livery places, therefore always lots of cats), very skinny and obviously been in some difficulty as its neck was missing loads of hair, had healing cuts on it. Definitely not someone’s pet. I put out water and food for it, it wasn’t in great shape and while I’m really not a cat person, I couldn’t see an animal in difficulty without trying to help. Fed it for a week or so and it hung around, got its strength back.

Went on holiday for 10 days and thought it would break the cycle and the cat would move on again. Nope. The minute I got home it was there. Had lost weight again so I fed it again. And I’ve now been feeding it for 2 weeks.

It’s become completely obsessed with me. If it sees me in the kitchen it’s staring in the window/door, it’s sleeping outside the door every night, if I walk outside it’s walking around my feet. If it sit outside it’s rubbing off me and wrapping its tail round me. Or talking to me and doing the blinky eye thing.

But I don’t want a cat! I lost my last 2 pets about 6 weeks ago and I don’t want the responsibility again for a while. I’m also not really gone on cats, and definitely don’t want one in my house. I also don’t want to be responsible for vet bills and such.

I’ve rang the local rescues, they’re full. Shared in groups I’m part of, no takers.

What do I do? Do I stop feeding it? Will it move on?

OP posts:
Calliopespa · Yesterday 11:23

NCForOneNightOnly · Yesterday 11:22

She's had a fright. She said all along she didn't want a cat.

And then fed it repeatedly and encouraged it to keep coming back…

I know, I know.

But I'd rather we focus her on coming back than on driving her underground berating her.

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · Yesterday 11:27

Please please take the cat back to the vet OP.

I know hunting isn't nice but that's nature I'm afraid. It sounds like she's eating her kills? That and her insistent behaviour around you suggests to me that she's hungry (despite you feeding her) which sounds quite natural after a period of starvation. Poor little thing.

TheFlyingPenguin · Yesterday 11:32

A cat is going to cat. Bringing you their kills is a sign of loyalty.

And yes, dogs do kill other creatures as well, rabbits, rats, lambs, sheep, other dogs, cats.. cats just target smaller beasties.

indigox · Yesterday 11:34

Cat kills some rodents so a human abuses and starves the cat? WTF is wrong with you. It's a cat's natural behaviour to hunt, it's not a human's natural behaviour to abuse a defenceless animal who trusts you.

Dorosomethingbeautiful · Yesterday 11:40

@DontWantACat I don’t blame you for chasing the cat out of your house. You were kind enough to keep feeding the cat and if you are now fed up of doing so, it doesn’t make you a bad or cruel person. The cat isn’t your responsibility and you are not obliged to take it to the vet or look for a new home for him.

RaveToTheGrave1 · Yesterday 11:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Wheresthebeach · Yesterday 11:46

do you think dogs don’t hunt and kill? They eat meat. You’ve fed it and now turned on it. I’m not a cat person and I’ve had the neighbours cats run into the house and hide. Yes it’s a pain but no excuse to treat it that way. And I’m allergic to cats!

TheBlueDeer · Yesterday 11:46

Dorosomethingbeautiful · Yesterday 11:40

@DontWantACat I don’t blame you for chasing the cat out of your house. You were kind enough to keep feeding the cat and if you are now fed up of doing so, it doesn’t make you a bad or cruel person. The cat isn’t your responsibility and you are not obliged to take it to the vet or look for a new home for him.

She didn’t just chase it out, she threw water on the cat, that is both bad and cruel.

cazcaz2 · Yesterday 11:52

I used to feed 2 cats which were 'supposed' to live next door to me but were hardly ever let in.(i think 1was only 'donated to' from a moving neighbour,so they werent really interested in poor thing,& it was really skinny) they were lovely cats, but i have my own old boy already, and with new laws you cant just abscond with someones cat so i had to leave them..I feel really bad now though, like ive abandoned them both.

AliceandOscar · Yesterday 11:53

It would be kinder to take the cat to the vet and risk having it put to sleep, than that you are doing in your latest update. You are going to just stop feeding it,
how very cruel and nasty.

cazcaz2 · Yesterday 11:56

They used to come straight to my window or patio doors when i got in,or came downstairs in the morning, reaching up & pawing at windows like they were knocking, its so sad i had to leave them behind.(i think they regarded me as the owner they had chosen...)

AntonNewcombesHat · Yesterday 12:01

My cat had to be put to sleep this week & this has made me cry. The poor thing just wants a cuddle. And it’s not being a savage with the dead animals, they are PRESENTS. It wants your love & affection. Please stop being cruel to the poor thing. You are the savage here.

Wheresthebeach · Yesterday 12:03

So now are you just going to watch it starve to death? Having created a bond?

icingonmycupcake · Yesterday 12:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

What is wrong with you? Reported.

Cailin66 · Yesterday 12:12

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 05/07/2026 01:35

Be careful trying to get rid of cats on social media as dog fighters send their Mrs with kids in tow to get bait.

Oh, how awful is that.

icingonmycupcake · Yesterday 12:16

Cats bringing 'presents' 🙄 would be a deal breaker for me. Just the thought of it turns my stomach. I don't care how much of a normal instinct it is.

The only alternative would be to not let it outside. Or to buy one of those cat flaps that can detect when your cat has a 'present' 🙄 on board and wouldn't allow it to come in.

But honestly, you do what's best for you.

seventeenofsumday · Yesterday 12:21

icingonmycupcake · Yesterday 12:16

Cats bringing 'presents' 🙄 would be a deal breaker for me. Just the thought of it turns my stomach. I don't care how much of a normal instinct it is.

The only alternative would be to not let it outside. Or to buy one of those cat flaps that can detect when your cat has a 'present' 🙄 on board and wouldn't allow it to come in.

But honestly, you do what's best for you.

Edited

This isn't just about the op not wanting the cat inside. She's chucked all the food away so will also be leaving it to starve.

Christmasbear1 · Yesterday 12:21

I'm not a cat lover but throwing water on the cat is vile. There's a reason the cat came into your life and is attached to you.

PuppyMonkey · Yesterday 12:33

OP for a so-called seasoned animal lover, your behaviour here sounds, at best, a little bit odd.Confused

PinkMagpie · Yesterday 12:43

It’s fine if OP doesn’t want a cat. However, she has several practical solutions available to her for rehoming this cat and she appears to be dragging her heels about doing any of them

PinkMagpie · Yesterday 12:48

People on this thread are concerned because you have described this cat and shared a photo of it and now give the impression you are going to leave it to starve @DontWantACat

Calliopespa · Yesterday 12:54

icingonmycupcake · Yesterday 12:16

Cats bringing 'presents' 🙄 would be a deal breaker for me. Just the thought of it turns my stomach. I don't care how much of a normal instinct it is.

The only alternative would be to not let it outside. Or to buy one of those cat flaps that can detect when your cat has a 'present' 🙄 on board and wouldn't allow it to come in.

But honestly, you do what's best for you.

Edited

buy one of those cat flaps that can detect when your cat has a 'present' 🙄 on board and wouldn't allow it to come in.

That sounds amazing. Would it work on my aunt?🤐

icingonmycupcake · Yesterday 13:00

Calliopespa · Yesterday 12:54

buy one of those cat flaps that can detect when your cat has a 'present' 🙄 on board and wouldn't allow it to come in.

That sounds amazing. Would it work on my aunt?🤐

😂😂😂 Only if her usual method of entry to your home is a cat flap.

Calliopespa · Yesterday 13:02

icingonmycupcake · Yesterday 13:00

😂😂😂 Only if her usual method of entry to your home is a cat flap.

I'm wondering if I could adapt the technology.

That said the cat flap might be helpful in deflecting visits!

She is lovely, but always chooses exactly what I really do not want or need!

icingonmycupcake · Yesterday 13:08

Calliopespa · Yesterday 13:02

I'm wondering if I could adapt the technology.

That said the cat flap might be helpful in deflecting visits!

She is lovely, but always chooses exactly what I really do not want or need!

Get pitching it on Dragon's Den. You could make a fortune. 💴💰😂