Discussion
There is a cat that spends about half it's life in our back garden. There are about 4 cats I see there occasionally but this one is there a lot. Usually just sitting or lying in the middle of the lawn, sometimes it shifts position as if it's struggling to get comfortable. It will sometimes let me approach and stroke it but is generally pretty timid and looks quite thin.
Is it possible it's ill in some way or is this common for cats? It moves around well enough but looks a bit thin and it's the way it seems to have trouble getting comfortable that bothers me. It has a collar but won't let me check it.
Is it possible it's ill in some way or is this common for cats? It moves around well enough but looks a bit thin and it's the way it seems to have trouble getting comfortable that bothers me. It has a collar but won't let me check it.
I would advise taking it to a vet to be scanned if you can catch it, I realized that might be difficult.
Alternative is putting a paper collar on it with your details to see if it's owner gets in touch but assuming if you could do that you would read the collar it already has on.
Lastly contact CPL/ local rescue to see if they can trap it and take it in.
Alternative is putting a paper collar on it with your details to see if it's owner gets in touch but assuming if you could do that you would read the collar it already has on.
Lastly contact CPL/ local rescue to see if they can trap it and take it in.
Does it look neglected or well cared for (other than being thin)?
It might not be a stray, especially if it has a collar. Some cats are just thin, some like one of mine are like a shed on legs.
Perhaps leave a bowl of water for it, or some food? See if it is hungry. That'll be the obvious answer to stray/no stray.
Cats do tend to get thinner when they get older, this one might just be an old arthritic moggy.
It might not be a stray, especially if it has a collar. Some cats are just thin, some like one of mine are like a shed on legs.
Perhaps leave a bowl of water for it, or some food? See if it is hungry. That'll be the obvious answer to stray/no stray.
Cats do tend to get thinner when they get older, this one might just be an old arthritic moggy.
Please don't feed it!
Our old cat is thin due to hyperthyroidism and was being fed relentlessly by a cabal of selfish OAPs in sheltered accomodation up the road (the worst had 3 of her own cats, and persisted despite me asking her repeatedly not to feed him).
He stopped coming home in the end, and we had to catnap him and not let him out any more.
He\she might just like coming in your garden for some peace and quiet.
Our old cat is thin due to hyperthyroidism and was being fed relentlessly by a cabal of selfish OAPs in sheltered accomodation up the road (the worst had 3 of her own cats, and persisted despite me asking her repeatedly not to feed him).
He stopped coming home in the end, and we had to catnap him and not let him out any more.
He\she might just like coming in your garden for some peace and quiet.
I've compromised on the feeding issue by offering it a small piece of cooked Chicken on the basis that a one off won't change it's habits.
It sniffed it cautiously, then ate it slowly, certainly didn't seem hungry, so I'm a bit reassured. Though if anything I'd expect a healthy cat to show more of an appetite.
It sniffed it cautiously, then ate it slowly, certainly didn't seem hungry, so I'm a bit reassured. Though if anything I'd expect a healthy cat to show more of an appetite.
Dr Jekyll said:
I've compromised on the feeding issue by offering it a small piece of cooked Chicken on the basis that a one off won't change it's habits.
It sniffed it cautiously, then ate it slowly, certainly didn't seem hungry, so I'm a bit reassured. Though if anything I'd expect a healthy cat to show more of an appetite.
That cat will be there every day now. It sniffed it cautiously, then ate it slowly, certainly didn't seem hungry, so I'm a bit reassured. Though if anything I'd expect a healthy cat to show more of an appetite.
LosingGrip said:
Dr Jekyll said:
I've compromised on the feeding issue by offering it a small piece of cooked Chicken on the basis that a one off won't change it's habits.
It sniffed it cautiously, then ate it slowly, certainly didn't seem hungry, so I'm a bit reassured. Though if anything I'd expect a healthy cat to show more of an appetite.
That cat will be there every day now. It sniffed it cautiously, then ate it slowly, certainly didn't seem hungry, so I'm a bit reassured. Though if anything I'd expect a healthy cat to show more of an appetite.
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