stray lovable cat

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doug1e1972

Original Poster:

87 posts

170 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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my next door neighbour told me that for the last 2 weeks we have had the most lovable cat sleeping in our front hedge.now we know its there i have started to put a bit of dry food and fresh water at the same time i feed my 2 own cats.
i have also made a temp 'home' for it by taping a couple of plastic bags around the outside of the box and have put some old blankets and jumpers in the box and put the box in a nice safe,dry and sheltered area in the front garden which she loves.
now this cat is really friendly and had my own 2 cats got on with it i would look after it myself, but i know it must belong to someone and if it was one of my cats id be going nuts trying to find it so my plan is to call the cats protection and hopefully they can find the owner of rehome it.
my other half has also suggested that we pay for the upkeep of the cat while its in the cats protection.
so im sitting here with a nice warm glow thinking im doing the right thing but cant help feeling im doing the wrong thing.

Google [bot]

6,698 posts

188 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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Your heart's definitely in the right place sir, good on you and keep enjoying the fuzzy feeling.

I think what you're doing at the moment is good enough in that it will sustain the little fella and give him a bit of warmth and shelter. Taking it to some cat society is good in principal, but what if the cat is local, not chipped and has had a scare at home, or the owners have gone away unable to find him or one of a load of other possibilities. You could maybe put some cat found notices around and if you get no bites then take him somewhere. The paying for his shelter until he is rehomed is a nice touch too, one I've considered when I've come across lost souls. Not expensive and comforting to know you've done all you can.

Jasandjules

70,502 posts

236 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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Why not just take it inside? Put posters up around the area, then in the next few days take it to the vets to see if it is chipped (faster cats are worth more)....... If no chip and no reply to the posters, then you have a new pet.

The owner might have just gone away for Christmas and left it in the "capable" hands of a neighbour, so when they come back and see the posters......

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

255 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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As per both the above posts, plus, if it doesn't have a collar, get one with a message tube, write your name and phone number on it saying this cat has turned up, if it's yours let us know, or after (insert x number of days) we shall assume it wants to move home.

Mrs Grumpy

863 posts

196 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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Lots of cats roam far and wide and seem to take up temporary residence with someone other than their rightful owner.

I agree with the others about putting a collar with a message in on him, postering the area, etc smile

ali_kat

32,033 posts

228 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
Why not just take it inside? Put posters up around the area, then in the next few days take it to the vets to see if it is chipped (faster cats are worth more)....... If no chip and no reply to the posters, then you have a new pet.

The owner might have just gone away for Christmas and left it in the "capable" hands of a neighbour, so when they come back and see the posters......
This ^^^

And as MrMaggit & MrsGrumpy say, collar with tag once the shops open.

And remember to put Posters up quite a way away (at least 5 mile radius)

R60EST

2,364 posts

189 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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We have 2 cats , one adopted us some years ago. He spends the majority of his time with us but he is free to come and go as he pleases , can sometimes be away for a night , a week , his record is 4 months.

In your situation I wouldn't take it to the CPL , even though your intentions are good I don't think it will be in that particular cats best interest

SmokinV8

786 posts

218 months

Sunday 26th December 2010
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we have 6 cats in total, 4 that are our cats and 2 that turned up, liked what they found and stayed, they have beds in the neighbours shed and our summer house, they both have the most fantastic fur coats (not surprising with the current weather).

zakelwe

4,449 posts

205 months

Monday 27th December 2010
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We are doing the same thing as well.

Cats tend to work out an entire routine for 24/7 don't they .. clever devils!Cats are more "time share" than dogs which does make them easier to look after.

It does make you wonder how strays have not latched on to homes though and have to be rescued.

Andy

Chilli

17,320 posts

243 months

Tuesday 28th December 2010
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ali_kat said:
Jasandjules said:
Why not just take it inside? Put posters up around the area, then in the next few days take it to the vets to see if it is chipped (faster cats are worth more)....... If no chip and no reply to the posters, then you have a new pet.

The owner might have just gone away for Christmas and left it in the "capable" hands of a neighbour, so when they come back and see the posters......
This ^^^

And as MrMaggit & MrsGrumpy say, collar with tag once the shops open.

And remember to put Posters up quite a way away (at least 5 mile radius)
Thing is (with the collar idea) s'pose the little fella does go home and sit on the doorstep...the owners might see this cat with a collar on and not recognise it, therefore leaving him homeless, again!
Just steal him, he seems much better off round yours anyway!

doug1e1972

Original Poster:

87 posts

170 months

Thursday 30th December 2010
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ok i have plastered the estate with posters etc and the next door neighbours sister took the cat, with the understanding that should someone come forward to claim her within the next week or so that she is happy to give the cat back. so its all happy days smile

moosepig

1,306 posts

248 months

Thursday 30th December 2010
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Has a vet tried to ID it by checking for a microchip?

If my cat went missing, and had adopted new staff, I would like to think that the very first thing they would do is take it to the vet for a checkup, and that the vet would routinely check for a chip.

This can't be any fun for the real owners, if they have a care.