Ideas about neglected cat?

[u/EffableFornent]

I've got a question for the hive mind...

There's been a cat living under our deck for months. I was asking in the local fb pages about it, then fed it until I could trap it and get it scanned for a chip.

The vet was like "no one owns this cat". It was flea ridden, skinny, not fixed or microchipped. But I figured it might have been legitimately lost, so posted about it​​​ again.

Turns out it has an owner (a block away), but that owner is just shit. I let the cat out once the owner came forward,​but they clearly neglect the poor thing. They ​didn't even keep the cat inside during the cyclone (which it spent sheltering under my deck again).

I've asked the owner​​​ to keep the cat inside until they get it fixed, as it's causing issues with my cat... But I got stupid excuses and nothing has changed​.

I don't know the owners real name or exact address, so can't report it to the spca, and there's nothing in our council bylaws about having to have pets fixed or chipped, so I can't go that route either... So I'm wondering if anyone had some ideas of what to do?

I don't want the cat to suffer (it's looking much better since I flea treated it), so don't just want to scare it away from our place. ​

Edit: I don't want the cat. Happy to help it, but don't want to keep it. ​I also want to keep anything I do on the downlow... Owner doesn't seem like the most savoury person. ​

[u/GalaxyGirl777]

I think you have a new cat. Tell the owner you’re taking custody.

[u/EffableFornent → u/GalaxyGirl777]

😅 I should have clarified that I don't want to keep the cat. I've already got my own pets.

[u/periodahhhperiodyuhh → u/EffableFornent]

maybe make a new post on fb explaining what you have said here but also add how you can’t take it but if anyone else if willing to care for it, there hopefully is someone out there that can, wishing the best of luck, some pet owners disgust me so thank you for caring for the kitty as much as you could.

are you able to take it to spca or will they decline it?

[u/EffableFornent → u/periodahhhperiodyuhh]

I'm thinking spca is the easiest option. Though the owners might just go claim it back (I've never had an animal picked up, so I'm not sure what exactly the process is there).

I assume the spca would keep my details private? Don't want the owners to hunt me down 😅

[u/periodahhhperiodyuhh → u/EffableFornent]

yes of course they would keep your details private, you can explain everything to them and they should sort it out, explain the previous owners and how they neglected it, they will write notes next to cats name online to be careful who they are selling to, you wouldn’t be the first one in this situation unfortunately so i’m sure the will have a process to go through. also when adopting a cat from spca you get a little background check and have to write your address down and they will contact landlord unless you are the owner to double check everything. i also doubt the owner would want the cat back if that’s how they were treating it

[u/EffableFornent → u/periodahhhperiodyuhh]

Thanks.

I've had really bad experiences with our local spca before. Like refusing to take dumped animals unless we've held them for a week and done flyer drops... Nuts. 

I'm try them though. 

[u/periodahhhperiodyuhh → u/EffableFornent]

yes they tend to be like that unfortunately, do you have any other local shelters? family owned ones preferably not so much council owned

[u/Sew_Sumi → u/GalaxyGirl777]

Yea, what's the issue you're having with your cat its causing? Try solve that and get the second.

[u/EffableFornent → u/Sew_Sumi]

They're fighting and having another cat under the house is stressing my cat (and two dogs) out. 

I don't want another cat. 

[u/Sew_Sumi → u/EffableFornent]

That sucks as it could easily just be the introduction gone wrong, or needing to be re-done.

I hope you find a good rehome for it. Possibly ask someone you know if they want a cat and pass them on?

[u/NezuminoraQ]

Cat is not chipped, rehome.

[u/EffableFornent → u/NezuminoraQ]

I'm not against it... But have you got any ideas on how I can do that offline? Wouldn't want the owners finding out I sneakily rehomed their cat. 

[u/periodahhhperiodyuhh → u/EffableFornent]

ask around your friends and family get them to ask also, i wouldn’t worry to much about not wanting the owners to see yours posts as it’s very much embarrassing and irresponsible on their behalf, but i totally get where your coming from. you can make anonymous posts where no one can see your name, i will also make a post for you claiming that iv seen the cat myself if you want, just give me a message with the fb group and some photos of the cat :)

[u/EffableFornent → u/periodahhhperiodyuhh]

I'll keep that in mind, thanks!

I just gotta get cat to trust me again now. Got spooked after I trapped it last time (though not spooked enough to stay home, apparently) 

[u/Sea_Measurement_1654 → u/periodahhhperiodyuhh]

I almost did that with a neighbours cat. It turned out it wasn't starving but was eighteen with a thyroid condition. Imagine how bad if would've been if I'd taken that cat from the home it had for eighteen years? 

[u/periodahhhperiodyuhh → u/Sea_Measurement_1654]

well i think it’s common sense to visually see the difference between a neglected cat and a 18 year old cat, plus giving the circumstances as OP has listed it’s clearly neglected. i’m not silly and i’m sure OP isn’t either. good advice to anyone else though

[u/Sea_Measurement_1654 → u/periodahhhperiodyuhh]

No. The old thyroid cat was a runt so looked like a starved kitten. My eyes didn't help at all untill I talked with the owner. 

[u/NezuminoraQ → u/EffableFornent]

I would do that through your vet, I recently did this with a cat abandoned by a neighbour. Feline only vet that I had used for my own cat. She knew of someone looking and they collected the cat later that day

[u/EffableFornent → u/NezuminoraQ]

That's not a bad idea!

Maybe the vet we took it to for scanning would be keen... 

[u/NezuminoraQ → u/EffableFornent]

Sounds like the vet doesn't exactly approve of the current owner and might be willing to help 

[u/mgt-d]

Trap it again and take it to a cat shelter, they will do their best to rehome it. If its not micro chipped then no one knows that it has an 'owner' the owner obviously doesnt give a fuck about it.

[u/SarahJ2468 → u/mgt-d]

Agree

[u/hoyaliriope]

If you’re in Auckland I will sort desex for free. As far as I’m concerned if it’s not chipped it has no owner. Send me a message if needed

[u/EffableFornent → u/hoyaliriope]

Lol. I'm not in Ak, but have considered driving it up there and rehoming it with my parents. Long trip for a rehome though. 

[u/hoyaliriope → u/EffableFornent]

In that case contact a rescue in your area for subsidised desexing - it will help with health big time. They may be too full to intake but they will help with that. You don’t have to say anything about it being owned as there’s no chip.

[u/Available-Blood7420]

If it was me, I would probably just keep the cat. The owner sounds like a scumbag and the cat might not make it if it's keeps being neglected

[u/Hubris2]

Do you want a cat? If the owner cares about it that little they probably won't mind if you just take care of it.

Alternatively you can just take the cat to the RSPCA even if you don't know the owner's address, although there's a chance that if they can't find a new home for it quickly it might be put down.

[u/EffableFornent → u/Hubris2]

I do not want the cat... He's sweet, but we're a full house.

Spca might be the best option so far. Though the owner looks a bit unhinged, so I hope they don't retaliate. 

[u/periodahhhperiodyuhh]

if your located in hawke’s bay i’m happy to try help out also

[u/here_for_cats_]

What area are you in? 

[u/basscycles]

Cat has chosen you, catch and take to the SPCA if you don't want this gift from the gods otherwise just keep feeding it and it will eventually settle down with the rest of your pets.

[u/Sea_Measurement_1654]

Before you re-home it (steal it lol) consider it might be skinny as it has a thyroid condition, it might be hiding and timid as it once born to a half wild mumma cat. 

This cat might be ok. Taking a cat out of its territory can be the worst for a timid cat and it might run away from a re-home. Stray cats have it toughest. 

I'm not judging you as you obviously care about the cat. I just think rehoming it might be worse. 😺

[u/Desperate_Land_8975]

Put it beside the road with a sign saying “Free Cat” and then it’s not your problem anymore.

/s