Killed my neighbours cat!

Deeperblue

Thanks so much for reading and any replies

Sunday night we got home in the evening and as we were parking up on the road I noticed a cat, seemingly oblivious to our car, walking straight underneath it. Told hubby to stop, which we did (didn't hit it) and the cat continued on under the car and wondering slowly across the fairly main road in front of our house. It made it to the other side by some miracle and then started to wonder back across. It was obviously going to get squished so hubby scooped it up and noticed that it was nothing but skin and bones.

We took it in the house and gave it some milk, of which it had an egg-cup full and I popped out to get it some food but it barely had a mouth full. It was covered in flees, skinny as a rake and didn't seem to be able to walk properly, kind of dragging it's back legs. Plus when it pooped or weed it would just sit in it, no effort or energy to keep itself clean.

Next day we took it too the vet to look for a chip, obviously didn't have one, and then spoke to Cats Protection League who said to get a proper check up at the vet and a blood test and we put it on the register for emergency placement.

We kept it wrapped up in front of the fire for the day until our appointment at 4:30 this afternoon. Vet said it was about 6 months old, probably diabetic (which was the cause of the walking problems), blind, severely malnourished, covered in flee faeces and had eye infections. She said she had discussed it with the Cats Poctection people (who were paying for the treatment) and they felt the kindest thing would be to put it down, which they did.

A couple of hours ago we got a little printed note through the door from a house a few doors down saying they've lost their cat and contact them if we find it. The description sounds very similar to the cat we found and apparently they've put a picture in their window. I just know it's the same cat.

Part of me is shocked that they were letting this poor animal live in such an awful condition, but equally, it wasn't my decision to put it to sleep. Maybe they just couldn't afford treatment?

I feel awful. How do you tell your neighbour you've put their cat down??

*doodle*_2

From what you have said, you have done the right thing. Seeing a cat in distress is dreadful and I am so glad that you took the poor thing to the vets.

It might not be theres tbh. I mean, would you actively look for a cat that you have been neglecting? I wouldn't because others would find out that I am an unsuitable pet owner.

What you could do, is strike up a conversation with your neighbours. Tell them that you will keep an eye out for it but, at the same time, ask them for further information. That way, you can work out if it really was theres. If it is, then you must tell them.

Myrtle77

What a horrible situation to find yourself in. If you want to avoid any possible difficulties or confrontation, you could ask the Cats Protection League to tell them? They needn't reveal all the circumstances, and would likely just tell them that a member of the public took it to the vet.

whitewing

You could phone either the Vet's or the Cat Protection League and give them the details of the potential owner. They could then make contact to establish if it is the same cat so that the owners ultimately know what happened. They don't have to let them know that you are involved. It may also give them the opportunity to have a word about the care of the cat and ensure that the owners think more deeply before taking on a replacement.

JournalGirl

If it was their cat, they are lucky to be escaping prosecution for neglect. I know you must feel awful, but you did the right thing taking the poor cat for veterinary attention. From your description the poor cat was suffering terribly.

chris1973

Maybe you'd have been better reporting it to the RSPCA, and let them visit and make these decisions. At least that way, if the people were genuinely neglecting their animals they would be perhaps investigated and maybe forbidden from keeping one again. Right now they are free to 'replace' their 'pet' whenever they choose and probably keep it in the same conditions :mad:.

Either way, you will probably be made out to be the 'bad guys' in the equation in the neighbourhood by the local gossips despite your good intentions, nothing you can do about that *if* it happens, it all depends on your neighbourhood.

Personally on that basis alone, I'd keep quiet about it, you did what you thought was right in the circumstances and thats all that was important. Either way challenging your neighbours, and breaking the 'news' to them wont change the outcome and probably wont do you any favours in the long run, in addition if its some kids' pet, probably the kindest thing you can do is to let them think it just went off, rather than announce "I killed your cat", its not their fault their parents didn't look after their pet properly.

Either way, i'd look out for any other animals they may 'adopt' in the future, and keep an eye on their health and condition, but this time if there is any neglect / abuse, i'd report it anonymously to the people whose job it is to protect against it.

arbroath_lass

You did not kill their cat.

That said I'd tell them you took a stray cat to the Vet as it was having trouble walking. The Vet and CPL had to put the cat to sleep as it was in a bad way.

OR you tell them which Vet you took it to and let them call the vet to find out.

TBH I'm wondering if they lost it a while ago but it doesn't seem likely. Still think they should know, though.

greenbee

arbroath_lass wrote: »

You did not kill their cat.

That said I'd tell them you took a stray cat to the Vet as it was having trouble walking. The Vet and CPL had to put the cat to sleep as it was in a bad way.

OR you tell them which Vet you took it to and let them call the vet to find out.

TBH I'm wondering if they lost it a while ago but it doesn't seem likely. Still think they should know, though.

If you do mention it, I think you should say you took a stray to the vet but it couldn't be there's as it was severly malnourished and neglected, but you thought you'd mention it in case there was any misunderstanding. If they want more information let them talk to the vet/CPL. It wasn't you that made the decision, and if it was their cat, it was their neglect that killed it.

looopylala

Gosh! this is a toughie a real moral dilema.. you did the right thing taking the cat to the vet and a vet would not reccomend putting it to sleep for no good reason. It might not be the same cat I cant imagine that someone would neglect a cat so badly then try so hard to find it. I think if I was in your shoes and it seemed to be the same cat from the pic in the window I would put an anonymous note through the door saying a similar cat had been taken to the vets and give the vets details or those of the cats protection league and let the owners find out through them.

Well done for helping the cat though you 100% did the right thing

rhoobarbcrumble

On the other hand, we have a large ginger and white cat(he is long haired). He lays in all the wrong places, gets all kinds of stuff stuck in his fur. He also gets dodgy looking eyes quite easily, there is nothing wrong with him. He lays in all the wrong places (you know, where the plant life is going to stick to him like a trooper). Well, sometimes he comes home surprisingly clean and brushed, but he knows he is loved here, so he still comes home. My only worry is that someone might see him with dodgy looking eyes and take him to the vet. I hope to god never to get put down. Though obviously it is probably not the same case as the op's
But I do worry about little old Jasper as he has a lot of fur, he lays in the wrong places, and he was born with eyes that seem to put black stuff out. There's definately nothing wrong with him though and he loves his home.

JournalGirl

rhoobarbcrumble wrote: »

On the other hand, we have a large ginger and white cat(he is long haired). He lays in all the wrong places, gets all kinds of stuff stuck in his fur. He also gets dodgy looking eyes quite easily, there is nothing wrong with him. He lays in all the wrong places (you know, where the plant life is going to stick to him like a trooper). Well, sometimes he comes home surprisingly clean and brushed, but he knows he is loved here, so he still comes home. My only worry is that someone might see him with dodgy looking eyes and take him to the vet. I hope to god never to get put down. Though obviously it is probably not the same case as the op's
But I do worry about little old Jasper as he has a lot of fur, he lays in the wrong places, and he was born with eyes that seem to put black stuff out. There's definately nothing wrong with him though and he loves his home.

Is Jasper chipped? If he can be identified as yours, you would be contacted even if a well meaning stranger took him to a vet.