The kitten next door...

bear77

just caught it in my house eating my cat's food.

I checked the little thing over and it's not great. It's ears are filthy inside, it was crawling with fleas and it is absolutely too young to be going outside.

I returned the kitten to my neighbour who said it had been missing since last night. I also said that she should probably get it seen to by a vet due to the ears and fleas, and that it also shouldn't be going out until it has been neutered and vaccinated.

I held the kitten while she sprayed it with flea spray (I know it won't do any good as it was a type that you get in a supermarket / ) and again re-iterated that it shouldn't be let outside while it has not been vaccinated and neutered. I got the response that it is too nice to leave the back door shut. I despair, I really do, as I do not think that the owner will take proper responsibility and get the proper procedures carried out. Also told my neighbour that the kitten is male as they thought it was a female. The response I got to that was "oh well, that's better for me!" I said, well it still needs to be neutered because it will eventually start impregnating any unsterilised female cats and getting into fights with the males.

It's so frustrating to have words fall on deaf ears and that there are still people who think it is acceptable to take on animals without being prepared to be responsible for their health, not to mention putting other cats in the neighbourhood at risk.

Needless to say, I have just flea-treated my cat! He was due anyway. I just hope that none of the fleas have got into the carpet in the brief time that the kitten was in my house... making me feel itchy to think about it!

Anyway - was what I did right? Should I have done / said more or less? It is difficult as I don't want to become on bad terms with her, but don't agree with letting this cat out until it is proper to do so...

NewKittenHelp

Phone the RSPCA and report her. She needs educating and reminding of her legal responsibilities.

Miss_Havisham

some people don't realise that pets, even tiny ones like kittens, are costly to maintain and the maintenance is not an option its a necessity.

You did right but I'm sure you'll have the same thing happen over again.

paddypaws101

NewKittenHelp wrote: »

Phone the RSPCA and report her. She needs educating and reminding of her legal responsibilities.

What exactly do you think the RSPCA will do about a kitten in this situation? Improper flea treatment and a slack attitude towards neutering don't really count as animal cruelty, even though we do all agree that the little one is not getting perfect treatment.

OP, can you get some leaflets on free neutering offers in your area and pass them to the neighbour or somehow manage to get the kitten along to your own vet for the snip when it is due? CP will free neuter if you are feeding a stray, get any kind of benefit or are on a low income for example.

If neighbour is really so disinterested already then I would prepare myself for a new addition at some point TBH....

NewKittenHelp

paddypaws101 wrote: »

What exactly do you think the RSPCA will do about a kitten in this situation? Improper flea treatment and a slack attitude towards neutering don't really count as animal cruelty, even though we do all agree that the little one is not getting perfect treatment.

OP, can you get some leaflets on free neutering offers in your area and pass them to the neighbour or somehow manage to get the kitten along to your own vet for the snip when it is due? CP will free neuter if you are feeding a stray, get any kind of benefit or are on a low income for example.

If neighbour is really so disinterested already then I would prepare myself for a new addition at some point TBH....

Educate her about her legal responsibilities. Scare her enough to either comply or give the kitten up for rehoming.

Fire_Fox

Agree contact the RSPCA and lay it on a bit thick, if the ears are dirty it has ear mites as well as fleas and probably worms too. IMO it is against two of the Five Freedoms - freedom from discomfort and also freedom from disease. RSPCA will only give advice and revisit but that may be enough to get your neighbour to buck their ideas up. Fleas and worms can kill a kitten in extreme circumstances, ear mites can lead to ear infections and deafness.

You might want to get a catflap that is activated magnetically or by a microchip before this unneutered male gets old enough to come into your house and spray it. Agree with finding out about free neutering via Cats Protection vouchers or the PDSA if she might be eligible.

bear77

Thanks all for your replies so far.

I think, at this stage, getting the RSPCA involved is a little heavy-handed and certainly would not benefit neighbourly good-relations! We get on well at the moment, and I would like to keep it that way, although I will use my judgement and if I think the kitten's well-being is at risk, then I would re-think that decision!

I do like the suggestion about the leaflets for free neutering and I am sure she would qualify for this. I am not sure where I would find said leaflets but I will have a look online for information

I have a spare 1/2 Drontal tablet that I could give to her for worming but I don't know how old this kitten is, or how much it weighs, and whether or not these are suitable for kittens, so I am unwilling to do this in case it harms the kitten. Another reason why a vet's visit would benefit...

I'll check on her in a couple of days to see how it is, and hopefully by then I will have found out more about free neutering and I can also try to explain again about the ear mites, proper flea control and worming. I can volunteer to take the kitten to the vets for her (she doesn't drive) and have already suggested that one of her adult children could do this, but I can't afford to cover the costs myself.

It's a shame - the lady didn't get this kitten herself, it was her daughter who (having already established herself to be allergic to cats) got another kitten having already rehomed one due to the allergy, and found that surprise, surprise, she was still allergic! (smacks head) So has now dumped this kitten on her mother... Poor thing hasn't even really got a name, apart from the female cat's name it had been given by the lady's granddaughter!

Thanks again everyone, I will try my best to educate the lady about the dangers and risks and hopefully she will be open to help & advice.

paddypaws101

If you go to the CP web site you will see details of their neutering scheme, you could even call and ask if they could send out a leaflet. They don't issue vouchers anymore, you just contact the closest vet involved in the scheme ( and there are many many to choose from ), book in with them and they will tell you if you need to bring proof of benefit etc.
You could also look into Blue cross or similar charities that do reduced cost clinics for general check ups, maybe offer to drive her there etc.
It's really very good of you to look out for the kitten...and your neighbour ...in this way, but at the end of the day no one wants a flea ridden entire Tomcat living next door. EEK!:eek:

saraann21

does anyone know if worming tablets,flea spray etc can be bought in a chemist?i just want to be sure before i go.thanks

antw23uk

Next time its in your house pop it in a cat basket and take to a cat charity (not the rspca) in the next county so it can have a decent chance of finding a nice responsible home

Fridaycat

Knowing how entire toms spray, I'm sure she'll be keen to get him neutered once that starts! Regarding fleas and worms, if you have good neighbourly relations, I would do my best to educate her, after all I'm sure she'll not want an infestation any more than you do, and once she realises how ineffective (and potentially harmful :eek:) the supermarket stuff is, she must surely change her mind about using it.