Is this cruel?

CocoAndPeanuts

A friend of mine passed me a number yesterday for some kittens she saw advertised in Pets at home- free to good homes.

I phoned the number. Apparently the lady found the cat abandoned and she was pregnant and has had a litter of kittens. She asked me about the area I lived in- quite residential area but obviously some passing traffic.

Went to her farm today- firstly I don't believe for a second that cat was abandoned. She had 3 other adult cats that I could see and her house STUNK of them.

Asked to see the kittens...and well. I was horrified.

They were kept in something like a rabbit run (I cant post links)

Six of them with their mother. She asked me if I would be willing to keep one locked in something similar- and I when I told her absolutely not and that it would be free to roam- she refused to let me take one.

I understand accidents do happen- but surely what she is doing is more cruel?!

spike7451

Certainly sounds like it,I'd contact Cats Protection (NOT RSPCA as all they'll do is eauthanise them all if they seize them) & report it to them.

davsidipp

sounds a bit iffy,no place should smell badly like that thats terrible.

Fosterdog

The smell would worry me but without seeing the type of run/enclosure you are talking about I don't know if it would be such an issue.

If she really did find a pregnant cat she may want the cat and her kittens kept in a safe and secure area especially if she has other cats/animals and doesn't want any fights between them. That may be all she could manage and is doing her best to help.

It also sounds like she is being careful who she rehomes them to, a lot of places wont let cats go unless they will be indoor cats.

It would be worth a call to cats protection to see if they will go take a look, maybe they are already aware of this person from other complaints if you think she does this often.

purple.sarah

It's hard to judge without knowing the whole picture. When we fostered feral kittens we kept them in a large dog crate till they had adjusted to being indoors, with the full knowledge and approval of the charity we were fostering for. They can't be allowed the run of the house because they would try to run away so keeping them in a cage isn't necessarily cruel but it sounds like the cage might have been too small. The smell is a concern but she might just be overwhelmed by looking after the kittens and behind with the housework. The kittens will not be house trained yet and the mother might not be if she was stray. Giving the kittens away free to good home is a bad idea because they could fall into the wrong hands or people might not think through the lifelong commitment and expense of owning a cat they got for free. It does show that she's not breeding them for profit though and she seems to care about the homes they go to. Suggest she contacts a charity such as Cats Protection for help rehoming the kittens. Also pass her contact details and your concerns on to the charity.

Fire_Fox

Please contact the RSPCA. The cats may need seizing, this person may need prosecuting so they cannot keep animals or Social Services calling in so they can get support - nobody but the RSPCA has the powers to do any of this.

~Chameleon~

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Please contact the RSPCA. The cats may need seizing, this person may need prosecuting so they cannot keep animals or Social Services calling in so they can get support - nobody but the RSPCA has the powers to do any of this.

Unfortunately, the RSPCA won't have any interest in this. They are being fed & watered and "cared" for.

Much better to involve one or more of the other charities or your local RSPCA shelter which is a completely different beast and totally independent of RSPCA headquarters..

Spottedleopard

I have a cat and have to lock him in the old dog cage during the day as the neighbours cat attacks him and has been close to killing him a couple of times. He won't yowls the house down if you leave him inside and pees everywhere so I don't really have an alternative.

He has room to run around, place to sleep and plenty of food and water and my cleaner lets him out for a hour or so in the middle of the day when she is there to supervise.

I wouldn't dream of living him in there on a permanent basis though- and its hell of a lot bigger than a rabbit run.

G-WWBB

spike7451 wrote: »

Certainly sounds like it,I'd contact Cats Protection (NOT RSPCA as all they'll do is eauthanise them all if they seize them) & report it to them.

I'm a foster mum for the RSPCA, mum and 5 kittens in my care after being rescued by an RSPCA officer. If the above statement were true, they wouldn't be with me now.

Contact the RSPCA, report the conditions they're living in: 0300 1234 999, select the option for animal in distress.