Strange cat visiting

chocdonuty

over the last few days a kitten has been visiting my parents place, I've only seen a picture myself and think it maybe approx 4-9 months old.
It's been wolfing down bird seed and bread my nan leaves out for the birds as if it's really hungry.
I really don't know if the cat itself is just a little strange or this cat is either feral or lost.
They live near a busy road so I feel it may be too young to be out by itself but that may be just me and my mum as she has lost one moggy to that road.
I did give them some food to pop out, not that I advocate feeding other peoples cats, I just felt that if it was that hungry, cat food would have been a lot better for its little tum!
Does anyone have any advice, I don't want to take away someones pet but at the same time don't want to leave an abandoned cat out in the cold

PasturesNew

Put a collar on it asking.....

chocdonuty

Don't think i can get near enough tbh, i'm not there often plus I don't like collars on cats, they seem to cause more trouble than they are worth, dunno if I could get a cheap quick release one anywhere, will have a look around.

gettingready

Paper collar with your number - asking owner to give you a call so you know the cat is not homeless

Fire_Fox

Definitely use a paper collar. It's far more dangerous for this cat to be out starving all winter than wear a quick release collar for a few hours/ days. If you cannot catch it maybe borrow a trap from a sympathetic local rescue?

moggymutt

I've only ever known cats go for bird feed when starving. A local rescue should be very willing to lend you a trap, especially if you can do the trapping. Kitten will need neutering from 5 months- if a female and she has kittens whilst on a diet of bird food, I hate to think of the mess that both she and any kittens would be in. Even if she's being fed elsewhere, having kittens at her age is not good for her, plus there's too many kittens already.... This little kitty is liable to starve to death if not caught, so any decent rescue will gladly lend you a trap. They may not have room to take it in at the moment, but neutered, wormed and defleaded, if you could then keep feeding it, that would be so good for the kitty.

If you do ever use a collar, paper is best.

Thanks for caring, so many don't.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I would start with putting food out daily without fail, and providing a secure and cosy shelter that it could use.

That will keep it (and maybe some kittens) alive until the point at which you can get close enough to put a paper collar on, take him/her to be seen by a vet or a rescue or just get him/her settled in the house.


If my idiot cat got himself lost, I would rather somebody fed him and kept him than left him to starve. (Obviously, a trip to the vet to check for his chip would be best of all, but I'd rather lose him forever than have him die).

Mankysteve

Have you tired askingthe neighbours? I wouldn't start feeding It as you dont know if it has any dietery requirements, you could potential make it very unwell.

Frist a trip around the neighbors asking about it. Try and give a collar with note and finally if those fail trap take to someone to see if its chipped then decide weather it can be kept as your pet or leave ti a decent rescue. center.

moggymutt

I think cat food is far preferable to bird seed and bread, but it is wise to ask the neighbours.

Fire_Fox

It's not particularly likely a kitten has specific dietary needs for a health condition, agree pet food is far better for an obligate carnivore than bread and bird seed.