Feeding Stray Cat

lisajane8482

Hi all,

We have a stray cat (well I assume she is) who has been coming to our house since we moved in. She calls most mornings and nights and sits meowing for food and affection.

I have been feeding her but won't let her in the house as we have an indoor cat and kitten and have been advised not to let her in. I've treated her for fleas and have put a spot on wormer. We have made her a den so she has somewhere warm and dry to stay when it gets cold and eventually when money allows us I was thinking of adopting her (at the moment we couldn't afford another set of vaccination fees, pet insurance plus any other treatment she would need, vet suggested blood tests etc).

She's been hanging around for 7-8 months apparently and as far as the neighbours know she has no owners. She's not underweight and she is really tame, she loves being stroked and picked up. We had her scanned by the vet and she hasd no microchip, they can't tell if she's ben spayed unless they shave her, they had a look over her and besides a few fleas she seems to be ok. I have put the RSPCA collars on her and have put up posters but no one has come forward. She's a lovely and affectionate cat and I want her to keep coming back so that I know she's ok and well fed.

Until we can afford to take her to the vets for a health overhall I want to start feeding her something thats healthier than Tiger dry food (what she's getting at the moment) but not as expensive as Royal Canin (what our cats eat). I would preferably like to order it from Zooplus on a bi-monthly basis when we order our cats food but we really can't afford Royal canin plus flea and worm treatments for her at the moment.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a cheapish dry food that we could buy from there?

ETA: I was looking for around 4kg for around £10

rising_from_the_ashes

She sounds like she's landed on her paws!:D

If she's got somewhere dry and warm to curl up in, is getting regular feeding and care, then that's fab!

Re food, have a look at this

http://www.vitalinpetfood.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/VitalinCompletePetFood/_VitapurrAll/280882/Vitapurr

The 5 x 2kg bags work out around £2.40 / kg so fit into your price bracket and that includes delivery - and would certainly last a couple of months!

It's a fab quality food for the price & is wheat free & hypoallergenic - not something you really expect in this price bracket!

Best of luck with her:D

coshboy

Have you considered putting a collar on her with a note just in case she has owners somewhere near?

I had a similar thing except my stray had an old collar on her. I was going to move house so I bought a new collar and attached a note with my phone no. No one ever called me though so i took her with me.


Rising from the ashes - I think I might try that food - good reviews and good price! (I've 3 cats)

GeckoGirl1985

Have to say, that Vitapurr looks to be pretty good quality for the price.

Have you considered wetfood? I recommend Bozita tetrapaks for my clients - http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/canned_cat_food_pouches/bozita

It may look cheap and nasty but don't let appearances fool you - it's a great, high meat food with no cheap fillers.

lisajane8482

Thanks for the replies, I will order her some food this evening.

As well as the dry food we have been giving her some oven cooked chicken breast, we cook one every two days as Gizmo (our kitten) absolutely loves it (although he won’t eat it raw), she’s also been getting some Purina One Indoor wet food too as this is the only wet food Salem will eat (he’s a fussy little eater).

I will try a box of the food you mentioned GeckoGirl as well as the dry food Rising form the ashes metioned.

I have been putting the RSPCA paper collars on her covered with easy tear tape and she keeps coming back after a couple of days without them on. I'm not sure if they come off because someone has taken them off or if it's because they snag and come off. I will try a proper collar with one of the pet identity note holder thingys on and see if I get a better response.

Thank you again for all your replies

rising_from_the_ashes

If you're looking for a cheaper alternative for wet food, Butchers Classic gets really good reviews - as it's tins, it's a lot cheaper than the pouches!

Just had a quick look & £2.72 for 6 big tins at As*da HTH

Re the collar - please put one on that has a breakable bit on .... just in case.

lisajane8482

I have to get some bits on the way home from there so I'll have a look and see if ours stock it.

I was going to pick up a Ancol quick release one from the pet shop on the way home, I used to buy Salem them but spent more time looking for it than he did wearing it. It was more of a fashion statement than anything else so I don't bother anymore.

My friend bought a one from the pound shop that was supposed to be quick realease, she came home to find it stuck in the cats mouth with him running around crazy doing back flips trying to get out of it.

McKneff

Is it possible that the previous owners just abandoned her.

And good for you.

If you cant afford the exams etc. have you contacted any animal charities who could help with the initial cost.

I bet she just cant wait to get curled up with her new 'mates'

lisajane8482

We've asked our neighbours and they have no idea where she lives. She apparently just turned up one day about 7 months ago. I thought she belonged to the previous tenants as she just wandered in when we had the doors open moving stuff in.

I have tried cats protection but to be honest they were useless so were the RSPCA. I am going to ask my friend who fosters cats if and how she gets help with the costs, first though I need to convince OH to agree on her living with us. He's not fussed on the idea of an outdoor cat since we have 2 indoor cats. His concern is that it will mean our cats will want to go out too, plus he's worried about what she "may have or bring in with her". I think (and correct me if I'm wrong) that as long as she is vaccinated, wormed and fleaed our kitties would be fine and that with a home she would stay in on a night cos she loves affection and would go out whilst we're at work.

The other option is to ask my friend to rehome her.... only thing is I think I'd miss her, i think tonight I'll talk things through with OH.

ETA: One thing I just thought of, when stroking her she had a lump on her back which when I looked at it looked similar to a watery scab (yellow in colour, IYKWIM) any ideas what it could be?

ETA (again): with an outdoor cat should she be treated for ticks too or does flea treatment cover them? At the moment I'm using Fiprospot spot on (same ingredients as frontline) for all the cats but have read fleas have become immune to it so was thinking of changing to Advantage when I run out