Cat Left Out in Snow

mouseymousey99

Similar thing going on here. My cats won't let the little chap in. My husband has made him a little shelter,he converted a roll top greenhouse and we have put in a heated cat bed (plugged in to an os socket). We have tried to weatherproof it as best as we can. The cat rattles the cat flap when he is hungry.
What a lot of tosh about stealing cats - take no notice, people who leave cats outside in this weather deserve to put out themselves.

stationaryace

don't feed someone else's cat :cool: it might have dietary requirements you know nothing about.

On the last vet visit we were advised to restrict our boy's food intake, as although he is a good weight he should not get any bigger. Now he does not look overweight, quite the opposite, and neither will he wear a collar for more than 5 minutes (we have 20 broken ones to testify to this) so does a great impersonation of a starving stray. I am sure he begs around the neighbours for food and I just hope they don't feed him as he is getting exactly what he needs at home, even if it isn't what he wants.

LittleMax

stationaryace wrote: »

don't feed someone else's cat :cool: it might have dietary requirements you know nothing about.

On the last vet visit we were advised to restrict our boy's food intake, as although he is a good weight he should not get any bigger. Now he does not look overweight, quite the opposite, and neither will he wear a collar for more than 5 minutes (we have 20 broken ones to testify to this) so does a great impersonation of a starving stray. I am sure he begs around the neighbours for food and I just hope they don't feed him as he is getting exactly what he needs at home, even if it isn't what he wants.

No, don't worry, we won't be feeding him, I was just concerned it was so cold on Sunday and he was soaking wet as he had been out all day in falling snow. I totally understand your frustrations with neighbours ... our own cat will eat and eat as though she doesn't know where her next meal is coming from. Our next door neighbour was feeding her all the time and even when we asked her to stop she didn't. Since we have moved house, her weight is coming back down nicely.

LittleMax

For all those talking about me "enticing" this cat away to come and be with us. I really don't know what you think we have done to tempt him. For 4 months we have hissed at him, shooed him, chased him off our property. On Sunday I felt so sorry for him (it snowed here all day) that when he turned up in our garden I couldn't shoo him away anymore, and yes I gave him some food, (and I did say in my original post I know I shouldn't). I asked for thoughts and advice, and on reflection have now decided to provide a shelter. All we will be doing is leaving out a cardboard box under our carport with some bedding in it. We will not be feeding this cat or interacting with it. If that constitutes "stealing" someone else's pet, then I am afraid I am guilty as charged.

Mrs_Z

I think you have done the right thing in the short term, don't worry.But please do have a word with the assumed owners. It might not be their cat at all or it might they might not want him. In which case, if the cat proves to be homeless, you can then decide on a follow up action and contact a re-homing organisation if necessary.

LittleMax

Yes, we will mention to the people we think own him if and when we see them, and gauge their reaction. We don't want this to be a long term thing, and we certainly don't want to end up adopting him ourselves. As I say, we have ignored it for 4 months, it's only whilst it's really cold that we feel we needed to do something.

Froglet

And good on you for doing what you have done.Too many people say"not my problem,it must belong to someone" whilst the poor stray cat or dog slowly starves or freezes to death"

themull1

flea72 wrote: »

I'm just pointing out that it isn't the ops cat, so why encourage it unless they plan on looking after the cat totally. Cats will go wherever they get food, so by feeding the cat they are encouraging it to stay

As the owner of a cat that is easily led by neighbours who think its ok to let my cat enter their house and feed it, with me spending hours roaming the streets trying to find her because she's failed to come home, fearing the worst, to find her tucked up in front of their fire. It's blimin annoying.

I'm sure the OP would be heartbroken, if a neighbour started enticing her own cat away, just because it sat outside their door, looking pitiful. Let's not forget this is someone else cat. The op has stated its not ill or underfed, so,why does she feel the need to step in?

Feed your cat more and let it sleep in front of the fire, and it won't go and look for it elsewhere!

juliebunny

Froglet wrote: »

And good on you for doing what you have done.Too many people say"not my problem,it must belong to someone" whilst the poor stray cat or dog slowly starves or freezes to death"

My thoughts exactly as I read through this thread. My neighbour tried to tell me that her kittens didn't want to come inside after she shoved them outside at 4 months old, just as winter was coming on. She had an old sofa in her garden that they used to sleep on, even when it was soaking wet, and they spent HOURS looking in her patio door. I offered to re-home them to a friend, but she refused. I had an old rabbit hutch which i lined with straw and polysterene and they both moved in as soon as they were big enough to get over the fence between our gardens. It makes me crazy when people say 'they want to be out, they will find somewhere to sleep'!! Why should they have to - if they are 'your' cats then it is YOUR responsibility to GIVE them somewhere.

I don't see my cats wandering off to other people's homes, they have everything they need here, why would they? My cats stay in at night, there are so many dangers around at night - PLUS it protects the local wildlife population.

LittleMax

Update

Well, I've had a paper collar on him since Friday, and it is still intact! I've had a call from another neighbour who has also been feeding him, but doesn't know where he is from. He has been using the box we put out every night, and for some of the time during the day as well. It's looking like he may be a stray ... I have called the local vets this morning and they have said I can bring him down any time and they will scan him, so plan is to try to take him tonight to see whether he has a microchip.