Next Door's Cat Again

tesuhoha

I posted about this last year I think. First of all let me just say that I am not a dog or cat owner or lover. However, last winter next door's cat kept coming into our house for food and warmth because he was seemingly neglected by his owner. My husband originally brought him into the house. This went on for a while with him sleeping here on cold nights until the day he defecated on the back mat. After that I put a stop to it.

I haven't seen him much all summer but now he has started hanging around outside and scooting in every time he gets a chance. I have concerns about him so I have bought him some cat food. However, it is already causing conflict.

These are my concerns. He is a very very old cat and in much poorer shape than he was last year. After eating he only bothers to wash his face and paws. His coat is matted and malting and he has bald patches. He is so painfully thin that he just seems to be a set of bones with fur covering him. There appears to be something wrong with his breathing, it is very very fast and shakes his whole body. Whether that is due to lack of food or something else I don't know. My husband thinks the owner doesn't feed him at all because she wants him to die and he gets by on scraps. He is so weak that it is an effort for him to jump on the sofa. I have therefore made the decision to feed him because I can't stand to see a starving creature.

Let me tell you about his owner. She is a single woman who owns the house next door. She is a nurse. This is a good neighbourhood. The woman has made it plain that she doesn't like me although she flirts with my husband when it suits her. I do not like her either. She has a nasty little yappy dog which never stops barking. Since she got the dog the cat has been neglected. My daughter's bedroom is at the back and she says the cat miaows in the back garden for hours but is never let in.

Just recently she seems to have stopped living in the house. She goes away for days on end and then might come back for an evening. From what I can gather she either has gone to live with her daughter who has recently become single again (we have overheard rows with her man) or she has moved in with her boyfriend. We see his van parked outside sometimes. I don't think the cat is fed for days on end if at all. The house is all shut up and locked front and back and there is nowhere that the cat can get in.

The other night the cat ran in and I was at the fridge. He put his claw in my leg he was that desperate for food. I gave him two slices of old ham and he wolfed it down. That was all I had and I noticed when he got to the last bit there was mould on it. I also gave him two bowls of milk. He was still looking for something to eat. The following night he came in with my husband and he gave him some sardines in tomato sauce. He ate most of the tin and drank lots of milk.

Yesterday the delivery came from Tesco with the Whiskas senior dried food I had ordered him. He came in again and struggled to eat it, whether he didn't like it or couldn't eat it I don't know but when I added some of the fish to it he just ate the fish. So I am going to buy some wet cat food. This is the limit of what I can bear. I am very ocd about all this and the house feels contaminated. I keep cleaning up but I can still smell cat.

Anyway, on previous nights he had not stayed but last night he came into the living room with us. He jumped onto my lap and slept there for about an hour but his breathing kept waking him up and he seemed agitated. I like him but I could feel my throat closing up. Eventually, he laid on the carpet but after a short while he started heaving. My husband put him out the back door but left it open. This is when the disagreement started. I don't mind giving food, warmth and affection but I can't do poo and sick. I can't do litter trays. Whenever we have had an animal previously and it has pooed, wee-ed or thrown up my husband will not clean it up; I have to and it makes me feel sick. Yet he is the one who wants the cat to stay in the house. This morning we were both sneezing.

Anyway, that's the picture. The weather is getting colder but I can't see that the cat can stay here because he has dodgy bowels and there is no way he could get out of our house in the middle of the night. Yet if I phoned the RSPCA the cat is so old I think they would put him down. I am wary of the neighbour and would not want to approach her. I'll probably get a load of flak here but if there are any useful suggestions it would be good. I don't have a warm outer building either. Before you have a go at me I am not an animal lover but I don't want to see the poor thing suffer. Do you think I should report the owner for neglect or something?

Money_maker

Older cats can struggle with dry food due to teeth/gum problems. Milk is not good for cats, just offer water or proper cat milk.

Why does your throat close up? Sounds like you and your OH are going down with a COLD.

Well done on looking after the little chap, you may be all he has.

tesuhoha

Money_maker wrote: »

Older cats can struggle with dry food due to teeth/gum problems. Milk is not good for cats, just offer water or proper cat milk.

Why does your throat close up? Sounds like you and your OH are going down with a COLD.

Well done on looking after the little chap, you may be all he has.

I am not terribly allergic but I have a bit of an allergy to animals. I haven't had a cold in ten years. My husband has asthma. That's why I am doing what I can because maybe we are all he has. I've tried giving him water but he won't touch it. Gave milk because it was all I had at the time and cat was desperate.

Iain_L

From what you describe yes you should report it. This can be done confidentially to the RSPCA. The cat should not be suffering by being neglected. I am an animal lover, and can get quite emotive about anything to do with domestic animals that have learnt to rely on humans, but I would not condemn you for not wanting to deal with litter trays etc. By choice you don't have animals; you shouldn't have to deal with someone else's because they can't be bothered.

Thank you for thinking about this cat. One think I would ask is that you don't give him milk to drink, but stick to water.

tesuhoha

Iain_L wrote: »

From what you describe yes you should report it. This can be done confidentially to the RSPCA. The cat should not be suffering by being neglected. I am an animal lover, and can get quite emotive about anything to do with domestic animals that have learnt to rely on humans, but I would not condemn you for not wanting to deal with litter trays etc. By choice you don't have animals; you shouldn't have to deal with someone else's because they can't be bothered.

Thank you for thinking about this cat. One think I would ask is that you don't give him milk to drink, but stick to water.

Okay, I'll get some proper cat food today.

Tiglath

I would go via the RSPCA as well - sounds like he might have an overactive thyroid (older cats are prone to that) which might explain the skinniness, hunger, bowel problems, breathing problems etc.

tesuhoha

Tiglath wrote: »

I would go via the RSPCA as well - sounds like he might have an overactive thyroid (older cats are prone to that) which might explain the skinniness, hunger, bowel problems, breathing problems etc.

Maybe. But I do know he isn't being fed regularly, if at all. I am here all day and no-one comes to the house for days on end. The cat does seem to be an outside cat but he needs some care. if it was my pet I would be off to the vets with him.

He also has the unloved look. Coat needs brushing, He likes being petted. If you stop stroking him he reaches his paw out to your hand.

starrybee

He also has the unloved look. Coat needs brushing, He likes being petted. If you stop stroking him he reaches his paw out to your hand.

Oh bless him

I don't think you have much choice, he can't stay where he is and if you're unable to take him in properly you really need to pass it over to the RSPCA.

chris_n_tj

I know you dont see yourself as a Cat/Dog lover but I think you are doing yourself down a bit. Only some one with a kind heart would go out of there way to help a poor kitty in need.
God Bless you and your Hubby, this little kitty knows you wil help him thats why he has come to you. xxxx

I would ring the local Vet and ask for their advice, and is there any way at all you could sort of keep on doing what you are doing?

Whatever happens I want to say thankyou on behalf of kitty. xx

Jamie1989

For someone who isn't an animal lover you are doing a fantastic job! You've shown such kindness and love towards an animal who clearly needs help

I'd start by reiterating some of the other comments: human foods such as ham, fish, even milk are bad for cats. White fish or raw but fresh chicken are best if you don't have any cat food. Dry cat food such as Purina is best - not GoCat or any other cheaper lines, which are essentially McDonalds for cats! A cat in such poor condition needs the very best food.

The RSPCA will do the best thing for this cat - even if these means putting him down. But if you really don't want this to happen, why not try a local animal sanctuary? Whereabouts are you based? A colleague of mine runs such a sanctuary and will take in any animal in need. We're in the Cambridge area - but if you Google a local sanctuary, you might find a local alternative.

Iain_L

Something to remember here is that the cat has an owner, albeit one who would appear to be neglecting it. If you want to do anything yourself such as get it to an animal sanctuary you will have to be prepared to ignore the fact that you know who owns it when you are asked the question.

The RSPCA have the legal authority to intervene in neglect cases; we as individuals don't (although many times I have wanted to). Yes the RSPCA may decide that the best thing for the cat is to put it to sleep, but sadly there are times when it is true. Most pet owners have had to make that heartbreaking decision sometime.

Thank you again for caring about him.