Post Code TW19 - cat living around a bus stop

Frugalista

gettingready wrote: »

Vet appointment booked for Monday now. Friend will take the cat to the vet - with or without owner's permission.

calicocat wrote: »

No-one has stolen or kidnapped anything as yet.

No, but gettingready has made their intentions quite clear.

Some years ago we had a dog (yes, I know, not a cat) with a malapsorbtion (sp?) problem. He was only 5 but looked years older. At his worst his hip, spine and rib bones were all sticking out.

He was constantly starving and would nearly take your hand off if he thought there was any food. Thing was if you tried to give him extra food it would go straight through him making him sicker and thinner than ever. He was on medication and veterinary diets for years. We were at the vets every week and often commented that we were worried people would think he was a victim of severe neglect.

Thank god he was never snatched by a couple of gung-ho do-gooders like gettingready and her sidekick as they would have killed him within a week :eek:

It could well be that this cat is neglected and needs some intervention BUT equally there may be a perfectly reasonable explanation for his condition. However, if they approach this owner with the "holier than thou attitude" as has been shown on here she would be perfectly within her rights to tell them to "**** off"

gettingready

Oh... really - anyone normal having an animal that sick and on medication would NOT let them stay out 24/7. This cat is out all day/night, by himself, under van, behind bricks, day and night. Why are you comparing to your dog? Different situation.

Calling concern about a cat holier than thou attitude - go and top up your medication dear...

So spare me your attack at me and/or my friend.

KiKi

Frugalista wrote: »

He was constantly starving and would nearly take your hand off if he thought there was any food. Thing was if you tried to give him extra food it would go straight through him making him sicker and thinner than ever. He was on medication and veterinary diets for years. We were at the vets every week and often commented that we were worried people would think he was a victim of severe neglect.

Thank god he was never snatched by a couple of gung-ho do-gooders like gettingready and her sidekick as they would have killed him within a week :eek:

And if someone had approached you about your dog, concerned for it, you would have explained the illness. Which I'm sure will happen in this case, if indeed the cat is ill. Hence GR's friend is speaking to the owner.

Thankfully GR and her friend are not snatching any animals. They're talking to its owner and making sure it gets suitable vet treatment. If the owner cares, and the vet says the cat's okay, there will be no reason to take any more action.

Frugalista

gettingready wrote: »

Oh... really - anyone normal having an animal that sick and on medication would NOT let them stay out 24/7. This cat is out all day/night, by himself, under van, behind bricks, day and night. Why are you comparing to your dog? Different situation.

Calling concern about a cat holier than thou attitude - go and top up your medication dear...

So spare me your attack at me and/or my friend.

gettingready - why do you always resort to insults when anyone questions you? You do it on almost every thread. I am not your "dear" and neither am I on any medication, so don't be so hostile.

You have been extremely disparaging about this cat's owner throughout this thread without knowing any facts. You don't know the cat is out 24/7 because neither you nor your friend are there 24/7 to see that - you have just assumed that this is so.

I used my dog as an example because, to anyone not knowing the facts behind his condition, he looked tired, emaciated and starved and it would have been easy to jump to the wrong conclusion.

You feel that I have "attacked" your friend because I questioned the level of care/ exercise that her dogs may or may not be getting - but isn't this exactly what you and your friend are doing to this cat owner?? Don't dish it out if you cannot take it back.

I sincerely hope you can show a little more restraint and manners if you speak to the owner.

Frugalista

KiKi wrote: »

And if someone had approached you about your dog, concerned for it, you would have explained the illness. Which I'm sure will happen in this case, if indeed the cat is ill. Hence GR's friend is speaking to the owner.

Thankfully GR and her friend are not snatching any animals. They're talking to its owner and making sure it gets suitable vet treatment. If the owner cares, and the vet says the cat's okay, there will be no reason to take any more action.

The thing is, this owner is not obliged to give them any explanation about anything. Who do they think they are? If they have genuine concerns they should approach the RSPCA or other cat rescues who can intervene.

gettingready has already posted that the vets appointment has been made and they will be taking the cat regardless of what the owner says. It's that attitude that is so wrong. No-one would condem them for caring about the animals welfare but gettingready really needs to leave it to someone better able to deal with the owner.

meritaten

Frugalista - it is quite clear you haven't READ the whole thread! since the beginning gettingready and her friend have contacted various charities who are either already inundated or simply wont come out and see for themselves (RSPCA). The friend has also spoken to someone who claims to be the owner - they are trying to ascertain if this is indeed the case. if not, then they will 'rescue' a stray. if it does belong to this lady they are offering to take it to a vets for treatment if need be and rehoming if she no longer wants it.

I cannot see anything wrong with this approach!

calicocat

Frugalista wrote: »

No, but gettingready has made their intentions quite clear.

Some years ago we had a dog (yes, I know, not a cat) with a malapsorbtion (sp?) problem. He was only 5 but looked years older. At his worst his hip, spine and rib bones were all sticking out.

He was constantly starving and would nearly take your hand off if he thought there was any food. Thing was if you tried to give him extra food it would go straight through him making him sicker and thinner than ever. He was on medication and veterinary diets for years. We were at the vets every week and often commented that we were worried people would think he was a victim of severe neglect.

Thank god he was never snatched by a couple of gung-ho do-gooders like gettingready and her sidekick as they would have killed him within a week :eek:

It could well be that this cat is neglected and needs some intervention BUT equally there may be a perfectly reasonable explanation for his condition. However, if they approach this owner with the "holier than thou attitude" as has been shown on here she would be perfectly within her rights to tell them to "**** off"

I get what you are saying, but hopefully tonight if the cat IS being cared for we shall know soon and why it is in this state will be explained....equally if it isn't, plan b is in place.

I would doubt after the crappy time GR friend has been through and being separated from her own animals that she would turn up with a holier than thou attitude.


IF the old cat is being shoved outside 24/7 when it doesn't want to be though that isn't good and should be addressed, it looks too old and it is too cold this time of year....and in the pictures doesn't look well...it could be simple old age....but then it might not be.

Hopefully in a couple of hours there will be a result of some sort.

KiKi

Frugalista wrote: »

The thing is, this owner is not obliged to give them any explanation about anything. Who do they think they are? If they have genuine concerns they should approach the RSPCA or other cat rescues who can intervene.

gettingready has already posted that the vets appointment has been made and they will be taking the cat regardless of what the owner says. It's that attitude that is so wrong. No-one would condem them for caring about the animals welfare but gettingready really needs to leave it to someone better able to deal with the owner.

The problem is that many charities are so overstretched they won't get involved - and GR and friend have already tried this route. If we all left caring to someone better, then unfortunately there would be a lot of neglected animals. I've been in the same situation where the RSPCA and Blue Cross wouldn't get involved. Then I've spoken to the owners and rehomed the cats myself, and paid for the vets' fees.

I think they're kind people who are doing the right thing by talking to the owner. You are right, the owner doesn't have to tell them anything, but until they ask, they won't know. And they owner may not want them, and may be happy for the cat to be rehomed.

I appreciate you don't like the approach; however, using words like 'snatching' and 'gung-ho' and 'who do they think they are' makes it into something it isn't. At the moment, it's nothing more than asking a question, and checking the cat's not ill. That's it.

Frugalista

gettingready wrote: »

Cat Protection - tried calling but no luck..

gettingready wrote: »

RSPCA not interested in investigating the welfare of this cat.

meritaten wrote: »

Frugalista - it is quite clear you haven't READ the whole thread! since the beginning gettingready and her friend have contacted various charities who are either already inundated or simply wont come out and see for themselves (RSPCA). The friend has also spoken to someone who claims to be the owner - they are trying to ascertain if this is indeed the case. if not, then they will 'rescue' a stray. if it does belong to this lady they are offering to take it to a vets for treatment if need be and rehoming if she no longer wants it.

I cannot see anything wrong with this approach!

I can assure you I have READ this thread a number of times and there are only two mentions of contacting charities despite a number of posters suggesting alternatives. Have they actually contacted any of them?

They are intent on stealing this cat regardless. I also read your post where you spoke of stealing a cat yourself so can see why you would not see anything wrong with this.

I, however, cannot condone theft like this - stealing is stealing however you want to dress it up.

KiKi

Frugalista wrote: »

They are intent on stealing this cat regardless.

I disagree - I think they want to find out the outcome first with this woman. If she wanted to just take it, she could have.

Thing is, if she were to say "yes, it's my cat, and I don't care about it - it can eat the scraps outside and I won't be letting it in no matter how cold it gets" then I am of the opinion that 'stealing' in that case would be the right thing to do.

I think it's far worse to leave a cat in a bad way with an owner who openly admits she doesn't care for it, than to steal.

But - hopefully - there's a good explanation and the cat is, in fact, very happy. I guess we'll have to wait and see!

KiKi