Post Code TW19 - cat living around a bus stop

Person_one

Froglet wrote: »

So many seem to think cats are free spirits and can look after themselves.Makes me so angry.

I find it far stranger that apparently some people think cats are public property and that they can just take them and do what they want with them, even bragging about stealing them!

If you think an animal is mistreated, that's what the RSPCA are for. People can't just start appointing themselves as animal police, answerable to nobody.

calicocat

Old cats can look pretty shocking , and don't groom themselves very well...just as humans can neglect personal hygiene.

Mine will look terrible as she won't let me do it for her I will doubt, this cat could have an aversion to being messed about with.

Old cats do go horribly thin too. It's really hard to tell, yes it does look like it could do with a dose of TLC, does the cat let her stroke it or pick it up? Just for an indication of how tolerant it is to human intervention.

I agree that personally I wouldn't want a cat that old out at night, but as someone posted the cat may be used to being out all the time and refuse to go in.

If your friend can, I think to keep a daily eye on him/her is best for a couple of days. Then maybe go and ask the owner what the score is somehow, which probably isn't going to gain her a new friend (not that i'm saying she should care), but would give an indication as to the situation and attitude of the owner.

The puss does look pretty old from what you can see on the photos and i'm on a mobile sso difficult to see properly to be honest. Last pic the puss doesn't look in great shape.

meritaten

it is difficult to tell if its old or sick, or both! that's why I said it needs vet attention!

calicocat

Yes, looking more closely at different positions of the cat it does look very thin, and where it doesn't you can see it's the matting making it look tubbier on certain angles.

The whole stance on the last shot the cat doesn't look well or comfortable.

gettingready

@Person One - who is "bragging about stealing a cat"? Not me, I am genuinely worried about the cat my friend came across.

See on one photo how close to the read the cat "camps". See on another the van he/she was under - possibly to get warm?

Both above an accident waiting to happen.

Cat is friendly, purrs when my friend stroke him/her, did not run away. In the evening she could not see him/her but called and cat came out from under that van.

If it was any closer - I would knock on the owner's door myself and ask if she needs help getting the cat to the vet? She is not old (owner) but perhaps she does need basket/ride/money to get the cat to the vets - whatever, I would help.

Or perhaps she has allergy/new baby at home/whatever and does not want the cat indoors?

I do not know and have no way of checking BUT the cat's fur is so matted it needs shaving off, my friend said.

I know some cats do not groom themselves but the owner can step in and help them - if they care about their well being.

I was going to order flea and worming treatment for the cat from Animed but then my friend called me back and said she spoke to the owner so I did not - I do not want to overmedicate someone's cat in case the cat was treated recently. Does not look like it but again - I do not know.

All I know is that cat is skinny (friend said she could feel every bone on the cat), terribly matted, dirty and acts hungry.

Scratching head...

Person_one

If you are genuinely concerned, ring the RSPCA. You can't just play at 'rescuing' other people's animals based on assumptions and suspicions.

How would you feel if somebody decided it was wrong for you to have so many animals in a flat and started spiriting them away believing themselves to be some sort of hero for it?

(It was meritaten who seemed to be bragging about stealing a cat, however, its not just this thread that I was referring to, I've seen it a few times on this board and it always bothers me.)

gettingready

Being concerned is not "playing on rescuing" or believing to be a hero - sorry, forgot you look for a fight on every thread... sigh....

None of my animals look neglected in any shape or form, this cat does.

Have you actually bothered to read my last post?

I mentioned "homing" this cat in my first post, that was BEFORE my friend met the woman who said it is her cat.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

Person_one

It just seems like you're ignoring all the posts telling you that its not that uncommon for elderly animals to be skinny and a bit unkempt. I don't get why you're so determined that this cat needs your help. Its miles away and it belongs to somebody else!

Maybe one day one of your animals might look neglected, despite not actually being neglected, and you might realise why I'm a bit annoyed by this thread having been in that situation myself.

I'll ask again though, why not ring the RSPCA if your concern is genuine and you believe it to be well founded?

gettingready

And YOU are ignoring all the posts of people saying the cat looks really unwell.

My friend will call RSPCA tommorow when she takes note of the door number of the owner.

Does not stop ME worrying about the cat, does it?

Forum is for discussing things and that is what I am doing.

Now excuse me but have not slept since 2 am yesterday, been at work and going to work in the morning so as much as I would love to keep on exchanging pleasantries with you - I have to take the dog out and get some sleep myself.

Good night.

Froglet

Getting ready(and your friend),thank you,from me and on behalf of everyone on here who cares about an animal's welfare.

Whether it is one lonely,skinny cat,or the millions who die for the meat trade,experiments behind closed doors or any other form of animal abuse,the feelings of helplessness and sadness at their suffering are felt every day by those who truly care.

If we can,collectively,by our suggestions help this poor cat,then it is one less in this often cruel world.

Please keep us informed.I hope the RSPCA prove to those who doubt their worth,that they do care also.