Need advise re neglected cat

SoftApple

Hi.
Me and my partner moved into our new home about 3 months ago. What we think is the neighbours cat started coming around straight away looking for cuddles whenever we where in the garden but apart from a few missing teeth and a runny eye he seemed well fed and nice coat. But it seems like he is outdoors all the time, he has gone really skinny and his coat is becoming patchy on his sides and back leg (no wounds, a bit of scab but no sign of flees but possibly some earmites). I have created a sleeping area in our shed so he doesn't have to be in the rain and that provides some warmth.

I'm looking for advise as both me and my partner have no idea what to do. We have never meet or seen the neighbour (she only leaves the house at night) so can't be sure the cat is even hers, he just comes from her garden and used to cry outside her back door. She also has a big white dog that only seems to be let out in the garden at night. She avoids people according to our other neighbour so talking to her is going to very difficult.

The cat needs the vet but I can't afford to take him even if I would be happy for him to live with us as long as he gets along with our other cats. I don't want to overstep with someone else's pet but feel for this poor cat and want to do what I can to help him.

Any advise would be much appreciated!

Many thanks!

Person_one

Knock on the door and speak to your neighbour.

Lilyjade

You could pop a paper collar on him with your telephone number, hopefully whoever he belongs to will then call you. If you get no response and see him with the collar on still you will know he is a stray.

TBagpuss

You could try speaking to your neighbour, explain that you've been seeing quite a lot of the cat, and that his health has gone downhill recently and you wondered whether he belonged to her, and whether he is OK.

If you are not comfortable doing that, you could, I suppose, drop a note through her letterbox saying the same thing

You could try contacting the local cat rescue to ask them for advice or suggestions. Do you think that your neighbour may be struggling financially and unable to afford to take the cat to the vet? If so, you could consider giving her (either anonymously or not) information about any local PDSA or Blue Cross clinics which might offer low-cost treatment.

At a pinch, you could call the RSPCA.

Rosemary7391

Might the cat belong to the folks who previously lived in your place?

Rambosmum

Take it to the vet to see if it's chipped. They'll also check it over for free too, just call them first and tell them you've found a stray. It may be someones much loved and missed pet.

If you say you can't afford to take it to the vets, then realistically you can't afford to keep it long term.