I think A Cat Is Being Abused

bluelass

A lovely black cat across the road from me is looking thin and this week I noticed he had been given a lion cut.
He was always a friendly happy soul and loved to sit on my fence and when I went to him he nudged into me and rubbed my head.
Now he is a shadow of himself and looks scared and unhappy.
He wont even touch any food I put out for him.
Today I noticed a burn on his body and it looks like a cigarette burn.
What should I do? I hate animal cruelty and support the ALF.

balletshoes

sigh - in case this is not a wind-up, phone the RSPCA.

Person_one

bluelass wrote: »

What should I do? I hate animal cruelty and support the ALF.

Of course you do, I'd expect nothing less.

Call the RSPCA or 101.

Fosterdog

As above call the RSPCA although the fact he has a "lion" cut would suggest that he has been for a groom or possibly even the vets already and the cut may be for medical reasons (or if a very long haired and black cat to keep him cool in the hot weather we have had) what you have seen as burns could have been done by someone else if he is a friendly cat, some sick people would take advantage of the friendliness. It could also be a fungal infection, it can look very similar to cigarette burns.

The RSPCA will speak to the owners and get all the facts and decide whether to take it further or not.

heatherw_01

Please call the RSPCA asap, they can investigate.

G3.

bluelass wrote: »

A lovely black cat across the road from me is looking thin and this week I noticed he had been given a lion cut.
He was always a friendly happy soul and loved to sit on my fence and when I went to him he nudged into me and rubbed my head.
Now he is a shadow of himself and looks scared and unhappy.
He wont even touch any food I put out for him.
Today I noticed a burn on his body and it looks like a cigarette burn.
What should I do? I hate animal cruelty and support the ALF.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

Get onto the animal rights people on twitter. Things like this deserve to be exposed.

GwylimT

Cats should look thin, so unless his ribs are sticking out a lot he isn't thin, any shaved cat will have visible ribs if not overweight, the exception are hairless varieties as they rely on fat more for insulation.

Cats tend to be unhappy after a groom as it prevents them grooming themselves properly.

A lion cut is commonly used when treating ring worm in cats, the ringworm often causes red, sore and often weepy circles on the cats skin. Ringworm treatment isn't pleasant, if normally involves daily baths.

Don't feed the cat, adding digestive upset to the mix is very unhelpful.

HappyMJ

bluelass wrote: »

A lovely black cat across the road from me is looking thin and this week I noticed he had been given a lion cut.
He was always a friendly happy soul and loved to sit on my fence and when I went to him he nudged into me and rubbed my head.
Now he is a shadow of himself and looks scared and unhappy.
He wont even touch any food I put out for him.
Today I noticed a burn on his body and it looks like a cigarette burn.
What should I do? I hate animal cruelty and support the ALF.

Why are you feeding a neighbours cat?

I've had some right arguments with neighbours for doing that making my cat sick.

I had to confine my cat indoors in the end.

Don't feed someone else's cat...no matter what.

Caroline_a

Of course if it's ringworm it's very contagious, so you'd better get yourself checked out as it passes easily from cats to humans.

NewShadow

HappyMJ wrote: »

Why are you feeding a neighbours cat?

I've had some right arguments with neighbours for doing that making my cat sick.

I had to confine my cat indoors in the end.

Don't feed someone else's cat...no matter what.

MJ - Would it be okay if I rephrased: "Don't feed a cat unless you're

A - certain it's a stray/feral and doing so to make it easier to trap
or
B - sure who the owner is and have checked it's okay/the cat doesn't have dietary requirements you don't know about.

Froglet

So what did they say about the problems you have noticed? have they been to a vets?


Shame you can't take the cat now,and although you want to care for it, it seems a bit steep that you are having to pay for it.If it needs a vet they should be lucky you are stepping in,never mind paying them!


Good on you for caring.Let us know how it goes.