CALLING ALL CAT LOVERS - stray cat in our garden

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Permalink Reply by Bethany Burrow Atherton on February 24, 2013 at 23:23

Hi there - have you tried looking at animalsearch.co.uk to see if he's been reported missing by anyone?  Also have a look on the lost and found pages on catchat.org.  The best possible thing that could be done is to see if he's microchipped (any vet or shelter will check for you), but that of course entails catching him, which sounds like it's tricky!

A word of caution about the RSPCA.  This cat, being an unneutered male who is apparently stray, is at greater risk of being FIV+ (mostly transmitted by toms biting each other while fighting - don't get worried about your cats, the risk is still pretty small).  While the RSPCA undoubtedly do a lot of very good work in protecting animals, when we got our cat three and a half years ago (from Battersea, not the RSPCA), the RSPCA's policy was to put cats with FIV to sleep (IMHO completely unnecessarily).  It may be that they've changed their policies or that there is more variation between branches than we were led to believe at the time, but if our little fella had gone there instead of Battersea, let's just say we wouldn't have him now.

In terms of catching him, I would try ringing up one or two shelters, like North London Cats Protection or Celia Hammond and see what they advise.

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Permalink Reply by Anette on February 25, 2013 at 9:13

Very true about the RSPCA. Be careful. Try calling Animal Aid on 07533 268 649. This is for someone local, and they will be bake to help. They will also have a scanner, so can tell you very quickly if the cat is microchipped or not. They would also be able to lend you a trap if need be. Don't worry, the traps are fine, not cruel in any way.

A few "found" posters around the area might be good too.

Hope you can sort this out, and good on you you for caring enough to do something!

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Permalink Reply by tulips on February 25, 2013 at 10:10

I've been in this situation myself and this is what I do. I catch the cat. This can take some time. Gradually you can build up trust by feeding it, or if the cat is entering your house through the catflap, you could stop him leaving or use a cat trap from one of the charities. Then I take the cat to my vet and get him scanned for a microchip. If no chip, I get him neutered and tested for FIV. I put posters up locally to see if anyone claims him and try animal search. I bring the cat home and gradually introduce him to my cats. If you have male cats yourself, it's harder to introduce another male, but it can be done. I have 3 male and 3 female cats who have all been rescued individually in the last 15 years and are now one household. Cats can be aggressive because they are hungry, not well and not neutered, so once that is dealt with things improve considerably. You're right, he just needs a chance in life. I wouldn't recommend the RSPCA. There is www.scratchingpost.co.uk, www.caring-for-animals.org. If no owner is found and if I can't give the cat a home, I take it to Foal Farm www.foalfarm.org.uk. Well done for caring and looking out for him.

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Permalink Reply by KatyT on February 26, 2013 at 11:08

Hi I would definitely try Animalsearch.co.uk and http://www.nationalpetregister.org to see if anyone has reported it - you can post him up there with a photo too.

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Permalink Reply by Lucy Fielding on February 26, 2013 at 15:07

The Central and North Eastern Branch of the RSPCA helped me to trap and neuter a tom cat in my garden who I subsequently adopted. However, please be aware that it was their policy then to test for Feline Aids and automatically euthanise if positive. I wasn't told this at the time and thankfully my cat was negative and eventually returned after an anxious few days trying to locate him within their system. They took him to a vet in Hertfordshire for some reason instead of my local vet which is what we'd agreed on. I paid for the operation and microchip.

If you call the RSPCA you need to be very very clear about what you want to happen or not happen and make sure you get a personal telephone number of anyone who comes round to trap the cat so you can follow up. The RSPCA did say to me that I was his best chance because not many people would take on an older stray cat who was very unsocialised. He is a real cuddle bunny now though!

I'm not blaming the RSPCA in anyway - if people got their cats neutered then shelters wouldn't be over-run with unwanted cats. 

I also called Animal Aid who were brilliant and arrived within a couple of hours to trap and rescue a very poorly cat suffering from cat flu. He tested positive but I don't know whether he survived because he was very ill. But they did help.

If the cat is very hungry then feeding him outside on a regular basis may well stop him trying to come in and steal your cats food.  Could you maybe set up a temporary home for him - a cardboard box in a sheltered position or covered in bin liners and filled with straw would help.

Also,what about calling Cats Protection? They will lend you a cage to trap him.

http://www.cats.org.uk/find-us

All the best,

Poor wee cat and good for you for helping.

Lucy

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Permalink Reply by Bethany Burrow Atherton on February 26, 2013 at 16:24

It's exactly that kind of policy and wording that makes my blood boil (not yours, Lucy, the RSPCA's) - they say they are testing for "Feline Aids" when they are in fact testing for FIV - it's the "same difference" as between HIV and AIDS in humans.  Many cats with FIV outlive the virus' progression to Feline AIDS because it is such a slow burner - in fact I've seen some statistics which suggest that cats with FIV live on average for longer than non-FIV+ cats because most owners keep them indoors, meaning they don't get run over by cars, get beaten up by other cats or pick up nasty bugs.

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Permalink Reply by Lucy Fielding on February 26, 2013 at 19:05

Hi Bethany,  Have to say that hands up that was my wording - sorry - I should have said FIV. The policy sucks doesn't it especially as you say there is no real medical reason. I guess it could be that these cats could be more difficult to re-home and the RSPCA just don't have the room. It's so sad. When we adopted our kitten from the RSPCA the officer who was looking after the litter of kittens had so many stray animals in her home that the only room left was a downstairs toilet. She literally had nowhere else to put them. 

I think Celia Hammond is pioneering when it comes to looking after cats with FIV and the message is spreading that they can be re-homed safely but people are very wary still I think.

Lucy 

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Permalink Reply by Tom Bradford on February 26, 2013 at 18:53

Could you post a picture of him? We lost a Black young male roughly 6 months ago. He was chipped.

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Permalink Reply by arsenal delight on February 26, 2013 at 20:31

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Permalink Reply by arsenal delight on February 26, 2013 at 20:45

Thank you to everyone for your great advise.

1. I have looked on Animal Search over the last couple of days but no match.

2. Thankfully the RSPCA still have not contacted me so I will follow up the suggestions that you have all made.

3.Do owners microchip their cats without neutering them?

4. Tom, I have attached a picture (the nearest I could get to him without him running off) but does not show his markings too clearly. I would love it to be your cat.

5.Thank you Lucy, that was my idea to feed him outside but it never seems enough food and he is so strong that he has now busted the locks on the cat flap by head butting it!! We have to keep a bin in front of it which is not much fun for my 3 boys. He also likes to spray outside the door (& occasionally inside when he has managed to get in), again not much fun for anyone!!

Thanks again

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Permalink Reply by Bethany Burrow Atherton on February 26, 2013 at 21:13

In answer to your question 3, if they get the cat as an adult, probably not, but if they got it as a kitten, they'd chip it straight away, but wouldn't be able to have it neutered until it was about 5 months - so, if it goes missing in the interim, it ends up chipped but not neutered - still worth checking.

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