Worried about a neighbour's cat
Over the last couple of days my family and I have become a little concerned about a cat that lives a couple of doors away from us. She has frequently come to our house in the past in search of food (we have our own cat too) but we thought nothing of it, perhaps just that she was greedy.
Recently she seems to be out of her own house more and seems genuinely hungry when she appears at ours. Sometimes if we are in other rooms, we don't notice her come in and she's finished a whole bowl of our cat's food (he's really laid back and couldn't really care less). We have also noticed that she has some scabs on her spine and some slight bald patches on the back of her legs. On appearance she doesn't look underweight or unhealthy but when you get close to her or stroke her it's noticeable. Is this something to worry about or are we over-worrying about someone else's pet? We don't feel like we can approach her owner as we'd sound like we're accusing them of neglect! Especially as we've never met them and don't know the reasons as to why she seems shut out a lot (perhaps they work long hours etc)
Any ideas appreciated, thank you.
Recently she seems to be out of her own house more and seems genuinely hungry when she appears at ours. Sometimes if we are in other rooms, we don't notice her come in and she's finished a whole bowl of our cat's food (he's really laid back and couldn't really care less). We have also noticed that she has some scabs on her spine and some slight bald patches on the back of her legs. On appearance she doesn't look underweight or unhealthy but when you get close to her or stroke her it's noticeable. Is this something to worry about or are we over-worrying about someone else's pet? We don't feel like we can approach her owner as we'd sound like we're accusing them of neglect! Especially as we've never met them and don't know the reasons as to why she seems shut out a lot (perhaps they work long hours etc)
Any ideas appreciated, thank you.
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The poor pussy cat is obviously suffering from neglect and I would be explaining this to the owners or taking him or her to the vets myself.
When our cat got old she looked a right state for her last couple of years (she was 17 ish), especially as she was long haired, and was very thin (kidneys failing sadly). I shudder to imagine what people must have thought of us.
Perhaps, if you run into them you can just casually ask how the cat is getting on? What its name is, how old etc?
Yes, I'm not too worried about the fact she's out a lot as like you say, this could just be a trait of the cat. It's more the skin I'm worried about. She's at our house as I type this wanting food as well.
We're not sure of her age, though she doesn't look very old. She lost her tail from a car accident before we moved here so she's not exceptionally young either. As I said in my original post, she doesn't appear unwell either- definitely got an appetite.
We're going with molliepops suggestion but going to play ignorant that we don't know where she lives (as they don't know we know) and pretend we're just asking around locally if anyone knows whose cat it is.
I assure you my cat is very well looked after. He's a long haired cat and does look shabby sometimes. He is fed whenever he wants, he has Sheba and gourmet occasionally but mainly whiskas or felix. I love him very much but to some he probably does look down trodden, he's looked like that for years!
I definitely get peoples' points that cats can look shabby, which is why I'm feeling very cautious about approaching the neighbours. The skin on the back of her legs though does look quite sore, it's not that she just appears a bit scruffy. I've had cats before my current one too until old age who have looked a bit worse for wear
It's a difficult situation and if it were me, I would either:
Speak to the owner - but they may tell you to mind your own business.
Phone the RSPCA - but they may not bother coming out.
Encourage the cat into your house as much as possible and basically "adopt" it!
Good luck, I hope you manage to help the poor thing.
I would generally enquire about the cat. How old is it? Its name etc., how long have they had it. Maybe mention the scabs by stating your cat had them once and how you managed to treat him/her.
Their responses should give you some indication as to whether the cat is neglected or not. Sometimes people lead busy lives and do not always notice something has changed with their pet especially if it spends a lot of time outdoors.
The cat's skin does need treatment though. The little scabs sound like flea allergy (though that doesn't mean the cat has fleas), if it's left untreated it will lead to hair loss after a couple of weeks. If it is a flea allergy it's easy and not too expensive for your neighbour to get treated - my youngest cat (not the scruffy one) has injections every few months that cost £38 a time.
I wouldn't be making accusations. I would just enquire as to whether they know whose cat it is, as it spends a lot of time trying to eat at our house. Also, I said she comes round wanting food. We don't feed her unless she gets in without us noticing and helps herself to our cat's food. Not too sure you've read my previous posts all too accurately.
Cats do lok scruffy ESP when they get older and they will always go begging for food, particularly if they are not a house cat.
I don't think it's a matter of being gullible, I would have the same concerns if a neighbours cat was looking like that. I have 3 cats and although they all look healthy and well looked after, if there was ever a point when they didn't and someone knocked on my door to ask about one of them I would be happy to explain any illness or reason as to why they have started to look shabby. If people are out and work all day and their cats are in and out all the time they don't always notice when something is wrong. Whether thats right or wrong is a different matter but it does happen. It also happens that some people just don't give a damn, in which case someone else should step in and help if they can.
So, I think we are going to keep an eye on him (thought it was a her-oops), as hopefully they'll encourage him to stay in a bit more now. It his condition gets worse then we'll definitely go back round.
My cat has a skin problem, she is allergic to dust mites, mites in dry food and fleas. At the moment she has a bald patch around her tail and bottom, no matter what we do we can't stop her licking and on several occasions she has had bad scabs and sores. The vet has actually said that as it gets colder, wetter and the central heating goes on and windows don't get open as much mites love it and come back to life and her problems start up again. She looks a right scruff bag at the moment as she has started pulling her fur out on her side, I brush her and a few minutes later she looks a mess. Short of ripping out the carpet in the whole flat and turning the heating off there isn't much more we can do, she goes to the vet she gets her jabs, we put her cream on, she gets deflead once a month even though she never has fleas.
So if someone decided, because she had scabs and looked scruffy and was out and about, to come round and have a word with me about her because they thought I was neglecting her they would get the door shut in their face.
Much better to point something out that the owner may have missed than have the animal potentially suffer, surely?
That's the thing, I don't think they're neglecting him, I think they genuinely don't know he has them because he's out a lot. But because of reasons you've stated, I am wary of going round again. I feel like I should be doing something to help him though
Maybe he stays out because he doesn't like something in their house e.g. dog? You say he is OK in your house, so it must be something like that.
I think you've done all you can by cautiously alerting the owners to the situation. You can just keep an eye on the situation now - at least make sure his scabs aren't getting worse. The scabs might not be a disease - cats who are out a lot might be in a lot of fights.
The only other thing you could do is take the cat to your neighbours (after a while has passed since your last visit) and bullshit that he got locked in your shed (or something like that), that you are "returning him", and hope he is OK. Then say you noticed in passing the scabs. This time pick a time when the most likely-to-be-sympathetic adult is at home.
Thanks for your advice
They obviously do feed him, which I didn't dispute as he isn't underweight, but I have NO idea when he goes home! Their cars are gone when I leave in the morning, and I never see what time they return but it's late. He sleeps in a tree at the bottom of our garden (can't see him once he's in it, just see him climbing in bless him) and I'm pretty sure he's in there at night too. This might be totally his own choice, but I do wonder like you say if there's a reason he doesn't go home much!
Well at least someone is looking out for him, and he is getting fed. He's better off than feral cats (who have neither) for a start - look at it like that.