This morning I woke up to find a dead cat in my garden.

He'd been visiting us for a few months now, he'd come every night and sleep on our swing underneath the gazebo. We weren't sure whether or not he was someone's pet, he looked fairly well looked after and he'd only appear on a night and we assumed he'd been turfed out for the night and came to sleep in our garden because it was protected from the elements.

Saw him on the swing this morning and thought he was asleep, I then went out to change the litter tray and he didn't move which was unusual because he usually rans away when we get near him, anyhow, I stroked him but he was dead.

Feeling terribly guilty now for not doing more to help him. Couldn't have really had him in the house because we've got 2 cats already and like I said, we weren't sure if he had a home to go to already. But I guess we could have made him a better shelter, or contacted a cat rescue or something like that. I just feel awful.

how sad is that.
don`t torture yourself, there`s nothing to indicate that the cat wasn`t properly looked after.

Don't beat yourself up over this, my guess is that he was ill for awhile and knew it. Cats tend to know when they're on the way out, and will often take to going to a new place, away from home, and acclimating to it so that when the time comes, they can die in peace away from their 'family'. I think this one simply chose your garden in which to go, because he liked it.

Aww that's really sad. We were in a similar position last year only the cat we found in our garden wasn't known to us and had clearly been attacked as there was a lot of blood.

We called the RSPCA and they sent out somebody to check for a chip in the cat to try and let the owner know (unfortunately there was no chip). They also very kindly removed the body.

Like others have said when a cat is ill they do go away from there home to die. I doubt that you could have done a thing either. You do care or you wouldnt have posted it on here. Not many people do nowadays. He must have felt secure with you as well.
RIP little one run free at the bridge now.

thanks for the replies, I know there was very little I could do but it's just terribly sad. We're just trying to work out what to do with him, I guess we should call the RSPCA but not sure if they will come out.

the local vet might know who he belongs to.

Ahh that is so sad..

May be an idea to place a few posters in your neighbourhood, somebody might be missing puss.

i found a dead cat at the side of the road when i was riding my bike back from college last year (about 60 yards down the road from the entrance to a school, no less)

rather than leave it there i knocked on a door to get a carrier bag and rode down to the local vets with him
they checked it for a chip and kept the body, not sure if he had one though, but at least he wasn't left there to be mushed into the road or thrown in a bin down the street, as the woman i got the bag form suggested

if you take it down to the vets though, just explain that you've found him how you have and they'll check for a chip for you
and probably dispose of the body for you

i wouldn;t bother with the RSPCA, they're probably all out shooting another advert begging for money

Aah hopefully the owners can be found through a chip and they can bury it properly.

Definately get the cat checked out for an ID chip OP.

Knowing that your cat has died is a far better feeling than not knowing at all and hoping that one day they will come back.

That would be my advice, too-notices on lamp posts are a good idea, I think.

As we all know that have cats and they love going outdoors, somebody knows that little pusscat and is probably missing the babe...Cats wander as we all know and they go nosing anywhere......perhaps your grass is better than their grass......Cats love to eat grass and will look for *that special bit of grass*......anybody that has a cat knows that not all grass is eatable..... Saying that I would imagine that puss lived not too far from where you live so as I mentioned before just put a couple of posters up, perhaps not mention that puss is dead but *anybody knows this puss* type thing....

Sad story but after the sick stories about cats in the media over the past week, it's so nice to see someone cares.

That's very sad but you couldnt have done anything as you werent to know he was on his way out.

Think of it that he slunk off to your place to die somewhere he felt comfort and peace x

The normal procedure is to call the Council cleansing department, who will collect the body.

we got in touch with the vet who deals with our cats and he was really nice and understanding and came and took the cat yesterday afternoon.

the whole experience made me realise just how precious my cats are and to treasure every minute I spend with them.

I think you are a real caring person for doing this. I know i do appreciate my cats more when i here something like this

Nooooooo!

Don't do that, whatever you do. The council will only put him in the incinerator or landfill and someone may be looking for him.

Best to stick to the original plan of calling the RSPCA or a vet or even a local animal/cat charity who will scan him for a chip to see if he belongs to someone.

What a sad thread I'm glad you called your vet out to take the cat away. Someone is going to be very upset this weekend.
RIP Puss

Hope you can get over this sad incident soon.

That's good, at least if he was chipped the vet will know what to do.

Awwww such a very sad thing to happen You've done exactly as a caring animal lover would do...

Lets hope puss was chipped....!