You should certainly change vets, refusing to treat an animal is contrary to the rules that all decent vets live by. Thank goodness the little cat has found somebody kind now. I'm not surprised the situation has made you so upset, it just shows that you are a good person
I hope it all works out and that you can keep her.

I would change vets get her treated then keep her. Yep I am bad but puss deserves a kind loving home.

Just an update.

We have had such an upsetting time.

The RSPCA advised us that as she has an owner we would have to return her to them if they asked us to. He did this during the week. the RSPCA are dealing with the situation directly with her owner and say that if he decides he doesn't want her or if he doesn't comply with the order they have issued then we will probably get to keep her. Until then he has to have her back. We handed her over on Wednesday and I cried and cried. He doesn't seem like a bad man but just a bit clueless. My husband came home from work on Thursday and there she is again outside in the cold, she ran up to him crying. He brought her home and she devoured a tin of cat food. The man came for her tonight (we had told him where we live, we offered to take her, pay for her vets bills and even buy her off him...nothing). I am heartbroken.

We rang the RSPCA again and they say they are dealing with it but I know it's not a priority to them. She is just old and needs care. She is a lovely lovely little thing. My husband calls her the Kitchen Queen as she has a comfy seat with cushions and blankets on a chair next to the radiator in the kitchen. Or at least she does at ours.

I am very very sad.

What a sad update. This is precisely why i don't like the RSPCA , it seems that they never seem that bothered when a cat is being mistreated/neglected.
Its a shame really that the man knows where you live & that you contacted the RSPCA, otherwise you could have just kept her & no-one would be any wiser.
Has he taken her to the vets then to get treated for the fleas & stuff now?
I honestly don't know what you can do now, but i honestly really sometimes despair of the RSPCA.
Big hugs OP x

Now I know it was a mistake to be so honest with everyone but it's too late. We should have just said she was a stray and kept her but I was thinking of how we would feel if our cats got lost. I can't settle I am so upset. Her owner hasn't taken her to the vets yet but the RSPCA say they are issuing him with an order to make him do so...but how long will that take? In the mean time she is not well.

Because she is deaf and can't hear our voices I started (non cat people look away now) kissing her on her head with little feathery kisses and it made her purr. She was so easily pleased.

I am trying to remain positive though. It might all work out in the end.

I would go out in the dark and try and find her then take her back to yours. Put things up on window sills so she cant jump up and be seen from outside then if someone comes knocking deny all knowledge!!!! I agree with Missjef about rspca had bad experiences with sspca. My heart goes out to you Star. Good luck xx

I'm so sorry this situation has got so difficult and upsetting. I think the question is, how far are you prepared to go? I'm not sure what the law says about cat ownership but I do know that it's different from dog ownership.
I hesitate to suggest this....but next time she comes to you could you hide her? I know that's a really naughty idea but I think I would

aww, i really feel for you, its just such a tricky situation, you did what you thought was the right thing. i really hope it comes to some happy ending - maybe the owner will decide that you can have her? Keep visiting him maybe?
I can't see the RSPCA pulling their finger out to sort it out anytime soon
Poor kitty.

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate the kind words. I am going to keep an ear open tonight to see if she turns up again (poor husband has volunteered to sleep on sofa so we hear her..he is lovely ). Tomorrow we will ring RSPCA again. I just don't understand why anyone would have a cat then not have it cared for. It is beyond me.

We took photos of her and I will try to post them

I'd never normally condone this sort of behaviour, but after having read the whole thread, in this case I am actually inclined to agree with the others that say to keep and hide her.
The poor little mite must be so miserable, and she comes back to you knowing you will love her.

I do so hope this story has a happy ending for you, but more importantly the poor little Kitty.

She clearly needs medical attention and I am very angry that the 'law' prevents both the vets AND the RSPCA taking proper action. That poor cat is suffering! (though I know you are doing everything you can to help her)
At least she knows she is loved with you, it's better than her being alone on the street uncared for and desperate.

starpuss, what lovely people you and Mr starpuss are.

I've just read through this thread with a mixture of anger and tears.

I agree with the others, and would do what was necessary to ensure Kitchen Queen's well-being.

Good luck. X

Any more news? x

I think I'd be tempted to find her a new home in another town/city and claim that you don't know what happened to her. If they have your address they can come looking - but if you managed to pass her on to a friend or relative, nobody would know. I know somebody who did this - it's horrible in a way, but if the cat is being neglected that badly then I think it's justified.

I hate the RSPCA, they have an image of a cute and cuddly charity, but they aren't. I have so many stories I could share to back that up, but I won't bore you...

I'm sorry about the situation

What a horrible horrible situation. Hopefully she will continue to realise where she can get lots of love & kindness & come back, giving you at least the opportunity to take her to another vet to get her some treatment, and continue to care for her part time, even if stupid BS & red tape means you aren;t allowed to offer her a more permanent home.

KEEP THE CAT. LIE IF THE OWNER COMES LOOKING FOR HER. She deserves to have a nice old age to make up for the obvious neglect she has experienced. With your love and care she will thrive.

At the end of the day, this cat's owner is either guilty of neglect or he's not - and it sounds like he is at this stage - and if the RSPCA come to the same conclusion, I see no reason why you won't be allowed to keep the cat, especially as you already have experience of owning cats and should be seen as good and caring owners.

Update (a happy one).

Yesterday we got a phonecall from the RSPCA. They had been out to speak to the 'owner' who, when informed that he was responsible for the cats medical expenses and that they were issuing a notice to force him to get the treatment for her, suddenly decided she wasn't really his cat He said she was a 'street cat' that he occasionally fed but that if someone else (us) were willing to take her he was fine with that. Spineless %¤#??#¤

So I am happy to report we are now a three cat household. The Kitchen Queen has had a bowl of chicken and is now curled up on a comfy cushion on a chair next to the radiator. A very very happy ending

Yay thats brill! Bet the kitchen queen will be very happy with you. Agree, her last owner is a spineless four letter word.

Oh that's great news!

Oh thank god. Huge big hugs and a big kick in the b...s to the b...... who allegedly "owned" her.xx

Phew!! what a lovely update!! although what a horrible man to suddenly decide she's not even his cat - people like that make me so mad!
What lovely people you & your partner are for taking her in.

Please post some pictures!!
Are you just going to call her Kitchen Queen or are you going to give her another name? Maybe queenie?!

Aww bless, good luck to you and puss.

YAY! Oh I am so happy for Kitchen Queen, at last she will be loved properly!
I hope she continues to settle in nicely.
You and your hubby sound like lovely people and she will be proud to own you!

Great news!

That is such wonderful news