Stray cat or not??!!

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Ellie P — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:35:22 GMT

Thanks for that lovecat......'theres no educating the public 90% of the time is there lol.

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

LoveCat — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:27:05 GMT

I have a little tabby cat who is friendly to everyone and am having major problems because neighbours keep feeding him. It has got to the point where my vet has advised I keep him in as he is getting so big and I cannot seem to reason with my neighbours.

It always really annoys me when people assume a perfectly healthy cat is stray after just two days of seeing it around. My cat wont keep a collar on but he is clearly well cared for. Grrr! I think you did the right thing by advising these people to take the cat back to where it came from - it was probably completely confused as to why it was picked up in the first place!

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Fuzzyduck — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:49:52 GMT

I always informed clients we are not a rehoming centre, if they called with strays before hand and said if it was injured or ill we would admit and provide treatment and if it wasnt we would scan for a chip but if there was no chip they could either take it back to where they found it or contact rehoming centres.

When we used to admit all the cats people brought in as strays we'd end up the entire kennel room full of them and no cage space for clients sick pets!!!

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Stephanie Barnard-Horne RVN CertFN MBVNA — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:21:05 GMT

Newbie idea....

But what about taking a picture a posting on:

http://www.lostmycat.org/

Putting a little info such as "Male Tabby found in NW10 being taken to Battersea." or "Black female found on New Road being released where found."

That way if people also come in looking for their lost animals you could mention to check the site.

Maybe even have a information page to hand out. A two sided print out. One side could detail "What to do if you have lost a pet." and the other could be "What to do if you have found a lost/stray animal." The page could give the contact details of the rescue centers in the area and websites to check.

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Nicola Smith — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:23:10 GMT

We have such a problem wih this. People see a cat and just pick it up thinking its stray, then wonder why it wont go home as they are feeding it. Our clinets think we are being cruel too! Very hard to try to educate people and tell them not to take them in and feed them.

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Mrs Dot Dot — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:51:37 GMT

[quote user="ellie"]

Thanks dot dot...i know we give the same advice to all clients but it is more comforting knowing others in the profession with more experience then you are also helping you make the right decisions.

I'm so glad i was recocmmeneded (sp) this site as i have learnt sooooo much from all of you.

THANKYOU xx

[/quote]

Agree BIG time with the laerning so much from this site... I love it!

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Ellie P — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:50:38 GMT

Thanks dot dot...i know we give the same advice to all clients but it is more comforting knowing others in the profession with more experience then you are also helping you make the right decisions.

I'm so glad i was recocmmeneded (sp) this site as i have learnt sooooo much from all of you.

THANKYOU xx

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:46:52 GMT

[quote user="Mrs Dot Dot"]

I'm a great believer in putting cats back where found, because more often than not they are owned, especially if they have only been hanging round for a few days......

[/quote]

Agree!

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Mrs Dot Dot — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:41:16 GMT

I'm a great believer in putting cats back where found, because more often than not they are owned, especially if they have only been hanging round for a few days......

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Ellie P — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:38:52 GMT

Thanks for your replies so prompt guys......i thought that i was doing something wrong in suggesting that they leave him be due to the fact he has nothing wrong with him.

Im all for feeding and looking after 'strays' if they are around for long periods of time......but i know that 99% of cats already have a home and 'parents' that are missing them.

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:34:40 GMT

[quote user="Mrs Dot Dot"]

I have an entire tabby male 'stray' as well, that is in pretty good condition that appears about now, for the last few years, hangs round for a few weeks marking my front and back doors daily (stinking!), stresses out my big soft tabby boy, then disappears, and reappears for a week or so later on in the year ...... really not sure if he is owned or a 'stray' but he has beautiful green eyes!

[/quote]

Mine is in good condition too... apart from the scratches from fights that is... but he is def entire... he sprays all over the garden... big chunky face etc.. I leave him be, he buggers off for the winter so defintely has a home!

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Mrs Dot Dot — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:31:17 GMT

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:23:54 GMT

BTW I have a "stray" in my garden.... he has been coming now for 3 yrs(I have even named him....harvey!)... he comes every march.. until sept/oct waiting until my(neutered) females come into season!.. I give him wormers and flea control(protecting mine you see!).... even though he is not mine, and I know he is not.... he is well fed.... but is purely looking for a mate!..poor bugger too I have told him for the last few years there are none here but he just wont listen!

Re: Stray cat or not??!!

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:11:09 GMT

We used to take in "strays" (cats anyway)but have since stopped unless they are injured, due to the fact that we are always left with them for weeks at a time!... now we tell the person(owner) to take them back where they got them from as they probably belong to someone in the area, or surrounding areas, especially at this time of year...(entire males looking for females etc). Dogs we take and call the dog warden! cats... no more!