Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Roz on August 24, 2008, 01:45:19 AM
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Hi,
Where I live there are five cats who belong to a lady who, because of financial constraints (I think), has to work a lot of hours each week. She actually has two jobs...and one takes up most of her weekends including the evenings. I think she is divorced but has a grown up daughter who lives with her but I rather feel that both of them are looking for someone special (if ya see what I mean....i.e. they are hardly ever at home).
Of these five cats, two of them are always roaming about. One is not allowed in the house any longer because she pees on the doormat (she's a beautiful little girl but is extremely timid..she has to live in the shed...) and the other is the dearest, sweetest, friendliest little tortie...who bounds towards you every time she sees you and delivers supersized headbutts. Steve and I have often fantasized about catknapping them, but you would never get near to the timid one, whereas 'A' would follow you into the van. I did ask this woman once when she was telling me how exasperating 'B' was becoming with this constant urinating just inside the front door (is that all???) whether she would consider re-homing her and she said that she would not and that her daughter would not allow it in any case. So poor 'B' has to live her days out in the garden shed.
Suffice to say that 'A' is very lonely and is very much a 'people' cat. She loves human company and is always looking for someone to give her a cuddle. I don't think for one minute that they are ill-treated as such but they are lonely and the lady has already lost a beautiful Birman since moving here. She was a gorgeous looking cat and was very popular in the neighbourhood. I was very sorry to hear of her death on the road. She was only two.
Well, tonight I was coming home at about 9.30 and who did I see rolling about in the middle of the road but 'A'. (I won't name her in case she is identified). I drew up at the side of the road and stepped towards her and she immediately came leaping across for a cuddle. I picked her up and placed her safely back on the pavement. As I was doing this a young guy walked towards me because he had seen her earlier in the evening too and was worried about her. He told me that he had lost a cat in an RTA who looked just like 'A' only a week earlier...poor little babe.
I know that 'A' would not be tolerated by my other cats (the new kitten has been but I feel sure that this is because she is just that...a kitten...) otherwise I would have taken her back for safety, but the young guy said he would stay and watch her for a while.
I have pondered what to do for some time and have now written a note to 'A's owner explaining what I had seen and hopefully alerting her to the danger of the situation. I hope it doesn't seem as though I am being judgemental or interfering. When I popped back to post the note through the door dear little 'A' bolted off the window sill where she was waiting and wouldn't leave me. In fact, she walked home with me to my front door...bless. There was no-one in at her home and this was at about 01.15 am. I left her outside my front door and went inside to fetch a treat but she had disappeared by the time I re-opened the door.
What does one do in these situations? She and 'B' are beautiful little cats but they are very lonely and I don't think they have a way to enter the house (or shed) when their owner is out. I'm sure the other three cats are out and about somewhere too but I don't tend to see these ones where I live. They probably head in the opposite direction. It's all very sad. I suppose deep down I know that there isn't really anything that can be done in such circumstances but nevertheless it remains a very unsatisfactory situation.
What do you think?
Best wishes,
Roz
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How worrying Roz. It seems to me the cats are just possessions as she wont rehome them yet is not prepared to give them the love and time they deserve. I wouldn't be surprised if they just disappeared and found themselves new homes if you know what I mean.
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Hi Chrissie,
Yes I do.... ;) ;) (and I wouldn't think twice if I thought she (they) would be accepted.
Steve has often said he could take her back with him while he works on the other house and bring her up when he is here but.....she would still have to integrate at some point.
Lots of love
Roz
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These situations are very tricky, my neighbour wanted me to help with a cat who's owner is out more so he is left out more, but there are so many stray cats that also need help that we can't help them all, however much we would like to. The note was a good idea and maybe she will change her mind.
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Very upsetting, Roz.
You havent had a response to your note yet, I take it? It will be enlightening to see how this lady responds to your concerns.
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I should say that I have offered her a kit but she has never come back to me...I would gladly give it to her because of my fondness for 'A'. I would be so upset if anything happened to her.
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Oh, what a difficult situation. I totally see where you are coming from but I think at the end of the day unless the owner gives permission you couldn't really cat-nap, however tempting it may be. However, if the cat chose to come you - then that would be a whole different story. ;) I think the best thing you could do is keep an eye on them. I have a cat beside me too who appears to be left out all day (and possibly night) and it's the same it just wants company, I feel so sorry for it.
If the cat is always peeing on her doormat - there may be an underlying problem and she should probably see a vet - but that's a whole other thing.
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Hi Angela,
Yes, I totally agree...I wouldn't normally even speculate on hijacking someone's pet(s) and God knows I don't need any more, but these do not belong to a child or an old person or even to someone who needs them...they belong to two people who I'm sure care for them but who would probably not really notice too much if they went missing. I haven't posted this but when the lovely Birman was killed (I didn't know she had been run over until the lady told me...that's when I offered her the kit and this was last year) she said 'Oh, it had to be the pedigree' Such a remark did not go unnoticed!
I've just remembered...this lady has a dog as well !! That is even worse.
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I know - some people keep animals as pets for selfish reasons! I have a friend who is doing exactly that - I have tried to speak to her about it and she understands where I am coming from but because she loves them so much she won't let them go.
What a horrible thing to say about the cat that got run over!! Some people really should think before they open their mouth.
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It sounds as tho A isnt long from being another road victim so if she went missing whos to say what happened to her
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its shame your so far away otherwise A could have come to me and the gang ;)i have no main roads just woodland so she wouldnt be at risk
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it sounds like they will end up in somebody elses home one way or another Roz, how odd to not want to rehome yet not want the cat in the house yourself???