Adopting a stray- very short notice!

[Kilala]

Hi, I'd like a few opinions and advice, please. My husband found a stray cat wandering on a buy road. Cars were going round it, so he stopped, it came over. He asked the few nearby houses and she wasn't theirs. She was very thin, so he drove her to a local vets. She was chipped (and is 14 years old) but the owners do not live where they used to, and do not live anywhere near where the cat was found. According to the vets, she has been a stray for a while. They are keeping her overnight and are going to look for the owners tomorrow morning, but if no success, have asked if we would take her. We have had cats before, and are real pet lovers. We live in a flat (that allows pets) but have no other pets. I would love to take her on, but want to do so with my eyes wide open. Any thoughts? Will an ex stray, even an old and tired one, settle as an indoor cat? She sat on my husband's lap all the way to the vets, and is very friendly. I am not prepared to fit a cat flap, we are in too urban an area and there are quite a few big tom cats nearby. Also, would there be any help available with vet fees? Old cats tend to ned more treatment, and I we can't spare hundreds of pounds, and I think she is too old to insure. Sorry for the long tale, but thought if I explained it, people would be able to give their thoughts! Many thanks to you all.

[wolf63]

My recently deceased monster came to stay with me when he was about ten or eleven. He had been a stray for a long time. I wanted an indoor cat and he settled in beautifully and padded around my flat/his estate quite happily.

At 14 years all she will want to do is sleep and eat and wake you up ten times a night because she is bored.

Good luck with the new boss in the family when she arrives tomorrow.

[lankeela]

If someone has gone to the trouble of having her chipped then I imagine they are worried sick about where she is.

You must try to find out where her owners are, there are central databases and you could try contacting the vets in the area where her address was.

She may have got into a vehicle and been transported a long way from home by mistake.

[cat woman]

Hi Kilala, What a lovely caring husband you have, "bless him". I think the vets should try and find the rightful owner, I have 3 cat's all are micro-chipped as a precaution incase they got lost, but saying that I dont let them wonder out of the garden, but there is always that chance. The owners I would have thought in my thinking would have reported her missing, ( "very odd") after going to the extent of having the cat micro-chipped in the first place.

If the owners have moved away and there is no trace of their new abode, I myself personally would take this cat in, older cats are more easier in there older years, I've had elderly cats and all they did was eat and sleep, and hardly ever wanted to go out, only in the warmer weather to lie in the sun in the shade.

Whatever the outcome for this puss I hope its a happy ending in her twilight years, and as for vet bills I would ( if you decide to keep her ) is to ask the vet to give her a full heath check then you can decide as what you really want to do. Good Luck. X X X :-)

[Andyvon]

Hi Kilala!

I've had several cats in the past and 14 isn't very old really. I had one that died at 22 and my mother's was 25 and they were both quite active up to the end. I think the record is 36!

Cat's usually tend to settle happily when they find themselves a good berth. If you are feeding the cat and fussing it, and it is warm and comfortable, then it should be happy to stay.

I would say go for it but only if you are certain that the cat is definately a stray. Maybe the owners have moved just a short distance away and didn't bother to alter the chip. It sounds like a stray to me though.
I wouldn't worry too much about possible vets bills. If the cat is in reasonable health now then it should be fine in the future - although there is always the element of chance as there is with us or any animal.

[divegirl]

Hi, just in case you do keep her, there are insurance companies that will insure an older cat....

http://www.about-pet-insurance.co.uk/dog-insur ance.htm?source=ggst&cat=376872278&tpage=dog-i nsurance&tkeyword=cat+insurance

Hope this helps & Good luck...


Lisa x

[Kilala]

Thanks for all of the advice.
We have been searching for the owners- there is no-one of their name in any local phone book, and the vets have looked on a database thingy- there is no-one of their name registered with any local vets or any cat with her name registered at any local vets either.
She hasn't been reported missing.
The vets are going to have more of a delve around today and let us know.
I am getting my hopes up that she is homeless- quite odd when you think about it.

[rosiewesti]

We took a stray cat in 6 years ago and she is now 19 years old,so long as you give food, love and warmth and of course a cat litter tray, then your new family member will be happy.

Your vet can give you details of the PDSA scheme, for free or reduced vet bills, ask him and see if you qualify.

One problem we had for over a year, was after ours had eaten, she would within 15 mins be sick, quite a lot! the vet told us to raise her food dish, we put it on top of an upturned plant pot!, as they get older some cats sprincter? narrow, and as their neck is bent to eat the food builds up, and as they then lift their neck, there is a surge of food trying to go down and of course it cannot so it all comes back up....since the plant pot she has never been sick again ! Gosh I have gone on and on....sorry!
Good luck.

[sue11]

Hi Kilala, have you taken this cat in? I would definately keep her if you cannot trace the owners, it would be nice to think that she is now with loving caring owners for the rest of her life. Let us know!
Cheers Sue

[Kilala]

Latest news:
The vets finally traced the owners, who said they want her back. They said they hadn't noticed she was missing and knew she was unwell but hadn't got round to taking her to the vets. The Vets told us they were slightly taken aback by the owners' attitude- they were called on Friday and said they had a busy weekend planned and so would pick her up on the Monday!
I am concerned that a cat so starved (the vets said it would take a lot of hard work to get her back from being a bag of bones.) has been given back to the owners so readily.

We still want a cat, and so are having a home visit b ya local charity this week!

...all because my husband pulled over to see a cat...!

[sue11]

Hi Kilala, the fact that the cat is just being given back to what seems irresponsible owners also concerns me. I wonder if it is worth having a word with the RSPCA or Cats Protection League to see if they could investigate further. I would not be surprised if you see this cat back again on your doorstep when it is neglected once more by it's owners!
Cheers Sue

[Athley]

How can the family not have realised the cat was missing!! I notice if my cat's out for longer than usual and end up in the garden looking for her before it gets dark! Sounds very odd. Maybe the vet that located them needs to have a word as they sound like very bad owners and you and your husband sound lovely and the cat would probably be so much better off with you two. Hope you get on OK. If you miss her when she's gone you could also go to Cat Protection League and adopt one of your own. There are always older cats needing a home. Mine was 3 when I adopted her shes 11 now and really fab.

[lizzydrippin]

How disappointing. I know everyone was attempting to do the right thing but I cant help wishing that the micro chip hadnt been found. Just because a cat has a micro-chip doesnt necessarily mean that it has loving responsible owners. Many rescue centre's now chip a cat as part of the adoption fee (its like a package, for your fee you get a cat thats de-flea'd, wormed, nuetered/spayed, micro-chipped and sometimes the first months insurance paid.
How can someone not notice that their cat is missing? it was obviously gone long enough to wander far from home, loose loads of weight etc and if I had just discovered the location of a lost cat I'd be there to pick it up like a shot, not leave it till it was more conveinient. I feel so sorry that this poor old cat has now missed out on what would have been a loving home. I doubt very much whether she will stay put when (and if) she's taken back. Whether she'll make it all the way back to the area where she was recently found is unlikely in her already underweight condition. But I have a good idea that this cat will certainly try. Lastly, I'd just like to say "well done" to your lovely husband for trying so hard to do the best thing for this cat.

[Kilala]

Yes, Hubby and I were worried about the cat straying again, but just hope that the owners aren't as bad as they seem.
We have adopted two cats that were very timid and had been in a rescue home for over 2 years, Baloo and Mowlgli. They have proved to be closet stroke lovers! (I wish they'd stop getting under the floor boards and behind the kitchen plinths though. Our flat looks like a duct tape sponsored building site now!)
Thank you everyone for your kind words and opinions.