Cat doesn't miaow

[Beanmistriss]

Theres a wee cat hanging around under my car for over a week. Its really friendly and purrs when you speak to it. It often looks like its trying to miaow but no noise comes out. Is this something cats do or is there something wrong with it? Thanks

[wolf63]

Some cats are chatty and some are not. My two always talk to me - sometimes it is just one word and other times they just won't shut up.

Maybe it doesn't know you and it has been lectured about talking to strangers.

Has it got a mummy already or is it planning on moving into your house? They are sneaky little monsters.

[Beanmistriss]

It was just cos it opens its mouth and does a miaowing face but no noise comes out. It appeared over a week ago and is there all the time - even when we had torrential rain it was in a puddle under the car. It is skinny and has fleas i think and i was worried it was lost or something. So i phoned the vets for advice - caught it and they scanned it for a chip. Didnt have one so i came home to ring the local animal shelter but saw one of my neighbours who think it may belong to someone nearby but doesnt know. I didnt want to kidnap someones cat so i let it go again. Dont really know what to do for best cos im a bit worried it might get squashed by the cars or that its ill

[stonekicker]

if it was me, i would have kidnapped it already! can you not buy some cheap flea stuff (like bob martin) from a supermarket and do him any way and give him a bit of food? i know that's kind of encouraging him, but i reckon he sees you as a bit of a soft target anyway as he keeps coming back to you. i have two cats i have rescued already and there is a little skinny ginger tom loitering around my garden as well. i am going to offer him some food next time i see him as he is so skinny i feel sorry for him. this is why i am a nurse and not a vet - i would bring evrything home with me if i was. people are much easier to refuse as they can be so repugnant! i love cats and when i was a child, i managed to find three strays, two rabbits, countless lame birds and even a ferret. i think my mum was very relieved when i left home! x

[bensmum]

I think I would agree with stonekicker. If it's that skinny, has fleas and is out in all weathers it's not being very well looked after. You could try getting some little notes printed out and putting them in peoples doors asking if anyone owns it. But if I was you I would keep that poor wee thing

[carmalee]

it needs a home - love it

[Beanmistriss]

I Have been feeding it and I bought some flea stuff on my way home from work cos I couldn't bear to see it all sad and itchy. I have also got one of my neighbours feeding it. Lol no wonder its chasing me. Sadly the best I could offer it is a back garden and shed cos we are out all day and couldnt have a cat flap. I guess the options are keep feeding it and hope it goes back home or take it to the shelter and let them try to rehome it. But I don't want to remove it if it belongs to someone. Ohhh I don't know what to do for best but I feel so sad for it and it runs over when I come home doing a silet miaow at me :o/

[bensmum]

Poor little mite - if you can't keep it I would be inclined to get in touch with a cat rescue place to see what they say. I know some say put a collar on it with a note attached asking the owner to get in touch but I'm not sure whether this serves any purpose if it's in a bad state. I'd have it in a shot if I could as I've just lost my old cat and I would love another

[daisydee]

Yes it is something that my cat does quite often. You either get a silent miaow or a very faint one, usually when he is in a particularly good mood. When he wants something he gets very vocal.

[seadogg]

You don't kidnap cats. They choose you. Reckon even a garden shed (with a nice comfy basket) is better than under a car.

Let us know when it ends up sleeping at the foot of your bed.

[caththecrazy]

Mine do that when they talk to each other but they are very vocal to me and the boys but mainly ignore hubby

[carmalee]

I've answered previously on this post -I think it needs a good home and someone to love i However, having worked in animal welfare for a thousand years I know this isn't as simple as it may seem.Clearly the cat is in need of care and as you feel the owner may be in the area. believe me this may lead to confrontation - rather notify the RSPCA and hope they respond (don't hold yout breath though). As regards the silent miawing - think she is trying to make contact. Be aware that many strays may be pregnant. Feel really sorry for the kitty though I haven't met him/her. good luck and keep us informed.

[kita1]

I had a cat move in a couple of years ago now. It had virtually no coat on its back and was red raw with flea allergy, now it has a really thick, long coat (part persian). I did not want a cat as I live in town with lots of cars and kids with Staffies that set them on cats. This cat had other ideas!!! Kept throwing it back out, it kept jumping against my front door - making my dog bark - when I opened the door it flew in and ran upstairs into my loft bedrooms!!!!

Eventually I gave in and said that if it wanted to move in it had to be an indoor cat. 'Dizzy' is quite happy with that and makes absolutely no effort to go out of the house - even when the front door is open. If someone rings the bell or knocks on the door when Dizzy is fast asleep on the chair, he (I think) literally flies upstairs terrified!

I would take it in and keep it indoors then if your cat is owned by someone they would report it missing or advertise in the papers/vets that they had lost a cat (if they cared about it).

PS I have found that cheap flea treatment is usually no good - more effective to get Frontline or Advantage. The cat probably needs worming too (especially if it has been a stray).

[Beanmistriss]

Thanks everyone. Right here is my plan. I have taken the cat into my back garden. I fed it and put a blanket into the shed - this way it can leave and go home if it has one and wants to. It has been there for about an hour - climbed onto the fence for a look then came back down. I thought it had gone but it was sleeping under one of my big bushes. I'll see what it does over the weekend and if it doesn't appear to go anywhere then I'll decide what to do then though I think the animal shelter might be best as it would be nice for it to go where it can go in a house and be loved better than in my garden. At least if it stays in the garden it won't get squashed :o)

[carmalee]

beanmistriss - you are such a star - the cat will settle with you. I shouldn't advocate this but I do. (I didn't say that!)

[Rosetta]

Beanmistress, sorry to tell you, I think you have been adopted Lol .

I wouldn't be surprised if it got its voice back when settled and happy

[stonekicker]

keep him, keep him, keep him! or else bring him round to mine. (just don't tell my hubby!) x

[Beanmistriss]

Lol. Its sitting in the garden staring in the patio doors :o/

[Schutzengel]

Too late. Puss is intending to stay. Don't worry the cat will be quite happy to have a basket in the shed as it's own special place for while you are at work. And there's lots of time left in the day for some t l c. Don't forget to let us know how the cat settles in. I don't think you need to worry about it belonging to someone, because it wouldn't have been in the state it was if it had a home. Good luck. I do hope you can keep it. The next thing will be finding it a name !!!!

[20SilkCut]

Thats cats for you....it will be inside next....then you will have a name for it....then it will start to miaow....

well done for taking the time to care about the little thing. x

[kita1]

Next time you open the door it will move in!

Then you will feel bad about it only having the shed to sleep in! You will be spending all day at work worrying about it getting too warm/cold, have you left enough water/milk/food down, is it getting bullied by other cats in the neighbourhood etc.

Before you know it you will be buying prawns and getting them out of the fridge so they are at room temperature before hand feeding them to puss!

I think it has decided upon its slaves, you will just have to go along with the decision.