Missing cat has been found dead - and 'finder'has buried it in her own garden!

[Smowball]

My daughters 6 month old cat went missing on friday. She put up posters everywhere (she lives in a quiet one way street in a village).
This evening she gets a knock on her door from a middle aged woman who said she was very sorry but she found the cat dead in her front garden(??) a few days ago, kept it in a box in her garage for 2 days and then buried in her back garden. Then she saw the posters. Said cat didnt have a mark on it. Daughter is very distressed, doesnt know if it really is her cat, doesnt understand why it was found in this ladys garden and cant understand why she buried it in her own garden, as she would have wanted it in her own. All really sad and strange.

[excelsior-1]

oh snowball, my heart goes out to your daughter. i know that any words will be inadequate. please give her a big hug from me.

maybe in time, she'll want a replacement

[mike11111]

The lady found a dead cat in her garden. She buried it. She then saw the posters re a missing cat. She took the time and trouble to call and explain. Sad, perhaps, but not strange.

[wolf63]

Get her to dig it up and check to see if it is the right moggie. It won't be pleasant but at least your daughter will know for certain.

One of mine is driving me nuts tonight.

[Smowball]

I dont think I would have buried it in my own garden. I would have knocked on all the neighbours houses first and then probably phoned the RSPCA for advice.

[B00]

Awww, don't knock the old lady, bless her. She did what she thought was the best thing, and to be honest I don't see what she did wrong.

All the same, sorry for your daughters loss, always horrible when you lose a pet, especially one so young and obviously tragically.

[chi-chi66]

The lady did'nt know who's cat it was at the time, and possibly did'nt want it left in her garden, they do start to smell quite quickly, not knowing what to do with it just buried it. Maybe it was hit by a car, and someone just put it in the ladies garden, nearest. She did contact you're daughter after seeing her posters.
I don't think she did anything wrong, just a sad thing to have happened.

[emmie]

the problem is that cats do range far and wide, and could have come from anywhere. I feel sad for your daughter, but would accept the explanation and perhaps buy another kitty. My cat went missing for three months, it came back one day in a very sorry state, though he lived on for many years. I was heartbroken when he died.

[WyeDyed]

She could have said nothing, that would have been worse, surely.

[Smowball]

I dont think she did anything wrong as such, its just that my daughter is taking the ladys word that it is in fact her cat. Am 99% sure that it is as its such a small village but to not even be able to bury it herself has really upset her.

[mike11111]

Have I just slipped into a parallel universe?

Caller to RSPCA: "Hello, I've found a dead cat in my garden, what shall I do?"
RSPCA to caller: "Bury it."

[vodkancoke]

So sorry Smowball, how awful for your daughter.

I have to say though, I don't think the lady did any harm. She wouldn't have known who the cat belonged to and obviously didn't want to leave it rotting in her garden. I can understand why she did it and I don't think there is anything sinister in it. At least the cat is buried and not left at the side of some road, never to be found.

[Kiki-frog]

Ohhh, that's sad. Cats do wander about patrolling their own territory, where human boundaries are irrelevant. They also strike up relationships with people, unbeknown to their humans. It's very true that we don't own cats, they own us. There's no way of knowing if this is your daughter's cat, short of digging it up. We aren't always granted the privilege of saying goodbye. So sorry for your daughter. x

[Smowball]

Actually just found out that you are meant to call either your local council, or the RSPCA, depending on what time of day it is, and they will come and collect the animal.

[Barmaid]

I agree with Mike, its sad but not strange.

I really do understand how your daughter must be feeling (as a fellow cat slave). However, a lot of people would have just left the cat or chucked it in the rubbish.

the fact that there were no marks are explained by the fact that it was probably a glancing blow by a car which either tossed the cat into her garden or it managed to make it there and then die. Village roads are dangerous to cats because the lack of constant noise means that they will venture out there. THey only need one car at the wrong time and it's curtains.

I can understand your daughter wanting the cat in her own garden, but the lady has done a very kind act. I can also understand her not really knowing if it is her cat or not. A few years ago, my ASBO disappeared for several weeks. A cat matching his description was run over and was disposed of by the Council. apparently the body was in a terrible way. I didn't really know if it was my boy but as the weeks went on I began to accept it was him. Eventually, I made my peace knowing it was him. Little bastard shocked the life out of me several weeks later when he rocked up home!

[B00]

haha, good luck the RSPCA coming out! They rarely bother coming out to an animal in possible trouble, really dont rate the chances of them coming for a corpse!

[Smowball]

I agree BOO, its just what they say will do but doubt it very much

[chi-chi66]

Agree BOO, I called them out once for a dog that had been hit by a car, and
it was whilst I was working so could'nt do a lot myself. The dog crawled
onto the side, and lay there, no-one offered to help. I rang RSPCA again,
was told, we have very few officers on duty, the nearest one was other side of the pennines!!!! Poor dog, after about 3 hrs, managed to limp off..RSPCA
did'nt arrive at all nor contact me to say they were'nt coming.
All these damned adverts on tv or anywhere for them make me sick.

[arwyn]

Goggle what common garden plants and flowers that can kill cats. You might get an idea what killed it.

[andy-hughes]

Hi Smowball, I am sorry to hear about your daughter's cat.

I can underdstand the lady's actions though, she did what she thought was the right thing, and given that a lot of people would have put the cat in the rubbish, i think she did what she thought was the kindest thing.

Given that the cat was unarked, it may have simply died of natural causes, a heart attack or similar, but your daughter can take comfort from the fact that her pet has not appeared to suffer, and has had the dignity of a caring burial.

[seadogg]

We have been there and sympathies to your daughter. Was there a photo on the poster or did she give a description which tallies with the missing cat.
A small thing your daughter can do is take a small bouquet of flowers to place over the grave. This will help to give her closure, though she will never forget