Afternoon all!

Just after a bit of advice really.

My fella lives in Rochdale and the owners across the road have a lovely little cat. But they don't look after her at all.

She is absolutely riddled with fleas, and is constantly meowing. When we had the bad snow a few weeks ago (which was worse in Rochdale), the poor thing wasn't even allowed in the house then. She is often seen huddled under somebodies car in the middle of the night. Her owner often shoos her away from the door when she is trying to get in the house. This wasn't a one off, its a daily thing regardless of weather.

There is sheltered accomodation down the road and I think they feed her, but apart from that she is all on her own.

Shes such a friendly little thing, when I hop out of the car she always runs over meowing, and I wish I could take her in and look after her but we don't want to bring fleas into my fellas house.

In one mind I want to ring the RSPCA, because she has no form of shelter and although has recently been given a very scabby collar gets no affection from her owners. But, on the other hand, when I know the elderly residents down the road are feeding her I am reluctant - especially when she may end up getting PTS. Alongside this, fellas family tell me its none of my business and I shouldn't get involved. Poor little thing :(

Thing is, if they can't be bothered to do even the most basic of things for her then in my opinion they have no right to consider themselves owners.

I would put money on the fact that she is not spayed, so soon she will have the added burden of kittens to care for and then she really will find things difficult.

If your fella is willing to take her in please do so, the fleas are easily dealt with, just a pipette of Frontline should do it, pop it on and wait a couple of days for the fleas to die if necessary before taking her in.

His family are wrong IMO, animals are everyone's business, who will speak for them and stick up for them if we don't? they have no voice of their own :( if you can get her into a shelter she will not be PTS.

Tess is there any chance you could Frontline her and get her to Sheffield? If you could I'd foster her until a permanent home can be found. Please if you can help her do. Moonbird is right, animals have no voice and caring people need to speak up for them.

IMO her current owners aren't fit to have a cat, they don't deserve her.

If it was me I'd tempt her over with some tasty food, frontline and worm her, wait a couple of days for her nasty passengers to die then kidnap her.

Thing is, if they can't be bothered to do even the most basic of things for her then in my opinion they have no right to consider themselves owners.

I would put money on the fact that she is not spayed, so soon she will have the added burden of kittens to care for and then she really will find things difficult.

If your fella is willing to take her in please do so, the fleas are easily dealt with, just a pipette of Frontline should do it, pop it on and wait a couple of days for the fleas to die if necessary before taking her in.

His family are wrong IMO, animals are everyone's business, who will speak for them and stick up for them if we don't? they have no voice of their own :( if you can get her into a shelter she will not be PTS.

I totally agree,i'm afraid to say they don't deserve this little cat.....
Lets be honest all she wants is,food/water shelter and a bit of affection it's not rocket science but it's just not there so why are they bothering to keep her....
She deserves someone who can look after her.....

I'll be honest i think she must be neutered as in the 4 or so years I've seen her she's never looked pregnant, or slightly...well, saggy. I'm not even entirely positive she is actually a she!

Rick's sister has frontlined her a couple of times but as soon as she gets rid of them they're back again. I'm reluctant to just take her, as I'm fairly sure her "owners" would know it was something to do with me.

I'll be honest i think she must be neutered as in the 4 or so years I've seen her she's never looked pregnant, or slightly...well, saggy. I'm not even entirely positive she is actually a she!

Rick's sister has frontlined her a couple of times but as soon as she gets rid of them they're back again. I'm reluctant to just take her, as I'm fairly sure her "owners" would know it was something to do with me.

They would have to prove it! How many cats disappear? They don't sound like they would spend much time looking for her. She has an offer of a foster home here in Sheffield, the options you have are either to bring her to a better life or leave her to live the miserable life she has at the moment. I doubt the RSPCA would help unless she became injured. You can make a difference to the poor little thing, I say sod the "owners" and do what's right for her

They would have to prove it! How many cats disappear? They don't sound like they would spend much time looking for her. She has an offer of a foster home here in Sheffield, the options you have are either to bring her to a better life or leave her to live the miserable life she has at the moment. I doubt the RSPCA would help unless she became injured. You can make a difference to the poor little thing, I say sod the "owners" and do what's right for her

I'll second that. What are the owners going to do? Probably be relieved the poor thing's not around any more.

And if this has been going on for 4 years, then it's time it stopped and she got a better life than she has.

oh bless - isn't that lovely, maybe they want her to go away anyway - and looks like she just might. Newbiz, if you get her, get her on the www.ineedahome.co.uk forum.

We can let you have some frontline drops and wormers if you need them.

thank goodness some people care and tell your inlaws that nobody should turn a blind eye to any form of neglect, abandonment or cruelty- one day they may also need someone to keep an eye on them ? wink wink

RR - You're so right, the inlaws aren't the most sensitive people. When my dog died I got, "its only a dog, good riddance". When their dog died, tears all round.

I spoke to Rick about this tonight and he said that as he was walking up to the house he spotted her on a chair in one of the residential homes - so maybe she is getting a little more shelter than I first thought.

As bad as it is, I am really not happy stealing somebody elses cat - especially when we don't know the full story. If she is getting a little shelter in the home that works for me, but I'd rather just report it and let the RSPCA deal with it than steal her myself. :(

I really do not think that anyone should STEAL a cat. Regardless of what circumstances you THINK are happening. How would you feel if one of your cats suddenly disappeared and you didn't know what had happened. I think this is totally unacceptable behaviour.

I always used to walk past a neighbours house and wonder if the old lady was a cat horder due to the amount of cats that were in the garden and all looking in a tatty poor state. The house was known as "the mad cat lady's house" to the locals. When I reserved my last cat at the RSPCA and the inspector came around to check the house for suitability etc I mentioned my concern at the "mad cat lady's house" and was shocked to be told that the lady unofficially rescued all the local strays, caught them and had them neutered etc and that a lot of the cats were semi-ferral and that the RSPCA works closely with her to help.

My eldest cat is nearly 19 years old, he looks extremely skinny and neglected however he is NOT, we have him regularly checked out at Abbeymore Vets under their VIP scheme. I would be devastated if someone STOLE him thinking they were acting in his best interest without even bothering to enquire about him. He doesnt wear a collar as he had a rope tied around his neck when he was young and so we are unable to put one on him so he could easily be classed unloved. However we live in a cul-de-sack and the neighbours know all my cats hopefully are safe from being stolen.

I would have thought you would have offered the advise of bothering to speak to the person/s who "owned" the cat - it could even turn out that the cat isnt theirs to start with before taking such drastic action.

I dont know if I have to add a disclaimer on my email to say that this is my own point of view and my own opinion and is not directed at any person/individual who has posted previously (the other message board I use get extremely paranoid) xx

Yes - that is true - I hadn't really read the article I suppose being late at night - plus if the cat is being cared for in the residential home - thats a fabulous set up for it? I wonder if you approached the owners and said it kept calling into your in-laws, would they mind if you put a frontline flea drop on it?

Cats aren't the same as dogs, and I do know - often have many owners - even though they tell each one that 'they are the only one'