What to do with stray cat?

Phlume on 01/07/2020 - 15:14

Hi all,

Recently my mum have been feeding a stray female cat that has been wandering our backyard but has since been accustomed to our home. The cat has made itself home and now has given birth to kittens at our place. Mum never intended to take care of the cat and her kittens permanently but finds it difficult to drive out the family of kittens during winter. She would like to care for them but I have told her the process of caring for cats can be expensive (registration, micro chipping, desexing etc.) and exhausting for a pensioner like her. From an ethical and legal stand point, do we have to adopt and register the cats as our own now?

Thanks

Pets

Comments

  • YeemaiI on 01/07/2020 - 15:16
    +11

    Take it in into an animal shelter or some sort? Call a hotline?

  • serpserpserp on 01/07/2020 - 15:16

    Swing it!

    • MontyMacaw on 02/07/2020 - 09:00

      Don’t they have to be dead for that? And you need plenty of room.

      • Goldenwarrior on 02/07/2020 - 09:15

        Yep, it's the same if you want to bounce them. So swinging and bouncing is not an option. I've heard collecting cats is a good lifestyle choice (for the cats).

        When it comes to finding cats do what any good OZBargainer would do and 'scan and save' (assuming it's chipped).

  • Xistn on 01/07/2020 - 15:19
    +13

    take them to RSPCA, the end.

  • wombatzzz on 01/07/2020 - 15:25
    +5

    Take it to a vet and get them to scan the chip (assuming it has one) the vet will then contact the owner. Having said that, I have contempt for people that gets cats and don't have them de-sexed.

  • netjock on 01/07/2020 - 15:27
    +1

    Even if she wants to keep them make sure they get de-sexed. Can't afford to have stray cats having more cats bad for ecological balance. As other people have said, otherwise call the council animal control and get them collected.

  • screensaver on 01/07/2020 - 15:27

    The best time to rehome the kittens is when they are small. What state are you in?

  • Fredfloresjr on 01/07/2020 - 15:29
    +1

    Soup

  • screensaver on 01/07/2020 - 15:29
    +1

    I see you are in Sydney, there is a place that will take kittens, used to be called the Sydney Kitty Sanctuary but they may have just changed their name. Give them a call

  • screensaver on 01/07/2020 - 15:32
    +2

    https://www.petrescue.com.au/groups/11648/The-Sydney-Kitty-S… Try this phone number

  • Cheeper on 01/07/2020 - 15:42

    Your local vet will have contact numbers for animal care / shelter groups that will come and collect them.

  • TheMindsetTraveller on 01/07/2020 - 15:51

    No you do not need to legally own them. Just feed them as best as you can, if possible keep them in a room with all kittens. Do not separate the mother from her kittens as they still require her for her milk.

    Call a local cat charity to assist, are you in Sydney? try WLPA they might be able to help you.

  • try2bhelpful on 01/07/2020 - 15:56

    Contact the RSPCA, they usually have foster people to look after the cat and kittens.

  • whooah1979 on 01/07/2020 - 16:01
    +6

    Feral cats are pests.
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/australia-is-trying-to-kill-mil…

    • try2bhelpful on 01/07/2020 - 16:58
      +2

      Not as big an environmental disaster as human beings.

      • whooah1979 on 01/07/2020 - 19:34
        +1

        Yes, you're right. Covid is taken care of that.

        • try2bhelpful on 01/07/2020 - 19:46
          +1

          It is only scratching the surface. However, I’m sure there will be something, eventually.

    • Zachary on 02/07/2020 - 12:36
      -1

      oh, in that case give them a good bang and make humanoid cat babies…. or play sadistical games with them….hee hee…

  • crentist on 01/07/2020 - 16:16
    +2

    caring for cats can be expensive (registration, micro chipping, desexing etc.)

    these are all one-off payments. the main cost is future vet bills if they are sick or need care. regular food and such can be very cheap
    keep in mind these are all offset by some feeling of companionship and maternal care and whatever. the vet bills can be $0 if she doesnt care about the cat, but if she does then the costs start to become worth it

    does your mum want to have the cat now? is she actually trying to get rid of it, or are you telling her to get rid of it?
    the alternative might be that your mum ends up feeling like another lonely old pensioner and turns her attention 100% back to you, for better or worse

    • mapax on 01/07/2020 - 17:08
      +3

      You’re trolling right? One cat “left in the wild” will kill hundreds of other animals.

      I have dozens of similar stories but one memorable rescue was because a dumbass was letting a feral cat live in their shed.

      That cat disemboweled a mother ringtail possum and left her baby clinging to the mess. The corpse was still warm when we arrived and the baby was filthy but looked ok, it was rushed to the vet but died soon after arrival.

      • screensaver on 01/07/2020 - 17:24
        -3

        well the cat had to eat, just like you do

      • popsiee on 01/07/2020 - 17:33

        Watch out saying anything against cats on the Net . Have you seen ‘ Don’t F### Wth Cats “ ?

  • rompastompa on 01/07/2020 - 17:04
    +2

    The mother cat has already given you the answer. She has chosen your Mum to be converted to a crazy cat lady.

    Congrats on your new life, Mrs Phlume!

  • Kaz0551 on 01/07/2020 - 17:39
    -1

    A pest guy that did my house commented that the best way to get rid of cats was using a cat/possum trap. Then fill a vegetation bin with water, drop the cage in and close the lid. No sure if he was kidding…

    • try2bhelpful on 01/07/2020 - 17:41
      +2

      Just appalling. There are some truly frightening people in this world. Give the cat to the RSPCA, etc, who will rehome or euthanise..

      • Kaz0551 on 01/07/2020 - 17:48
        +4

        But definitely the kind of guy you need to make sure your house is pest free.

        • mapax on 01/07/2020 - 17:51
          +2

          Haha, I actually lol’d.

        • try2bhelpful on 01/07/2020 - 18:35

          Not really, I would be expecting him to go all “Wolf Creek” and, he knows, every inch of your house.

    • WreckTangle on 01/07/2020 - 20:43

      I thought those bins were only for green waste? Might have to read the sticker on the lid again

  • MontyMacaw on 02/07/2020 - 09:07
    +4

    My question is: Why do people feed stray cats? It’s like a parody of itself. They only live where they get fed. It’s not like they think you’re better than the rest of the world. They are cats. It’s their nature. Being misguidedly kind is a flaw and tbh it’s almost theft to feed somebody else’s cat. I know of a lot of people who have adopted “strays” and invariably they are “kind hearted” people who have fed them. Just DON’T. Some kid somewhere probably loved that cat and now they are wondering what they did wrong or what terrible fate happened to the beloved pet. Get your own if you must or take the consequences of ownership once you have rehomed it.

  • Lurk Hartog on 02/07/2020 - 09:40

    Feed it to an ATM. Then return some videotapes.

  • saltypete on 02/07/2020 - 10:11
    +1

    RSPCA. Cats kill wildlife in urban areas and nearby open space that would normally coexist with human populations. And the way your cat will do it won’t be pretty as it teaches its kittens how to practice killing. The lovely kitty goes out each night and hunts. In the normal course of events as they killed off the local animals they would go hungry, stop breeding etc, but here said cat lover augments their food so that they can happily keep hunting until native wildlife is effectively zero. So your dear mum has been happily helping this process and now there is a whole new litter being taught how to do this.
    So get RSPCA to fix the cat and kitten problem you have nursed along. They will manage it humanely. Donate money to them.
    Or keep the cat, take some responsibility, get them desexed and keep them in at night. (Good fun trying this with your cat).

  • OzHunterNSW on 02/07/2020 - 11:47

    Contact the RSPCA

  • trayzee on 02/07/2020 - 21:39

    I have had the same problem , but with only one stray cat, and I was really torn whether to keep, or not. I ended up taking to RSPCA. Thats the most humane thing to do. RSPCA are trained in this area, and they sell KITTENS for over $300.00. A big demand for kittens. Good luck…

  • wonderkathy on 02/07/2020 - 23:40

    Some distressing comments have been written by some people. I have 2 cats, one came from the Cat Protection Society in Sydney and the other had been dumped. They are now 13 and 9 years old respectively. They have a cat run which we built around our house and are kept inside at night. Yes, they have had visits to the vet but their companionship far out weighs the financial costs incurred. I do hope that you support your mother's desire to keep some of the cats. If you do decide to choose to keep a kitten do consider keeping 2 for it will be better for the kittens to have a playmate.
    Also many vets offer pensioner discounts for desexing. Aldi has very good prices for cat food.

  • wonderkathy on 03/07/2020 - 00:29

    I think your mum is a caring person who would receive a lot of pleasure in keeping some of these cats. I have 2 cats one came from the Sydney Cat Protection Society and he is now 13. The other cat was dumped at my daughters work and she brought him home, A very scared and skinny boy who is now 9. They have a cat run which we built and they both come in at night. Cats don't need a fancy bed, both of mine have them, but they prefer to sleep on a soft old towel. Yes they have had vet bills but the companionship and the affection they give is worth it. Cats have to be registered but for pensioners I think there is a reduced fee and the same applies with desexing. Registration is done through your local council.
    I hope you do support your mum and her desire to keep some of the cats. If you do I suggest you keep 2 of the cats. It will be best for them to have a friend to play with. Good luck with your new additions to your family. I am sure you too will enjoy their presence. Aldi cat food is very good and much cheaper than other cat food.

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