Poor Orange Tabby

There is an orange tabby? outside our home. She is our neighbors cat, yet they say that they no longer want her. They dumped her outside because she had an illness during the summer. They tell me I can't rehome her, and now it's bitter cold outside. I can't bring her in, beings I have other animals. (in case she has something contagious) And now, they take her in the house with warmth one day, and make her stay out for the next 3-4 days. This poor cat is suffering, and the ASPCA won't let us bring the poor baby in. What can I do? I feel so awful. I tried to make her something warm to sleep in..but I couldn't make anything good. I feel so sorry for her.

If they no longer want her, what is their problem?

I know this doesn't help, but cats are not slaves, and we shouldn't really own them, and they should be free to decide who they want to live with. I know the law doesn't look at it that way.

if it were me, I would do everything possible for that cat and darn what the neighbors say.

I called the SPCA...but they said that is no reason to bring an animal into a shelter, in which only 40% make it into the adoption program. (60% are euthanized) I am going to try and see if maybe a petsmart or vetinary clinic can take her in. But, she's not out there right now...she was just a few minutes ago. Most likely, whereever I take her will have to be tomorrow.

That's true. I think they may have heard me talking about calling the SPCA for animal cruelity, and they took her in the house. (i was mad and yelling) They may have also seen me building a shelter for her, and giving her some warm water. They don't get the cats veterinary care, in fact...that's the whole reason Queeny (cat's name) ended up outside. She had fleas and a respitory infection, and they couldn't afford the vets so dumped her outside. I really hate these neighbors. They used to have 6 cats, but now are two. (wouldn't be surprised if the other's died) Their house reaks, and is in no condition to house animals. These people should NOT have animals.

Put out some shelter and food and hope for the best till spring.

There are all sorts of cheap and good ways to make a shelter
for winter. If you need some ideas or suggestions/directions
please PM me (likely anyone on this board too!) and we can
help with that.

I might suggest that you talk to the neighbors (no yelling!) and say you really like kitty and is it okay if you take over caring for it outside? You will of course assume any financial responsiblity etc etc. (That's if they are inclined to reasonable - having yelled at them they may not be reasonable)

I had a neighbor like this one - she had an okay heart, but no
money, far too many animals - an old dashund, a Rotwiler mix,
a brain damaged blind cat, a gecko and a rabbit (you should have smelled her house it took putting in new floors to get rid of or take care of them
very well at all. I always thought the bunny, old dog, big dog and cat
were treat in a borderline cruel way - often kenneled the big dog for whole days with 5 minute pee periods 2 a day, didn't get the old dog on heart meds when he needed, left the rabbit in a crampt hutch all the time!! And when she moved to a new house, she put a blind and brain damaged kitty out on her deck with a dog house in WINTER
mind you, because the blind cat in a new house with a big dog,
was not using her box!!! (After moving to a new house that is..GEEZZ!!0

However my neighbor was reasonable and we were able to get her to get the old dog heart meds until his death, we managed to have her give the
cat to a good home (one with a lady who wasn't adverse to working
with the blind kitty!!).

Sooo perhaps they wouldn't object to you feeding and sheltering it outside
and giving vet care?? That is if you can afford it?

If cost is an issue maybe one of the shelter /rescue groups that has a vet they work with would let you get it treated and pay for it in installments? or a vet would help you do payment plan for the medical costs - so it wouldn't be a huge burden to you??

Then you could put her back outside once she was "up to speed" health wise?

I know if it was me, I'd probably have simply made the cat disappear!
Just like Hissy said. But that's me. My experience has shown
that some people just aren't going to be reasonable about things.
I always watch that Animal Planet show on SPCAs in Detroit, and Houston
and Chicago and wish we had that here in my town and every where else!!

You could bring it in and keep it away from you other pets. When i foster for the shelter i keep them away from my pets at first. I usually put them in a bathroom or kennel.. PLease help this poor baby. IT just too cold out.

Do you have a basement that your animals cannot go into? Or will the ASPCA or another humane society take her in? I work animal control in Indiana, and won't let any poor animal stay outside if I can find a remotely warm spot for them. I can't believe people let their animals stay outside. WOuld they let their children stay outside if they got sick? WOuld they still want their other family members if they got sick? It really upsets me that this is happening in the world. They took responsibility for the cat while it was healthy, what has changed now? ANimals are not throw aways, and someone needs to let these "people" know that.

Because the cat has an owner - you can't really "bring" it somewhere. As sad as that is. However, you can feed it, and take care of it.

I've been through this so many times at my old house. With two dogs living outside without dog houses - 14 lb dogs! And cats owned by other neighbors. The dogs I always snuck food and cookies to. I also made Animal Control come and enforce the Dog House Law - they got houses.

We had one cat who got pregnant every spring, and had kittens in my oil tank shed. I gave the kittens to the shelter every spring. Her sister had an injured foot, and I let her inside. The neighbor never missed her. 3 weeks later I was blessed with a litter. She was spayed and never went outside again. Her sister continued her yearly litter for another 2 years. Finally one torrential rain storm she cried for an hour on my window. She came in. 3 weeks later another litter.

The neighbors never missed either cat - they assumed they got hit my cars. They lived long and happy lives - after disapearing into the night.

Hope you can help her.

Donna

Originally Posted by Kitty_Love

There is an orange tabby? outside our home. She is our neighbors cat, yet they say that they no longer want her. They dumped her outside because she had an illness during the summer.

They tell me I can't rehome her, and now it's bitter cold outside.

I can't bring her in, beings I have other animals. (in case she has something contagious) And now, they take her in the house with warmth one day, and make her stay out for the next 3-4 days. This poor cat is suffering, and the ASPCA won't let us bring the poor baby in. What can I do? I feel so awful. I tried to make her something warm to sleep in..but I couldn't make anything good. I feel so sorry for her.

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In my opinion...this kitty's health and life is worth more than the neighbor's right to say what happens to this kitty. It is OBVIOUS that this kitty is being neglected; which is a crime (neglect is a crime); it can be proven that the kitty has been dumped. So....since you seem to really like the kitty; bring it inside; put the kitty in isolation (bathroom, spare room, basement...anywhere) and then bring it to the vet for care. Providing food and shelter for the kitty is only prolonging the suffering for it. Bring the kitty in and you can always adopt out later on. Don't let her suffer !!!

Please bring this kitty inside and help her. If the owners have dumped her, and no longer care for her or provide for her needs, then they have given up all their rights to the poor thing. I bet they wont even notice that she is missing.
Crys

There are lots of people I know who will trap a cat that appears on it's property and have it neutered or spayed and treated...even if it is owned.

Katie

I really liked Donna's "disappearing into the night". Since you are in Baltimore you can contact Alley Animals and they will trap the cat for you. You can tell them it's name and you can explain the neglect. Do you know if this cat is intact? Alley Animals has feeding routes all over the city and your neighborhood may be on a route. I used to volunteer with them, driving the alleys of the city all night long.
http://www.alleyanimals.org/

Newt