Possibly stray cat let it self in, we think it has ticks

[charlie_rabbit01]

Denzel is predominantly a house cat but he goes out round the garden for an hour or so if its dry.\

He was out this evening whilst I was preparing dinner, and I heard munching on food, I turned to see a tortie cat polishing off Denzel's left overs, I shoed him out and Denzel followed, on closer inspection it looks like the tortie has ticks.

Should I be concerned that he was in my house?

I will be giving Denzel a thorough looking over to check he doesn't have any.

[meriad]

I forget, where do you live.

if in the UK then yes, give Denzel a quick once over but ticks here don't really have much health risk to cats. Whereas in South Africa (where I'm originally from) ticks carry quite a few diseases so you had to be more vigilant.

As for the stray - I would very strongly suspect it's a she not a he. 99% (if not even a higher percentage) of tortie cats are female; tortie males are very rare, and due to their genetics will be infertile. So if this cat is a stray you may want to try and catch her to get her checked for a microchip and also spayed

[charlie_rabbit01]

I'm in the UK. South east.

Apologies the cat novice should have hit Google. Not a tortie but what this site calls a "household cat" http://www.cat-breed-info.com/different ... nship.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think he's a neutered male. But can't be certain as it was hard to see. Once I saw the ticks I backed off a bit.

He's /she was very friendly once it had eaten came over to be fussed etc but for fear of infection/spread if ticks we shoed it out but its been back a few times mewing at the back door.

To my surprise he was quite vocal almost chatting like my Siamese does.

[meriad]

Is the cat visiting the same colour as the one in the photo (the adult that is?)

If he's friendly enough then maybe what you could do - get a tube of Advantage from your vet and see if you can put than on the back of his neck? Whilst they're not dangerous in small quantities (esp if a cat is a healthy adult cat) if left untreated they can cause anaemia so it is best to try and help the cat.

also if he's friendly enough, could you put him in a carrier and get him to a vet to be checked for a micochip (they could do the flea treatment for you at the same time). And if there isn't a chip then maybe put a paper collar on him with a message asking if he has an owner

[charlie_rabbit01]

Yes like the adult.

A good idea to treat him and paper collar. I'm sure he is a stray but you never know.

He's back again now crying outside my door.

Its not easy for us to get to the vets, denzel is smaller and he's too big for his travel box and with a 40 minute walk to the vets denzel is heavy enough.

[meriad]

start with the paper collar. Get a sheet of A4 size paper and cut a strip about 1cm (1/2 inch) wide and write a short message on there; something along the lines of:

Do I have a home - if yes please call xxxxx A nice person is worried I am a stray

and then see if you get any calls from that. when you put on the paper collar use a small bit of sticky tape to fix it to the neck, not all the way round. That way it can tear off if the cat gets stuck on something. He may lose the collar all the time so do try and make sure it's on for a week at least.

As for the microchip - can you contact a few local rescues to see if they can come to you with a scanner?

[meriad]

Where in the South East are you as a matter of interest? Maybe one of us knows someone close enough to help you get the cat to the vet

[Diana]

First off please give the cat food and water!! Then as many suggested make enquiries.

And if you can, get the cat to the vet!

[charlie_rabbit01]

Thanks for the paper collar tip, I shall give it a go if we see him tomorrow.

I'm in Surrey nr Guildford, going to contact my local cats protection tomorrow to see if they have any reports of missing cats, or advice.

The cat has been around for a couple of weeks, we've seen him in the garden along with 2 other cats all at different times. The others don't really get too close.

This one has got more persistent, he was sat with his legs tucked underneath outside my window for an hour earlier.

He's driving Denzel nuts.

[charlie_rabbit01]

Hi Diana

It has eaten, it polished off Denzel's wet and dry food but didn't drink the water, I did see it later drinking from a puddle.

it's really not very easy for me to get it to the vets.

[Diana]

Hey glad to here that you are feeding her. Nice to know we have great people who wont ignore.

Have you family or friends who can help? Taxi perhaps to get you there and back?

[meriad]

I suspect I don't live too far from you and probably can help early Saturday morning. I've just emailed you

[Diana]

What amazing people we have here!! Love this site.

Also can you provide shelter? A bathroom or something until you find an owner or shelter. Has is Denzil with other cats?

[charlie_rabbit01]

I'll see what cats protection say tomorrow.

I don't think it would be happy being shut in it was quite aware of the door and exits when inside. But there is a disused Wendt house with a cat flap in a neighbours which she never goes in to so there is shelter.

Denzel lives with just me and my partner and has a tendency to chase anything that runs, which is a concern as he has chased this cat out to the road and almost got them both run over.

[meriad]

if you need help on Saturday please let me know by replying to the email I sent. I can only do Saturday morning though

[charlie_rabbit01]

Cat's protection have logged him as a lost cat, and one of their specialists is going to contact me.

So far we've not seen him, but he doesnt normally show till later in the evening.

[Diana]

Any updates?

[charlie_rabbit01]

He arrived again today and sat crying in my kitchen, we gave him a tray of pate which Denzel doesnt like and he ate it super fast and got quite angry if we went near when he was eating.

My OH tried to remove the ticks by he just couldnt quite get at them.

This is a pic of the cat.

He doesnt look particularly malnourished but his behaviour strikes me as a cat who has no home or a bad home.

I was sweeping when he came in and was terrified of the broom, obviously he'd been shoed or worse by someone with a broom.

[meriad]

if he's friendly enough to handle, then definitely get a paper collar onto him until CP can come help

[Hazel]

And keep giving him Denzel's unwanted food and some water!

[Diana]

Yes continue with food and water.

It will take time gaining his trust. What about a humane trap? I doubt he has a decent home poor guy.

[charlie_rabbit01]

He came back without the collar.

Any advice on the ticks? I'm paranoid I'll get an infestation in my home.

[charlie_rabbit01]

He's been here all today.

We managed to get the ticks off him he was so good, just lay there and let us do it.

He's been sunbathing since then.

[Diana]

Bless him, he certainly is giving you more trust. Try leaflets and posters. If no owner is found have you an idea what to do next? Would you adopt him or begin contacting shelters?

For now I would continue with the food and water.

[charlie_rabbit01]

He has absolutely taken to my partner.

I'm still waiting for CPS to contact me.

We'd love to adopt him but he's just far to dominant for Denzel.

Apart from waiting for CPS to contact me I'm not sure what to do.

[Diana]

I would continue doing what your doing, feeding him and giving him water. You will be very surprised at how quickly this stray and Denzel get on, in time they will accept each other.

The cats protection would offer to neuter him but would release him back where he was found,which is with you. Keep gaining his trust and I am sure both cats will get on very well and who knows...

[Hazel]

Don't worry about Denzel, he's a Siamese, he'll soon be the boss unless he's happy for the other cat to be dominant. He'll certainly hold his own. It's better to have a cat each to cuddle
Well done on the tip removal. It's great that he trusted you to do that. He's obviously not totally wild. Maybe he'll turn to out be microchipped and just lost.

[charlie_rabbit01]

I'm going to see if there is a lost cat facebook group I can put him on.


Denzel won't come in the house if Terry is in, plus Terry scratched his ear.

[Diana]

Denzel is used to being only cat ergo the hesitation. But this always happens at start. Soon though I would imagine that the two will get used to one another.

Terry allowed you to take off the ticks, which is a wicked start. The trust is building.

[charlie_rabbit01]

Update:

Terry hadn't visited for a couple of days and just so happened to turn up whilst I was at home on a lunch break today.

I managed to get hold of CPS whilst he was there and they asked me to keep him in and someone will be round this evening (5:15) to scan him for a chip!

A couple of my neighbours think he's an opportunist thief, but he was crying whilst I was on the phone to the cat welfare officer and she said she could hear him crying and he sounded like a stray who has lost his home.

Fingers crossed for this evening.