RAGDOLL CAT NEGLECT. NEED HELP.

[whosthatgirl]

Hello.

Im new here and really need some advice.

We have someone staying in our home (A lodger) and they have a Ragdoll female just over a year old.

They keep the cat in the room they sleep in. It's never let out as the door is kept shut. She has a litter tray, food and water bowl.
I do have access to the room.

For the past few months we've noticed that the person is hardly here... Always out. Sometimes for days. (They don't work and are on benefits)

Every time I come home the cat is constantly meowing. Sometimes really loud as if shes crying.
If it gets bad I will just go into the room and check on her and nearly every time there isn't even any water in her bowl. So I give her water. Sometimes i let her out so she can walk around and have cuddles.

Days will past and I realise this person hasn't even been home and the cat hasn't been fed... I will look in the cupboard where the food is normally kept for her and it's empty...

Ive contacted the person before and said "Your cat has no food. You've hardly been here. This is not right!"
The reply is always the same. "I'll be back soon. I'll get food..." They don't. Or it will be an excuse like, " Well I have no money right now".

Well why have a cat then ?

I just really don't know what to do about this because I feel like I need to do something, but what?
I have even gone out and bought food for the cat myself a few times but I really can't afford to look after someone else's animal !

Yet again the cat has gone without food for at least a week now. Ive bought her one pouch. I can't take the crying anymore. Shes becoming matted too because shes obviously not being brushed.

It's heart breaking...

I don't even know if I should report this to RSPCA. Will they even do anything? I don't know. I really don't know what to do. Even if they take the cat away what will happen when the owner finds out I've just had their pet taken away?!

Has anyone got any advice on what is the best way to deal with this situation?

Thank you.

[Ruth B]

That is cruel to any cat, but particularly to a Ragdoll, they crave company and hate being alone.

Dealing with the problem however is more difficult. Does your lodger seem to look after and pay a lot of attention to the cat when they are there, are they always talking about her or does she seem an inconvenience. Do you think they would be willing to put the cat up for rehoming if you confronted them about it. I hate to say it, but if they can't afford to feed it properly then I doubt they could afford any vet care that came up. You say you already let it wander about the house when they are not there, have you asked if they would mind it having more freedom of the house so at least it would have access to company when the lodger isn't there.

I hate to advise involving the RSPCA but they are the ones with the authority to remove an animal if they think it is being neglected. In this case I would also advise contacting one of the specialist Ragdoll Rescue organisations (I believe there are some listed on the Welfare pages of Cat Chat or a quick Google search will bring them up). Explain the situation to them and they might be willing to contact and work with the RSPCA to resolve the problem, and to find the cat a suitable new home.

I would hope that all it would take would be a chat with an inspector and the lodger would admit they are unable to care for the animal, or at least the situation would be being monitored to make sure the cat was looked after correctly. It could even be that knowing a specialist Rescue organisation would rehome the cat might make them willing to give it up, sometimes the fear that the animal would be put down will prevent someone going to the RSPCA even though they know they need help.

Alternatively if you are up to being sneaky and you don't think they would kick up too much of a fuss if the cat vanished, try and get them to accept it having more of a run of the house and then have it 'escape' and be handed over to one of the Ragdoll Rescues on the quiet.

I will also add that Ragdolls are wonderful cats, we had one for 13 years, they are so loving and friendly, but they do need companionship, either a human to be with them or even another cat can help, but to be alone will cause them to become depressed.

[Lilith]

OMG!

I agree with Ruth, especially about the faked escape, but please, please make sure this poor cat gets some food. Even if it's the cheapest of the cheap bog-standard supermarket food, please feed her.

I know you'll feel ripped off by your lodger - but you'll get your reward in heaven, in karma points, whatever.

Please let us know how you go on, too.

[Kay]

if the cat is given one pouch of food a week it will be dead very soon - that is the bottom line here

It may sound harsh but I can't think you are an animal lover yourself, as I feel pretty certain no one on this forum would allow any cat living in their home to starve like this, and I can't think either that the law would exonerate you from all responsibility as you know what is going on

contact the RSPCA tomorrow please

[Ruth B]

I was thinking about this last night and remembered a cat a rescue near here had in that had been left to starve after its 'owners' had moved. That cat didn't make it, lack of food meant that its organs started to shut down and were beyond recovery even after it was taken into care. So please, although I know it isn't right you having to feed someone else's cat, do so, at least for a few days while the situation is sorted out. Also if you opt to feed it dried food, can you please make sure it's water bowl is kept topped up.

I will also say you need to check the room carefully. If the cat hasn't been provided with food and water properly, I very much doubt it's litter tray has been cared for. If the tray is filthy then the cat is likely to find somewhere else to do it's business. This would mean that any carpets, soft furnishings, even floorboards and wall plaster could be being damaged by it. It will also mean that the smell will be ingrained into the fabric of the room and hard to clear afterwards. I hope you got a deposit from your lodger you might be needing it in clean up costs. And to just try and not put too many landlords off, a well looked after cat can manage in a single room as long as its needs are met and there is some one there for it at least part of every day.

[whosthatgirl]

Thank you all for your comments and advice.

I have been feeding her and making sure she has water. Litter tray is being changed aswell.

I am a very big animal lover so obviously im not going to neglect her myself and just leave her to starve. I couldn't do that.

Obviously I need to think very hard about wether to contact the rspca or another organisation.
I am wondering if the rspca wouldn't be interested because she's not injured or anything?

I'm going to look up some Ragdoll organisations etc anyway and see what can be done.

And yes the escape idea I did actually think about before. May do that if I find somewhere that will have her.

Thank you everyone.
I will try and keep you updated.

[nanny pamy]

Can you just let it stay with you. You sound very caring and like someone else has said, its not that expensive to feed a cat

[MarySkater]

If you haven't already done so, I recommend that you keep written records of all the instances of neglect - times the lodger is away, times when you find the cat without food etc. If you contact the RSPCA or other organisation, this is the sort of evidence that will help them with a prosecution for cruelty. I think it's likely that just the threat of such legal action would be enough to make the lodger sign the cat over for rehoming.

As nanny pamy says, it doesn't cost all that much to feed a cat, but to take it on yourself means also accepting responsibility for vet bills, and that can be a serious issue.

I hope you and the cat find a good solution to this.