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Suffering pet , what to do?

(57 Posts)
Iam64 Tue 06-Dec-16 19:46:26

I know it isn't what you want to hear but I believe you have to speak to your neighbours. Are you sure they haven't already taken their cat to the vet, or that they are deliberately neglecting it. Old cats often look dreadful, skinny things. If it were my cat, I'm sure I'd be making that final loving decision but it isn't my cat, it belongs to your neighbours.

MissAdventure Tue 06-Dec-16 19:39:22

There are a few awful cat diseases that could be causing the poor old things problems
I'm sure its actually illegal not to seek medical treatment for a poorly pet.
I suppose you could dress up a policeman?
Sorry for making light, because its a horrible situation.

petra Tue 06-Dec-16 19:34:59

Do you think that the owners would care if the cat ' dissapeared'. It doesn't sound like it to me. In fact it's downright bloody cruel. If it were me I would take it to the vet to be humanely put out of its misery.

Purpledaffodil Tue 06-Dec-16 19:28:25

Have you thought of contacting the Cats Protection League? www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/helpline
A friend has done a lot of work with them and they have a helpline which may be able to give you advice.
I know they work with vets to alleviate suffering in cats. Tricky problem for you.

Elegran Tue 06-Dec-16 19:28:25

I think the vet would examine the cat whether it belonged to you or not. You do need to be careful though. My aunt was sorry for a neighbour's neglected cat which kept coming in, she took him to a vet and paid for his treatment, and was then accused of luring him in and stealing him! This wasn't a valuable pedigree cat but a mixed moggy. (Eventually not only that one but also the mother cat decided to move in with her)

MissAdventure Tue 06-Dec-16 19:27:12

Strangely enough, I've been in the exact situation you find yourself in
What I did doesn't mean I'm suggesting it was right, but well, I did it
I took my neighbours cat, who very obviously had a badly injured leg, which hadn't had medical attention, to a cat sanctuary, and told them she was a stray.
I never told a soul, and feel I did the right thing.
My neighbours told me the cat was limping "for attention". They had various pets, which they got rid of as and when the novelty wore off, or neglected. They really weren't animals lovers at at..

f77ms Tue 06-Dec-16 19:12:14

The problem is it is not my pet which is why I am so torn about what to do . The people next door have been my neighbours for 30 years , we don`t have a very close relationship but are pleasant and make small talk on occasion . They have a dog who they adore and a cat of about 12 who spends most of his time in my house , I have a cat flap for my cats and as many times as I put him out he just comes back. For the last couple of years he has been unwell , lost loads of weight and looks pretty miserable . I have spoken to them a few times about him and I know they did take him to the vet once , they took his teeth out and charged them £500 so they were not best pleased as it didn`t make any difference to his condition . The last few months he just looks dreadful , makes a funny noise when eating and coughs a lot . Obviously it is not contagious to my cats as they would have caught it by now . I just don`t know what to do , would they see him at the vet as he is not my cat? , should I say he is a stray? I know it is pointless speaking to the neighbours yet again as they obviously don`t care about the poor thing but he is plainly suffering . I don`t want to fall out with them as it will be very uncomfortable to live next door but feel I need to do something . Any suggestions which are not to speak to them again about the cat as it is pointless .