A Dilemma

Thankyou for helping to make me feel better, it still hurts, but I know I did try, and eventually got the family to do the right thing.

Suedonim I think your name is very clever.
I am DTE, because I am.

You’ve done all could you manage to do, Downtoearth (love your name, btw!) so don’t feel guilty.

Sorry to hear all this DOWNTOEARTH. You really have done the right thing, for yourself and the poor cat. You did your best despite having family problems of your own. I hope you can try and put it behind you now. 💐

Thankyou❤

downtoearth, we all have times when what is being asked of us is too much. This was one of those times for whatever reason. You did a good thing for the time you helped out. Concentrate on that aspect, not the part where you were being asked to do do more than you could. Be kind to yourself.

You did the right thing, downtoearth so don’t feel guilty about it. If you’d been in a position to take on the cat I’m sure you would have offered.

I hope your family issues are soon sorted. 💐

Unfortunately this has really upset me, I have always helped any who needed it in my small cul de sac.

I am animal lover and now doubting myself because I couldnt take on the poor animal and feel an awful amount of guilt over not doing so,apart from repeated requests to the sister to deal with the issue.

Have had a stressful couple of weeks within my own family that has zapped my energy levels and this has been the straw that has broken me.

Wow - really a case of no good deed ,,,

Animal rescue charities are overwhelmed at the moment. Many people can no longer afford to look after their pets and dump them. Could you ask other neighbours to help?

Unfortunately dont know woman that well.

She dosent have money, she is on benfits.

Have rung both RSPCA, and cats protection, and told the sister I had.

Neither RSPCA, or CPL interested as not have ownershop or POA.
passed from pillar to post.

Sent angry message to sister saying what I had done.

Cat collected within 20 minutes.

Think that urine has been extracted

Thanks for suggestions and support.
I hate getting snotty, but it worked.

Contact Cats' Protection League. They have a list of local cat fosterers who step in in situations just like this.

If the owner has pet insurance she may well have cattery cover in the event of her illness. My cat's insurance covers this.

I too suggest that the cat goes to a cattery which the woman herself or her family can pay for.
I think you should look up catteries or boarding kennels in your area and offer the family that you will bring the cat there to help them out.
That will ensure the cat is looked after by a professional for the time till the woman can make a decision.
Hope that wherever the woman goes the cat then can go with her. Quite a few residential homes are willing to take a person with a cat, I know the one I worked at did.

Contact the Cinnamon Trust, they are a charity for just these type of circumstances, supporting the elderly and their cats if the owner dies, falls ill or has to move to residential accommodation. Cats Protection is another charity that will step in when an owner is no longer able to look after their cat. Please don't abandon her, it's not her fault, and she must be so unhappy, lonely and confused that her owner is no longer there to look after her.

Speak to the family to suggest it go to a shelter for the time being. Our dog went back to the breeder while my late husband was in hospital. The cat is not your responsibilitythe family should take over one way or another. I don't like cats so I wouldn't do it.

Dont punish the poor cat for inconsiderate family. Get her to Cats Protection or similar asap for both your sakes. If family do not like it then they should make arrangements but sounds as if left to them they will just leave her outside to fend for herself or even worse take her somewhere unknown to the poor cat & dump her! Please get advice from CP or other Rescues?

Stand firm. There are animal charities who would foster the cat until a decision was made. If they have animal insurance, there should be an allowance for kennelling the cat. Just write and tell them you will not be looking after the cat any more and it is up to them to sort things out.

Don't feel bad about not taking her, you've cared for her the last few weeks & it doesn't sound like anyone else would have bothered. Someone will probably take her & give her a loving home if she goes to cat protection league or similar.

Hi , could you just go over twice a day to feed the cat . I’ve done that for neighbours .

Easier said than done downtoearth but don't allow her to guilt trip you. Tell her when you're going away and arrangements will need to be made by then, or you'll have to take the poor thing to a rescue centre.

Maybe ask her what her sister would think about how they're not looking out for her cat.

I dont know the owner well enough to visit

We say hello as we pass by.

Have had to get quite heavy, although I hate it,it isnt in my nature to be like it , probably how I got roped in.

I am hoping this will be sorted tomorrow.

Thanks for letting me run this past you all, and for the advice and support I have received.

I hate myself for not being able to take the poor cat, this isnt her fault, so sad.

Surely the cat could be put into a cattery as a temporary measure? Though if it’s not up to date with vaccines, that could be a problem.

I would also go down the Cats’ Protection League route. It might sound harsh but if the family won’t cooperate then it’s a stray cat and not your responsibility.

Is the owner well enough for a visit? Perhaps she has suggestions for her cat. She may well be worried about her cat. If not perhaps family should be discussing arrangements with her. There may be a social worker involved if she needs residential care who could help too.

Just messaged sister again saying all I have on here hope something can be sorted.⁰

I am being guilt tripped at the moment by sister.