RSPCA not happy

[13oots2]

Over the past few weeks I have noticed a very small malnourished tom cat on my way to the local shop. On several occasions I have seen him tearing open bin bags to get at bits of food. Talking to a friend that lives near by it seems he is owned by an elderly lady but is outside in all weathers and always ravenous when given titbits of food.

3 local residents including myself have contacted the RSPCA to report the poor animal. After 2 weeks of no response from them several of us have banded together to give the cat a decent meal a day. I phoned the RSPCA today to tell them that we were feeding the cat and was told that we shouldn't be doing that and it can take about 30 days for the case to be investigated. Is the poor animal supposed to starve since the RSPCA does not recommend feeding animals in cases like this? Being a true cat lover I am disgusted by the response of the organisation that is supposed to protect them.

[Rob998]

You have to remember that the RSPCA is funded by public donations and in your area they might not always have the resources to deal immediately with an animal, that whilst in some distress, is obviously able to look after itself to some degree (ie scavenge/hunt).

If it had been a cat locked in a building with no way of fending for itself then I'm sure the case would have been given a high priority.

However, lest you think me an apologist for them, a few years ago I tried to adopt a dog from the RSPCA. The Inspector refused to let me adopt as I worked full time. Fair enough you might think, it's not fair on the dog to be left alone all day. But, at the time, I worked for the MoD & was posted to a massive army base. My rank entitled me to an office of my own, and virtually everyone, military & civilian over the rank of Captain or equivalent used to bring their dogs into work and there was obviously loads of open space that was available for exercising the dogs. Lunch time & NAAFI breaks were like a military version of any park on a sunny Sunday. I explained this to the inspector & he said all that didn't matter, that he wasn't going to allow me to adopt the dog anyway because it might not like being in a work environment (a bloody great big office with only me in it & access to hundreds of acres of open fields & other dogs to play with at least twice a day!!!). He was quite simply an officious little sod who by his attitude probably sentenced that dog to a life sentence or even death.

[GlassWolf]

Being a cat guy myself, homing 20 rescues here in my house, and working with a number of groups in the US, like ASPCA, diabetic cat rescue groups, blind cat and FIV/FeLV+ sanctuaries, and groups for cats with paralysis and mobilities issues, I can relate to the desire to help the little guys.

If the owner of the cat isn't caring for the animal, and the RSPCA won't do anything, another option, if the cat is approachable, is to take the cat in, yourself. Give it a reliable home, and food. It's the humane thing to do, if you are able to offer that sort of support for him.

[Mark E Smith's Dentist]

If the owner of the cat isn't caring for the animal, and the RSPCA won't do anything, another option, if the cat is approachable, is to take the cat in, yourself. Give it a reliable home, and food. It's the humane thing to do, if you are able to offer that sort of support for him.

+1. If he's not being looked after by his human carer what use is she?

As for the RSPCA, I gave them a donation a couple of years ago and they've been sending me junk mail about once a month since. I started RTS'ing it with "DECEASED" on the front but they're still wasting other people's donations and at the same time putting me off donating again because I can see where my money went now.

I'm not saying they don't do worthwhile things but mailshotting me emotive pictures of skinny puppies is not a good use of their resources.

*gets off soapbox*



JT

[13oots2]

Believe me I would take him in like a shot but have 3 problems with that- I have 3 cats of my own and my tom cat Morpheus would not take kindly to another tom. Also I live in a smallish flat and 3 is the absolute limit, I was only ever going to have 2 but adopted another when a chap downstairs got a dog that was too much for Nyx to handle.

[satanfriendly]

Being let down by the RSPCA, do you not have any local 'animal rescue centres' down your way 13?

One of my moggies comes from a local pet hospice and so pleased to have him in with the family. Most of all he seemed to like having a home he can call his...although the big white cat had a different opinion.

[dlaloum]

About 18 months ago a gorgeous Bengal turned up in our back yard... we waited several weeks to see whether he had a home/owner, posted notices in the local vets and pet shops, as well as the lost pets websites....

In the end we adopted him, named him Tiga and he joined our two boys (who were very not happy about the newcomer).

Over time we discovered he had an immune system problem (pododermatitis) - the medications ended up causing him kidney failure.... bit of a rock and a hard place for the poor cat.

We think that the previous owner dumped him due to the expenses involved in caring for him.

He had a relatively cushy 12 months in our home before his illness got to the point where he had to be put down....

On his disappearance from our home - our other two cats appeared to virtually dance on his grave... (they really were not happy about the interloper!)

So yes indeed I understand looking after a local cat in trouble...

Mind you there were moments - like the time he was upset with my other half, and laid a big warm pile right on the spot where she gets out of bed.

I couldn't stop laughing - she did not find it half so funny....

bye for now

David

[steve195527]

I find it rather odd the cat seems malnourished,biggest problem with stray cats isn't their inability to fend for themselves but the inability to control their breeding,even the local rspca used to state this whenever we visited them to collect yet another stray to home for them,this was before cats protection league had anything local(over 20yrs ago)I wouldn't have thought in the interim time period cats have become less proficient at hunting/scavenging unless old and infirm

[GlassWolf]

This is why we're seeing more and more groups forming and turning to TNR programs for local feral colonies. Trap-Neuter-Return is the best way to keep the feral population healthy, and it's far more humane than just destroying them all.

[bloomi]

Reminds me of what happened to me a few years back. Was walking my dog with a friend and their dog when we came across a stray dog. It seemed friendly enough and followed us, so when we got back to the car park I asked my friend to take my dog home, put the stray in the car and took it to the RSPCA. I quote; "Oh no, we don't take in stray animals, you'll have to take it home and call the dog warden".

[dlaloum]

More than 80% of the adult stray cats picked up here in Melbourne, end up being put down.
RSPCA runs one of the largest strays centers, although there are several others. But the statistics are seriously nasty for any adult cat.
Dogs fare a bit better (but still not all that great!).
Only Kittens and Puppies have a decent chance of finding a home.

[LPfan]

Hi 13oots2,

Is it possible for you to approch the elderly lady and try to find out what is wrong? Is she not aware of the cat's food needs or parhaps there are some other issues.

Regards,

LPfan
(full time servent of seven cats and one dog, most of them taken in from the road)

[JoeE SP9]

It's hard for me to think of adopting a fully mature pet. They have usually developed some behavior patterns that I can't deal with. Leaving a "gift" on the floor is a perfect example.

All in all I prefer the behavior I'm used too. If I raise a kitten or puppy I know what to expect. Grown pets have way too many surprises.

[GlassWolf]

It's hard for me to think of adopting a fully mature pet. They have usually developed some behavior patterns that I can't deal with. Leaving a "gift" on the floor is a perfect example.

All in all I prefer the behavior I'm used too. If I raise a kitten or puppy I know what to expect. Grown pets have way too many surprises.

That is complete, and total disinformation. There are plenty of articles on-line which will disprove this myth completely. Most pet behavior issues are caused by their owners or living conditions, and are easily, and quite quickly adjusted or remedied by simple means, most often accomplished by re-training the pets' owner.
It's people spreading ignorance and myths like these that are a leading cause for people not wanting to give adult pets a chance in shelters, which is a real tragedy.

THIS MONTH, JUNE, IS (USA) NATIONAL ADOPT AN ADULT SHELTER CAT MONTH!