poorly cat

[josaphine32]

I had a phone call from the vets the other day to ask me if i would be willing to take on another cat as the rspca found her in a terrible state with her collar imbedded under her armpitt, The vets had kept her for 10 days without operating until her owners came forward, after no one claimed her the vets would put her to sleep as the rspca did not want her as she would be to much maintanace ( to many healthy cats) so i could not have her put down so we brought her home yesterday, she is very loving but my cats have taken off in disgust over this and wont come in doors, This cat has to be in a cage for 14 days, what is the best way to get my cats to come in the house, poorly cat is in a bedroom shut in.

[west ham fan]

Hi, I once had a problem just like yours so what I did was to leave the back door open (whilst I was in off course) there was food for them and just allowed them to come in at their own pleasure because as you know we don'y own cats they own us, and after all they will not starve and it is not cold out. We put our poorly cat still in the crate in view of the other cats so they would see there was not any danger coming from the stranger in their midst

[bensmum]

I "fostered" a cat for a while earlier this year and, like yours, my cats were not impressed. As the previous answer suggests let them come round to it in their own time and make sure that you give them lots of fuss. They will accept the newcomer in time.
Having said that I sometimes think that cats are spooked by illness - one of mine had to be kept in a cage after an accident and my others used to hiss at her although they were friendly normally.

[dolly pond]

u r a lovely lady for adopting a poorly cat, u keep telling your old cats that, to stop being spoilt and love their new sibling. xxx he hexxx

[Kleiber]

I took in a little, pregnant stray a couple of years ago. She had her kittens in one of our outbuildings, but when they were weaned I brought her and the 2 little ones we've kept, into the house. I've got 2 other cats, who were 8yrs old at the time & they were, to say the least, a bit put out! I just let them find their own space and left the cat flap open. The stray didn't help matters, as she's a bit of a b..ch, but there's a sort of uneasy peace in the house now. I suppose it doesn't help in that all of the adult cats are tortoiseshell & they're known for their tempers! Oddly, though, although the mother cat intensely dislikes my older girls, one of them gets on fine with the female kitten and the other one adores the little male. As I say, there's a truce now and they just avoid each other. I'm sure yours will come round eventually, too, and so kind of you to take this poor wee cat in! Good luck, Kxx

[natalie_1982]

I have a four year male tabby and recently took on two 12 week old kittens (one male, one female). My tabby was decidely unimpressed and wouldn't come into the house, but as the weeks have gone on (we have had them 6 weeks now) he is getting better and better with them. I used to keep them in their cage and let him sniff around them and then leave the lid open, bit by bit they have become more confident around eachother. They tend to just avoid eachother now but I think that is because the two little ones are just too playful for the the tabby who is stuck in his ways.

We took in a small dog in a similar condition to your new cat, last year, and tabby was not impressed at all. He even attacked the dog at first! but again he got used to it until the dog was rehomed. Yours will be fine, they will come in in their own time.

[B00]

i can't help with your query, but I couldn't help but be appalled by the attitude of the vet and the RSPCA.

If I read you right- the vet wouldn't operate on an obviously injured cat for 10 days why exactly?

And the RSPCA wouldn't take it because it was too "high maintenance"? I always knew the RSPCA were crap, but that further cements my belief!

rant over sorry!

[josaphine32]

yes that is right the rspca would not take the cat on as there was too many healthy cats, The vets did keep the cat comfy within them 10 days and no i did not operate on her (Amba) we called her, but in there diffence i do have to say the operation that they did on her would have cost nearly �400.00, and because they fell in love with her they did it for free and gave me food for her to wean her over and Antibiotics, for free and at the end of it it was a cat saved!!!

[lizzydrippin]

Make an extra fuss of your own cats and give them a little time, they'll come round when they realise the new fostered cat is no threat to them or their food source etc. It seems the richer the RSPCA get the poorer they are at looking after needy and injured animals. Their ad's on the telly asking for more money make me laugh (though admittedly I do turn them off sharpish because of the awful images of suffering animals. Ive seen enough in reality.)

[Kleiber]

I must admit, I agree with what you all say about the RSPCA. I'd rather support the PDSA or Blue Cross.

[wolf63]

Cats Protection are great too. I have never heard anybody say anything negative about them.

We have the SSPCA up in civilisation. They are not nearly as helpful as they used to be - no money!

[lulacat]

Here in Spain, the vets are good, but they have the attitude of "Well we'l have to put it to sleep, not cost-effective"etc. The SPAP rescue shelters are horrible and I feel awful that I cant take in any more puddys. Ive got 4 residents, 2 strays and 2 dogs, but I just want to thank all you lovely, caring people on here for loving your 'babies'. I think the Cats Protection League does a brilliant job, and puts Spanish rescues to shame. Josephine, dont worry, your cats will get used to the new one in time, but they do sense any illness in other cats, and they are just doing a 'cat' thing. They will come around xx

[wolf63]

I won't be moving to Spain when I retire then.

At least here in the UK there are plenty animal people around to help care for the waifs and strays. The Cats Protection do great work and they do it because they like cats. I have just set up a standing order payment for my local branch, not a lot of money but I suppose every little helps.

I hope your pussy cat settles in josaphine.