Stray cat - or is it?

A lovely cat starts hanging round your garden, looking a bit skinny and demanding food and attention. You feel a bit sorry for him, so feed him some scraps of chicken you have left over from Sunday’s roast. The next day there he is again, purring and definitely wanting more food. You notice again he looks like he needs a good feed and this time a bit of fish goes down a treat. The cat continues to visit you for the next few days, until you decide he must be a stray and take him to Grove Lodge.

The cat has no visible means of identification and when scanned no microchip is found, so he is added to our Lost and Found register and signed over to a rescue charity. We admit the cat, examine him and run some tests to ascertain the reason for his weight loss.

Later that day, a worried owner calls enquiring if their 17 year old cat, matching the description of the ‘stray’ brought in earlier, has been brought to us. We tell the owner we might have their cat and they arrive to see him, confirm he is theirs – and is handed a bill. The owner is very annoyed as they are aware their cat has some medical issues for which he is being treated with medication, but has incurred a bill for examination and tests by the vet!

There are two morals to this story: first, please don’t feed cats who visit your garden and second, always get your cat microchipped! It is a one off charge of £16.50 and saves so much heartache should your pet become separated from you.

If a cat has remained in your garden with no encouragement from you, either with food or attention, for seven days and seven nights, please contact WADARS on 01903  217788 and they will collect it. Obviously, if the cat is injured it must be brought straight to Grove Lodge or your own vet for immediate treatment and not left seven days and nights.