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People being over fussy about cat welfare

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Desdemona Wed 08-Jul-26 20:28:15

I have a cat. She is well fed and looked after and likes to go for a little wander about in the area most days.

I am also on a number of local Internet groups, Facebook groups etc. Every day there are numerous people posting that they have had a cat appear in their garden, who does the cat belong to, is it ok etc. Usually the post appears with a picture of a perfectly healthy cat.

The replies range from taking them to the local vet for a chip check, ringing the RSPCA, paper collars on the cat, etc.

Surely if a healthy cat appears in a garden they should be left alone to wander through? There never used to be this fuss around cats, they wander around don't they?

I can understand if a cat appears ill in some way, obviously.

Your thoughts?

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Cossy Wed 08-Jul-26 20:32:51

It’s a hard one I guess with so many “house cats”. Our local Next Door Site is full of “missing” cats, 90% of whom stroll back home a few days later none the worse for wear.

Having four dogs, cats rarely wander into our garden and if they do, don’t stick around for long haha

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MartavTaurus Wed 08-Jul-26 20:40:16

Our DD in London has a skinny rescue cat. He has always been so.
The batty neighbour keeps putting him in a box and taking it to the vet saying he is undernourished!

Leave the cats alone!

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Desdemona Wed 08-Jul-26 20:40:50

Cossy

It’s a hard one I guess with so many “house cats”. Our local Next Door Site is full of “missing” cats, 90% of whom stroll back home a few days later none the worse for wear.

Having four dogs, cats rarely wander into our garden and if they do, don’t stick around for long haha

Absolutely Cossy!

Half the time the "missing cats" are probably ones that that some people assume are strays, and feed them etc (or worse, send them to the RSPCA which in the case of an older or unwell cat could result in them being euthanised.)

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Cossy Wed 08-Jul-26 20:46:46

MartavTaurus

Our DD in London has a skinny rescue cat. He has always been so.
The batty neighbour keeps putting him in a box and taking it to the vet saying he is undernourished!

Leave the cats alone!

Oh that’s so annoying! Almost as annoying as people who insist on feeding other people’s cats!

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Oreo Wed 08-Jul-26 20:46:50

It’s beyond ridiculous isn’t it? Cats enjoy having a wander, always have done.
It’s nosy neighbour syndrome.

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Astitchintime Wed 08-Jul-26 20:59:52

Oreo

It’s beyond ridiculous isn’t it? Cats enjoy having a wander, always have done.
It’s nosy neighbour syndrome.

I just wish the blessed cats would wander elsewhere and NOT leave stinking little piles of poop in my garden!

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pably15 Wed 08-Jul-26 21:12:13

cats wander..its what they do, If you start feeding a cat, he might not go home.

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Desdemona Wed 08-Jul-26 21:18:05

pably15

cats wander..its what they do, If you start feeding a cat, he might not go home.

Which is what I suspect is half the reason for the "missing" cats around my way - it seems too coincidental that we have so many posts by people reporting their missing animal and then so many saying they have cats visiting their house and they are giving them fuss, food, etc.

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Fallingstar Wed 08-Jul-26 22:50:11

We have a neighbourhood forum where people often post pics of cats they have seen wondering who the owner is. Why?
The cats look well fed, wearing collars with a bell sometimes. Then someone will pop up and say that is my cat please don’t feed her or similar.
Is very strange.
When I see cats in the garden or in the street it doesn’t give me any concern unless the cat looks mangy, too thin, with obvious wounds or infected eyes.
Signs of neglect.
We had cats for years and they roamed far and wide.

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