what would you do

[sarahj]

My best mate moved into a new flat with her two ferrets and her doggies live at home with the parents.

She wanted a cat but living in a flat didn't want to get a cat and keep it shut in all the time so she went to a rescue and asked for a cat with health issues that would mean that it couldn't go outside.

i went with her and there were a few cats with health problems (feline aids, brain damage etc) and she settled on a 6 year old really grumpy black cat with arthritis called Sally who they said hadn't been out and shouldnt go out because of her stiffness.

Sally was on metacam. She walked like a bulldog and her claws were permanently out (as normally they keep their claws in). After a few days she decided to cut her claws because they were always out and they kept getting stuck in the soft furnishings and she would fall over.

When we had a look at them her claws were all overgrown and digging into her paw pads, when we cut them the claws shattered (like a rotten nail).

Now she walks fine and neither of us think she actually has arthritis but was walking funny and not jumping because she had sore feet.

Sally cat has been crying at the window and my friend said her meow sounds like mee--out. lol

She is getting a second opinion from her own vet today but is worried because if she doesn't have arthritis she doesn't want to keep her in the flat and deprive her of the chance of going outside.

what would you do??

[DelsMum]

I am disgusted that the rescue didn't notice the state of the poor cats claws, I would moan to the RSPCA about their standards.

Some cats are happy being house cats, but they need stimuli/things to do. has she gots scrtaching posts (her claws might grow back!)

see what the vet says. if he gives her a clean bill of health it will be a different story. could the cat get out and in from your friends flat or is it too high up?

[LOVEGSD]

Shocking that the rescue centre didn't notice this!!!!!

Was she an outdoor cat before do you know?? I know some cats can cope with being housecats providing there are lots of things tn entertain them.

I think only your friend would know whether her cat could cope with being shut in or not? Just out of interest is the flat ground floor? No chance of putting a cat flap in??

Lynn
x

[sarahj]

The rescue said it was an indoor cat that had never been outside but we don't believe them. They also said she is not very playful...she is she loves playing with her little catnip fish on a string. She even gets on her hind legs and sits like a meerkat! Also to add emma hasn't given Sally cat the metacam since she cut her claws and she has been fine.

She lives on the first floor so no cat flap but there is a lovely bit of garden outside which sally cat can see when she looks out the window.

We are all disgusted at the state of her claws, i thought they were full of dried mud but it was just bits of overgrown dead nail.

Even if Sally could cope as a house cat i don't think my friend could because she feels like she is depriving her of the outside. I have offered to take her (one more sally wont hurt) but she hates other cats.

sj x

[LOVEGSD]

Oh what a nightmare for your friend!

I think only your friend can make the decision as to whether she could re-home her with someone who can let her out. Does she know of anyone?

[sarahj]

well she asked me if i would have her and we brought my super friendly cat gizmo round to see if they could make friends and she was not a friendly cat! Gizmo is really good every animal he has met he just automatically accepts.

Because she doesn't seem to like other animals that rules out her parents (they have 3 dogs and a cat called streaky bacon). We don't know anyone else who would want a cat who doesn't already have pets.

One thing is for sure she will not be going back to the rescue!

[LOVEGSD]

I really hope you can find a home for her if that's the route your friend decides to go down......xx

[ArchandEbs]

Hi Sarah

My two cats are indoor cats. One has to be because he is completely deaf and the other one is a pedigree Birman and is a little stupid!

Over here most people keep their cats indoors. Mine sit by the flyscreen doors and enjoy the breeze and the fresh air. I've got lots of toys to entertain them, scratching posts and things they can climb. I've got lots of gym equipment in the garage and quite frankly the cats get more use out of it jumping on and off it all the time

My other cat used to go out but he tended to stay in the garden.

Believe it or not there is a cat curfew and you're supposed to keep them in at night so they don't kill the native wildlife.

A house cat can have a very fulfilling life. When I was in the UK one of my cats got very badly injured and was missing for five days. She had a fractured pelvis and my mum and dad looked after her as she had to have cage rest. At the end of her rehabilitation mum and dad couldn't give her back. She made the transition from being an outdoor cat to an indoor cat really well.

[Sully Monster]

The rescue really should of noticed this poor girls claws - that is bad care on their behalf.

As for the cat in the flat - haha that rhymes!!! - I really cant see the problem. Am I missing something here because there really doesnt seem to be anything to be stressing about. I have lived in flats - many years ago - and had cats and it was never an issue. i had a litter tray for when they were in but they were out most of the time. They would sit and meow to be let out and then they would meow to be let back in again. Being on the first floor there shouldn't be any problem - it is not like it is a long way to go up and down stairs.

Tbh if she is thinking of rehoming this cat already I would be seriously wondering about her suitability to have a cat at all. Sorry to sound like I am being horrible but I just dont see the issue here tbh

[sarahj]

sorry i should say she does not WANT to rehoming the her, she just wants what is best for Sally cat.

All she is worried about is that the cat will be unhappy if she has to stay in. neither of us or our families have ever had indoor cats so its not something we are used to, my dads family have always had persians and our last one Nicodemus was the closest we had to an indoor cat ...he just used to strut round the garden then come back in but he always had the option to go out.

Letting Sally cat out from the flat is not a problem but the flats communal areas are owned by all the residents and animals in the lobby/stairwell must be on a lead. If Sally cat goes outside and somebody lets her in the main door (accidental or otherwise) she will be stuck in the stairwell all day.


She called me from the vet and...Sally cat does not have arthritis! The vet said no swelling in the joints etc and he thinks its highly unlikely that she has it, but she does have to stay in for 6 weeks because she has fungal infections in her nails!!

sj x