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to feed or not to feed visiting cat
I have a friend... no really, it isn't me... but my friend is being visited
by a cat who she said looked skinny when she first started coming around. So she was feeding her and would let her in only to part of their house when the weather was bad. She comes twice a day for food and always leaves at night and sounds to me like she prefers it outside, but likes my friend as she has left her dead presents on the doorstep. She says she otherwise looks to be in good shape - just skinny. All of a sudden the cat showed up with a collar on and a note attached to the collar saying this cat doesn't belong to you so stop feeding it. So now, of course, the cat is visiting regularly and deploying her best feed me tactics which can be so hard to ignore coming from such a cute face. What should my friend do? I want to say if the original owners cared so much about what the cat was eating they wouldn't let it outside where she can hunt and kill her own food. Or if there's a medical reason - that she should only be eating a special food - again why let her live so much of her life outside where she can eat plenty of other critters on her own. And besides which, the cat is in my friend's yard - her private property. So seems as though she could just as easily send a note back telling them to keep their [un-collared until now so that no one would know if it were stray, feral, or belonged to someone] cat out of her yard if they don't want her to feed it. If they're so concerned about it's well being, keep it inside where it will be safe from passing cars, dogs, foxes, diseases, and good hearted people like my friend who are saving the owners some $ on their cat food expenses. But then, I guess if the cat can hunt as she's showed, then she can also feed herself and maybe the owners wishes should be respected and she should be left to be on her own. In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? Thanks, Lydia |
In article ,
enlightened us with... But then, I guess if the cat can hunt as she's showed, then she can also feed herself and maybe the owners wishes should be respected and she should be left to be on her own. In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? If the cat is skinny - feed it. The owners obviously aren't caring for it very well. If the cat were supposed to be on a special diet, it should not be roaming about. If the owners want people to leave it alone, they should take care to keep it on their property. Cats that make kills don't always eat the kill. When I had a large backyard as a child, we let our cats out. They'd often make kills, but we never saw a bite taken out of them (dead carcasses on the porch). They'd be totally intact - just dead. Also, area wildlife can be poisonous to eat, depending on your area and the use of pesticides and critter-control chemicals. Cats (or any predators) rarely catch totally healthy adult animals. They go for the sick, weak, old, or young. If they get a sick one, it could be deadly. A person I know that lets their cats out lost one when it ate a poisoned mouse from the neighboring farm. ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Hey, if you got it flaunt it! If you don't, stare at someone who does. Just don't lick the TV screen, it leaves streaks. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- |
In article ,
enlightened us with... But then, I guess if the cat can hunt as she's showed, then she can also feed herself and maybe the owners wishes should be respected and she should be left to be on her own. In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? If the cat is skinny - feed it. The owners obviously aren't caring for it very well. If the cat were supposed to be on a special diet, it should not be roaming about. If the owners want people to leave it alone, they should take care to keep it on their property. Cats that make kills don't always eat the kill. When I had a large backyard as a child, we let our cats out. They'd often make kills, but we never saw a bite taken out of them (dead carcasses on the porch). They'd be totally intact - just dead. Also, area wildlife can be poisonous to eat, depending on your area and the use of pesticides and critter-control chemicals. Cats (or any predators) rarely catch totally healthy adult animals. They go for the sick, weak, old, or young. If they get a sick one, it could be deadly. A person I know that lets their cats out lost one when it ate a poisoned mouse from the neighboring farm. ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Hey, if you got it flaunt it! If you don't, stare at someone who does. Just don't lick the TV screen, it leaves streaks. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- |
I wouldn't respect the owner's wishes if
the cat is clearly skinny/underfed and is also allowed to roam freely. I totally agree. The cat is clearly not receiving proper care. If I were in this situation I think I would make the cat effectively "disappear" if you know what I mean... ;-) Megan (hoping the cat ends up in a caring home - nudge-nudge wink-wink) "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
I wouldn't respect the owner's wishes if
the cat is clearly skinny/underfed and is also allowed to roam freely. I totally agree. The cat is clearly not receiving proper care. If I were in this situation I think I would make the cat effectively "disappear" if you know what I mean... ;-) Megan (hoping the cat ends up in a caring home - nudge-nudge wink-wink) "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
I wouldn't respect the owner's wishes if
the cat is clearly skinny/underfed and is also allowed to roam freely. I totally agree. The cat is clearly not receiving proper care. If I were in this situation I think I would make the cat effectively "disappear" if you know what I mean... ;-) Megan (hoping the cat ends up in a caring home - nudge-nudge wink-wink) "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
Hi Lydia,
Being from the UK where we have many indoor/outdoor cats , I'm gong to disagree with everyone else and say you should tell your friend to leave the cat alone. Just because your friend thinks the cat is skinny , doesn't mean to say it is . Cats are opportunists and your friend is enticing it away from its owners. She leaves at night to go home. Cats often bring dead prey as presents, especially females. The cat has an owner who has told your friend to leave it alone . Don't impose your beliefs on someone else's cat . -- Alison Rescues. http://mysite.freeserve.com/AnimalRescueLinksUK/ Links to animal information websites http://mysite.freeserve.com/petinfolinks/ "Lydia" wrote in message ... I have a friend... no really, it isn't me... but my friend is being visited by a cat who she said looked skinny when she first started coming around. So she was feeding her and would let her in only to part of their house when the weather was bad. She comes twice a day for food and always leaves at night and sounds to me like she prefers it outside, but likes my friend as she has left her dead presents on the doorstep. She says she otherwise looks to be in good shape - just skinny. All of a sudden the cat showed up with a collar on and a note attached to the collar saying this cat doesn't belong to you so stop feeding it. So now, of course, the cat is visiting regularly and deploying her best feed me tactics which can be so hard to ignore coming from such a cute face. What should my friend do? I want to say if the original owners cared so much about what the cat was eating they wouldn't let it outside where she can hunt and kill her own food. Or if there's a medical reason - that she should only be eating a special food - again why let her live so much of her life outside where she can eat plenty of other critters on her own. And besides which, the cat is in my friend's yard - her private property. So seems as though she could just as easily send a note back telling them to keep their [un-collared until now so that no one would know if it were stray, feral, or belonged to someone] cat out of her yard if they don't want her to feed it. If they're so concerned about it's well being, keep it inside where it will be safe from passing cars, dogs, foxes, diseases, and good hearted people like my friend who are saving the owners some $ on their cat food expenses. But then, I guess if the cat can hunt as she's showed, then she can also feed herself and maybe the owners wishes should be respected and she should be left to be on her own. In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? Thanks, Lydia |
Hi Lydia,
Being from the UK where we have many indoor/outdoor cats , I'm gong to disagree with everyone else and say you should tell your friend to leave the cat alone. Just because your friend thinks the cat is skinny , doesn't mean to say it is . Cats are opportunists and your friend is enticing it away from its owners. She leaves at night to go home. Cats often bring dead prey as presents, especially females. The cat has an owner who has told your friend to leave it alone . Don't impose your beliefs on someone else's cat . -- Alison Rescues. http://mysite.freeserve.com/AnimalRescueLinksUK/ Links to animal information websites http://mysite.freeserve.com/petinfolinks/ "Lydia" wrote in message ... I have a friend... no really, it isn't me... but my friend is being visited by a cat who she said looked skinny when she first started coming around. So she was feeding her and would let her in only to part of their house when the weather was bad. She comes twice a day for food and always leaves at night and sounds to me like she prefers it outside, but likes my friend as she has left her dead presents on the doorstep. She says she otherwise looks to be in good shape - just skinny. All of a sudden the cat showed up with a collar on and a note attached to the collar saying this cat doesn't belong to you so stop feeding it. So now, of course, the cat is visiting regularly and deploying her best feed me tactics which can be so hard to ignore coming from such a cute face. What should my friend do? I want to say if the original owners cared so much about what the cat was eating they wouldn't let it outside where she can hunt and kill her own food. Or if there's a medical reason - that she should only be eating a special food - again why let her live so much of her life outside where she can eat plenty of other critters on her own. And besides which, the cat is in my friend's yard - her private property. So seems as though she could just as easily send a note back telling them to keep their [un-collared until now so that no one would know if it were stray, feral, or belonged to someone] cat out of her yard if they don't want her to feed it. If they're so concerned about it's well being, keep it inside where it will be safe from passing cars, dogs, foxes, diseases, and good hearted people like my friend who are saving the owners some $ on their cat food expenses. But then, I guess if the cat can hunt as she's showed, then she can also feed herself and maybe the owners wishes should be respected and she should be left to be on her own. In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? Thanks, Lydia |
Hi Lydia,
Being from the UK where we have many indoor/outdoor cats , I'm gong to disagree with everyone else and say you should tell your friend to leave the cat alone. Just because your friend thinks the cat is skinny , doesn't mean to say it is . Cats are opportunists and your friend is enticing it away from its owners. She leaves at night to go home. Cats often bring dead prey as presents, especially females. The cat has an owner who has told your friend to leave it alone . Don't impose your beliefs on someone else's cat . -- Alison Rescues. http://mysite.freeserve.com/AnimalRescueLinksUK/ Links to animal information websites http://mysite.freeserve.com/petinfolinks/ "Lydia" wrote in message ... I have a friend... no really, it isn't me... but my friend is being visited by a cat who she said looked skinny when she first started coming around. So she was feeding her and would let her in only to part of their house when the weather was bad. She comes twice a day for food and always leaves at night and sounds to me like she prefers it outside, but likes my friend as she has left her dead presents on the doorstep. She says she otherwise looks to be in good shape - just skinny. All of a sudden the cat showed up with a collar on and a note attached to the collar saying this cat doesn't belong to you so stop feeding it. So now, of course, the cat is visiting regularly and deploying her best feed me tactics which can be so hard to ignore coming from such a cute face. What should my friend do? I want to say if the original owners cared so much about what the cat was eating they wouldn't let it outside where she can hunt and kill her own food. Or if there's a medical reason - that she should only be eating a special food - again why let her live so much of her life outside where she can eat plenty of other critters on her own. And besides which, the cat is in my friend's yard - her private property. So seems as though she could just as easily send a note back telling them to keep their [un-collared until now so that no one would know if it were stray, feral, or belonged to someone] cat out of her yard if they don't want her to feed it. If they're so concerned about it's well being, keep it inside where it will be safe from passing cars, dogs, foxes, diseases, and good hearted people like my friend who are saving the owners some $ on their cat food expenses. But then, I guess if the cat can hunt as she's showed, then she can also feed herself and maybe the owners wishes should be respected and she should be left to be on her own. In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? Thanks, Lydia |
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