Sort of adopted a cat!

[mrsj]

Hi

A few months ago we noticed a tabby cat hanging around our house and caterwauling a lot, he/she came and went so we assumed he was a farm cat from one of the farms around us looking for females as the people who previously owned our house had lots of cats all over the place.

The last few days we've seen him a lot in our cart shed on an old blanket and today the people who have a holiday home nearby said that the previous owners had a cat just like that - it seems they left him/her behind when they moved away in July!!

Poor mog. We went and bought him some food today which he gobbled up. He doesn't seem to want to come into the house and is happy enough on his blanket- and he leaves my chickens well alone - so we are letting him stay there to put the rats off. We don't really want him to want to come in to the house what with the baby arriving soon. I am assuming he's a he but maybe not - he is too nervous to get close to to check!

Anyway, without sounding tight-fisted, can anyone tell me the cheapest mog food available for him/her? The only cats we have had before were when we lived with our parents and they were totally spoilt "posh" food only moggies!

[Pippa]

I am happy to hear you have the privilege of being adopted by a cat. The really own brand food is not always very pleasant, Kite-Kat and Felix usually go down and stay down, the jelly ones are good as moist. I cook (just poach off) really cheap chicken breasts for mine, it seems to be more satisfying.

[mrsj]

Thanks Pippa, we've also found out today that she is a she and quite an old cat, she does look a bit stiff - also found out that previous owners of house and cat had 7 cats, one very young pregnant one too!

[Ivy]

Beware of the stench. I do not mean the cat but the food. I know you are somewhat sensitive to smells. My cats get/got dry food no smell and it does not attract flies in summer when you feed it outside. Environment also benefits as you do not have the tins. Don't know any cheap foods though try supermarket home brands.

[jazzactivist]

Good for you, mrsj, to take on this lonely moggie. I agree with Ivy that dry food is probably the best, and works out cheapest in the long run too. I changed my elderly dog to dry foo, moistened with a little water, and wish that I had done it years ago. He really likes it, and there is no yucky smell or tins to dispose of.

[mrsj]

Ivy & jazz, thanks for the smell warning! We did indeed buy dry food and that is potent enough for me! Cat seems to appreciate it so we are all happy! xx

[Oola]

I would be careful of giving the cat just dry food. We had a stray that we adopted many years ago, and at that time Mum was just feeding them on dry food. As a result, he lacked enough moisture in his diet and ended up getting crystals in his bladder, which blocked it and was almost fatal. Luckily he had a catheter and his problem was sorted out successfully.

But since then, about 8 years ago or so, we've fed them on a diet of both biscuits (dry food) and moist cat food. Felix always goes down well, the more you buy in bulk the cheaper it'll be.

[Redstart]

Oola's right, if you give only dry food you must ensure there is plenty of water available for drinking. We give our cats a mixture - half soft cat food and half biscuits (for their teeth) and always have water available on both floors - they chose their own drinking vessels and drink out of an ornamental watering by the kitchen door and a beer mug just outside the bedroom door. Plus outside when it isn't frozen.

And don't put the drinking vessel near the food, it needs to be separate from it.

[susiedart]

Good for you. I hate seeing these programmes on TV where so many new puppies are abandoned after Christmas. My farming daughter has had 3 cats arrive on her doorstep, which she has had to take in & they do keep any rats away in return!

[mrsj]

have just seen Mog eating something she has caught! Yuk! She seems happy enough and do not worry there is water for her in a bowl near her bed and plenty of water round about too (well we are in Wales). We've emailed her old owners in case they want her back as the holiday cottage people said they'd ring them to tell them she was here - don't want to be accused of cat-napping (ha ha) as the family we bought from are rather peculiar . . .

[mrsj]

They are going to come and fetch the cat! Watch this space . . .