Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hello Sharon,
    
    I think you should report her - especially with the weather we are
    having at the moment. It doesn't matter that they can get into the
    house - they need food.
    
    I'm sure the RSPCA will be discreet if you ask them to, but I do
    realise that your mother doesn't want trouble from her neighbour.
    
    Then again, if there have been a number of people voicing their concern
    to her, she won't be able to point the finger at anyone in particular.
    
    Julie

    
    If you reported her then it would be YOU the lady might be mad at,
    not your mother.  I would report her.  She probably isn't actually
    doing anything illegal, so she won't get arrested or anything.  However
    a good scare might make her realize that these cats/kittens are
    living beings.
    
    Good luck!
    Rachael
    

    Having reported someone for animal abuse, be advised that
    the MSPCA was very discreet and did not divulge my name to
    the "culprits", even though I had put my complaint in writing.
    
    The MSPCA representative contacted the town animal control
    officer, and they both went to investigate the situation.
    
    IMHO, that woman doesn't give a hoot about the welfare of
    her animals.  A visit from the officers might/might not make
    her take better care of them, but in this situation, it is the
    cats & kittens that are suffering, and they don't deserve to
    be treated that way.  That you are feeding them (I would do
    no less, in fact I am doing it now! :-)) is fine, however
    they will come to depend on you for food, and it could be
    a financial burden on you. (6 cats plus more to come, as mom
    cat is not spayed).
    Also, as one is ill, this can also be passed along to the
    other cats in the neighborhood.  This is not fair to those
    of you you DO care for your pets.
    
    If you are not comfortable reporting her, then maybe you
    might want to wait until she goes away again, and then
    do the "Cat disappearing trick".  Try to find homes for them
    and/or take them to a local shelter.  If she comes over to
    ask if you have seen any of her cats, just make some vague
    comment that you saw the black one sitting on her front porch,
    or the grey one was sitting on the front lawn yesterday, etc.
    
    I can't stand the thought of an animal going hungry or thirsty,
    so your situation would drive me out of my mind.  That's why
    I feed the cat that lives down the street.  She was so thin
    that she felt like nothing when picked up.  Now she comes every
    day to say hello, and to get her "snack".  She follows me around
    and helps me with the barn chores. :-) :-)
    
    Good luck-
    
    Lynne
    

    Well I reported her...but boy did they give me a hard time.
    
    Firstly they said my mother shouldn't feed them!!!  So I said what
    do you want her to do let them starve!!!  and how can she ignore
    them when they sit (all four) in a row staring through her glass
    front door.
    
    Anyway the RSPCA woman said she would inform the inspector so hopefully
    this lady will get a visit soon.
    
    Hope I did the right thing.
    
    Sharon

    The RSPCA gave you a hard time?  Good thing it wasn't
    me......(Grrrrr-rip face off of obnoxious woman...)
    
    Anyway, find out who the SPCA officer is for your area.
    Don't be afraid to call and check up on the situation.
    
    Lynne

    Ok,  I just re-read the original note.  The woman goes away for long
    week-ends.  Is that 3 or more days?  She has a cat-flap so the cats
    can go inside to eat or get out of the weather.  Have you checked 
    the house inside to see if there is food/water there?  The cats go
    to the *feeder* because it is free.  Granted, there could be something
    wrong with the little kittens eyes, but maybe the woman doesn't know
    about it.  I didn't know that was a sign of sickness until I read it
    here.  If you want to help, why not try to find a home for the kittens
    in this notesfile???  Than you can work on getting the *mom and dad*
    cats fixed.
    
    Sandi
    

	I think you did the right thing to report them, the RSPCA can now check
	IF and HOW the cats are being fed, and if they are being mistreated, 
	they might be able to persuade them to have them neutered.
	They will be able to ensure the little kitten gets treatment if required


	My cats are outdorrs a great deal of time, they love it, and they can
	always use the flap if they want to come inside in the warm/dry.
	My nextdoor neighbours feed my cats, and have them in their house.
	My cats don't go nextdoors because they're hungry tho', they go for the 
	company, the food is an added "bonus" (especially when they cook them
	coley as a treat!).
	I am quite happy about this, but a lot of the food I leave down is 
	wasted.
	
	I have left my cats over two nights, I have timers, and use the "moist"
	food. There's always loads of water. (I leave my key and vet no. with 
	the nieghbours just-in-case, but they have never needed to use it).

	So, there may, or may not, be a problem, let the RSPCA investigate - and
	chase them up about the outcome!

	I would get your mother to stop feeding them and petting them too, 
	otherwise they will continue to visit - unless, of course, she ensures
	the "owners" know about it, and she likes to do this. 

	Heather

    I think you did the right thing too.  I'm glad you are standing
    up for the cats rights.  That's one thing they really need humans
    to do for them.
    
    I think I'd have reacted the same way to the suggestion that your
    mom not feed the cats.  I couldn't look at those little faces knowing
    that they were going hungry, especially in cold weather.  They need
    the food to generate body heat.
    
    Please let us know how things turn out.
      Nancy DC

    I'm glad you called the SPCA so they can investigate...but don't
    expect miricles.  My opinion is that the SPCA does not have the 
    same "rules"as I do for considering whether an animal is being 
    abused or not.  We had a sad experience with them over a puppy
    which was left outside, fed every third day, water bowl always
    frozen, and poop in the pen which had never been cleaned out.
    Well they did come investigate and talked to the owners...but
    that was about it.  They felt the owner would be "more responsible
    in the future".  Ya right...they moved so we could no longer 
    keep an eye on the dog.
    
    Atleast if they come talk to her...she might be more aware that
    someone is watching her or atleast they can let you know if she
    does keep food in the house for them when they come in through
    the flap.  Hope it all works out for the best.  
    
    We had a similiar experience in our neighborhood and we ended up
    taking in two (Chloe and Anges) of the small kittens.  They are
    now fixed and I consider them "ours".  Beware if you continue
    to feed them....but..on the other hand... how can you not!!  
                                         
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, Barkley, Anges, Chloe, Dewey, Abby)
    
    

    OK, OK I know it's wrong to feed them but the woman has admitted to my
    mother that she only feeds them once a day when she is there and we
    know for a fact that no food is left when she goes away for these "long
    weekends" which btw is 4 days at a time.
    
    Anyway the RSPCA officer rang me the other night and said that unless
    they look skinny and maltreated there is nothing they can do!!!!  He
    did say that one of the kittens (the one I haven't seen for a while)
    had a broken leg but she had had it treated....and then I thought well
    if she goes away leaving no food and that kitten can't get out it must
    be near starvation when she gets back!!  But still the officer said he
    can't do anything!
    
    But I think it has put the frighteners on her as she is accusing
    everyone in the street of ringing them and she actually said to my
    mum..."I bet it's that woman up the road who rang them about my dog!"
    These people now have her dog because she couldn't look after it!
    
    She is moving soon as her house is being re-possessed so I hate to
    think what will happen to the Cats then.
    
    I wonder if she treats her kids like she treats her pets???
    
    
    Sharon