# Is this actionable (cat neglect)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 20, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326 "2010-07-20T07:42:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/1 "2010-07-20T07:42:47Z")
A neighbor once asked me if we wanted her cat, she was really trying to unload it. I said no, we couldn’t take one on now. She let it out, and the guy across the street got friendly with it, he fed it, let it in at times. Okay, the cat is a female who was not spayed, and got pregnant. He let her in and she gave birth to 6 little kittens. The woman heard of this, came over and told him she wanted the cat back or she’d call the police. He didn’t want the hassle, so gave her the cat along with the kittens. Three days later, we see the cat let out again, the guy said she acted totally off, walking oddly, scratching up his screen door, and she looks emaciated. Shes partly back to normal behavior, and has been outside most of the day, obviously they know shes out and they don’t seem to be letting her in; or she doesn’t want to be near them, and the babies must not be getting fed. Should we report this woman? ---
**Author:** ![BaconAndEggs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@BaconAndEggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaconAndEggs)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/2 "2010-07-20T08:26:05Z")
Yes. I would call animal control. This woman seems nuts. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/3 "2010-07-20T08:42:53Z")
I’m not following the timeline - how old are the kittens now? At the very least, your municipality probably has a leash law that prohibits pets from roaming at large. For some reason people think it only applies to dogs. You could always see if crazy still wants to unload cat and kittens onto you. Take them and then turn them over to the local humane society of your choice. They’ll all get spayed/neutered there and have a chance to get adopted to good homes that way maybe. But yes, if there’s an active animal abuse team in your area, you should report her. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/4 "2010-07-20T09:38:24Z")
Is it possible the kittens have already been sold/given away? (another version of “how old are the kitties”, I guess) That might explain the cat acting oddly/seeming distrustful of her owner. Around here, just a cat being out of the house most of the day would be no big deal from a cat protection point of view, but I know different areas have different views on that. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/5 "2010-07-20T10:56:22Z")
Do you have an equivalent of the [RSPCA](http://www.rspca.org.uk/in-action;jsessionid=0j1pMFQpBkw43HJ8TV4w3PkQ8WrhJQ2WFSLq8khz1V7gW4KdhtHv!-1603506667!1279623294741)? Here in the UK, the RSPCA is a national charity that acts as a kind of animal police force. You can report suspected neglect/mistreatment and they will send a van round to investigate. They have powers to prosecute. I once reported someone who left her two big dogs in a hot car (which can kill them). ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/6 "2010-07-20T16:12:11Z")
The kittens are about 4 days old. Its obvious they didn’t feed the mother cat. The man said he made a large bowl of food for her and she scarfed it right down. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/7 "2010-07-20T16:18:16Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > At the very least, your municipality probably has a leash law that prohibits pets from roaming at large. For some reason people think it only applies to dogs. Actually, _in my locale_ humane laws in general specify dogs as the protected species. It would make every farmer with barn cats an outlaw if leash laws applied to cats. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/8 "2010-07-20T16:30:03Z")
Did you call the humane society yet? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/9 "2010-07-20T16:30:35Z")
Sounds like the across-the-street man who’s already been feeding Mama Cat has a little more control over the situation than you do, OP. At any rate, yes, some sort of authority should be called. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/10 "2010-07-20T20:37:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Actually, _in my locale_ humane laws in general specify dogs as the protected species. It would make every farmer with barn cats an outlaw if leash laws applied to cats. Well, that’s partly why I mentioned municipality. It’s pretty much larger towns and cities, where barn cats no longer apply and free roaming cats are more of a problem. **BigBertha** , if mom cat is still outside, unless she had a chance to move babies out, too, I’m worried whether crazy bagged them and put them in a dumpster or something. If not they’re probably starved and hypothermic and already dead. Please call if you haven’t already. Mom cat at least needs to be captured and spayed. If litter is gone she can get pregnant again! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/11 "2010-07-20T20:43:15Z")
As far as I know, a mother cat can’t be away from four day old babies all day - they’re much too small and dependent for that, needing to nurse and be kept warm constantly. That alone makes your neighbour guilty of neglect. I would be extremely upset to think my neighbour was neglecting kittens - I think you should call the Humane Society, too. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/12 "2010-07-21T02:59:13Z")
I guess I don’t have to after all. She came over to the mans house today and gave him the kittens; momma cat came along with them, and said she was going in the hospital, so all that trouble just to get back to where he started, with the cat and her kittens. ---
**Author:** ![Cinebar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Cinebar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinebar)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/13 "2010-07-21T03:10:26Z")
It sounds like they’re all better off with him. I just hope he does the right thing and gets momma spayed as soon as the kittens are weaned and that he finds good homes for the babies with people who will also make sure they all get spayed or neutered so the cycle will end. I have 15 cats and they are all spayed and neutered. Four of those cats were kittens that were born here from a stray cat I picked up and who got bred before I could get her spayed. I kept all the kittens and got them all spayed and neutered as soon as they were old enough. I love my cats. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/14 "2010-07-21T03:11:36Z")
Imho, it’s not worth the trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/15 "2010-07-21T14:12:39Z")
> [@BigBertha](#): > > I guess I don’t have to after all. She came over to the mans house today and gave him the kittens; momma cat came along with them, and said she was going in the hospital, so all that trouble just to get back to where he started, with the cat and her kittens. _Blinks_ What a crazy, crazy lady. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/16 "2010-07-21T18:29:01Z")
Well, I’m glad the kittens aren’t in danger. The whole situation still sucks. Can you try to convince the guy to get the cat and kittens neutered? ---
**Author:** ![IaMoDiNaRy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IaMoDiNaRy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IaMoDiNaRy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/17 "2010-07-21T18:44:51Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Imho, it’s not worth the trouble. And WHAT exactly does that mean? If you mean that the cat’s lives aren’t worth the trouble then why bother taking the “trouble” responding to this thread at all? If that’s not what you meant, please explain… ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-actionable-cat-neglect/547326/18 "2010-07-21T19:02:19Z")
> [@IaMoDiNaRy](#): > > And WHAT exactly does that mean? > > If you mean that the cat’s lives aren’t worth the trouble then why bother taking the “trouble” responding to this thread at all? > > If that’s not what you meant, please explain… Glad you posted. I was wondering the exact same thing m’self.