The Case of a Curious Cat

[tibilicus]

I went round to the bins to empty some rubbish before and the cat was just lurking round the back of a block there. The cat keeps going inside various blocks and some people even take it up to their room. Its fur is looking in a slightly worse statea nd its clear this is no proper home for such a fine cat. If only it could understand that.

[Tuuvi]

I don't think it's a stray but it might not be getting the best of care at home. I had some neighbors that had a cat that had kittens, the neighbors were getting a divorce and the wife who was the one who liked cats moved out so the kittens weren't getting fed. One of the kittens came up to me so I fed it and it wouldn't leave me alone after that so we decided to keep it.

The only problem was we already had two cats which didn't like the new one so they fought all the time. We let our cats come and go as they please and the new one would be gone for longer and longer amounts of time until it got to the point where it would only come around once every few weeks and even then we couldn't get it to come inside. It turned out someone else had taken him in and he said that we could have him back but then we moved up the street and the cat left and never came back.

It's true that cats aren't loyal in the same way that dogs are but I think they can get attached to their owners, I'm guessing the cat in question isn't getting treated very well at home or maybe its owners don't give it enough attention or something.

[Togakure]

cats are quite wily creatures, not at all loyal like dogs - they will go to whoever feeds them and will often not think twice about abandoning their owner if someone else has a warmer fire and better/more food laid on...

While I will agree that cats are nothing like dogs (thank goodness), and some (usually those that have spent time on the streets) can be rather focused on food (like almost every dog I've ever encountered), I strongly disagree with the generalization that cats are not loyal. This opinion is based on decades of owning various cats or living in households with them. I prefer feline company over most humans, and find them to be very loyal, provided they are treated well.

Cats, like most creatures, enjoy being loved. This one seems to be cashing in on its good fortune.

[Tuuvi]

While I will agree that cats are nothing like dogs (thank goodness), and some (usually those that have spent time on the streets) can be rather focused on food (like almost every dog I've ever encountered), I strongly disagree with the generalization that cats are not loyal. This opinion is based on decades of owning various cats or living in households with them. I prefer feline company over most humans, and find them to be very loyal, provided they are treated well.

Cats, like most creatures, enjoy being loved. This one seems to be cashing in on its good fortune.

I think the reason cats don't seem as loyal as dogs is because they are more independent, they take care of themselves and they even hunt their own food if you let them outside. If you abuse them or don't take good care of them they will seek a better situation. Dogs on the other hand are more dependent and will stay with the owner even if the owner beats the living crap out of them.

[Jaguara]

Agree with Togakure & Chuchip regarding cats behaviours.

They are not disloyal...but if you treat them badly, and they find a better deal...don't expect loyalty.

It is very possible that this cat was abandoned, otherwise it is just in at least a semi-neglectful home.

We have a block of apartment buildings out back and every year there is a batch of cats that are left behind by owners who move. Sometimes these cats even have collars. You can watch as their condition deteriorates.

Anyway, first thing to check is if there is a collar & tags. Not having them is no guarantee, though. My cat regularly loses (deliberately?) her collar in our hedges. After losing 3 in a week, we stopped bothering. You could try putting a collar on, with an attached note as someone else suggested, to try and find if it does have an owner. If it is not used to a collar though don't count on it staying on for long.

[Banquo's Ghost]

tibilicus, since you appear to be in England, you should check the cat for a microchip. Usually, if you feel (gently) around the scruff of the neck, you may find a nodule around five millimetres long. If it has one, it's a simple matter to take it to the local vet who will scan it and tell you the owner. Or of course, notify the RSPCA - from your description, it may have been abandoned recently (its condition getting worse) as sadly, more people are losing their jobs and thus think it is a solution to throw a cat out to rely on its own devices.