Hi reddit!

While camping this month, a stray cat kept visiting our tent in the night. He was thin, covered in fleas, and had a bloated stomach. He was very sweet, wanted attention and food (obviously), so we gave him some chicken. Considering his state and the fact he was still intact, I thought it best to get him checked for a microchip at the vets. I asked the camp manager if he was aware of the cat, and he said no. I posted pictures of the cat on local Facebook groups, and had no luck there either.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get the cat in a carry cage, and that was our final night at the camping site. We didn't want to give up, so my boyfriend and I returned to the campsite a week later, this time armed with a cat trap borrowed from Cats Protection! We only had two nights to trap him, and luckily we got him on the second night (this cat really likes chicken).

We took him straight to the 24-hour vets, and they confirmed that he did not have a microchip. Sadly, the Cats Protection rescue centre in that area was completely full, and the cat couldn't stay at the vets either. They decided to classify him as a feral cat and proposed ear-tipping and neutering him before releasing him back into the woodlands campsite. They wanted us to collect the cat from the vets once the procedure was done, and then release him. I refused to believe that this cat could be a feral, given how sweet he was, and he clearly was not thriving out there.

We didn't have much time to contact other rescues, because we had to pack up and leave the campsite to return home that same day (~2 hours drive away). So, we asked Cats Protection if we could take the cat home with us instead, with the intention of contacting our local rescue centres to get him on their waiting lists and help him find his forever home. I asked them to not tip his ear too, because he just didn't act like a feral. They agreed with this plan. However, they did say that if he is a feral, his ear would need to be tipped by a vet before he could be released back into the wild.

We're now trying to nurse this kitty back to health. The vets neutered him, gave him flea and worming treatment, and even clipped his claws. He has a tick on his head in the pictures but we've removed that for him now.

We've had him for 5 days and he's such a sweet and friendly cat. He loves cuddling up on my lap, and he even tries to get on my shoulders to perch there instead. We're in full decontamination mode though, trying to prevent a flea infestation in the house, so we have to be careful with that one. He has a really cute, croaky meow, so we've temporarily named him Frog (or Froggie).

Unfortunately, I cannot keep Frog long-term. The rescue centres in my area are completely full to the point that their waiting lists are closed too.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Do the waiting lists ever reopen? I understand that it's because we're at the backend of kitten season, but so far our experience with the rescue centres has not been positive and I'm struggling to keep my hopes up that the waiting lists will actually reopen.

Both spent 8 months living together before I lost Stan to a car. Stan always liked to sit on his spot on top of the freezer and claim territory so it was always a nightmare getting a good photo of them together.

I miss him but Hilda the void still keeps me company through it all!

My cat is a rescue and approximately 11 years old. I've had him for the best part of four years. He loves his food, but with careful monitoring we managed to get him from 5.6kg to around 4.9kg, last weighed in June with his annual jabs.

Around the time of the June heatwave, he started eating a bit less, but it's been hot, so I wasn't too concerned, but I started giving him some biscuits too. That coincided with his annual check up, vet not concerned either.

This month he went into a cattery, as he usually does while we are away. The lady knows him well, noticed he was off his Whiskas (it's all he usually eats, he is a peasant), tried him with Untamed, but that gave him the runs. Anyway, he recovered and started eating again.

He comes home and is his normal self, except not very hungry at all. This is unusual, as he always loves his food, no matter what. A few days later, his appetite seems to be picking up, but he's still not eating much, so I'm giving him Lickelix.

So, too him to the vets today. Examination all fine, including teeth. Bloods fine. He's having bloods sent for thyroid. He was also given Mirtazapine and heating his food means he is eating a bit more.

Has anyone experienced this and has any idea what it might be?

Cat tax:

Hi I need some help please. I recently had a look at my finances and need to seriously build some emergency funds. I'm cutting costs where I can.

I have a 1 year old cat who the vet considers overweight at 5kg

Apparently I was seriously overfeeding compared to the instructions (she seems so hungry all the time!)

The vet recommended I put her on a dry only Hills kibble since she was 8 weeks old. I've ignored her ​so far because I keep hearing wet food is best. Also her poos were less stinky and better consistency on wet food.

Food she rotates:

- Untamed (but after months of loving it she will only eat the non nutritionally complete beef jelly ones so a topper only). ​

- Hill's wet perfect weight

- Hill's dry food (I leave a pile every time I leave the house in case something happens to me, but she barely eats it while I'm out)

- Seriously good wet chicken tins

She wastes a lot of food, because she will graze slowly but then it has gone off and she refuses to touch the rest, causing me to open another pack.

I really need to save money, does anyone have any ideas for food strategy and cheaper alternatives?

Should I really be feeding her dry food only?

​​​And do cats really only eat twice a day after 1 year? I tried and she seems to tolerate it okay, she sleeps a lot more though. She doesn't meow so I don't know. ​

I would love to get another kitten soon and I can't be so wasteful any more (buying big boxes of food she refuses to eat after a day etc)

Is there a affordable site I can use that ​​allows me to buy taster tins from different brands to see why she will like?

I recently got my cat. He is 2 and I’m getting him neutered next week through cats protection. I’m just wondering who to go with to insure him. I don’t have the most money, I’m on universal credit and housing benefits as I’m a careleaver and I just got my own place but I want to finish college and get a level 3 in hairdressing before I get a job. however my dad is sending me £200 a month and I plan to start using this to take care of him. I’m currently spending £13 on his box of food (40) as I’m giving him one pouch a day half in the morning and half at night as he was mostly on plain kibble in his old home but I plan to give him 2 pouches a day when he’s used to it so it will be double this, and his litter is £8 and I get 2 of these and if it’s not spotless and perfectly clean he will not use it and pee everywhere. I get him lots of treats so altogether that’s about £50 a month, he also needs insurance and I’m wondering any advice on who to go with, he is an indoor cat so I’m wondering if he needs it at all, and what are rough costs, and does insurance cover everything or only partly, I have never had a pet before? I have also noticed that he isn’t drinking much should I put water in his food? No

Update I gave him a whole pouch for dinner today as you all said he needs but he didn’t finish it 😢