Conference misery::feline_v1

    Can you make a place where he can shelter?  Khalife from next door
    shelters in my laundry room (which opens to the outside) a lot,
    even though he can get to his own house.  At least he won't be exposed
    to the elements.
    

    p.s. all my neighbor cats who visit my yard get lots of cuddles.
     Holly hisses at them a bit, just to let them know who I _really_
    belong to, she is not really too upset by it.  Sweetie doesn't mind.
    

    I have a very short fuse when I see this sort of abuse.
    
    In the past I have gone to the door of such houses and let the owner
    know that, if they didn't shape up, I'd call the police and MSPCA.
    You may not know it, but many states, including Massachusetts, have
    MSPCA POLICE, with full police powers when it comes to animal abuse.
    I would then call the police if the owner didn't shape up. It has
    always worked in the past.
    
    Yes, that makes me abadass in the eyes of some neighbors, but tough
    solid animal waste. I will not tolerate that sort of mindless cruelty.
    
    Ken (The 2X4) Sherman
    
    

    Even though this woman isn't physicaly abusing the cat, she is no
    doubt neglecting it.  Report her at once (or give me the info and
    I'll do it)!
    
    This sort of behavior makes me mad...!!!
    
    My cats go in and out as they please.  They're real good about bossing
    me around.
    
    /Roberta
    

    Wait....Certainly she is neglecting it, but I don't think she is
    doing anything the SPCA can get her for.  You may just make her
    angry and she'll decide to dump the cat.  Wouldn't it maybe be better
    to "casually" talk to her about cat care in some tactful way?  She
    may just not realise what the cat's needs are.
    

    MAYBE since they got the cat someone in the house hold has become
    allergic to the cat. (Well that sounds reasonable.) I vote for
    taklking to the lady. Let her tell you why it is kept out doors
    all the time with no loves. Obviously she is not moved by a
    little fur face looking up at her. (Maybe she's blind?) In any
    event not to make enemies of the neighbors talk first, then you
    can make up your mind what you want to do.
    
    Barbara

    Maybe in your talk with her she might admit she'd very happy
    if someone would take the cat off her hands. Some people can't bear
    to take a cat to a shelter themselves but are very agreeable to
    having someone else take it. 
    
    An alternative could be, as suggested already, to provide some sort
    of little "cat house" or other protective type shelter.

    
    
    	A few things :
    
    	One, this may be a stray that she is feeding.
    
    	Two, maybe there IS some type of shelter the cat can get
    	into on other sides of the house.  Certainly the cat
    	can go under a car or a neighbors porch if worst comes
    	to worst.
    
    	Three, if you report her, she will probably say it isn't
    	her cat, she was just feeding it, regardless of what
    	the true story is.  They couldn't exactly penalize her
    	for that!!
    
    	I agree with everyone else.  Talk to the lady and find out
    	the situation.  She MAY be giving the cat plenty of attention.
    	Our renting neighbors at my parents house thought Cinamon
    	was a stray since he came regularly to visit and get fed
    	and played with and petter.  Cinamon couldn't be a better
    	loved cat.  Finally, my mother went to the neighbors and 
    	asked them to stop feeding him, he was SO fat.  What I am
    	saying is that some cats will take ALL the attention they
    	can get and why should THIS cat turn down a little bit of
    	extra attention.  You never know....
    
    	Karen
    

    
    RE:  .8
    
    I'm with Karen.  The fact of the matter is that you may have only
    casually observed the cat.  The fact that he is friendly to you
    doesn't always mean that he is starved for affection (or anything
    else, for that matter).  In fact, I wonder if you don't live across
    the street from _me_.  My Shawshie is an outdoor only cat, but he
    has access to a nice dry garage thru a kitty door.  Inside there
    he has food, water, a nice warm inclosed bed and a kitty jungle
    jym of sorts.  In spite of all of this, it is not unusual during
    a storm to see Shawshie sitting on the window sill of one of my
    front windows.   Another real possibility is that she is feeding
    a stray who comes around (how many of us have done _that_ in the
    past) but she is not willing to "own" it - yet.  If I were you,
    I'd go slow on your inquiries.  You could come up with a red face!
    
    Marion

    I, too, agree with those of you who say there may be more to this
    than I am aware of.  As I said in my original note, Black Bart (Blackie
    for short, just my name for him) seems to be healthy and not physically
    abused.  I'm just not sure he is getting the love I feel cats deserve.
    
    As far as call the MSPCA is concerned, if they took Blackie away
    from her, what would be his fate? If his brought to a shelter, I
    believe he would have a hard time being adopted (not exactly the
    prettiest kity I have ever seen).  I do plan on trying to casually
    speak with this woman at the first opportunity, maybe of the upcoming
    long weekend.  If there is some legitimate reason why she treats
    Blackie this way, then I won't interfere but will continue to give
    him the attention he is 'requesting' of me.  However, if I sense
    something wrong, I'll decide what to do from there, perhaps seek
    advice from all of you.
    
    Will let you know what I find out.
    
    J.

    Now I really _am_ worried.  My outdoor only kitty Shawshie is all
    black and treats _all_ people like his long lost brother.  Could he
    really be Janet's "Blackie"????   I guess I'll find out this weekend.
    C'mon over, Janet.  The beer's in the fridge.  We'll have a chuclke
    or two!
    
    Marion

    Marion,
    
    Do you live in Nashua?  
    
    Blackie isn't all black...some white on face and tips of paws!
    
    Janet
    

    But I will take that beer!
    
    J
    

    Janet,
    
    Nope, I live in Marlboro (whew!).  Offer's still good, though!
    
    Marion