I just had to vent for a sec. This has nothing to do with my cats or bengals...

So for the past month or so, when I go outside into my front yard, or come back from work, I have been greeted by an extremely friendly longhaired grey moggie cat named Zoe. She will walk right up to me, give me very slight "meow" greetings, rub up against me, allow me to pick her up or stroke her head/back and purr loudly. She has very long luxurious fur, but it is in poor shape, and when I touch her, she is really bony, so quite a bit underweight (I think). When I open the garage door, she confidently follows me right in, like she owns the place and follows me all around as I work outside. She even followed me into my backyard one day and chilled with me out on the patio as I took a break from some gardening. She has a collar with her name on it, and a phone number on it, so I know she is "owned". But still, obviously she was not being cared for, and I even had fleeting thoughts about taking her in, but I knew that my cats would be very unhappy about that.

Because I've been real concerned about her weight, I started putting out a cat dish full of some of the premium dry cat food that my cats get, and a couple of times gave her wet food as well. A couple of weeks ago when I was doing this, I got kind of "busted" when a new neighbor across the street walked over as I was feeding her (and also a second, equally delightful orange/white tortie that has also been coming around too) and she explained that these were her cats. She said that "they have a cat door and everything but don't seem to want to come inside" as if to explain the unasked question of why her cats were always outside, and in my garden. I didn't really know what to say. I kind of babbled something like "oh, well, I just thought maybe they needed, er wanted some..." and she said "oh, that's...ok, really", so I continued feeding them. Anyway, I had formed a friendship with Zoe in particular.

So for the past week or 10 days, Zoe hasn't come around. I missed seeing her, so definitely wondered what had happened. I hoped that maybe with some recent rain, and temperatures cooling just a bit, that perhaps she had reconsidered her standing offer to come inside her "owner's" house. But today when I went to the community mailbox to get my mail, there was a poster of her on there, saying that she was "missing". UGH!

And although I haven't see her for the past week, I have seen the orange/white tortie. He is also a very nice cat, with long beautiful fur, but his fur is ridiculously matted I really hope Zoe is ok, but I fear the worst. One street over is a pretty busy street, and we're also only a couple of blocks away from some wilderness areas including a creek and a river. Not to mention there are a lot of neighbors with dogs who are very careless about leashes.

I don't know what to do... part of me wants to go yell at those stupid neighbors for not caring for their cats. "How is a cat even considered "missing" if she clearly doesn't have a home"? Part of me wants to just say "screw it" and do what I can to take care of the orange cat, and part of me wants to mind my own business and stay out of trouble. *sigh*

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The little monsters 3

Hi it's so difficult to see animals being neglected and it is cruel.

I know in the UK there are various organisations that you can contact regarding animal neglect/cruelty (to me neglect is cruelty) is there anything similar in your area?

If it's reported in the UK they have to investigate. This may be a way round so you don't have to directly as such be involved.

It sounds like those poor cats have been abandoned by her. Who would let their cat walk around in such a state and not do anything about it.

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Oscar and Jasper (or one ear and two ears as dh calls them) black rescue mogges

RIP my sweet baby Dexter, Snow Bengal 19/5/14 to 5/3/15 and my lovely dear old friend Muskey, Brown Burmese put to rest aged 15 on 14/11/15.

Debbie

Unfortunately there are people in this world who have different ideas when it comes to caring for their pets.
I feel your pain Brian, this would upset me too.

I used to be visited by my neighbours cat years ago, a gorgeous grey tabby who practically lived at my house. One day he disappeared and eventually I found out they'd 'sent him to live on a farm' because their older cat didn't like him. I was gutted, I would have happily taken him on, given he pretty much lived at my place.

I hope Zoe turns up

Brian, this is just so sad. Zoe was obviously smitten with you. She wasn't your cat. There probably wasn't anything you could have done except taken her on as your pet with the owner's permission. I understand how you're feeling right now. Most missing cats are never reunited with their owners. Know that you gave Zoe love and attention when she needed it most. I hope she finds you again ....

I was involved in animal rescue for many years. I really sympathize with you, Brian, and I would have done exactly the same as you by feeding little Zoe.

It is very upsetting when someone neglects their loved ones, be they furry or human.

It warms my heart that there are people like you. I feed a few outdoor stray cats aswell, and know the worry that comes over you when they do not show around for a few days. I am Clueless as the whether they have owners or not. Im possitive you made that cats life all the more enjoyable, and that's so important.

My dad has a cat called Max who just turned up one day and decided to move in. Sometimes Max lives with him, then he goes off and lives with someone else, then back to Dad. (Max knows nothing about loyalty!) Goodness knows how many families he has. Dad won't see him for months then he'll just turn up out of the blue and act like nothing has changed. Max isn't microchipped (he looks quite striking and is HUGE - definitely has some Scottish Wildcat in his genes). One time he had an abcess and needed treatment, so Dad took him to the vet. The problem with that is that when a cat doesnt seem to have a steady family, no-one really knows what immunisations or medical treatments Max has had, or whether he has any health problems etc. He hasn't been seen for a while, and he is getting quite old, so I wonder if we have seen the last of him.

Anyway, I'm thinking that maybe Zoe has been visiting a few different houses and has decided to settle in somewhere else for a wee while. I wouldn't be surprised if you see her again, I really hope so xx

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The little monsters 3