Hey Kerry-
Chances are the kitty has *not* been microchipped by an owner who won't
even let her inside when needed - and even if so I doubt if the vet would
check it unless you asked him/her to. And if you take her to your vet as
your cat, well...
I also doubt if talking to the owner again would be useful - might even be
counter productive.
Sure she can help this kitty -
Good luck -
Gloria
At 12:37 PM 12/20/2005, you wrote:
Hi guys
The same good friend who told me about the kitty with litterbox problems
that was under threat of pts (apparently happily resolved, for now at any
rate) updated me on another situation.
Background:
Misha is a stray that was sort of taken in by the people who work in a
studio at the same business complex where my friend works. I say sort of
because although two of the workers took her to the vet after she was
badly attacked, and although they feed her, they don't take her home at
the weekend: ie no one is actually making Misha their responsibility. In
the summer and fall Misha would be found outside after they had all locked
up and gone home for the weekend. When my friend, distressed by Misha's
situation, offered to try to find Misha a home, the studio owner (who my
friend says seems to be a reasonable, decent guy) rejected the proposal,
saying that they had "adopted" her. Recently -- and it is really cold
now--- my friend found Misha miaowing in vain at the studio door to be let
in. My friend knocked on the door, and one of the other workers (not the
owner) opened it. When she explained the cat needed to come in, the
response to her was "Haven't you got anything better to do?"
Q--where do we go from here?
If my friend just takes Misha, there's a chance a surveillance camera will
record the action as it's a business location. Also, even if she did that,
when she takes her to the vet, what happens if she's been microchipped by
those people? Is the vet legally/ethically prevented from removing the
chip and replacing it? Obligated to contact the people? My friend would
not be keeping Misha as she's allergic to cats; she'd want my help in
placing her in the shelter where I have a good contact. Not ideal but she
would at least be cared for there. However, I'd need to know how to
resolve the chip situation first.....
My friend's proposal was to talk to the owner again and try to make him
understand that someone needs to take proper responsibility for the cat.
My feeling was that if she fails, then she will be the first person he
suspects if and when she kidnaps Misha. And the scene could turn ugly.
Even if I were to find and "rescue" the cat when I "happen to be passing
by" at the weekend the microchip Q still arises. (We don't know if she's
microchipped -- is there a way for a layperson to scan her without vet
involvement?)
All input/info welcome on how Misha gets the care she deserves---I've no
experience in this field---yet. But I know some of you heroes do.
Kerry
