There's the sweetest little white, black spotted kitten that has moved in next door, Flower we have nicknamed her, but I fear for her safety.

These neighbours who have adopted this little one are horrible people who have a past for being abusive to their animals, both physical and neglegect, and I would hate to see it happen again.

I would say Flower is at least 10 weeks old? I've seen her strolling the garden and the fences for 3 weeks or so, she has dirty, yellowing, gappy fur and gungy (but bright) eyes and is far too scrawny. She is often pining at my back door with her little bell dingling and high-pitched squeek of a meow, begging to come in at the early hours of the morning, dewy fur from the misty rain. It's killing me having to leave her outside in the cold wind but my own cat, Dayzie, won't have Flower in HER house. She sneaks in sometimes when the back door is left open, she's a lovely little thing, all purrs and headbutts and loves being picked up and snuggling into your neck, but it doesn't take long for Dayzie to frighten Flower back outside with her rumbling growls and hostile hisses.

There are many male cats in the area that would happily de-flower Flower, and I suspect my vile, scummy neighbours wouldn't even have considered spaying her (kittens-for-crack-money went through my mind) She could die getting pregnant at such a young age.

I just don't know what to do! There's no reasoning with Flower's owners, I would love to take her in as my own, or at least the odd hour or so until it stops raining, but Dayzie wouldn't take any of it.

I hate feeling so helpless

Whereabouts are you? Can you contact your local RSPCA and ask them to intervene? Like you, I couldn't stand by and let a tiny little kitten be neglected like that.

Such people should never be allowed pets. There are times when cat-napping seems a very tempting option...

Celery, take Phikski’s advice and phone the RSPCA and relate the whole story to them. Sometimes a visit from an inspector is enough to make irresponsible owners toe the line. You mention the kitten has gungy eyes…. make sure you tell the RSPCA this. Any other sniffles or snotting or bald patches in the fur, tell them about them too. Make a list before you call them up, that way you wont forget any relevant information.

I understand completely that you want to be nice to this kitten, and let her in your home etc… BUT be aware (be VERY aware) of a few things. The chances are high this kitten is not vaccinated, as such, she could contract anything from your cat, which could be deadly to her because she isn’t vaccinated, something as simple as a mild cold in your cat (with no visible symptoms) could be deadly for an unvaccinated kitten. This also works in reverse, the unvaccinated kitten could bring nasty infections into your home which your resident cat could contract. Even if your own cat is vaccinated, not all lethal illnesses are vaccinated against.

Parasites and fungal infections are also a risk with a kitten like this (fleas, ringworm, earmites etc), but generally they are not deadly but you can and will pass them on to your own cat IF the kitten has them (and they can be expensive and very time consuming to treat). More importantly though, there are some really nasty viral infections out there and you really need to consider your own cat as these can be deadly.

If you are dead set on hands-on helping this cat, I really recommend you do it outside your home. Maybe you could set up some kind of shelter area in your shed or garden, and feed her there away from your own cat? But do also wash your hands thoroughly between spending time with the kitten and going back to your own cat (I was first then use disenfecting gel). Same goes for clothes, I would keep an old mac or dressing gown in the shed and only handle the kitten after I put this on and remove it before going back indoors. And also switch shoes too, otherwise you'd be walking all the nasties back into your home.

I don't think these people are going to change, they are not looking after this cat and something needs to be done.

I would speak to your local Cats Protection or your vet and see what they say. Maybe also set up a little box or kennel for her in your garden so she has some shelter. Cats are pretty canny and if she isn't being treated well at home she will soon move on and find somebody who will look after her.

Just carry on looking out for her and if you think it necessary get her to the vets and say she is a stray and they should check her out if they are any good. She will definitely need neutering and jabs as well.

I would also it to the RSPCA to check if there are any restrictions on this family keeping animals as they may have been banned in the past.

I really hope you find some way of getting her away from your neighbours and maybe finding her another home. I would say take her in yourself as she clearly wants you to but if your neighbours are as scuzzy as they sound they may cause you some trouble. Some people just do not deserve animals and your neighbours sound like that type.

Good luck and thank you for caring about her.

(PS I reckon Dayzie would soon allow Flower into your home once she gets used to her... give her time but as the other poster said, make sure she's checked out and healthy before you let her in)

I am in south east England. I'm very tempted to ring the local RSPCA but have lost faith in them. As I said before, the neighbours have had a history for abusing animals, I unfortunately witnessed the male neighbour hitting and kicking his dogs last summer. I was traumatised. I was shaking and tearing when I called the RSPCA cruelty line. They of course said they would look into it but never came to the house once, despite me calling them many more times during the next few months. The dogs have since moved on (to somewhere I don't know) but hopefully somewhere where they are treated right.

I will swallow my pride though and give them a call. Anything to help this little one.

I shall do that though, setting up a little shelter sounds like a good idea. I have many boxes left over from Christmas that would make a decent little hidey-hole for her to escape to.

Cat-napping has crossed my mind several times. Flower is such a sweetheart and would make any owner all gooey with love and make a wonderfull pet. To someone who deserves her of course.

Personally I think the catnapping is a great idea in this case (obviously I wouldn't normally advocate it!) Where in the South East are you? Try Cats Protection, they will be really helpful I expect, they were when I found a stray recently (nobody came forward and I found him a new home and he is blissfully happy bless him.)

Your neighbours won't have had her microchipped or done anything else by the sounds of it so if you really are worried then get hold of her and keep her indoors until you can get her to a sanctuary & just say you found her as a stray.

I very much doubt your neighbours will bother looking for her and it might just save her life and get her a home with sombody who deserves her.

Or maybe you could buy her from them? They sound they type who would accept a few quid for her .... just make sure you get it in writing!!

If you need any help let me know. I live near Sandwich in Kent.

I also reckon you should offer to buy Flower... (obviously you know Dayzie best though!) If you didn't want to broach the abuse issue you could just ignore it entirely and say how cute she is and you are just in love with her and she often comes over to say hello but you feel bad about feeding her as she's their cat, but is there any chance you could buy her off them?

My friends' neighbours tried to buy their cat off them... odd people, but she is a GREAT cat! They offered £300 for her!!!! (she is a moggy) - they must have really liked her!

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I wish we could just catnap her. To anywhere else away from these people

Well if you need moral support let me know, I would definitely encourage her into your garden if I were you and then she can decide who she wants to live with. Dayzie will come round in the end.