I can lodge a welfare report but either they talk to the owners which will land me in the shit and likely nothing changes, or there’s a slim chance of him being taken away to the shelter. Neither are great outcomes.

The other alternative is I talk to them but in my experience they won’t take it on board. They tend to just get defensive or hostile and don’t change. I’m trying to draft an email that will let them know he needs vet care that won’t make them feel judged or put them offside but… I can’t.

Or I confine him for 2 weeks to ensure ringworm treatment is completed and then release him hoping he’s healthy enough not to just contract it again… but that’s dicey as legally he’s someone else’s property and it’s a big undertaking for me. That would essentially be a ringworm foster which even experienced able bodied foster carers don’t want to take on, carries the risk of reinfecting me and my house, with the added seasoning of potentially igniting a neighbour feud and getting fined.

I have no idea if the cat flu would resolve without treatment or if he’d have it chronically. And due to a history of fighting and a torn ear he may possibly have FIV (cat version of HIV and usually means they need to be kept indoors).

Fuck I hate neglectful owners. They’ll allow a bad situation to develop where their animal is unwell and/or causing problems to others but you’re the bad guy and you’re the problem if you do anything about it.

‘mInD yOuR oWn BuSiNeSs’

I’d love to but it’s affecting me negatively. I’m dropping my own money to fix this.

Edit: Fuck it. I just sent back a really nice anonymous email saying it’s great to hear he’s not lost, I was concerned because xyz. Btw he very possibly has ringworm. He’s lovely, let me know if there’s anything I can do to help or look out for him.

Boom. Hopefully they take him to the vet. Because I really don’t want to break the law and undertake ringworm quarantine measures alone with a cat that isn’t even mine.

Mentioning that there’s a cat curfew might have helped them but definitely would have got their back up, and not been helpful if he’s running away from a bully cat at their home.

Now I have to do the rest of the deep cleaning and work out what to do with an expensive bottle of lime sulfur dip.