Cat behaviors possible neglect?

Question

I’m temporarily fostering (supposedly a month or two) this cat while a girl tries to find a different roommate ( she says hers is allergic) this cat came to me all banged up with stitches all over his right side of his face , cut whiskers, and a shaved belly, and cone). She says he fell in the basement and hooked himself on something. I don’t know a lot about cats but people are telling me that’s odd because cats aren’t usually clumsy and his whiskers weren’t cut prior to his accident.  As soon as I brought this cat into my dorm he was extremely happy and affectionate towards me, which was odd because I thought cats usually take a bit to adjust and this cat was immediately overjoyed and letting me scratch his belly. I mean its only been a day and this cat follows me everywhere I go constantly purring. A couple of my friends have 
Suspicions of possible neglect but the girl seems really nice and like she absolutely loves her cat. I think they are reading too much into it but I’m wondering what people with experience with cats feel.

MerelyKiwi · Accepted Answer

I have two cats, one is very antisocial and hides whenever we have company. The other is extremely social, and cuddles up to anyone who comes in the house (and she loves belly rubs). So a friendly cat is not unusual. And because the cat has definitely been to a vet (stitches, cut whiskers, shaved belly, cone) that suggests that even though the cat is hurt, the owner takes care of him. My social cat had to get stitches once on her leg, and she had to wear a cone and stay in the basement for a few weeks. During that time she was very affectionate, she just wanted attention, comfort, and head scratches (she couldn't scratch her head because of the cone). So I don't find anything suspicious about the cat you're watching.

Entropy · Answer

First, while Cats can be AMAZING athletes, they are also prone to the same overconfidence and not-paying-attention that we humans suffer from.  I have seen my cats just flat out fall off stuff for no reason.  They tend to recover amazingly well because of their athleticism, but they absolutely DO screw up.

Second, I doubt the cat is being neglected if it's that affectionate.  Cats are very easy to learn to be distrusting and if her owner was mistreating her, it's unlikely she would be so outgoing with you.

Mark IX · Answer

The cat "came to me all banged up with stitches all over his right side of his face , cut whiskers, and a shaved belly, and cone".  So it's been to the vet then and the vet didn't find anything unusual about the injuries.  Who the hell do you think you are that you know better than the veterinary professional?  Get over yourself.

Cat behaviors possible neglect?

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