Cat has adopted us
Discussion
Hi,
I've never posted in this sub forum before so please be gentle.
2 days ago I returned home from nights at 0500, and there was a lovely tortoiseshell cat with a collar sat on the blanket I keep over the classic. I let him be as he was sleeping, when I woke up and went out the back at 10, he was still there and meowing at the door to be let in.
Being the kind of chap I am, I gave him some milk (outside) and expected him to be wandering off later. He's been there for 2 days now, I've not fed him, in fact I've ignored him , as has the wife (who's a dog person) . He's in great shape, young, neutered, collar, clean and affectionate, but I know nothing about cats and can't work out why he's still there. He may well come and go, I saw him jump the neighbours fence earlier but he seems to have made himself a base on the rear of my classic. Every time we come home though he looks up and wants to make for the door, but is a bit nervous and keeps his distance.
I'm friendly with my neighbours and none of them has lost a cat, I feel a bit bad cos I think he needs some food but I'm reluctant to feed him because he will then assume that we will do so all the time, so I am asking what my next move should be. Should I put up a few flyers, knock on some more doors or put a note on his collar in case he makes his way home?, or has he just found a comfy place to sleep for the time in-between feeds at his own home.?
Cheers
Pete
I've never posted in this sub forum before so please be gentle.
2 days ago I returned home from nights at 0500, and there was a lovely tortoiseshell cat with a collar sat on the blanket I keep over the classic. I let him be as he was sleeping, when I woke up and went out the back at 10, he was still there and meowing at the door to be let in.
Being the kind of chap I am, I gave him some milk (outside) and expected him to be wandering off later. He's been there for 2 days now, I've not fed him, in fact I've ignored him , as has the wife (who's a dog person) . He's in great shape, young, neutered, collar, clean and affectionate, but I know nothing about cats and can't work out why he's still there. He may well come and go, I saw him jump the neighbours fence earlier but he seems to have made himself a base on the rear of my classic. Every time we come home though he looks up and wants to make for the door, but is a bit nervous and keeps his distance.
I'm friendly with my neighbours and none of them has lost a cat, I feel a bit bad cos I think he needs some food but I'm reluctant to feed him because he will then assume that we will do so all the time, so I am asking what my next move should be. Should I put up a few flyers, knock on some more doors or put a note on his collar in case he makes his way home?, or has he just found a comfy place to sleep for the time in-between feeds at his own home.?
Cheers
Pete
Thanks for the info MitchT and Dave, it was just a one off and I diluted it as well as I wasn't sure myself. Just had a look outside and he's still there and has been since yesterday. Currently sleeping on my works jacket which is a quilted affair. **edit it is inside a brick carport, effectively a garage minus the door, adjoining the house right at the back under shelter and not exposed in any way.
Earlier on today he followed me to the car and wanted to jump in, as I said he's very affectionate and always looking and following us as we leave the house, walking up to us when we arrive. I'm just concerned there's a family missing their cat somewhere and being unnecessarily concerned.
The Vet is literally 2 mins away, so if he's still there Monday morning or afternoon I'll give them a call and pass by. Will the microchip give owners details and are the vets allowed to share them, or will I have to leave him in their care?.
Thanks again,
Pete
Earlier on today he followed me to the car and wanted to jump in, as I said he's very affectionate and always looking and following us as we leave the house, walking up to us when we arrive. I'm just concerned there's a family missing their cat somewhere and being unnecessarily concerned.
The Vet is literally 2 mins away, so if he's still there Monday morning or afternoon I'll give them a call and pass by. Will the microchip give owners details and are the vets allowed to share them, or will I have to leave him in their care?.
Thanks again,
Pete
Edited by texaxile on Saturday 13th February 21:41
Edited by texaxile on Saturday 13th February 21:43
texaxile said:
Will the microchip give owners details and are the vets allowed to share them, or will I have to leave him in their care?.
The chip will give the name and contact details of the owner. The vet will most likely contact the owners. Whether the vet tells you to take the cat home and continue as before on the proviso that you hand your details over so the cat's owners can pick it up, or they keep the cat for the owners to come and collect, I'm not sure.It would appear you have become slave to a cat.
Let him in, get him raw chicken mince for dinner and lacto free milk..... He will enjoy cuddles and sleeping on your bed, which henceforth is his bed but he will kindly share with you.......
Cats know who good people are, and he wants you.
Let him in, get him raw chicken mince for dinner and lacto free milk..... He will enjoy cuddles and sleeping on your bed, which henceforth is his bed but he will kindly share with you.......
Cats know who good people are, and he wants you.
Definitely vets to scan, sounds like she has had a home recently if she has a collar so you are right not to take home just yet!
Btw if a tortoiseshell much more likely to be female which makes it far harder to know if she has been neutered or not!!
If once scanned, asked around. Fliers local lost and found fb page been tried then you need to decide if you are taking her into your home or not. If not a local cat rescue needs contacting!
Btw if a tortoiseshell much more likely to be female which makes it far harder to know if she has been neutered or not!!
If once scanned, asked around. Fliers local lost and found fb page been tried then you need to decide if you are taking her into your home or not. If not a local cat rescue needs contacting!
Hi,
Just an update , he is still here, I left him sleeping on my old coat last night outside in the car port. He was there when the wife got home at 0600 and also there when we left for football and when we got back a while ago.
I've knocked on a few doors, no one is missing a cat, I've even got his mugshot on the iPad to show people as I ask them!.
He is meowing an awful lot, so I relented and gave him some tuna and a bowl of water, he's now snoozing on my coat again and seems pretty contented. I do get the feeling that he's playing me and is a bit crafty. If I get no joy later on when I go knocking again, I'll take him to the vet tomorrow morning and see what happens.
Thanks for all the advice so far. If we do end up being adopted by him on a full time basis this sub forum will be my first port of call for any help.
Cheers
Pete.
Just an update , he is still here, I left him sleeping on my old coat last night outside in the car port. He was there when the wife got home at 0600 and also there when we left for football and when we got back a while ago.
I've knocked on a few doors, no one is missing a cat, I've even got his mugshot on the iPad to show people as I ask them!.
He is meowing an awful lot, so I relented and gave him some tuna and a bowl of water, he's now snoozing on my coat again and seems pretty contented. I do get the feeling that he's playing me and is a bit crafty. If I get no joy later on when I go knocking again, I'll take him to the vet tomorrow morning and see what happens.
Thanks for all the advice so far. If we do end up being adopted by him on a full time basis this sub forum will be my first port of call for any help.
Cheers
Pete.
We have a cat of our own but last year a black and white cat started turning up at our back door. He'd sneak in and eat our cat's food so we started feeding him ourselves. He didn't have a collar but was tame like he was used to people. It got to the point where he was waiting for us on our living room window ledge to come home each night and we'd taken the decision to try and get him in a cat carrier and take him to the vet to see if he was microchipped and to keep him if he wasn't.
After a while he just stopped coming.
Where I used to live years ago I had a cat which disappeared the same day the people nextdoor but one moved away. She most likely got in their removal van, she was into everything, and got driven away in it. Six months later she made her way home and turned up at the back door one morning.
A cat that turns up at your house may well be making its way home from somewhere it has accidently been taken to. Finding it's microchipped will get it home quickly and safely, assuming the owners have updated the microchip details. One of my neighbours found a microchipped cat but the details on the database were out of date. If you decide to keep it, be prepared for it to suddenly move on one day. Of course, it may end up being your cat for years to come.
After a while he just stopped coming.
Where I used to live years ago I had a cat which disappeared the same day the people nextdoor but one moved away. She most likely got in their removal van, she was into everything, and got driven away in it. Six months later she made her way home and turned up at the back door one morning.
A cat that turns up at your house may well be making its way home from somewhere it has accidently been taken to. Finding it's microchipped will get it home quickly and safely, assuming the owners have updated the microchip details. One of my neighbours found a microchipped cat but the details on the database were out of date. If you decide to keep it, be prepared for it to suddenly move on one day. Of course, it may end up being your cat for years to come.
texaxile said:
it was just a one off and I diluted it as well as I wasn't sure myself.
For future info, diluted cows milk is worse, it is not rich enough for cats and the lactose will give them diarrhoea but one off like that won't do any lasting harm. They are safe with most dairy products such as cream, butter and cheese. Dog food would be fine as a one off or short term but is not high enough in protein for long term micro nutritional needs.We got our current cat this way, no chip, no notices of lost cats that matched for the surrounding area.
My assumption, and I've had it confirmed that it does happen, is that he got in a work van, and got out outside our house.
Hopefully he's got a microchip and you can get him back home.
My assumption, and I've had it confirmed that it does happen, is that he got in a work van, and got out outside our house.
Hopefully he's got a microchip and you can get him back home.
Any news on your new furry friend, OP? Did you take her to the vet's for scanning? Well done for feeding the poor little thing in the meantime, sounds like she's got lost somehow. As well as tinned tuna, you could give her cooked chicken or fish, but raw is not so good. Cat food will be a cheaper option if it turns out to be long term. Will you keep her if there's no microchip and no-one responds on Facebook?
Right.
Took her to the vets today, she ( I thought she was a he...my bad) is called "spangle" and belongs to a family 2 streets over, she was reported missing Saturday, simply because the family had returned from their centre parcs holiday and the person whom they left the cat in care of, hadn't , basically.
The vet called the owner who requested I stayed there for 5 mins so he could speak to me, when the owner arrived I filled him in on the details of my ( her ) time spent in the carport and how she'd been there effectively for almost a week. She's an "indoor" cat, the person who was supposed to be feeding her and changing the litter had left the door open and she had made a bolt for freedom.
He apologised for the inconvenience and offered me a reward, I declined, so it went in the charity box on the counter.
It's a happy ending for spangle, which is the main thing. I'm pleased that she has a good family and a good home, hate to think what might have been said to the person supposed to be looking after her though!.
Thanks again for all the advice and help, and if I've learned one thing, cats are cleverer and more adaptable than I ever thought.
As for me,depending upon what the Mrs thinks, a trip to the local CPL might be in order.
Cheers
Pete
Took her to the vets today, she ( I thought she was a he...my bad) is called "spangle" and belongs to a family 2 streets over, she was reported missing Saturday, simply because the family had returned from their centre parcs holiday and the person whom they left the cat in care of, hadn't , basically.
The vet called the owner who requested I stayed there for 5 mins so he could speak to me, when the owner arrived I filled him in on the details of my ( her ) time spent in the carport and how she'd been there effectively for almost a week. She's an "indoor" cat, the person who was supposed to be feeding her and changing the litter had left the door open and she had made a bolt for freedom.
He apologised for the inconvenience and offered me a reward, I declined, so it went in the charity box on the counter.
It's a happy ending for spangle, which is the main thing. I'm pleased that she has a good family and a good home, hate to think what might have been said to the person supposed to be looking after her though!.
Thanks again for all the advice and help, and if I've learned one thing, cats are cleverer and more adaptable than I ever thought.
As for me,depending upon what the Mrs thinks, a trip to the local CPL might be in order.
Cheers
Pete
well done on doing the right thing.
!) Plenty of cats need homes and people who aren't cat people tend to misunderstand them. They aren't aloof and snooty, they're family oriented animals that do show affection to the people they consider their family. They just don't do it in such an over the top way that dogs do. It would be nice if you could give a cat a home.
Great to read that little Spangle is back with her servants. Poor little thing must have been totally bewildered when she escaped from her so-called carer and it was very lucky that she found someone who befriended her and looked after her for a week as you did, texaxile.
You don't know how much you miss a 'visitor' until she's gone. In Summer 2014, I was awoken in the early hours by pitiful meowing and whispering from next door - one of their inquisitive young cats ( a long haired tabby with a lot of ginger in her coat - and the most ridiculous bushy tail) had managed to jump into my garden and couldn't get out - they were trying to persuade her to climb up a towel they'd hung over the fence, but she wasn't having any of it....
So I got up and threw on some clothes and went down to the back door - the little thing came scampering over and was obviously distressed. But I popped her onto the fence and the neighbours scooped her back.
But I was concerned that she might repeat the episode, so I moved a wheelie bin into the corner between the fence and my wall, next to the kitchen. When she reappeared, I taught her she was welcome in the garden and showed her the escape route using some Dreamies as incentive.
Dreamies - uh oh. From then on every few days there'd be a polite little face peering in from the kitchen window sill. Never any meowing, just that hypnotic gaze cats give you until their needs are satisfied. I rationed her to 10 Dreamies per day and she'd hop down and grovel on her back after her treats. Most cats when upside down with their tummy offered for a tickle will simply lacerate your wrist if you oblige, but this little cat never even unsheathed her claws and loved her tummy-tickles and chin rubs. After some quiet purring, she'd go and sit at the garden gate, indicating that her servant should let her out.... Often when I got home, she'd appear from nowhere or would be sitting expectantly on the windowsill giving me reproachful "And where have you been?" looks.
But last November I came home from a European trip to find that the neighbours had moved and that my little pal had gone with them to their new home. Life hasn't really been the same since...
And I still haven't had the heart to throw away the Dreamies...
You don't know how much you miss a 'visitor' until she's gone. In Summer 2014, I was awoken in the early hours by pitiful meowing and whispering from next door - one of their inquisitive young cats ( a long haired tabby with a lot of ginger in her coat - and the most ridiculous bushy tail) had managed to jump into my garden and couldn't get out - they were trying to persuade her to climb up a towel they'd hung over the fence, but she wasn't having any of it....
So I got up and threw on some clothes and went down to the back door - the little thing came scampering over and was obviously distressed. But I popped her onto the fence and the neighbours scooped her back.
But I was concerned that she might repeat the episode, so I moved a wheelie bin into the corner between the fence and my wall, next to the kitchen. When she reappeared, I taught her she was welcome in the garden and showed her the escape route using some Dreamies as incentive.
Dreamies - uh oh. From then on every few days there'd be a polite little face peering in from the kitchen window sill. Never any meowing, just that hypnotic gaze cats give you until their needs are satisfied. I rationed her to 10 Dreamies per day and she'd hop down and grovel on her back after her treats. Most cats when upside down with their tummy offered for a tickle will simply lacerate your wrist if you oblige, but this little cat never even unsheathed her claws and loved her tummy-tickles and chin rubs. After some quiet purring, she'd go and sit at the garden gate, indicating that her servant should let her out.... Often when I got home, she'd appear from nowhere or would be sitting expectantly on the windowsill giving me reproachful "And where have you been?" looks.
But last November I came home from a European trip to find that the neighbours had moved and that my little pal had gone with them to their new home. Life hasn't really been the same since...
And I still haven't had the heart to throw away the Dreamies...
Edited by nickwilcock on Monday 15th February 20:55
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