Possible stray..
Discussion
This chap appeared in our garden a while back and assuming it was just another of the many random cat visitors we get here, I gave it a stroke and said hello..
Several hours later, it was still here.Several days later it was crying at the patio/kitchen door for some time in the rain.It was there when I left for work at 4.30/5.00am and it was here on my return in the afternoon.I knew the best thing to do was to ignore it for the time being (it looked healthy and fed etc), but after a few days and seeing it still sat there one freezing cold night with it soaked to the bone, I crumbled and let it in.We already have two young cats and things have become rather complicated now..
I think the spark which lit this feline fire may be that we could have been visited a few times by the cat over the past few months without us knowing! I leave the patio door open for our cats when I get in and I noticed they were still hungry on a few occasions even after I had put food down for them.My wife came home one day and caught the black cat sat on a chair in our lounge and our cat bowls licked clean (something that rarely happens), so it looks like it may have been sneaking in and helping itself which I know isn't uncommon in cat circles.Problem is, it now won't leave and we are not sure if this is because it is a stray, or whether it just likes our food! As I say, it may have been doing this for some time without me knowing, but it has never sat outside for hour after hour like it does now.I figured that if it had a home, it would rather go there on a windy, rainy night rather than sit outside my window, but alas..
It was extremely timid, nervous and scared to start with, but has become very friendly over the last week or so, but the simple fact is we can't keep it as our two hiss and dab at it and it's not fair on any of them.We took it to the vet and they confirmed it was healthy & spayed, but that it wasn't chipped.We then looked on numerous lost cat web pages, asked neighbours etc and posted some leaflets, all to no avail.We also have a message in the window of the local paper shop.We then asked if it could be taken care of at a local cattery/RSPCA affair, but were told that they can't give priority to a healthy cat and that they have too many to rehome as it is.The best they could offer was some temp cat collars and suggestions that if after a few weeks nothing is sorted, they may be able to help but that it could take months to find a home.The collars have a number to call on them just in case the cat is wandering between our house and its original owners, but this appears to not be the case.We were reminded also that you just can't give the cat away, as this can be classed as theft if the original owners are found..
During all of this, we have left it out during the day and let it back in at night or when I get home from work (failed attempt to put it off so to speak) and of course, we have been feeding it (It eats for England by the way!) We are also trying to make it feel at least partly safe and welcome by leaving it with a bed, food, water and litter tray in a closed dining room at night (stops all the hissing!).Of course, we have been told numerous times now that this is/was a bad idea, but even scaring it off right from the start did little to deter it and it just kept coming back and crying for hours.It got to the point where I suggested I couldn't care less any more what the "right" thing to do was, I just couldn't see it sat in the rain and cold for hour after hour looking longingly through my window.It was so scared and appeared to be so hungry at that time, that I just took pity on it..
As of now, it's still here and oddly the yellow collar has vanished! (It may have just pulled it off) We have had one development in the form of a lost black cat sign a few roads away, but we have tried calling the number several times and it always goes to voicemail.We have left several messages and our number, so this may all end well if the phone rings soon.I do hope it rings.It's such a loveable cat and I just want it home safe and sound if it has one..
It may just be a cat to some and some may have a heart of stone to continue to ignore it, but I have obviously turned soft in my old age and can't simply turn a blind eye to its cries.Our very first cat when I was a kid arrived under similar circumstances and lived with us for 16+ years - she was just a kitten where as this one is around 16 to 18 months old apparently.Googling suggested that it's also quite possible for a stray to be healthy and have a lovely coat etc and also be fed by other people in the area, so turning it away based on its condition left me feeling colder than the cat..
I shall keep you updated.
Several hours later, it was still here.Several days later it was crying at the patio/kitchen door for some time in the rain.It was there when I left for work at 4.30/5.00am and it was here on my return in the afternoon.I knew the best thing to do was to ignore it for the time being (it looked healthy and fed etc), but after a few days and seeing it still sat there one freezing cold night with it soaked to the bone, I crumbled and let it in.We already have two young cats and things have become rather complicated now..
I think the spark which lit this feline fire may be that we could have been visited a few times by the cat over the past few months without us knowing! I leave the patio door open for our cats when I get in and I noticed they were still hungry on a few occasions even after I had put food down for them.My wife came home one day and caught the black cat sat on a chair in our lounge and our cat bowls licked clean (something that rarely happens), so it looks like it may have been sneaking in and helping itself which I know isn't uncommon in cat circles.Problem is, it now won't leave and we are not sure if this is because it is a stray, or whether it just likes our food! As I say, it may have been doing this for some time without me knowing, but it has never sat outside for hour after hour like it does now.I figured that if it had a home, it would rather go there on a windy, rainy night rather than sit outside my window, but alas..
It was extremely timid, nervous and scared to start with, but has become very friendly over the last week or so, but the simple fact is we can't keep it as our two hiss and dab at it and it's not fair on any of them.We took it to the vet and they confirmed it was healthy & spayed, but that it wasn't chipped.We then looked on numerous lost cat web pages, asked neighbours etc and posted some leaflets, all to no avail.We also have a message in the window of the local paper shop.We then asked if it could be taken care of at a local cattery/RSPCA affair, but were told that they can't give priority to a healthy cat and that they have too many to rehome as it is.The best they could offer was some temp cat collars and suggestions that if after a few weeks nothing is sorted, they may be able to help but that it could take months to find a home.The collars have a number to call on them just in case the cat is wandering between our house and its original owners, but this appears to not be the case.We were reminded also that you just can't give the cat away, as this can be classed as theft if the original owners are found..
During all of this, we have left it out during the day and let it back in at night or when I get home from work (failed attempt to put it off so to speak) and of course, we have been feeding it (It eats for England by the way!) We are also trying to make it feel at least partly safe and welcome by leaving it with a bed, food, water and litter tray in a closed dining room at night (stops all the hissing!).Of course, we have been told numerous times now that this is/was a bad idea, but even scaring it off right from the start did little to deter it and it just kept coming back and crying for hours.It got to the point where I suggested I couldn't care less any more what the "right" thing to do was, I just couldn't see it sat in the rain and cold for hour after hour looking longingly through my window.It was so scared and appeared to be so hungry at that time, that I just took pity on it..
As of now, it's still here and oddly the yellow collar has vanished! (It may have just pulled it off) We have had one development in the form of a lost black cat sign a few roads away, but we have tried calling the number several times and it always goes to voicemail.We have left several messages and our number, so this may all end well if the phone rings soon.I do hope it rings.It's such a loveable cat and I just want it home safe and sound if it has one..
It may just be a cat to some and some may have a heart of stone to continue to ignore it, but I have obviously turned soft in my old age and can't simply turn a blind eye to its cries.Our very first cat when I was a kid arrived under similar circumstances and lived with us for 16+ years - she was just a kitten where as this one is around 16 to 18 months old apparently.Googling suggested that it's also quite possible for a stray to be healthy and have a lovely coat etc and also be fed by other people in the area, so turning it away based on its condition left me feeling colder than the cat..
I shall keep you updated.
That's great that he's going home, well, hopefully! I would of definitely fallen for his little cries as well
I had a black cat called simba go missing when he was about a year old, came back every couple of weeks for a few months, then completely stopped coming back. 2 years later he came back for a whole day, only to go again at night time and haven't seen him since. As we have his mum and sister we guessed that he just needed to go and get his own 'pride' so to speak. Absolutely lovely, big cat. I still wonder what happened to him.
I had a black cat called simba go missing when he was about a year old, came back every couple of weeks for a few months, then completely stopped coming back. 2 years later he came back for a whole day, only to go again at night time and haven't seen him since. As we have his mum and sister we guessed that he just needed to go and get his own 'pride' so to speak. Absolutely lovely, big cat. I still wonder what happened to him.
It was him!! He's been missing for approx 3 months and wasn't chipped just yet because he was a house cat in a flat.The owners then moved to a house and the cat never came back one night.The poor owner was even out in the woods in the dead of night calling him and rubbing familiar smelling clothes on branches and bushes in an attempt to lead him home.He had pretty much given up hope of finding him he said and had looked at several and had to walk away with a heavy heart.We opened the dining room door and he said "It's him!!" They live probably less than a mile from us as the crow flies.
He also said he fed him on fresh chicken and fish etc, so seeing as I have only been offered beans on toast as it's late, I may go and cry outside the owners patio window tonight
He also said he fed him on fresh chicken and fish etc, so seeing as I have only been offered beans on toast as it's late, I may go and cry outside the owners patio window tonight
I'm sorry to inform you of this bad news, but R.I.P black cat 
After all we all went through, it managed to claw its way out of a barricaded cat flap and was killed on the main road near the guys house.For all I know, he was trying to come back here.We were just on our way out tonight when the choked up owner called to explain."Absolutely gutted" doesn't even come close to how I feel.What an incredibly cruel end to this emotional roller coaster ride.
After all we all went through, it managed to claw its way out of a barricaded cat flap and was killed on the main road near the guys house.For all I know, he was trying to come back here.We were just on our way out tonight when the choked up owner called to explain."Absolutely gutted" doesn't even come close to how I feel.What an incredibly cruel end to this emotional roller coaster ride.He called, I assume, because he borrowed a basket from us and was going to drop it back later on.He did say he didn't know whether to tell us, but there was always the chance we would have found out anyway.Part of me wishes we hadn't found the owner now despite how silly that sounds.I even have the little fella on video a short while before he was taken away
We had an African Grey put to sleep some time ago and I still wait to hear the chat and whistles when I walk in the door to this day, but that stung a lot less than this due to her being around 80 (human) years old.I assume I am going to think of this cat every time I look out of the patio door or enter the dining room and always think "if only"...
That's life I guess.We are all in the same boat really.
We had an African Grey put to sleep some time ago and I still wait to hear the chat and whistles when I walk in the door to this day, but that stung a lot less than this due to her being around 80 (human) years old.I assume I am going to think of this cat every time I look out of the patio door or enter the dining room and always think "if only"...
That's life I guess.We are all in the same boat really.
Digby said:
I'm sorry to inform you of this bad news, but R.I.P black cat After all we all went through, it managed to claw its way out of a barricaded cat flap and was killed on the main road near the guys house.For all I know, he was trying to come back here.We were just on our way out tonight when the choked up owner called to explain."Absolutely gutted" doesn't even come close to how I feel.What an incredibly cruel end to this emotional roller coaster ride.
Oh my what a sad story after such a nice middle After all we all went through, it managed to claw its way out of a barricaded cat flap and was killed on the main road near the guys house.For all I know, he was trying to come back here.We were just on our way out tonight when the choked up owner called to explain."Absolutely gutted" doesn't even come close to how I feel.What an incredibly cruel end to this emotional roller coaster ride.
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