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Cheeky homed cat or a stray?? |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bedford
Posts: 900
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Cheeky homed cat or a stray??
Every evening between 6.30-9pm a cat visits. Female and definitely spayed cause she been visiting every night for about 10wks and has showed no signs of being in heat or carrying kittens. Of course I started feeding her. I set up a small shelter for her under our roof in my garden with a blanket. For first few weeks i couldnt get near her, she would run when I would be try to approach her but over time I gained her trust. I began stroking her whilst she ate. She looks good, coat looks OK nothing bad to report. Felt her spine but I can feel my Timo's spine so not unusual. I never see her during day only early evening. She will pass by to eat but never stays and not once have I seen her use the shelter I pur up. Once all food goes if I give her more she will eat it. After she finishes she may stick around for 5mins then trotts away.
Now....I never used to put food out for passing cats or strays but then I started volunteering at a cat shelter so I then thought to feed any passing cats or strays. Before putting the food out I never saw this cat, not once. Then when I started putting food out I didn't catch the cat eating it at first but after about a week I spotted her. Now most days I see her. I'm trying to figure our if she is just cheeky neighbourhood cat or a stray. Like I said she never stays, never see her during day and she doesn't use the shelter I put out. The shelter I volunteer at has a space for her but I'm in two minds cause I'm not sure if she is a stray. To me..its 50/50. What do you guys think? |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street
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Cats are often known to visit several homes for food. Some are also known to disappear for days.
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#3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,851
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Quote:
Every evening between 6.30-9pm a cat visits. Female and definitely spayed cause she been visiting every night for about 10wks and has showed no signs of being in heat or carrying kittens. Of course I started feeding her. I set up a small shelter for her under our roof in my garden with a blanket. For first few weeks i couldnt get near her, she would run when I would be try to approach her but over time I gained her trust. I began stroking her whilst she ate. She looks good, coat looks OK nothing bad to report. Felt her spine but I can feel my Timo's spine so not unusual. I never see her during day only early evening. She will pass by to eat but never stays and not once have I seen her use the shelter I pur up. Once all food goes if I give her more she will eat it. After she finishes she may stick around for 5mins then trotts away.
Now....I never used to put food out for passing cats or strays but then I started volunteering at a cat shelter so I then thought to feed any passing cats or strays. Before putting the food out I never saw this cat, not once. Then when I started putting food out I didn't catch the cat eating it at first but after about a week I spotted her. Now most days I see her. I'm trying to figure our if she is just cheeky neighbourhood cat or a stray. Like I said she never stays, never see her during day and she doesn't use the shelter I put out. The shelter I volunteer at has a space for her but I'm in two minds cause I'm not sure if she is a stray. To me..its 50/50. What do you guys think? If no reply in say 2 weeks, you can assume it is a stray. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bedford
Posts: 900
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I can stroke her but I can't get to close to attach a collar or paper colar.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,851
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Quote:
I can stroke her but I can't get to close to attach a collar or paper colar.
It takes time to build up trust. I would just let cat stay free, and only take to sanctuary if you see any obvious health deterioration. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bedford
Posts: 900
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Quote:
It takes time to build up trust. I would just let cat stay free, and only take to sanctuary if you see any obvious health deterioration.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,458
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if she looks healthy with a shine to her coat - then I bet she is just popping round for food because its available and is a loved cat from the neighbourhood. (cats can roam for a few miles)
I'd bet she has a microchip too. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: May 2012
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My aunt lived in an Edwardian terrace. and her cat used to get out the top window at the back and wander along the rooftops.
She visited several houses on the street via this route. She would get in through an open window - usually in the attic or a back room at the top, and make herself at home with the residents. My aunt found this out as the cat would follow her to the local shop at the end of the road, and she was stopped on several occasions by neighbours, who recognised their mystery visitor. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: A bunker
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Quote:
Cats are often known to visit several homes for food. Some are also known to disappear for days.
Quote:
My aunt lived in an Edwardian terrace. and her cat used to get out the top window at the back and wander along the rooftops.
She visited several houses on the street via this route. She would get in through an open window - usually in the attic or a back room at the top, and make herself at home with the residents. My aunt found this out as the cat would follow her to the local shop at the end of the road, and she was stopped on several occasions by neighbours, who recognised their mystery visitor. Totally normal OP, seen many a cat behave like this. If you can get her scanned for a microchip that would be good. My MIL had one visit just the same, same behaviour you describe. Took her to the vet to check for chip, it was a local cat just doing the rounds, my MIL just checked with owners that it was OK to pet and treat accordingly when she turned up, which it was. We had one that used to visit us via the open window and roof route. Used to find it on top of the kitchen cabinets with our three cats sat on the floor staring it down. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bedford
Posts: 900
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I know all to well about travelling cats lo. My Heidi used to always disappear for hours on end, til one day we found out that was visiting a nice old lady we knew down our road and would eat the food there aswell as at ours. The lady used to feed her cause she felt sorry for her, just like me with this cat (Who I have named Sammy for now). But I have never had a cat come to me, every day like Sammy is.
The paper collar trick, I have heard of it but how do I make one? Someone said get a 2cm piece of paper and stick onto the cat....what literally stick on to her..? I found that odd |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,172
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can you take a photo of her and make up some posters to stick around your neighbourhood with maybe your email address on or phone number asking if anyone knows/owns the cat?
perhaps an advert in a local shop window (if its free?) if you can catch her and take her to a local vet they will scan her for free to see if she is micro chipped if you can gain her trust then the collar and note is a good idea but that may take some time |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,685
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I found the difference when I picked one up and put it down again, then noticed that my jumper was suddenly shimmering. It was alive with what must have been hundreds of lice.
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#13 |
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bedford
Posts: 900
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Saw her tonight. Had a good stroke, fur looks good. Shiny but not immaculate. She ate then trotted off. Sammy never makes no attempt to enter the house even when door wide open. Never uses shelter I put up. My male cat Timo....I can feel his spine more so then Sammy. Isn't it weird that I never see her during day, only see her after 7pm for about five mins before she leaves. I cant get her to my vets as they shut at 8pm and I can't trap her and take her in after 8 as an emergency can I. Paper collar, I'm concerned it will irrate her.
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#14 |
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: A bunker
Posts: 5,959
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Quote:
Saw her tonight. Had a good stroke, fur looks good. Shiny but not immaculate. She ate then trotted off. Sammy never makes no attempt to enter the house even when door wide open. Never uses shelter I put up. My male cat Timo....I can feel his spine more so then Sammy. Isn't it weird that I never see her during day, only see her after 7pm for about five mins before she leaves. I cant get her to my vets as they shut at 8pm and I can't trap her and take her in after 8 as an emergency can I. Paper collar, I'm concerned it will irrate her.
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#15 |
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bedford
Posts: 900
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Got paper collar ready. I think she trust me enough now so will give it a shot next i see her
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#16 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,172
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Quote:
Got paper collar ready. I think she trust me enough now so will give it a shot next i see her
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#17 |
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street
Posts: 40,099
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The other way is to attach a small camera and see where the cat goes.
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#18 |
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Southern East Anglia
Posts: 75,211
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Quote:
Saw her tonight. Had a good stroke, fur looks good. Shiny but not immaculate. She ate then trotted off. Sammy never makes no attempt to enter the house even when door wide open. Never uses shelter I put up. My male cat Timo....I can feel his spine more so then Sammy. Isn't it weird that I never see her during day, only see her after 7pm for about five mins before she leaves. I cant get her to my vets as they shut at 8pm and I can't trap her and take her in after 8 as an emergency can I. Paper collar, I'm concerned it will irrate her.
The fact she's just eating and not stopping, suggests she's not a stray looking for a home. |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,037
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Quote:
Of course I started feeding her. What do you guys think?
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#20 |
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: A bunker
Posts: 5,959
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Any update OP?
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