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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Missing cat has returned but ....

220 replies

topknob · 22/04/2012 12:46

Charley went missing just under a year ago...searched everywhere, did leaflet drops etc, many sightings but no one could get him. We now have two females, both spayed. I thought I saw Charley last week, just a fleeting glance so wasn't sure. Then yesterday dh clearing out his works van, I was out there too and along comes Charley following one of my females :) I was patient, sat down near them as they laid together under a car then watched them following each other about. He did at one point lay in front of me, but I was worried about scaring him. He came back AGAIN about an hour later..went to follow our female into the house then she turned round and went back out !! So he sat on our front garden for ages...when I called him he would look at me but didn't make any attempt to come up to me or dh (he was Charleys fav :) ) I took lots of photos have compared them to when he was younger and the markings are exactly the same.
What do I do now?? I am eagerly waiting for him to pop up again hopefully should I attempt to approach him? Should I put his old bed out for him?? Any ideas?

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topknob · 16/06/2012 22:05

I need help Wink he is happy to stay in for ages with the door open but once it is shut he will only stay in for up to 5mins before he starts stressing Sad how can I make him more happy indoors? He has the run of the house but starts to claw at the windows if left in too long Sad he will eat with the door shut, this evening dd1 fed him titbits with the door shut but once she ran out he got stressed and I had to let him out Sad I would love him to stay and asleep for awhile ATM he sleeps on the grass on the front garden or his bed out the front but I am impatient and want him to sleep in the house like the other cats we have Grin Envy any ideas ???

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Fluffycloudland77 · 17/06/2012 13:16

Which door? the front door or the door to lounge?

It sounds like the feral side hasnt gone yet. How stressy? miaowing or really shouting and getting aggressive?.

Could you explain the situation to the vet and get him neutered? it would take that fiesty side away from him and the desire to get out and at em.

topknob · 17/06/2012 14:06

I have no idea how to get him in a carrier as he won't let me pick him up and I can't be certain when he will be here Sad. It is the front door, he gets very loud meowing at it but the other day he hissed at me when I was standing next to it Grin I quickly opened it Grin he is still very feral but getting so affectionate Smile. I am just being impatient I know Blush

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catsrus · 18/06/2012 07:32

You really need to get him neutered as that will calm him down. Can you talk to your vet about strategy on this? I would get a huge towel and wrap him in it so he can't scratch and put him into a large cat basket - you might have beg or borrow a huge one to fit him and towel in. There might be s local cats protection league who can help. Whilever the testosterone is still pumping he will have that feral edge - neutering has a huge effect.

Good luck !

Fluffycloudland77 · 18/06/2012 18:05

Right,

I dont pick my cat up to put him in his box, he's a bengal and is really strong.

This is what I do;

I have a box that the door comes off, I hold the door in one hand and back him into a corner with the box so he has no choice but to get in the box, then I use the door of the box to push his bottom in (not roughly obv) and then fasten it.

I usually take him into the bathroom to do it as the less space he has to run means it is less traumatic for him.

If you explained to your vets that your trying to neuter a semi feral pet so he isnt getting cats pg would they give you an open appointment? eg you phone up when you have him in a box and they neuter him that day?

Fluffycloudland77 · 18/06/2012 18:06

My cat hisses at me when I take dead things off him. Cat attacks are quite rare unless you strike first or really threaten them.

spanky2 · 18/06/2012 18:17

Put some chicken or tuna at the end of the cat box, he'll have to go in to get it and shut the door behind him. Sounds easy, doesn't it?! It's the only thing I can think of. Our first cat was a stray and was much more eager to stay in after being done. He had the foulest mouth for swearing and hissing before he was done. He did still forage in bins, and once presented us with a meatball from a pizza! He was a lovely boy.

topknob · 18/06/2012 21:13

No I haven't fluffy but will call them tomorrow and see if we can arrange that :) I was worried about being able to tell them when he had last eaten and all that Blush I love bengals and am a little Envy :o
Stroppy girl cats growls at us when we take dead animals from her but that doesn't bother me, but the size of Charley compared with the girls is huge and I am under no illusion, I know he would hurt me to get away if he felt he had to :o

spanky pizza meatball :o so thoughtful :)

I will do this then....I will speak to the vet first and see if they have any cages (he is big) if not I will source one from ebay or similar. I love the idea of an open appt. that would be perfect :)

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Fluffycloudland77 · 18/06/2012 21:22

I have a very down bengal, we moved and he isnt allowed out every day. Can you get pussy cat anti deppressants?

I bet charley got so big because he wasnt neutered.

You can get push traps, your local CPL might be able to loan you one, the front slides up to catch them and then the side goes in so if they go nuts you can make it smaller so they dont hurt themselves. It sounds really mean but I used one once and it isnt.

topknob · 18/06/2012 21:33

aww poor boy x

You are right about him being so big because he wasn't neutered, he has a massive neck and head ! A proper tom, but it does need addressing. If the vets can't help with a cage I will try the CPL, we have one in our town :)

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spanky2 · 19/06/2012 14:09

He placed the meatball at my feet and sat down looking at me expectantly. Good luck with your boy.

topknob · 19/06/2012 20:21

Vet said yes to an open appointment :o I do have a cat cage, not a carrier but it needs fixing as one of the girls almost escaped last time we used it so dh and I have decided if I Shock get him in it, we will tie wrap it shut all over and then get him to the vet :) He has spent most of his time here today, fed at lunchtime then again just now, just strolled in with dh into the kitchen shouting at me to feed him then sat in the living room with us washing and rolling about but the door was still open the whole time :.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 19/06/2012 22:01

Yay for your vets. Ime they are usually very keen on neutering.

Just gotta catch him now.

RandomMess · 19/06/2012 22:11

Wow this is taking ages. MIL has maine coon cats, no way would I take one of them on in a bad mood they are so so strong and heavy!

topknob · 20/06/2012 12:25

A friend has lent me her small dog carrier so we are ready to go except not today as I fed him before she contacted me, am aiming for tomorrow morning.

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MrsSchadenfreude · 20/06/2012 18:33

Fluffycloud, you need Feliway to waft around the house and Zylkene to add to his food. Smile

RandomMess · 20/06/2012 19:49

Snip snip snip

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/06/2012 10:02

Hopefully todays the day charleys batchelor days end for a more sedate life of hunting mice not ladies.

topknob · 21/06/2012 21:11

If only, it has been raining here most of the day :( so he didn't turn up until 5.00pm. Always tomorrow (prays for nice weather). He is so cheeky now though, as soon as he sees me (food giver) he follows me around the house shouting at me until I feed him :) .

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topknob · 27/06/2012 09:24

Dh got him in the cat box this morning and we are going to the vets at 10.00am Smile not sure what we are going to do when we pick him up later Blush

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Sparklingbrook · 27/06/2012 09:26

Topknob you did it!!

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/06/2012 13:38

Well done! how is he?

topknob · 27/06/2012 13:41

They have just called he is still asleep, had a little complication and had to put one stitch in so we have to keep an eye on it incase of infection. They want us to keep him in doors for 24 hours so that will be interesting !

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Sparklingbrook · 27/06/2012 13:45

Have you got a litter tray? Will he have to wear a lampshade?

At least it's done. Phew.

topknob · 27/06/2012 14:07

She did say no but that was before he had his stitch so not sure. Off to get litter etc in a bit Smile

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