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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.

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Original poster

Advice needed on a possible stray/lost cat that followed me home.

89 replies

NaturalNature · 17/08/2012 20:16

Hi, I came across a cat earlier who was crying loudly by the side of the road. I knocked on doors and asked passers by but no one knows who it is. It is terrified of traffic and dogs beyond normal ranges and followed me home. None of my neighbours know it but have seen it before.

I have taken it in, told everyone I know, put a found poster up. Will do more tomorrow.

It is starving, jumpy but eating, drinking and cuddling. I don't want to put it out due to the heavy rain but don't know what to do?

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 18/08/2012 20:47

George
Leo
Oscar

Original poster

NaturalNature · 18/08/2012 22:03

Nope, I think he's ignoring me now. He's had a mad half hour and is giving cat kisses.

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Meowmi · 19/08/2012 12:01

It sounds like the cat has possibly wandered too far from home, its amazing how far they will go looking for females once thier hormones kick in.

I once found an un-neutered cat who turned up on our old street one day. I was pretty sure he wasnt local but asked around all the neighbours and nobody knew of the cat.
But a couple of the neighbours i knew had unspayed females, quite a few between the two and random cats used to congreate round our street for days on end
Once he arrived in the street he didn't seem to want to leave So i let him sleep in the shed and fed him whilst i set about finding an owner.. I put notices up everywhere i could think of and after putting notices up in our local Asda, a few days later i got a call from a possible owner. She came and had a look and it was her cat. She lived on a farm 15 miles away.
It was pure luck that her friend had come into our town to do her shopping and read the found notice.

But good on you for taking him in he is a lovely cat and knew that he was onto something good when he decided it was you he was going to follow home!!

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/08/2012 14:09

He must feel very confident if he's ignoring you now.

Original poster

NaturalNature · 19/08/2012 14:32

Meowmi, thanks for the supermarket tip, we are rural surrounded by lots of little villages. He's too house trained for him not to have had nice owners although he has jumped on the kitchen worktops! he got shooed

Fluffy, he did run up at MrBoJangles but is ignoring that now he's eaten!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 19/08/2012 17:20

I have to say that I would be surprised that 'nice owners' would not have him chipped and neutered at a year old natural. House training comes naturally because cats are so clean. (I ignore the kitchen surfaces issue: my cats know they go on a kitchen surface at peril of their future tuna but some people allow it.)

Original poster

NaturalNature · 19/08/2012 17:45

Cozie, it's more the used to cat gym, sofas, chairs, hoover etc I'm trying not to get annoyed incase someone turns up but I will be passing on the vet bills if they do. He's been part of a home, no obvious signs of behavioural/abuse problems. Yes his owners should have chipped/neutered but that, unfortunately, is common here so is turfing cats for x,y,z grrr

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 19/08/2012 17:47

Ah well - I'm hearing what you say about neutering/chipping - and I heard what issey said about the cats that come into their shelter. Still find it difficult to understand.

Original poster

NaturalNature · 19/08/2012 18:59

What happens to them?

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cozietoesie · 19/08/2012 19:02

Nothing apart from finding them decent homes, as far as I'm aware.

I meant only that issey had said somewhere recently that most of their male unwanted are young, unneutered toms in not so good shape. (Going from memory here though.)

Original poster

NaturalNature · 19/08/2012 19:19

Oh ok, yep, people make more money from females cynical I've had two males both neutered before and they were fantastic cats. One of my boys was a half persian the owner turfed as she couldn't make money from him her pedigree female escaped and got knocked up by a farm tom but he was a runt with serious health problems and passed away aged 2.

I'd like to know this boys name, feels a bit weird not knowing what to call him, have 2 possible names, Stalker or Spartan.

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cozietoesie · 19/08/2012 19:35

Spartan is a fine name. Quite a good 'calling name' as well - particularly if he's going to end up being an outdoors cat.

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/08/2012 20:09

My cat was called spartan before we got him. He was also called peter.

His breeder was a bit odd though. He still answers to peter.

sashh · 20/08/2012 06:23

Mine followed a neighbour home in November last year. She was for a while, cat, spot, gatto on botte (once saw Sheck in Spanish) and Mystery Cat.

Mystery cat became Contessa Gatta Misteriosa, hunter of legs, but her every day name is Misty. She knows her name but ignores it when she is doing something she shouldn't.

Original poster

NaturalNature · 20/08/2012 20:19

Ok, now I'm in a bit of a conumdrum now.

If he's still unclaimed by friday that means he is staying, at present he is too scared to go outside and is being too cuddly, unfortunately schools go back here on wednesday so he's going to be alone for part of the day, he is mostly sleeping realises I sound a bit too psc, perfectstalkercat and having mad half hours.

He is young so I'm in for the long haul........do I get him a companion cat in a month or so ??

Thanks for all the help btw

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cozietoesie · 20/08/2012 20:26

Natural. You're almost planning the Mother of the Groom outfit here!

I'd say not - for the time being. But that's just one view. Let him settle down and learn to feel safe with you (if no-one else comes forward.) Personally, I think another cat finding its feet in your house - and with him - might introduce complications.

cozietoesie · 20/08/2012 20:27

PS - I meant in the shorter term - not for ever.

Original poster

NaturalNature · 20/08/2012 20:38

That's the thing, is it better to have two new cats together or to leave it til he is settled, possibly gets over his fear of outside, loses his bollocks and, like you say, gets used to us he is still getting over his escapade

and is it best to try and find a slightly older neutered female

I was just thinking that having another, calmer, surer cat around might show him the ropes.

Argh, will wait a while and see how it goes.

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cozietoesie · 20/08/2012 20:50

I think that's best. He's been through a lot and you're not totally sure about him yet and what he'll turn out to be. He may even have had some run-ins with other cats in his time on the run so they may not be a welcome sight for that reason. (In fact absence of other animals may be partly why he's so content with you at the moment.)

I'd give it a few weeks before you start thinking about it.

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/08/2012 21:15

He seems to know the ropes!

find new owner.
follow them home, look cute.
superglue paws under table. Look cute.

Original poster

NaturalNature · 20/08/2012 22:09

Fluffy he is desperately affectionate but not in a trust you cat way, rather a don't leave me alone way, psc, but today is the first day he's slept with both eyes shut and hasn't woken at the slightest noise. He's been sleeping for 5hrs solid.

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cozietoesie · 21/08/2012 06:59

Actually, I've changed my mind a little. Spartan is a fine name but I'm not at all sure it's his name. You'll know best knowing him.

cozietoesie · 21/08/2012 08:19

\link{http://s674.photobucket.com/albums/vv101/Konradius5/Gary%20Larson%20Comics/?action=view¤t=DogNames.jpg&sort=ascending\dog names}

I'm sure there's one for cats.

Original poster

NaturalNature · 21/08/2012 14:20

Cozie great cartoon. He's decided he's not spartan, I'm going to use KittyCat, MrMan and BabyBoy I know for now, a name will find him and I'm going to stop looking at the lost and found cats found nothing for him

It's just hitting me that we've got an addition to the family, it throws some plans out the window, I was hoping to foster rescue dogs, but can't do that with a cat in the home due to not knowing how they'll react. Maybe I'd be crap at it so it could be a saving grace.

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cozietoesie · 21/08/2012 16:49

Maybe you still can once you see what sort of cat he is. (Once he's calmed down and is a little older.) Terriers and disturbed dogs are probably out, I agree, but big older ones might still be OK. (Don't they give them a rough temperament test before they foster them?)

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