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

Original poster

Obie update

49 replies

MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 21/06/2015 22:39

We have found him.. he's alive, but he is trapped in a house 4 doors down, and the owner is on holiday. We have only found him thanks to our neighbour (who is his other 'mum' as she adores him) who was sure he heard a tiny miaow and went peering through the letterbox.. sure enough he is in there. We think he probably snuck in when she was loading her suitcases to her car.

We have pushed crunchies through the letter box but are very concerned that he may not have had water as we don't know if he has been able to access a loo to drink or not. We have no contact for the owner, but my neighbour thinks she is due back tomorrow night. If she is not back I will break a window !
I am so so relieved.. just desperate to get him out and home. Will he need the vets if he been dehydrated?

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 21/06/2015 22:41

TCN is your expert here, I think. Thank Goodness you at least know where he is.

cozietoesie · 21/06/2015 22:44

PS - have you got any ice cubes? I seem to recall that they'll pop through a letter box and provide some liquid when they melt inside.

RubbishMantra · 21/06/2015 22:54

That's brilliant news Medusa! I've been checking your other thread a bit obsessively.

In a trapped cat thread a while back, somebody said to push ice cubes through the letterbox for him to lick, as opposed to water which just soaks immediately into the carpet.

Not sure re. vet. Do the pinch test, on the loose skin on his scruff. If it takes a while to snap back, then he's dehydrated, so vets'. Mix water into his wet food for a few days.

fenneltea · 21/06/2015 22:55

Ice cubes are the best for some liquid, thank goodness you've found him, now you just need to get him out!

I'd try popping some wet food in too, it will provide a bit of moisture for him.

I hope the neighbours are home soon for you.

Original poster
MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 21/06/2015 22:57

Shoving ice cubes through now!! He tried to get his paw through the letter box and cried..so at least he is well enough to miaow. My lovely neighbour is not working tomorrow so she is on 'house owner watch' The owner doesn't like cats... (and probably will find giant Obie poo!)

I am going to look into a cat locater chip as I can bet he won't have learned from this.. he can't resist trying to go in houses. He is a GIT!

But he's an alive git, and while I have aged 10 years in a few days... God I'm glad!

OP posts:
Slidingintoindifference · 21/06/2015 22:57

I normally just lurk, but wanted to say how happy I am you've found him.

Yes, yes to ice cubes and getting him checked out by the vet when you get him out.

But by way of reassurance, my lovely childhood moggy managed to get himself locked away for 10 days without access to any proper supply of water. He was quite poorly for a while when we got him back, but made a complete recovery.

He was also ginger, nosy (... a bit dim) and absolutely wonderful, I think it's a characteristic....

Original poster
MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 21/06/2015 23:10

On the same note.. do microchip trackers exist? If not can anyone recommend a locater? He doesn't wear a collar at the mo as I don't trust him not to strangle himself!

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 21/06/2015 23:24

I don't think they do, Medusa - there are only collar based systems at the moment as far as I recall. (Delighted to be corrected on this.) I think it's a power/battery issue as much as anything else.

RubbishMantra · 21/06/2015 23:28

Sadly, microchip trackers don't exist yet. To do with battery life I think?

Both mine have quick release snap collars, with Loca8tor Pet on them. The only draw-back is, your neighbours think you're mental, when you're wandering about shaking the Dreamies, brandishing the receiver. On the upside, it helped us locate MCat really quickly, when he was hiding and terrified during a gale. You can buy replacement homing tags if they lose their collars.

You can get GPS devices for their collars, but they only show where your cat's been, not where it is.

Destinysdaughter · 21/06/2015 23:30

Great to hear! I had a cat once that got trapped under the house when we were having some work done. Only found out when we heard mewing sounds and couldn't figure out where they were coming from! Your puss will be fine now, I'm sure you will be so happy to have him home!

AlpacaMyBags · 21/06/2015 23:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cozietoesie · 21/06/2015 23:49

PS - if I were the MD of Sureflap, I'd hire a couple of bright young things to work on the concept of microchip trackers. They'd clean up if they could overcome the obstacles.

RubbishMantra · 21/06/2015 23:57

Hmm, Cozie, where do pacemakers get their power from? It would be a perfect world if I could track the MantraCats via their chips.

Original poster
MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 22/06/2015 00:03

Loca8tor pet it will be then. My neighbours already think I'm nuts anyway :)
I'm not a fan of collars but Obie is such an unfaithful toad I think it is the way forward.

I just want him back now!

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 22/06/2015 00:04

Oh I am so glad you found him!
I'm sure he'll be fine.

Re microchipped locators and pacemakers: PMs get their battery replaced regularly, small procedure under local anaesthetic, but would've a bigger deal for a poor pet, I'd imagine Wink

cozietoesie · 22/06/2015 00:05

If I recall, there is usually an integral long-life battery in the pacemaker. (MCs are such large cats that I guess anything designed for small to medium-sized dogs would probably suit - but I'm not aware of anything on the cards yet.)

Becca19962014 · 22/06/2015 00:11

I'm glad you found him!

DramaAlpaca · 22/06/2015 00:12

I've been shamelessly lurking - I'm so glad you've found him & hope you can get him out ASAP. Poor puss.

eleventybillion · 22/06/2015 00:25

Oh Medusa I'm so glad you've found him. The thought of his little paw through the letter box sniff oh my!

Original poster
MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 22/06/2015 00:32

I've just ordered a Loca8tor. My neighbour is going to capture him when the home owner returns and feed him in my house (if I'm at work) and then I shall collar him as soon as it arrives.

He's not going to like it... oh no...

OP posts:
RubbishMantra · 22/06/2015 01:16

I bend the clippy connector bits of the collar right in or file them down Medusa, to ensure they'll come off quickly in an emergency. Funny, they both got them off in the first week I put them on, but haven't taken them off since then. You may as well put a tag with your mobile, street number and postcode on the collar too. I ordered these tags for my lads.

xmaslisa · 22/06/2015 01:37

Hi I'm glad you've found him Smile just wanted to chip in and say I too have loc8tor pet for my cat, works for us!

stareatthetvscreen · 22/06/2015 01:58

brill news x

BettyCatKitten · 22/06/2015 05:26

I'm so pleased you've found Obie. I hope your neighbour returns soon and you can reunite with him.

greenhill · 22/06/2015 06:07

I'm so glad you've found him. Hopefully he'll be safely home soon.