‘Stray cat’ advice

[Whatthechicken]

In inverted commas because she is in really good nick if she is a stray.

We moved into our house about 18 months ago. We have nearly an acre and i’ve seem a cat around the whole time we’ve been here. Cat has been happy to sit at a distance from me but always quite aloof and has never come close or shown any interest - I assumed it was a neighbours cat (about 200/300 metres away).

Last night cat started acting really needy, came to me for the first time, rolling around on the floor and loved a bit of fuss. The cat seemed like it wanted to come in the house (It didn’t) and would not leave. Cat is back again today miaowing and wanting fuss. I called the neighbours because of the sudden change in it’s behaviour and they thought it was ours. Apparently they see it in their field hunting rabbits. No other near neighbours.

I put out a call on the local FB groups with a pic and another person in the village about 1/2 a mile away said it visits them but no one else recognised the cat. It must have a roaming distance of at least 1/2 square mile. I’ve left the garage door open and put a bed in there for shelter but I’m not sure what to do. My worst worry is that it’s pregnant and that’s the reason for it’s change in behaviour...but I know nothing really.

I don’t think I will be able to catch it, it likes cuddles but is quick on it’s feet.

If it is a stray, it’s lasted this long in the wilds of Yorkshire so maybe I shouldn’t interfere?? If I was to call RSPCA I think they’d call me daft as it’s in such good condition. Any advice?

Sorry, I wasn’t very clear. It is in a door, but the door leads to the corridor that leads to the office. She didn’t go out yesterday - I think the rain put her off.

How is Bella today?

Bella is grand! She is a bit weird though, sometimes she won’t even let me near her (runs if I get close)...yet at other times (evening) she’s positively flirting...wanting her belly rubbed and ears tickled! I’ve opened the cat flap for 3 days in a row now and she just doesn’t seem interested! I have even put her in front of it twice today and showed her how it opened and she went and settled back in the office?

Playing!

I'm sure Bella is thinking, "Goodness woman! You wanted me in the house and now you want me to go back outside? Not on your life! I'm staying in now!."

She has adapted really well. I hope you have many happy years together.

No update to speak of with Bella, other that she now lives mostly in the living room...she sleeps all day, comes out to play when the kids have gone to bed (we bought some new cat toys, but her favourite toy is an old shoe lace), and has made no attempt to go outside. I think she’s hibernating and will become wild again in the spring!

Gorgeous Bella.

I think she knows when she's fallen on her feet.

She looks very settled. It’s been so cold this week I don’t blame her staying in.

That's another lovely update. Cats are great at deciding that they want to be in and that you are the perfect place. I'm not so sure that she'll want to be a full-time outside cat again.

Thanks for the update! I also think that she will stay with you. She may well stay out for a whole dsy or night but she will likely consider you her home.

Bella update!

Bella is finally going out! For the last three days she’s gone out after I’ve sorted the chickens (about 7:30am) she hangs around for a while, then leaves, comes back around lunchtime (I think just to check we’re still here, but doesn’t come in the house) and then she disappears until about 6pm. At 6pm me and Bella do a ridiculous dance every night of me opening the back door, shutting the door, kicking the rest of the family and dog out of the kitchen, opening the door back up again, then pointing to the cat flap (I even do little cat flap demonstrations). Eventually Bella saunters in and graces us with her presence in the house! Then she collapses in her bed seemingly wiped out for the night. So, we are a bit of a doss house in Bella’s eyes...but that’s ok, because she lets me cuddle her.

I was cutting the grass today in the orchard and she joined me which was nice.

First pic - Bells playing with her favourite shoelace during her lunchtime check in; second pic -rolling in the ridiculously long grass in the orchard.

It’s the warm weather, they always do this don’t they?. She’s coming in though which she doesn’t have to, she can fend for herself ably enough.

It’s so cute when they come in to check you haven’t moved house in the last hour.

I think she's very happy. You're meeting all her needs perfectly and she knows she's got you at her beck and call!

That's a lovely update. I love that they are independent and yet also need us for cuddling!

So, we have officially claimed Bella. Chipped and signed up to the vet pet plan.

She has come home religiously every night (after 12-14 hours on the prowl). So we thought it was time.

It is so nice to see how agile and full of energy she is after having old cats for so long. She will quickly scale an apple tree or get onto the old shed roof (she makes me worry sometimes). So Bella is grand and mine! The mice in the garden are not faring as well though!

£09
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Thanks for the update. She is absolutely gorgeous!

She looks like a tubby red panda in the tree. I'm glad she's adopted you.