I've had what I first thought was a visitor cat for quite some time. Beautiful little tabby boy, very bold and entrepenurial - would come in to sleep during the day (I have a ground floor flat and windows and doors often often). I just thought he lived with a family who put him out during the day. He was always keen to take himself off at the end of the day. More latterly I'd tried a paper collar, asking around and a post to the local facebook group. Got nothing from any of that.
To cut a long story short, the cat looked ill last week - I found him on a deckchair on my patio looking very poorly - and after a couple of days of monitoring, I took him to my local vet. They scanned for a chip and there was an owner. I felt really, really sad but also pleased for him.
However. The owner on the chip had apparently "given him away." It took a few days for that owner to contact the current owner, who, I quote, "hasn't seem him in months and doesn't want him." (Can I just say here that this cat is approx 4 years old and not neutered, which makes me a little judgy of these owners.)
So the vet's practice have rung and asked if I want the cat. I do, and I'm picking him up later, but my mind is reeling a bit.
I didn't mind the cat going off god knows where overnight when I thought he had somewhere to go, but I now think he's just been out-out. I guess neutering may help a bit with his range and I'll get that done shortly.
On the days he was poorly last week he still went off at night but I left a patio door open slightly for him and he seemed to come in, in the early hours. It's not safe for me to have that door open - it's literally a patio door to my ground floor bedroom - so I either have to keep him inside overnight (he'd hate it) or get a cat flap put in the patio door. (I think there was a useful thread about this kind of thing recently).
I don't think he's ever used a little tray - he just had the ability to sleep for nine hours with a bladder of steel and then I assume go when he goes outside. I would LOVE not to have a litter tray in the flat and wonder if we can just continue with this system. I guess some of this will work itself out.
I wonder if there's anyway I can reinforce that this will now be his permanent home? (I have bought lik-e-lix!) He's been living at the vets for a week and apparently hating it.
He also needs a name. I've just been calling him "the little cat." The previous owner apparently called him Shrieky, which absolutely isn't right.
Cat tax follows.