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#1
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Roaming Cat
I have a beautiful neutered 3 year old half Bengal boy called
Jefferson. He was let out from about 3 months old and after about a year would often go off for 24 - 48 hours but would come home of his own accord. Back in April this year he went missing for 7 weeks and after putting up posters we were called by a kind person who'd realised that he was not a stray and was just lost. She'd started feeding him to try and lure him in so that she could take him to a vets/pet rescue centre to try and find his owners but had then seen our posters in the local town. We went and collected him from her beautiful little late out in the country 4 MILES away! He looked very well for being away for so long and this was because he would happily let him self in her cat flap and eat her cat's food and would do the same in the other residents of the lane who had cat flaps. We kept him in for a few weeks and then when we let him out would make sure that after he's fed at night that our cat flap is locked so to stop him wondering at night. But since this first time he has been back up to the same country lane (4 miles away) about 7 times and every time we have to go and collect him as he has never come home on his own accord. There are 2 residents who call us when he turns up and both have been instructed not to deliberately feed him (as we were advised that this might be why he keeps going back there) and just to call us and we'll come and get him. Originally the residents were ok and would call us when he turned up, but the last few times we've collected him they have not been happy. He does not fight with the local cats but he does eat their food and he 'calls' which is obviously distressing the human residents. When Jefferson is at home he is loving and sleeps on our laps and is thoroughly spoilt. We give him treats every time he comes through the cat flap to try and encourage him to come home. He usually stays at home for about 3 weeks before he goes again. Every time we collect him we keep him in for between one and two weeks and initially he's fine but then he gets anxious and once has even escaped through a tiny window to get out. He would not be happy as a house cat and our back garden is not big enough for a cat run. Just before this last time he went missing we started putting his cat-flap on incoming only so once he'd been out in the morning he would then be in for the rest of the day. But this still did not work and we've just been called to say he is back up in the country lane and one the resident who called said that we have to deal with him even if it means re-homing him to another area. What can we do and why is he continually roaming 4 miles? The area is beautiful, with rolling fields and a stream which he likes to play in but he is spoilt at home and when he's there seems to be very contended. I also hate the thought of him travelling 4 miles up to this lane. He has to cross a major A road and then I presume he goes cross country but sooner or later he is going to have an accident. I feel like a terrible parent and hate the thought of re-homing him but maybe if we could find a nice farm or stables this would be preferable to keeping him cooped up in our house where I know he would be miserable if he was not aloud out. I have spoken to vets, pet physiologists, missing animal bureaux's but their only advice is to keep him in and to spoil him. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly received as I would only re-home him as a last option but I don't think the residents will take much more and I only want Jefferson to be happy. Sophie |
#2
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Roaming Cat
KEEP HIM INSIDE AS THE VETS HAVE ADVISED YOU TO DO.
Gail "Sophie" wrote in message oups.com... I have a beautiful neutered 3 year old half Bengal boy called Jefferson. He was let out from about 3 months old and after about a year would often go off for 24 - 48 hours but would come home of his own accord. Back in April this year he went missing for 7 weeks and after putting up posters we were called by a kind person who'd realised that he was not a stray and was just lost. She'd started feeding him to try and lure him in so that she could take him to a vets/pet rescue centre to try and find his owners but had then seen our posters in the local town. We went and collected him from her beautiful little late out in the country 4 MILES away! He looked very well for being away for so long and this was because he would happily let him self in her cat flap and eat her cat's food and would do the same in the other residents of the lane who had cat flaps. We kept him in for a few weeks and then when we let him out would make sure that after he's fed at night that our cat flap is locked so to stop him wondering at night. But since this first time he has been back up to the same country lane (4 miles away) about 7 times and every time we have to go and collect him as he has never come home on his own accord. There are 2 residents who call us when he turns up and both have been instructed not to deliberately feed him (as we were advised that this might be why he keeps going back there) and just to call us and we'll come and get him. Originally the residents were ok and would call us when he turned up, but the last few times we've collected him they have not been happy. He does not fight with the local cats but he does eat their food and he 'calls' which is obviously distressing the human residents. When Jefferson is at home he is loving and sleeps on our laps and is thoroughly spoilt. We give him treats every time he comes through the cat flap to try and encourage him to come home. He usually stays at home for about 3 weeks before he goes again. Every time we collect him we keep him in for between one and two weeks and initially he's fine but then he gets anxious and once has even escaped through a tiny window to get out. He would not be happy as a house cat and our back garden is not big enough for a cat run. Just before this last time he went missing we started putting his cat-flap on incoming only so once he'd been out in the morning he would then be in for the rest of the day. But this still did not work and we've just been called to say he is back up in the country lane and one the resident who called said that we have to deal with him even if it means re-homing him to another area. What can we do and why is he continually roaming 4 miles? The area is beautiful, with rolling fields and a stream which he likes to play in but he is spoilt at home and when he's there seems to be very contended. I also hate the thought of him travelling 4 miles up to this lane. He has to cross a major A road and then I presume he goes cross country but sooner or later he is going to have an accident. I feel like a terrible parent and hate the thought of re-homing him but maybe if we could find a nice farm or stables this would be preferable to keeping him cooped up in our house where I know he would be miserable if he was not aloud out. I have spoken to vets, pet physiologists, missing animal bureaux's but their only advice is to keep him in and to spoil him. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly received as I would only re-home him as a last option but I don't think the residents will take much more and I only want Jefferson to be happy. Sophie |
#3
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Roaming Cat
on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:13:35 GMT, "Sophie"
wrote: He would not be happy as a house cat and our back garden is not big enough for a cat run. I don't think rehoming him is the answer. He will very likely also roam from his new home and could meet a tragic end. I'm sure you don't want that to happen. My advice is to keep him indoors. At first he won't like it, but he will eventually adapt, especially if you give him interesting things to do inside your home. Put up a cat tree in one room and another tall scratcher in another. Get him lots of toys and catnip and play with him frequently. I had a cat who was indoor/outdoor for 15 years. At that age, he developed kidney disease and his diet had to be strictly controlled (especially with regards to hunting). He cried to get out frequently for about a year, but ultimately gave up. He was *very* happy indoors, though, and lived another 5 happy and healthy years. Your kitty will adjust, too. You just have to be patient with him. My current cats are indoor only and I do feel very strongly that it is best for their longevity. -- Lynne |
#4
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Roaming Cat
Hi Sophie; he will miss roaming; I have aneutered female ex-stray and I know
she misses roaming. However she is quite happy living indoors, and 'visiting' the garden with me. Unfortunately once they have begun to roam there is nothing you can do. He is patrolling his 'territory' and going back to a known food source. He will not stop and will eventually be killed by roads or other animals. I used to have outdoor/indoor cats and not one, though much loved and cared for, made it past 5. Not a good record. All my cats are now indoors only. Setting up an outdoor run is not difficult; a frame with chicken netting wired securely onto it and dug 1 foot into the ground would give him some outdoor time and he would be safe/ You could attach one end to the house, so he could go in and out a catdoor/window whenever he wants. Let the grass grow inside it and he can 'hunt'. Bengals are known for doing this and unless you keep him indoors he will be killed. Re homing wont solve it either; he will still roam and in the country there are the same, if not more, hazards for cats. If you want him to live to a good, happy age, dont' sit on the fence any longer. Or you won't be left with any options because it will be too late. |
#5
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Roaming Cat
On Wed, 08 Nov 2006 06:13:35 -0800, Sophie wrote:
I have a beautiful neutered 3 year old half Bengal boy called Jefferson. He was let out from about 3 months old and after about a year would often go off for 24 - 48 hours but would come home of his own accord. Back in April this year he went missing for 7 weeks and after putting up posters we were called by a kind person who'd realised that he was not a stray and was just lost. She'd started feeding him to try and lure him in so that she could take him to a vets/pet rescue centre to try and find his owners but had then seen our posters in the local town. We went and collected him from her beautiful little late out in the country 4 MILES away! He looked very well for being away for so long and this was because he would happily let him self in her cat flap and eat her cat's food and would do the same in the other residents of the lane who had cat flaps. We kept him in for a few weeks and then when we let him out would make sure that after he's fed at night that our cat flap is locked so to stop him wondering at night. But since this first time he has been back up to the same country lane (4 miles away) about 7 times and every time we have to go and collect him as he has never come home on his own accord. There are 2 residents who call us when he turns up and both have been instructed not to deliberately feed him (as we were advised that this might be why he keeps going back there) and just to call us and we'll come and get him. Originally the residents were ok and would call us when he turned up, but the last few times we've collected him they have not been happy. He does not fight with the local cats but he does eat their food and he 'calls' which is obviously distressing the human residents. When Jefferson is at home he is loving and sleeps on our laps and is thoroughly spoilt. We give him treats every time he comes through the cat flap to try and encourage him to come home. He usually stays at home for about 3 weeks before he goes again. Every time we collect him we keep him in for between one and two weeks and initially he's fine but then he gets anxious and once has even escaped through a tiny window to get out. He would not be happy as a house cat and our back garden is not big enough for a cat run. Just before this last time he went missing we started putting his cat-flap on incoming only so once he'd been out in the morning he would then be in for the rest of the day. But this still did not work and we've just been called to say he is back up in the country lane and one the resident who called said that we have to deal with him even if it means re-homing him to another area. What can we do and why is he continually roaming 4 miles? The area is beautiful, with rolling fields and a stream which he likes to play in but he is spoilt at home and when he's there seems to be very contended. I also hate the thought of him travelling 4 miles up to this lane. He has to cross a major A road and then I presume he goes cross country but sooner or later he is going to have an accident. I feel like a terrible parent and hate the thought of re-homing him but maybe if we could find a nice farm or stables this would be preferable to keeping him cooped up in our house where I know he would be miserable if he was not aloud out. I have spoken to vets, pet physiologists, missing animal bureaux's but their only advice is to keep him in and to spoil him. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly received as I would only re-home him as a last option but I don't think the residents will take much more and I only want Jefferson to be happy. Sophie Tell him once and for all that he is a "house cat". |
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