Dinner Guest that didn't leave!

I was outside at about 9 PM working on my cats' pen when this handsome fella
strolls up, meows at me, and plops down about 10 feet away. I thought he
was probably someone's cat who got out because there aren't many strays or
ferals in my town. The few that I know of hang out by the restaurants in the
center of town. They're all TNR'd. I always keep a camera in my truck so I
can get picture of any unknown cats. I managed to get a few of him.

I always keep some Fancy Feast in my truck for bait, so I gave him a can.
He polished it off in about 30 secs. and meowed for more, so I gave him
another-- and another-- and another-- and two more before he finally laid
down and took a nap. When he was sitting, I noticed what appeared to be 2
lumps, one his right hip and one almost in the middle of his lower back.
Naturally, I wanted to get this cat to my vet ASAP.

You can see the lumps in these pictures:

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-01.jpg
http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-03.jpg


The next night he showed up again at about the same time- almost to the
minute. I had loaned my drop traps out so all I had were a few Tru-Catch
live traps that I haven't used in years. I gave him a can of food to keep
him occupied while I set the traps. I wasn't worried about filling him up
because I knew one can was just an appetizer for this guy. He wouldn't go
into the traps. Instead, he tried pawing the food through the bars. When he
realized he couldn't get the food, he looked at me and meowed pitifully and
plopped down on the walk about 10 feet away.

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-08.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-05.jpg


I went inside for more food but when I came back out he was gone. I figured
he went home and our meeting was just a one night stand. I was very worried
about the 2 lumps and thought maybe his owners dumped him because the lumps
were malignant and they didn't want to treat him. He wasn't even neutered.

That night after he left, I started making another drop trap. The next day,
I got home about noon and figured I'd finish the trap before he showed up. I
just finished putting on the transfer door and was carrying the trap outside
to paint it. As soon as I got outside- there he was under my truck! He must
have been hiding in the bushes waiting for me. To make a long story short, I
trapped him and took him straight to my vet. We couldn't get a good look at
lumps until we got him out of the carrier. To my relief, the lumps were just
very tightly packed mats! He's a long-hair that hasn't been brushed in
months- or even longer. Thankfully, he's FeLV/FIV negative.

He doesn't look malnourished, http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-02.jpg but
under all that fur is nothing but skin and bones. I can feel his ribs, hip
bone, and his entire spine. Needless to say, he's on a strict diet of all
the canned kitten food he can eat! For the past week he's been polishing
off 8-10, 3 oz. cans a day.

He wasn't too happy his first night indoors- or he really ****ed at me for
neutering him- because he totally shredded the window screen.
http://maxshouse.com/misc/windowscreen_shredded.jpg. Its a good thing I
reinforced all the windows in the isolation room with 1/8" wire mesh-
otherwise he'd be gone.
http://maxshouse.com/misc/windowscre...eenoutside.jpg The
screen he shredded was in the only window that had the screen on the inside.
The new screen is now on the outside. I don't care that much about the
screen, I just don't want the cats cutting their mouths trying to bite
through the screen.

Anyway, here's what he looks like cleaned up a bit. He wasn't not all that
happy about being brushed, but I think he'll get used to it. He gets a treat
for each brush stroke.
http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-07.jpg

I've already called the police and AC to see if anyone reported a missing
cat. No luck. I'm going to get some kids to put posters up around the town
and see if anyone calls-- although I don't want to return him to the people
who let him get into that condition unless they have a *really* good story.
Since he had no ID or chip and I trapped him on my property, he's legally
mine if I say so.


Phil

"Phil P." wrote in message
news:LI5lk.53$ZV1.6@trnddc07...
I was outside at about 9 PM working on my cats' pen when this handsome
fella
strolls up, meows at me, and plops down about 10 feet away.

[snips great rescue story]

I've already called the police and AC to see if anyone reported a missing
cat. No luck. I'm going to get some kids to put posters up around the
town
and see if anyone calls-- although I don't want to return him to the
people
who let him get into that condition unless they have a *really* good
story.
Since he had no ID or chip and I trapped him on my property, he's legally
mine if I say so.



Phil, I love these stories! I am so glad his lumps were just mats, they
looked scary. Sly is a great name for him. He has a very unusual look about
him, in the shape of his face and head, and his coloring, even his
expression. Do you get a feel for how old he might be? I know it is hard to
tell in adults who are not geriatric.

Once again, good job! Every one of your rescue stories helps counteract the
helplessness the bad stories of abuse and neglect cause. Sly knew where to
come for help!

On Aug 2, 4:03*pm, "Phil P." wrote:
I was outside at about 9 PM working on my cats' pen when this handsome fella
strolls up, meows at me, and plops down about 10 feet away. *I thought he
was probably someone's cat who got out because there aren't many strays or
ferals in my town. The few that I know of hang out by the restaurants in the
center of town. *They're all TNR'd. *I always keep a camera in my truck so I
can get picture of any unknown cats. I managed to get a few of him.

I always keep some Fancy Feast in my truck for bait, so I gave him a can.
He polished it off in about 30 secs. and meowed for more, so I gave him
another-- and another-- and another-- and two more before he finally laid
down and took a nap. When he was sitting, I noticed what appeared to be 2
lumps, one his right hip and one almost in the middle of his lower back.
Naturally, I wanted to get this cat to my vet ASAP.

You can see the lumps in these pictures:

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-01.jpg...ine/Sly-03.jpg

The next night he showed up again at about the same time- almost to the
minute. I had loaned my drop traps out so all I had were a few Tru-Catch
live traps that I haven't used in years. I gave him a can of food to keep
him occupied while I set the traps. I wasn't worried about filling him up
because I knew one can was just an appetizer for this guy. He wouldn't go
into the traps. Instead, he tried pawing the food through the bars. *When he
realized he couldn't get the food, he looked at me and meowed pitifully and
plopped down on the walk about 10 feet away.

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-08.jpg* *http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-05.jpg

I went inside for more food but when I came back out he was gone. I figured
he went home and our meeting was just a one night stand. *I was very worried
about the 2 lumps and thought maybe his owners dumped him because the lumps
were malignant and they didn't want to treat him. He wasn't even neutered..

That night after he left, I started making another drop trap. The next day,
I got home about noon and figured I'd finish the trap before he showed up.. I
just finished putting on the transfer door and was carrying the trap outside
to paint it. As soon as I got outside- there he was under my truck! He must
have been hiding in the bushes waiting for me. To make a long story short, I
trapped him and took him straight to my vet. *We couldn't get a good look at
lumps until we got him out of the carrier. To my relief, the lumps were just
very tightly packed mats! He's a long-hair that hasn't been brushed in
months- or even longer. *Thankfully, he's FeLV/FIV negative.

He doesn't look malnourished, *http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-02.jpg*but
under all that fur is nothing but skin and bones. I can feel his ribs, hip
bone, and his entire spine. Needless to say, he's on a strict diet of all
the canned kitten food he can eat! *For the past week he's been polishing
off 8-10, 3 oz. cans a day.

He wasn't too happy his first night indoors- or he really ****ed at me for
neutering him- because he totally shredded the window screen.http://maxshouse.com/misc/windowscreen_shredded.jpg. * Its a good thing I
reinforced all the windows in the isolation room with 1/8" wire mesh-
otherwise he'd be gone.http://maxshouse.com/misc/windowscre...utside.jpg*The
screen he shredded was in the only window that had the screen on the inside.
The new screen is now on the outside. I don't care that much about the
screen, I just don't want the cats cutting their mouths trying to bite
through the screen.

Anyway, here's what he looks like cleaned up a bit. *He wasn't not all that
happy about being brushed, but I think he'll get used to it. He gets a treat
for each brush stroke.http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-07.jpg

I've already called the police and AC to see if anyone reported a missing
cat. *No luck. I'm going to get some kids to put posters up around the town
and see if anyone calls-- although I don't want to return him to the people
who let him get into that condition unless they have a *really* good story.
Since he had no ID or chip and I trapped him on my property, he's legally
mine if I say so.

Phil

What a cutie and what a funny expression! It's so cool what you do--
you just get it done. I always hem and haw and feed them but don't
get on with the trapping for awhile but you TCB right away. Awesome!

Candace

Phil P. wrote:
I was outside at about 9 PM working on my cats' pen when this handsome fella
strolls up, meows at me, and plops down about 10 feet away. I thought he
was probably someone's cat who got out because there aren't many strays or
ferals in my town. The few that I know of hang out by the restaurants in the
center of town. They're all TNR'd. I always keep a camera in my truck so I
can get picture of any unknown cats. I managed to get a few of him.

I always keep some Fancy Feast in my truck for bait, so I gave him a can.
He polished it off in about 30 secs. and meowed for more, so I gave him
another-- and another-- and another-- and two more before he finally laid
down and took a nap. When he was sitting, I noticed what appeared to be 2
lumps, one his right hip and one almost in the middle of his lower back.
Naturally, I wanted to get this cat to my vet ASAP.

You can see the lumps in these pictures:

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-01.jpg
http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-03.jpg


The next night he showed up again at about the same time- almost to the
minute. I had loaned my drop traps out so all I had were a few Tru-Catch
live traps that I haven't used in years. I gave him a can of food to keep
him occupied while I set the traps. I wasn't worried about filling him up
because I knew one can was just an appetizer for this guy. He wouldn't go
into the traps. Instead, he tried pawing the food through the bars. When he
realized he couldn't get the food, he looked at me and meowed pitifully and
plopped down on the walk about 10 feet away.

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-08.jpg http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-05.jpg


I went inside for more food but when I came back out he was gone. I figured
he went home and our meeting was just a one night stand. I was very worried
about the 2 lumps and thought maybe his owners dumped him because the lumps
were malignant and they didn't want to treat him. He wasn't even neutered.

That night after he left, I started making another drop trap. The next day,
I got home about noon and figured I'd finish the trap before he showed up. I
just finished putting on the transfer door and was carrying the trap outside
to paint it. As soon as I got outside- there he was under my truck! He must
have been hiding in the bushes waiting for me. To make a long story short, I
trapped him and took him straight to my vet. We couldn't get a good look at
lumps until we got him out of the carrier. To my relief, the lumps were just
very tightly packed mats! He's a long-hair that hasn't been brushed in
months- or even longer. Thankfully, he's FeLV/FIV negative.

He doesn't look malnourished, http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-02.jpg but
under all that fur is nothing but skin and bones. I can feel his ribs, hip
bone, and his entire spine. Needless to say, he's on a strict diet of all
the canned kitten food he can eat! For the past week he's been polishing
off 8-10, 3 oz. cans a day.

He wasn't too happy his first night indoors- or he really ****ed at me for
neutering him- because he totally shredded the window screen.
http://maxshouse.com/misc/windowscreen_shredded.jpg. Its a good thing I
reinforced all the windows in the isolation room with 1/8" wire mesh-
otherwise he'd be gone.
http://maxshouse.com/misc/windowscre...eenoutside.jpg The
screen he shredded was in the only window that had the screen on the inside.
The new screen is now on the outside. I don't care that much about the
screen, I just don't want the cats cutting their mouths trying to bite
through the screen.

Anyway, here's what he looks like cleaned up a bit. He wasn't not all that
happy about being brushed, but I think he'll get used to it. He gets a treat
for each brush stroke.
http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-07.jpg

I've already called the police and AC to see if anyone reported a missing
cat. No luck. I'm going to get some kids to put posters up around the town
and see if anyone calls-- although I don't want to return him to the people
who let him get into that condition unless they have a *really* good story.
Since he had no ID or chip and I trapped him on my property, he's legally
mine if I say so.


Phil


Cute boy! And, once again, you are "God's gift" to cats!

--
Jean B.

"cybercat" wrote in message
...


Phil, I love these stories!

I've got a million of 'em! :-) Unfortunately, they all don't have happy
endings. But just one that does is enough to keep me going.

This one is probably the funniest: http://maxshouse.com/catergy.htm I still
get a good a laugh when I think about it.

Here's another funny one: http://maxshouse.com/now_this_is_funny.htm


I am so glad his lumps were just mats,

Me too! I was really worried for awhile.


they
looked scary.

They sure did! Here's what his skin looks like with the mats clipped off:

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-25.jpg
http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-matclipped.jpg




Sly is a great name for him.


He didn't have a name when I took him to my vet. My vet's wife wrote "Phil
Jr." on his carrier tag- I had to change that.


He has a very unusual look
about
him, in the shape of his face and head, and his coloring, even his
expression.

I think he's a handsome fella. I took these right after he polished off 4
cans of Fancy Feast. I let him choose between PP Kitten and FF- He
definitely prefers Fancy Feast- which is ok with me. FF contains even more
protein than kitten food. He needs a lot of protein to get back his muscle
mass.

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-24.jpg

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-23.jpg

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-21.jpg


Do you get a feel for how old he might be? I know it is hard
to
tell in adults who are not geriatric.


Judging by his teeth and lenses, we figure between 1 1/2 and 2.




Once again, good job! Every one of your rescue stories helps counteract
the
helplessness the bad stories of abuse and neglect cause.


Fight back! I think you should get into rescue- you definitely have the
passion- and that's enough. Even if you only save one cat a month or even a
year, it will make a world of a difference to that cat. Remember: "Saving
one cat won't change the world, but it will surely change the world of one
cat".



Sly knew where to
come for help!

Its really strange that he came to my house. He walked up like he knew
exactly where he was going. My town has very few ferals and strays- and
they usually hang out behind the restaurants in the center of town- about
1/2 mile away. Curious.


Phil

"Candace" wrote in message
...


What a cutie and what a funny expression!

At first glance, he looks a lot like one of two brothers we placed a few
months ago. Sly has an almost perfect white triangle on his face where the
left side of Zak's face is almost all gray. We adopted Zak & Aidan to a
woman who lives
in the next town- about 1/4 mile from my house, so, it was a bit of a
shocker when I first saw him.

http://maxshouse.com/Adopted/Zak+Aidan_M_4yr.jpg

http://maxshouse.com/Adopted/Zak_4yr.jpg


It's so cool what you do--

you just get it done.

Actually, I think I waited too long. I'll never loan out my last droptrap
again- that's for sure. If I had my trap- I would have got him the first
night I saw him.

I always hem and haw and feed them but don't
get on with the trapping for awhile but you TCB right away. Awesome!

I try to try to get 'em as soon as I can because I might not
see them again- or worse- AC could get them-- or a dog might get 'em--
or they could get hit by a car-- or if she's a female, she might get
pregnant or be pregnant and have her litter where I'll never find them-
until they have litters---
I'm
too scared to wait.

Phil

"Jean B." wrote in message
...


Cute boy!

He probably drove all the girl cats wild!

I think the white stripes down his front limbs are really cool:
http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-26.jpg



And, once again, you are "God's gift" to cats!

Thanks.

I think cats are god's gift to me.

Phil

"Phil P." wrote in message
news:LI5lk.53$ZV1.6@trnddc07...
I was outside at about 9 PM working on my cats' pen when this handsome
fella
strolls up, meows at me, and plops down about 10 feet away. I thought he
was probably someone's cat who got out because there aren't many strays or
ferals in my town. The few that I know of hang out by the restaurants in
the
center of town. They're all TNR'd. I always keep a camera in my truck so
I
can get picture of any unknown cats. I managed to get a few of him.

I always keep some Fancy Feast in my truck for bait, so I gave him a can.
He polished it off in about 30 secs. and meowed for more, so I gave him
another-- and another-- and another-- and two more before he finally laid
down and took a nap. When he was sitting, I noticed what appeared to be 2
lumps, one his right hip and one almost in the middle of his lower back.
Naturally, I wanted to get this cat to my vet ASAP.

You can see the lumps in these pictures:

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-01.jpg
http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-03.jpg


The next night he showed up again at about the same time- almost to the
minute. I had loaned my drop traps out so all I had were a few Tru-Catch
live traps that I haven't used in years. I gave him a can of food to keep
him occupied while I set the traps. I wasn't worried about filling him up
because I knew one can was just an appetizer for this guy. He wouldn't go
into the traps. Instead, he tried pawing the food through the bars. When
he
realized he couldn't get the food, he looked at me and meowed pitifully
and
plopped down on the walk about 10 feet away.

http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-08.jpg
http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-05.jpg


I went inside for more food but when I came back out he was gone. I
figured
he went home and our meeting was just a one night stand. I was very
worried
about the 2 lumps and thought maybe his owners dumped him because the
lumps
were malignant and they didn't want to treat him. He wasn't even neutered.

That night after he left, I started making another drop trap. The next
day,
I got home about noon and figured I'd finish the trap before he showed up.
I
just finished putting on the transfer door and was carrying the trap
outside
to paint it. As soon as I got outside- there he was under my truck! He
must
have been hiding in the bushes waiting for me. To make a long story short,
I
trapped him and took him straight to my vet. We couldn't get a good look
at
lumps until we got him out of the carrier. To my relief, the lumps were
just
very tightly packed mats! He's a long-hair that hasn't been brushed in
months- or even longer. Thankfully, he's FeLV/FIV negative.

He doesn't look malnourished, http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-02.jpg but
under all that fur is nothing but skin and bones. I can feel his ribs, hip
bone, and his entire spine. Needless to say, he's on a strict diet of all
the canned kitten food he can eat! For the past week he's been polishing
off 8-10, 3 oz. cans a day.

He wasn't too happy his first night indoors- or he really ****ed at me for
neutering him- because he totally shredded the window screen.
http://maxshouse.com/misc/windowscreen_shredded.jpg. Its a good thing I
reinforced all the windows in the isolation room with 1/8" wire mesh-
otherwise he'd be gone.
http://maxshouse.com/misc/windowscre...eenoutside.jpg The
screen he shredded was in the only window that had the screen on the
inside.
The new screen is now on the outside. I don't care that much about the
screen, I just don't want the cats cutting their mouths trying to bite
through the screen.

Anyway, here's what he looks like cleaned up a bit. He wasn't not all
that
happy about being brushed, but I think he'll get used to it. He gets a
treat
for each brush stroke.
http://maxshouse.com/Mine/Sly-07.jpg

I've already called the police and AC to see if anyone reported a missing
cat. No luck. I'm going to get some kids to put posters up around the
town
and see if anyone calls-- although I don't want to return him to the
people
who let him get into that condition unless they have a *really* good
story.
Since he had no ID or chip and I trapped him on my property, he's legally
mine if I say so.


Phil

I thought they might be mats when I looked at the picture - that's how Percy
(15-year-old pure-bred Persian who was dropped off at a shelter by an owner
who "suddenly developed allergies"). We had to take him to a groomer and
have him completely shaved into a "lion cut".

Again, bless your enormous heart for all you do for the unwanted and unloved
waifs out there!

Hugs,

CatNipped

"Phil P." wrote in message
news:6Nxlk.217$mP.113@trnddc03...

"cybercat" wrote in message
...


Phil, I love these stories!

I've got a million of 'em! :-) Unfortunately, they all don't have happy
endings. But just one that does is enough to keep me going.

This one is probably the funniest: http://maxshouse.com/catergy.htm I
still
get a good a laugh when I think about it.


I've seen that one before, but it still makes me laugh out loud (and some
people consider them "dumb animals" - riiiiiiight) ;

Here's another funny one: http://maxshouse.com/now_this_is_funny.htm


LOL! Now that was the first time I've seen that one - cute!!

Hugs,

CatNipped

"CatNipped" wrote in message
...

I thought they might be mats when I looked at the picture -


The lower lump in the picture sure didn't look like a mat to me. It looked
even worse "in cat".


that's how Percy
(15-year-old pure-bred Persian who was dropped off at a shelter by an
owner
who "suddenly developed allergies").

We've been getting a lot of those bull**** stories lately. If they
relinquish the cat at one of our in-store adoption centers, I have to bite
my tongue. But if they bring the cat to the shelter- I *really* grill them-
and I mean *really grill them*-- after they sign the surrender form, of
course. But I *never-ever* try to talk them into keeping the cat.

The more "forclosure pets" are in the news, the more pets are abandoned. Its
like surrender stories are some kind of absolution for low-involvement,
low-commitment, low-lives. The "everyone else is doing it so it must be ok"
mentality. Maybe one surrender story in 50 or more is actually true.


We had to take him to a groomer and
have him completely shaved into a "lion cut".

I know what you mean. I found a cat covered in oil base paint- had to shave
off most of his coat.



Again, bless your enormous heart for all you do for the unwanted and
unloved
waifs out there!

Thanks- but there are no unwanted and unloved cats. I love and want them
all- I just don't have enough space for all of them... at the moment.

Phil