Forum Topic

Found - Tabby cat, West Ealing

We appear to have a cat living behind our shed, which seems to have moved in in the last 2-4 weeks. It's a tabby cat with four white paws, looks quite young and in relatively good shape. Can't get close enough to get any photos yet, but when I do I'll register it on AnimalSearchUK. No idea of sex, but doesn't look big enough to be a mature male. Unfortunately it's already had a dust up with our cats who caught it going through the recycling boxes at the side of our house, so it's even more nervous now. Was planning on trying to trap it to take to the vets but it's very skittish and I can't get near. Anyone know whose it might be???

Philip Slater ● 4065d9 Comments

Where I live an exotic cat - on first glance itlooks like a silver tabby but a bit of researchshowed it to be an Egyptian Mau - starting visting my garden. In fact while very approachableand friendly he started to make a nuisance of himself by stalking birds. Which is the only reason I didn't replace my own cat. Who himselfformerly lived two doors away and moved in when the previous cat died. Neutered pet Maus can go for up to £500 from the breeder.Being a thin oriental shape its difficult to tellat first glance whether he's well fed or a stray.In fact he gets his meals from his "owners" over the road. Who "lost" him at one stage.  Not being nosey I assume they got him froma shelter as a rescue cat, who treat all cats and breeds  equally. While being clueless aboutMaus themseleves they don't realise the cat needs constant stimulation, which is why he wanders all over the place. And is why Mausare often kept as housecats same as siamese. I'm not an expert but I very much doubt if a domestic car could remain in condition simplyon the proceeds of mice and birds they caughtalone. Even dedicated mousers get regularmeals.And if they did they're sure to leave plenty of heads and feathers and fur around. As they mainly concentrate on the viscera. It may be there is a dog at home which the cat doesn't particularly get on with.Unless the cat started showing obvious signs of definitely losing condition, which you couldcheck by observing it closely as it ate somefood you left out, I wouldn't be overly concerned myself.michael adams...

Michael Adams ● 4061d

Hi Philip. Not the ladies cat that I was thinking of - sadly hers was found deceased last week having been hit by a car. :-(.I think the best thing to do would be to try and trap it and take it to Alcombe Vets to see if it has a microchip - someone may be missing him/her terribly.

Samantha-Jane Hunt ● 4061d

You could be right Michael, there's certainly a lot of natural food for cats around our area. However it does rest under a pile of old wood through the snow, wind and rain. I'm sure it could happily survive there, but it is getting into our recycling boxes to dig around the old packaging and fights with our two cats, so I'd prefer to relocate it if it does have a home to go to. It has only recently moved into the area since we know most of the neighbours' cats and often at nighttime sits staring in our windows, which makes me think it is missing it's owners.

Philip Slater ● 4061d

Philip Slater explained:This cat has definitely been around quite a while (possibly even pre-Christmas), but it was only recently we discovered he/she was living behind our shed.If as you say in your first post the cat is in relatively good shape, if it's really been lost for over five weeks, then where is it getting its food ?At a guess the only reason it finds the back of your shed so interesting is because this is a good place from which to observe and/or pounce on mice or small birds. And maybe offersbetter opportunities than its own garden.It's in the nature of cats to roam.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 4061d

Thanks Philip - have passed on the details.

Samantha-Jane Hunt ● 4062d

Hi Samantha-Jane, yes, I've uploaded a pic to AnimalSearch, but always struggle getting them onto this forum. You can see the listing here http://www.animalsearchuk.co.uk/find-lost-pets/view-pet.php?p=192778&prt=2This cat has definitely been around quite a while (possibly even pre-Christmas), but it was only recently we discovered he/she was living behind our shed.

Philip Slater ● 4062d

Any news Philip? Were you able to get a picture? I know of someone who lost a tabby cat before Christmas - he's still not home! Unlikely to be the same, but you never know!

Samantha-Jane Hunt ● 4062d

On the sex quandary you mention and not being able to get close enough yet... I'd recommend a nice meal out (fish supper maybe), some decent wine and a selection of my one liners.50 Shades of Tabby maybe?

Colin Goodman ● 4064d

A note in big letters stuck on a tree close toyour house might do the trick. There's probably no need for anything fancy - just "tabby found with four white paws" should be enough. With  a contact phone no.Maybe another one left on a tree in the road your house backs onto as well. Again with the phone no. michael adams

Michael Adams ● 4064d