Think we've attracted a (rather lovely) stray!

[weegiemum]

A greyish-gingerish-tabby boy has been seen in our garden over the last few days. He's come in (doors all open as it's so warm), drunk from our cat's bowl, eaten anything he can find.

Dd2 (she's the animal-tastic one in the family, though she's only 10) has cuddled him. He seems tame but he's very skinny. Has some matted fur and I think fleas. No collar or a noticeable mark where one might have been. Definitely not been neutered, he's about the same size as our lovely black boy who is 9 months (he is neutered).

The two of them have been hanging out in the garden (flea treatment coming up) and have been snuggling up in the shade with Alice, our house-and-garden-bunny.

We've never had a stray before. I thought the best thing was to get dd2 to take a picture and knock on some doors locally (with her 14yo sister and within sight of the house, I'm disabled and find it hard to get out alone) and if no one recognises him, get him in the carrier and take him to the SSPCA to be scanned for a chip. Couldn't do that before the weekend.

In the meantime - do we feed/water him? I don't want to encourage him but if he has no owner and likes our cat, I can see us keeping him (as we already have a young cat, he's happy with the rabbit and he hasn't even clocked the guinea pigs, despite being rather hungry).

Any other ideas? I'll post a pic when we get one!

[thecatneuterer]

My thread further down this page addresses this dilemma: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/2138803-If-in-doubt-feed

Any vet will scan for a chip for free and you can get paper collars from vets and almost certainly from the internet somewhere.

[hellymelly]

He sounds as though he has been straying for a while, possibly he wandered a bit too far as he isn't snipped, and can't get home again. Lovely to hear that he can stay with you if he is unwanted or his owners can't be traced. Pic please!

[thecatneuterer]

Ah I missed that about him not being neutered. In which case the chances of him having a chip are less than miniscule. Yes, as hellymelly said, he's at that age when the hormones will have started to kick in and he'll have gone off following the scent of a female on heat (apparently males can smell them from about three miles away!) and has then got lost.

It happens all the time. That's why the majority of street strays are unneutered males.

In that case I think he's yours:)

[cozietoesie]

Yes - I'd give him a good nosh. Is there somewhere he can sleep for the next few nights? A shed or something similar?

[nippysweetie82]

There's a young cat missing from the Croftfoot area of Glasgow. Check The Cats Protection League Glasgow- Lost and Found page, you might see his photo on there or you could post a photo up in the hope that someone recognises him.

[nippysweetie82]

Weegie, if you want to look at that page it's Cats Protection Glasgow Branch-Lost & Found

[weegiemum]

I looked at the site and there's only one from Knightwood and it's a neutered male. 10 miles from me!

If it was Croftfoot I'd be really interested as we live in the area - could you possibly link in as it's not coming up on the search I've done. Thanks.

[cozietoesie]

The one that's missing in Croftfoot is a 14 month old male tabby who's been gone since 5 July. \link{http://glasgow.cats.org.uk/transport.aspx?404;glasgow.cats.org.uk:80/glasgow/lost-and-found\Here's} the link - hope it works for you.

[cozietoesie]

PS - if you click on the 'Lost cats' link, it should bring up the details of several and 'Memphis' (the lost tabby) should be at the top of the list.

[nippysweetie82]

Have included a photo of Memphis, the missing cat from Croftfoot. Hope it works!

[nippysweetie82]

Yay, it worked! Not very good with links so the photo was the best I could manage. Does he look like your stray Weegie? There's more info about him on the facebook page. I know you said the cat in your garden is skinny but thought he would be if he'd been straying for a couple of weeks.

[cozietoesie]

It does. Well done.

[weegiemum]

It could be him. Dd2 is looking out for him and we'll compare him. I've emailed CPL. I'll get photos. Hoping I've found his home!

[nippysweetie82]

I hope it is him, it would be nice for the family to get their happy ending! Did you look at their facebook page?

[weegiemum]

I've let tem know via fb.

[cozietoesie]

It would be wonderful if it was him and you could reunite him with his family - but if nothing else, it will at least get him on the CPL radar.

Well done.

[cozietoesie]

PS - I hope DD isn't sad at the prospect? (It's sometimes difficult to have perspective on these things when you're only 10.)

[Scarletohello]

Beautiful cat!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Memphis looks very Bengal in type, mines neutered but he still has small Pom Poms so it looks like he's a rather under-endowed Tom rather than a neutered male.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I reckon he is a bengal and they've put him up as a tabby because people know bengals are worth money.

Why else would you keep a neutered male who's active and vocal inside?

Compare him with fluffy cat, the back legs are similarly hare like.

[nippysweetie82]

I don't know, I have a similar looking tabby. She's very active and vocal but I live on the 3rd floor so she's an indoor cat. I've heard so many stories of cats being poisoned or shot with air guns that I'd actually be scared to let her out.

[weegiemum]

He is very fluffy (haven't see n him today), but very definitely an un-neutered male.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Have you seen him yet?

[nippysweetie82]

Just checked the facebook page for Memphis, he's been neutered so not him. Weegiemum might have found herself a new family member!

[weegiemum]

This is our stray. Not Memphis!