Cat related ponderings...

[annwfyn]

Madoc is Missing In Action again. He vanished some time yesterday and hasn't come back yet.

I'm really wondering where it is he goes. He vanished last week as well, only getting into trouble when he got catnapped by well meaning neighbours who thought he was sick, which was on Saturday. He remains unaccounted for, but apparently fed and health, between Thursday night and Saturday morning. I'm wondering if he's got a second family somewhere who are feeding him/letting him into their house overnight.

I'm also debating whether I should try keeping the cats inside for a while, just to break him of the habit if he is wandering off elsewhere for food. I really don't like it when he does go missing for days at a time, and I am mildly worried that if he's not back by tonight he's going to get locked out again on Monday daytime when everyone will be out at work.

In other news, I had a rather pleasant afternoon yesterday spent wandering around the British Museum with Mark Buxton (who lacks an LJ), and then a rather lazy evening watching DVDs and chattering about nonsense with people.

Well, until late evening when everyone registered that Madoc had gone missing again.

Bah. And humbug. I know I'm being daft, but I do dislike it when he does this.

Comments

[sea-of-flame.livejournal.com]

Can you not put a collar on him, with your contact details, and a 'please don't feed my cat!' tag on it?

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

Great minds!

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Previous experiments with collars have gone badly with both cats, but I may give it another go.

[sea-of-flame.livejournal.com]

I must admit I wonder whether if someone hasn't come across the strange hairless beasties before, they're ending up making the assumption he's a stray - since to people used to seeing fluffy cats, Madoc may look as if he's underweight and lost his fur - so the immediate reaction is to shower him with food and attention! This would also perhaps explain why the neighbours thought he was sick?

Obviously you know what goblin cats *should* look like, but they may be a bit of a culture shock to folks used to moggies...

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I strongly suspect that is what is happening. I know that a family in Queen of Denmark Court used to feed him because they thought he was underweight.

Not really anyone's fault, but mildly worrysome.

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

Put something on his collar that says "if you are feeding this cat, please call [you]" and see who gets in touch!

Then ask them to stop ;-)

[jo-english-bint.livejournal.com]

Both Merlin and Loki have gone through similar phases.
In my experience for both of them it was a phase lasting 2 or 3 months. I tried keeping them in for a few days inbetween disapearing, and because they are both such outdoor cats they resented me for it.
It hasn't happened for a while (touch wood) but I found putting plenty of their favourite cat food down, and lots of treats got them out of the habbit fairly quickly!!!

Hope he somes back soon, I know how worrying it can be when they are away!

*huggles*

[commlal.livejournal.com]

Its a very boy cat thing to do, but saying that Jools is prone to wandering off for 24hrs at a time, although I really do think that she has a second home as she quite happly misses dinner.

Collers are a good idea, but most cats hate them so I've just stuck with microchipping

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Myrddin doesn't do it at all - he's prone to wandering off for a couple of hours during the day, but he never stays out over night. Madoc, on the other hand, will sit in the house for hours and hours but when he does go out, he'll disappear for days, it seems.

I think it's because Myrddin is much more cautious about new people - he doesn't like strangers at all, whereas Madoc assumes everyone loves him, and as such is much more prone to (I think) picking up new families.

[commlal.livejournal.com]

*nods* Jools is the same, she assumes everyone loves her! Whereas Ivy hardly goes further than the back patio, and wants to come straight back in if you shut the back door.

They are strange beasties!

[kittyboo-tastic.livejournal.com]

ouch!
i know i'll be mad with angst when our kitten will be in age to go out...
i am so sorry i cancelled at the last minute yesterday; i was really pathetically sick all day and finally managed to eat something at 7pm [which, considering how GREEDY I am, is exceptional)-- i am much better now and promise to be fit and sparkly on wednesday!

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

It is totally fine! It really wasn't a hassle at all, and I'd much rather come hang out when you're well.

[windzswept.livejournal.com]

how old is your kitten? Ours are 10 months now and have been going out since they were 4/5 months old (they were 3 months old when we got them).

We got a catflap fitted, and it gets locked to in-only at about half 5. We also started by only letting them out before they got fed and making sure they came in to be fed.

They now come in at half 4 and sleep most of the evening, although if we are home they are in and out like yo-yos. They come in to get fed in the evening and then don't go out again till the following morning.

So far we've had no roaming, but our two are needy and demanding of hugs and cuddles.

[kittyboo-tastic.livejournal.com]

she's 9 and a half weeks old. we don't have a garden, but a little roof terrace and easy access to all the neighbourhood's roofs; a friend of mine quite alarmingly told me that if she happened to step into someone's flat through a window, they may decide to poison her !!??!!
she's not unhappy in the flat and gets a few big playtimes with us everyday, but I am against the idea of keeping a cat stuck at home. i've been thinking about knocking at the neighbours' when she gets older and let them know we have a kitten and she may wonder around...
she's been on the roof terrace with us for a few minutes at a time, but will not get there alone before she is vaccinated (in 10 days) and gets older anyway.

[headinclouds.livejournal.com]

Collar and a note sounds like a plan, if you can't get him to listen to a stern lecture. ;)