Trigger that is a lovely story, and I really hope ours get a happy ending
Today we got a bit lucky, went out for a check and she was sitting outside looking at us from downstairs - she is quite funny my OH think she looks a bit like a mouse because of her markings. She seemed to be a bit more confident and when throwing biscuits at her she ran for them and tried to catch them with her paw being very playful
In the past when we have played with the male, she usually just sits curled up a bit away not really daring to join in. I went to get some string (the yellow type you tie up garden plants with!) and she chased it a bit, grabbed it with her paw and was alot more relaxed not looking around scared all the time like usual. Our own lovely boy decided to check what was going on and decided to attack the thread and attempt to eat it (he is extremly laid back with other cats, he never snarls or act aggressive in any way) she was watching him while getting some more biscuits.
After a while the male came around so we called our cat back and took him inside, he scratched the door so much I was afraid they would both run of (how dare his mummy put him inside with all the biscuit throwing and playing outside!) but luckily they stayed. The male is very playful, let me stroke him and pick him up, he even rolls over like they do on warm summer days when laying outside
We then fetched our cats bowl and put it at the top of the stairs (Just to explain, theres 3 "houses" with 2 flats in them each all connected with outdoor stairs) and the male quickly came to eat more and the female got very interested in both the string and food bowl, I was now sitting in the middle of the stairs with the male at the top with the food and the little girl at the bottom watching it all. She so wants to play and eat and trust us, you can see it in her eyes but she is scared
After about 15 mins with throwing the string at her she became a bit more eager and came very very close sometimes, then backing off again and back and forth, in the end i started playing with the male at the top and she came up too! OH almost exploded when watching because I was 1 cm from her and had such a great chance of catching her
I let them both eat, never has a bowl of biscuits been cleared that fast
played a bit more with them both without getting any good chances of catching her but they strolled away and at least they are both well fed now and I know she is more or less fine. At least they are both long hair, and shouldnt get to cold in this weather though I think my bottom almost turned to ice
Ironic enough there was alot of noise next door, the neighbours were fighting/arguing/being loud and my OH said at one point "we only have until one of them storms out and ruins it all". I'm still happy about the progress, and she still doesnt know that I am up to something as horrible as catching her and giving her a warm bed and everything she needs.
Time is of the essence because if shes left too long there will kittens born outside and you will feel the responsibility to sort it all out. Sad
Have you a friend who is looking for a cat or could look after her temporarily
I'm more than happy to sort it all out, and I would love to give her a new forever home together with the male myself. They have been out about 7 days (?) in a row now, and I've yet to see them look for their cats... if I took them inside myself and covered the bottom of the living room window + the glass door that the neighbours can see if the cat was sitting there.. then maybe they would never know! Or maybe we should catch them and buy a nice house out in the woods were no one can find us
To answer your question, we do have a friend that loves cats that could possibly look after them, the problem is that he also got a dog and these cats are not used to dogs
He also works full time as a chef (silly hours) and usually comes here in the weekends with his own cat!
I also think they both have ear mites, bit of shaking head and scratching. Our own Mitsy also had a bit of trouble with ear mites and have been through 3 different types of ear drops for it, everyone knows cats loves getting stinky ear drops
I do not want to give them back before theyre neutred and recovered,treated for the mites (if they have them) and possibly flea. I'm just worried that if we hand them back like last time, we will see them outside again and grrrr It makes me so angry to think about because all they have to say is "take the cats" and they don't have to worry about it at all and it won't be their responsibility.
I have also been thinking about what the CP lady said (we are calling back tomorrow for an update on the trap) about spaying and needing a signature confirming we are the owners. If we took the cat to the vet, and said she had been outside our place for more than a week obviously being hungry so we gave her some food.. then saying we have been in contact with shelters and have been told it is absolutely best to get her spayed as soon as possible.. would this be pushing it?
I'm now going to eat a nice big bar of chocolate and get my blanket and cuddle with the best cat in the world and hopefully I will be able to stop worrying for tonight.
(PS: hey hey when i write ch o co late it makes it in to HEALTHYFOOD
)