HI Mark
to Purrs
So sorry for Morrisseys Brother. What was his name? It's an Awful shock to loose a cat suddenly and i have been in that situation twice in the last 2 years so i understand how upsetting it is as well as all the wonderful people on here too. It's not on that the council do this. We have had this happen before to others
Sadly there is no law for vets or anyone to have to check for id chips.
It's horrible and heartless not to check which would take a few seconds with a mobile reader.
I was in the exact same position as you Mark with My Rio who's brother (Ochi) got killed on the road when they were 16 months old. Rio was the same very clingy, crying and def depressed. It upset me even more to see Rio so upset. As Rio was only 16 mths and always used to cat companionship after 2 weeks we were thinking of adopting another cat for him and fate stepped in with little Gizmo who was abandoned near where i live with other siblings (no mum) in a bag and hand reared by a lovely friend of a friend. So when i heard they were looking for homes i had to have a peek and that was that!!!
I have to say Gizzy did help sooo much but it did take a while for Rio to like and get on with him (about 4/5 weeks) we had to make sure the introductions went very slowly as Rio was scared of little Gizzy who was only 7 weeks old at the time. Rio hid from him and started spending alot of time outside which was very worrying for me thinking i had made the wrong decision. We put alot of time into the separation and slow introduction with the fabulous help of a cat behaviourist Wizz over enails and phone. After those weeks rio and Giz were inseparable and Rio was a new cat. They played and slept together is was sooo great to see Rio very happy again.
That's how it was until recently when my darlin Rio was also killed on the same road only 3 weeks ago
My brain still blocks out thinking of him and it's like i disassociate his name when i write about him from the wonderful fun and loving personality he had. Giza turned 2 years old the Friday after we lost Rio on the Monday. Back in the same position again with Giz very much being a cat's cat and loved Rio.
Two weeks ago we heard that my brother in laws new girlfiend had 4 babes ready for homing from a stray mum she took in. The little ones were in excellent health and she and the mum cat looked after them so very well. Misty is now with Gina and pampered and spayed!! Yahoo!! So along came little Garf! A ginger boy from the litter.
The introduction i wanted to get right from start esp after the last time so Garf went into our bedroom with the plan to introduce slowly. One am on the third day, Garf snuck between my feet as i was walking in and ran straight into Gizz on the landing. Well there was no hissing only interest from both parts!!! OOOO i thought, ok i will try little Garf in a carrier and see how they react. That went very well and Gizzy was very relaxed. So the next day we tried letting them meet each other under supervision. That went well too a couple of hisses from little one and a few nerves with each other but now they are both playing very well together.
So this was a very easy introduction and Giz has a companion again.
We have taken the very hard decision to keep the two cats indoor / garden only now (my garden is cat proofed) as that road even though in the country has random traffic which makes the cats think it's safe to cross but they speed down the 30mph road and together with a fields across the road it's too tempting for the cats and they always cross the road.
So that's me and my lads story so far. I hope that helps a little for your to decide if another companion who be ok for Morrissey. A kitten or a smaller same aged cat would be better to introduce as it's the size of the newbie that matters and also a good personality to match Morrisseys. We can help with the slow introductions and have lots of info in web links for you with step by step guides. It can help as it has with my two.
But it could also be that a cat left on it's own actually likes to be on his/her own esp if the two didn't really get on and if they are older cats. That's something you should be able to tell from Morrisseys personality.
Tan
