I have leafletted Selly Oak to death, put up posters in laminated pockets on many lamposts and bus shelters, and given leaflets and his information to anyone I could stop who would listen. Last night a couple of friends and I went out calling him and shining torches up passages. We met many people along the way, some asked why we were shining lights up their alleys. When we said that we were looking for a cat, the common reaction was: "Pebbles? We've seen the leaflets in the shops/lamposts/through the door." followed by sympathy and promise to look out for him.
Leaflets were thrust into people's hands, even when we went for a meal I spoke to the waiter who promised to display some for the customers.
He's one very famous cat.
Yet still only two calls. One genuine about a dead cat which was, thankfully, not Pebbles. The other, someones idea of a sick joke, which I sensed from the start. When I asked probing questions such as: does he have a spot on the end of his tail? They became uncomfortable. I asked where the cat was, they wanted to know why I was asking. I replied, "I may as well see him, just in case," (intending to take a friend) and then the phone went dead. They hadn't witheld their number, so I rang back. No answer.
There are some strange people in the world!
But I can deal with the cranks, as long as some genuine calls keep coming.
The next thing I'm going to do is spread contents of the litter trays around the garden when everyone is asleep, to try to give him some scent of home.
Any other tips welcome. I've already created leaflets to leave for the builders who will move in when the property developer takes possession after I leave.
