Stray cat story with a happy ending
Alisande
3 years ago
This gorgeous cat showed up over the winter--weighing just about nothing under all that fur. I fed her and tried to keep her warm with headed pet disks. I didn't bring her inside because I have three cats, one of which doesn't get along with the other two, and that's more than enough drama. The stray stuck around and gained some weight. I called my usual contacts at the shelter, etc., but no one had reported her missing.
Because of the pandemic I hadn't been seeing anyone in the cold weather, but when the weather warmed this week I was chatting with my son outdoors when I pointed out the cat and said I didn't know what to do about her. She really needed a home. I didn't want her to have to go through another winter as a stray. He said he thought she might have belonged to people who lived on our road but moved away about a year ago. He gave me their name and said maybe I could try to find them.
Our friend the internet . . . Their name wasn't unusual, but I started by Googling it. LinkedIn sent me to a place one of them worked. It turned out they hadn't worked there in years, but the person who answered the phone knew someone who might have kept in touch with them. The next thing I knew, I got a call from the woman I was looking for. Yes, they were missing a cat. They'd moved out of state, and couldn't find the cat to take her with them. They'd been back a couple of times, looking for her.
I emailed this picture, and yes--it was their cat. The family--mom, dad, kids--were thrilled to have found the cat, and they made the 4-hour drive immediately to come and get her.. They picked her up last night.
They were overjoyed to be reunited with the cat who'd been part of their family since they rescued her as a tiny kitten 11 years ago (can you imagine how adorable she was?), and I was almost as happy as they were.
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Stray cat hunting and killing birds
Comments (140)Its simple. You buy the cheapest .22 caliber semi auto rifle thats worth a damn, a Savage Model 64. Then you buy a box or two of CCI Stinger hyper-velocity 22 LR rounds. Take them home and practice and set your iron sights to be dead on at 15 yards or less… you wll need to adjust the rear sight all the way down (have the dovetail sititng on the last ”step” of the elevation blade towards you.. this will set your rounds for very close range shots. If your shot pattern is too far left then move the front sight to the right. adjust both until you are placing rounds in a half dollar size circle consistently at 20 yards. Watch for him at night until you identify the path he takes through your property. He will always follow the same pattern… once you found it set up in a line of fire away from anything that your common sense tells you wont hit someone or something if you miss… but you wont. Not at that range and not with the practice youve had. I suggest attaching a small ”tactical light” or securing a small bright flashlight with easy on/off button not a twist on/off type to the lower left hand side of the barrel.. at about your 7 o clock. far enough forward on the barrel as to not block out front sight visibility in the barrell shadow. remain quiet and still until you see him. He will normally keep to the same schedule so if you can figure that out then get to your ambush spot a half hour earlier. When he appears slowly slowly raise rifle and set your shot up. control your breathing. pop your light on, make a small tisk tisk sound and he will freeze and look right into the light and wont move until he can figure out what that blinding light is. He wont see you behind the light. Aim for the neck. if your shot goes a little high its a headshot, a little low… the vitals, lungs, heart. If your dead on and hit him in the neck… same result as either one of the other shots… dead. a hyper velocity round with a hollowpoint lead nose will hit him like a freight train at that range. It will mushroom upon entry and dump its kinetic energy into him. Thats the importance of hollowpoint rounds. a regular 22 LR round will also kill in any of the three hit zones before mentioned… the problem is a 22 round is a penetrator by nature… like a laser it will punch all the way straight through and come out the other side still retaining its shape, mass, and a lot of its energy if you dont hit in the exact right spot ie heart, lungs, neck, brain. anywhere else and hes taking off like you never hit him and unless you hit an artery hes not gonna bleed out from the tiny entry and exit wound. He may die eventually.. maybe… in a bad way. You dont deserve to take the shot if you arent confident you can make the kill quick and clean. If he bolts after you shoot dont freak out… only shot you are gonna get that will drop him instantly is a brain shot. the neck and vitals are guaranteed death within 30 seconds....See Morehelp! need advice on stray cat asap
Comments (14)I just wanted to say thank you for everyone's advice and imput. I still have not seen the black and white cat who I wrote the original post for. I can only hope that she had a great home and went back to it, or that someone else was lucky enough to take her in. She seemed like a very lovable pet. The gray tiger striped cat comes to see me everyday. He (at least I think its a he) is a little skittish, sometimes lets me pet him, rubs up against me, but never lets me pick him up. I would love to try to take him to the vet, and maybe in time he will trust me enough to let me do so. In the meantime, I think of him as my outdoor kitty, and I leave food and water out for him every day. Even on the days I don't see him, I know he was here because by the time I bring the food bowl back in every night it is empty, or close to it. I liked the idea of getting it a collar, and I think I am going to get him one, and if I am really lucky he will even wear it! My baby kitten, April, has learned not to go outside... at least for now anyways. One day in the cage while I was at work taught her to stay inside when I come home! Its funny- I bought the cage only to use on vacation and when I take her to my parents house, but she loves the thing. Its like a kid and their bedroom- they love being there until it becomes a punishment. April plays in her cage and sleeps in her cage all the time. I have it set up in the living room and leave the door open, but when she is bad she gets "sent to her room" (meaning she gets put in the cage and I close the door instead of free roam) and she knows she's in trouble. I started putting her in the cage for half an hour everytime she bolted outside, and when she didn't quite get the picture I put her in it with food and her extra litter box for a whole day while I was at work. She's been an angel since....See Morewhat to do when you see a stray cat?
Comments (30)Looks like I'm having this conversation with myself now! Anyway, last night I got to interact with "Henry" again. I put a generous serving of food on a paper plate and put it out in the bushes where his area usually is. I went back inside for about 5 minutes... just long enough to plate myself a slice of cheesecake. Then went out with the flashlight to find not only Henry but another baby grey tabby chowing down fiercly! The new arrival is feral... it ran as soon as I shone the light on the feast. Henry gave me a HISS as I approached. I sat down right beside him and started petting him on the head and back. Even scratched his ears. He didn't even acknowledge my presence... just continued munching. He must have been STARVING. As soon as he finsished the food (3 minutes flat 2 cups of dry food was GONE) he gave a final hiss and darted off into the woods. I guess I've got a routine going now and I will just supply food until I can gain the trust of the poor thing! I didn't hear a single purr so I am assusming survival is more important than interaction at this point. Since there is a white collar (no ID tags!) and the cat ate in front of me I'm assuming he's owned a human before... just wonder if he ran away or was dumped!...See MoreNeighbors stray cat
Comments (53)My goodness. I posted months ago about a cat I trapped and took to the vets. Many of you were pleased. I suppose I shared this ....I'm not sure why. I did the best I could do this time. I was unable to capture and vet this cat. When my boys told me what they witnessed I called for help immediately. And I continued calling. That is all I could do this time. Some of you make it sound as if I did something wrong. ..I didn't. As for what I said being to sensitive....its a ugly fact of life. There are sick and homeless cats EVERYWHERE not just in my neighborhood. I called for help which is the best I could do at present. But as for my post being to sensitive. ..well social media sure isn't for the faint of heart....See MoreAlisande
3 years agoAlisande
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AlisandeOriginal Author