I found my cat!

[KateMerrills]

After 5 months of heart ache I have found my cat!!!!

I have missed him so much and have cried a lot since he has gone.

He is totally wild though and has really scratched my wrists.

I let him go again as he looked really healthy/fat and happy outside.

I also have a 1 year old baby and was worried that he might do the same to her.

He still had my collar on and obviously hasnt been in a home enviroment as he was so vicious.

I tried feeding him but he didnt eat it.

Have I done the right thing?

[horselady]

Oooh! this is difficult for you. Normally I would say stick with it, leave the door open and let him come and go as he pleases and hope he gets used to being with you again, but you have to be careful with the baby. If it was me I would have to try to get him to stay with me, but make sure he was never, never alone with the baby. It's lovely that he is safe though after all that time.

[KateMerrills]

When I saw him ( i was actually driving out of my road at the time) I stopped the car, jumped out and was shaking and nearly crying. I knew it was him straight away. I was so so so so happy - it was the best easter present I could have gotten!!!!

[horselady]

He has returned to your road, so I definitely say stick with it, if your neighbourhood is safe, leave the back door open sometimes when you are in and just see if he comes in. Good luck.

[WendyS]

What a nice Easter surprise, but rather sad that he seems so wild and it's anybody's guess what has happened to him in reent months. I understand your anxieties about your baby's safety but perhaps your cat has underegone some unpleasant experienced which may made him wary of humans, even if he has been fed. All I can suggest is that now you know he's alive and healthy, you approach him gently if he revisists you, using a low voice and not seeming too eager to pick him up or entrap him in any way. Just encourage him gently andwho knows, he must just decide that after a long period of absence he knows on which side hs bread is best buttered. Perhaps you can go walking around and calling his name gently with a few dried cat biscuits in your pocket. This may encourage him back slowly, but be prepared for disappointment as he may have got used to a different lifestyle after all this time. Hope there's a happy ending to this story, but if he does return and he hasn't been neutered, have this done quickly which might make him less tempted to stray again.

[meltoadhall]

wonderful!! i got my cat back after nearly 5 months, last winter, she was very thin and she went the other way - wouldnt go out or leave my side.

i agree about going very slowly and get him used to being fed again by you. it will take time for him to realise that this is home. your baby should be fine as long as you dont let them get close together wihtout you being there.

hope you all become a happy family again

[miffy053]

I have a cat who is just a ordinary nonpedigree household cat.I never did any training eith himfrom been a kitten and in the first few years of his life he was quite a moody cat he would attack people and just not have a nice tempremnt but now i have been training him for ome time and he can sit stay roll and much more. He has nothing special about him but i have just taken some time to train him . I know you wont have much time with a baby on your hands but their is a book that is called "how to train your cat in 10 minutes" .Its really good ,it goes from basic "come kitty" to "roll over kitty " stuff but they best thing is that the excersises build a good strong relathionship between your cat and your self and also a form of trust and will stop your cat from getting bored. Buy a clicker trainer rom a pet shop and when your cat does something good reward him with a treat at the same time as with a click. So i would praise him when good and when he is bad or does something not as you please then scold him but DONT shout as your cat does not understand this lingo so use the cat lingo. Say if 2 cats were together and one as annoyed he would hiss then spit so HISSSS at your cat and then using a water spray( thoose spray bottles that ypu sue for indoor plants) just spray your cat once, then your cat will think well i wont do that again. Also have patienc ith your cat if he has just arrived back he will have lost some truust adn the bond you had before he went . If your cat does not begin to eat soon id take him to the vet maybe their is somethign wrong . Good luck CHRISTY x.x.x.x.x.x

[KateMerrills]

Thank you all for such good advice.

I'll definatly persevere with him as I love him so much.

As I said before, I let him go but I will look for him again but to be honest its such a huge weight off my mind just knowing he is healthy and alive!

Many thanks!