Another cat question

[HobieMarty]

Aww, she looks like she has found a good home and is very content. She will love y'all unconditionally for the rest of her life.

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[creaturecat]

that soon-to-be-handsome cat is gonna love you to death.
good on you! well done.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by Baz

Nope.

Cats living her best life right now.

If I lost a cat, I'd have ads up.....and would answer every 'found cat' ad I saw.

You don't know what the story is with the rightful owner. If it's chipped, it's for a reason. But go ahead and keep the cat and leave the owner to suffer.

What if one of your former Heelers showed up somewhere and for some unknown reason the finder didn't see an ad in the right place or right time, but decided not to check for a chip.
Edited

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

You don't know what the story is with the rightful owner. If it's chipped, it's for a reason. But go ahead and keep the cat and leave the owner to suffer.

What if one of your former Heelers showed up somewhere and for some unknown reason the finder didn't see an ad in the right place or right time, but decided not to check for a chip.

Edited.

My wife would be devastated if she lost one of her cats.
I think due diligence on finding the cat it's home is appropriate.

[speeder]

There are a hundred different reasons why someone could have lost their pet…they could be in the hospital or elderly. They could be blind. The bottom line is, YOU DON’T KNOW.

Checking for a microchip is task #1 when you find a lost pet. At least WD understands this, as much as his wife likes the cat. If someone is a true animal lover, they understand that their own feelings come last. It’s all about what is best for the animal, not your desire to cuddle with the thing.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

that soon-to-be-handsome cat is gonna love you to death.
good on you! well done.

She looks better already. Her coat is getting some shine to it, and I'm getting over thinking the white patches are bare skin when she walks. I think she's going to be fine. We haven't heard from the vet yet, we are hoping the owner can't be found or is willing to relinquish her, but either way we know she'll be safe and loved - and that's what's important.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by speeder

There are a hundred different reasons why someone could have lost their pet…they could be in the hospital or elderly. They could be blind. The bottom line is, YOU DON’T KNOW.

Checking for a microchip is task #1 when you find a lost pet. At least WD understands this, as much as his wife likes the cat. If someone is a true animal lover, they understand that their own feelings come last. It’s all about what is best for the animal, not your desire to cuddle with the thing.

I agree 100%, however, in the 30 years I have lived on the farm, we have probably had 100 "show ups"

A number of years ago our Vet recommend we get a chip scanner for pets for the initial check as well as getting an idea of the when and where. They are not expensive at all and has saved me hours and hours of going to the Vet.

The amount of "scan" information is very interesting. Our Vet has some interesting stories about chipped pets being reunited with the folks on the chip...lot's of issues.

[wdfifteen]

Three days since she was scanned and still no word from the vet's office. Vicki called the animal shelter and they said they can scan her and get the info in 10 minutes.
Off to the animal shelter with her.

[Steve Carlton]

It sounds like the cat has been lost a while to lose that much weight. You might un-break someone's heart, or gain a new companion. You've done a rescue, so kudos to you and Vicki. I'm looking forward to the news.

[speeder]

Yep. It's all about doing the right thing.

It always cracks me up, though, when someone does the wrong thing and is stupid enough to post it on the internet.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I agree 100%, however, in the 30 years I have lived on the farm, we have probably had 100 "show ups"

A number of years ago our Vet recommend we get a chip scanner for pets for the initial check as well as getting an idea of the when and where. They are not expensive at all and has saved me hours and hours of going to the Vet.

The amount of "scan" information is very interesting. Our Vet has some interesting stories about chipped pets being reunited with the folks on the chip...lot's of issues.

I get it that the original owner on the chip might be some irresponsible jerk but my point is that we just don't know, until we know. If they are someone who abandoned the pet or otherwise just doesn't care, it's unlikely that they are going to want it back.

[911 Rod]

I don't think getting a cat chipped is cheap.

[Seahawk]

Our most recent "show up" from today: Scanned for a chip

Combine was out getting the Barley off. Not unusual for this to happen. We don't touch or prod. We also got a model release







Unhurt, ran off into the tree line.

[wdfifteen]

It’s been a long day. Short version - we found the cat’s owner and he is ecstatic to know his kitty is alive and well. The cat has been missing since January and he had assumed the worst. He lives about 30 miles from here and will pick the cat up tomorrow.
Vicki is broken hearted, we have lost 3 dogs and a cat in the past 2 years and this feels like another loss. I’m proud of her doing the right thing even though it hurts. She is a stand-up girl - I’m just so proud of her. The cat is lying here next to me purring as I type, happy and content. I’m going to miss him.
You’ll notice I say “The cat.” There is a long back story that I’m too tired to go into tonight.

[pwd72s]

Well, a sort of happy ending. Now you have us going, I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting the back story.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting the back story.

After the cat walked into the house on Sunday Vicki told me it was a female. I don't know how she determined that. We've been down this road before and we didn't want to be taking care of another stray female and her offspring, so we made an appointment with the only vet who could see her immediately, let's call her Dr. Moron.

Dr. Moron turned the cat upside down and checked "her" belly for the tattoo that would indicate "she" had been spayed. There was no tattoo. Then she scanned the cat for a chip and found one. She couldn't do the spaying without the real owner's permission, so that was off the table. While we were there she said this was a less than one year old kitten, was some exotic breed, and should weight between 10 and 14 pounds. Then she sent us home to wait for her to call with the owner's information.

We waited 3 days then took the cat to the animal shelter to be scanned again. The scan came up as a 9 year old neutered male black cat with white undercoat named Sammy! We were sure this was wrong, but the two of the animal shelter ladies checked him out and for sure he is a neutered male, not a female. Within 10 minutes the animal shelter had called the owner, confirmed his description of the cat, and confirmed that he wanted him back.

The owner of record is the father of a man named Dave, a college student who lives in a city 30 miles away and it is his cat. Dave drives back and forth from school to his family home in Kentucky and takes Sammy back and forth with him. Sammy disappeared out of his truck on one of the trips home. We spoke to Dave's father and mother and Dave himself of course and they were willing to send photos of the family with the cat. We are sure he is the real owner.

Poor Sammy spent 4 1/2 months on the road somewhere between Cincinnati and the family home in Kentucky. He did a lot of walking to get all the way up here, and when he showed up he looked like he was on his last legs. I am happy we were able to save him and get him back to his owner, but of course saddened that we won't get to keep him. He has a sweet personality and in just a few days he changed from looking like Bill The Cat to a good looking kitty. His weight jumped from 4.7 to 5.2 pounds and his fur cleaned up and changed from dingy gray to silky black over white.

We are pretty sure we know why Dr. Moron was available on short notice. She looked the cat right in the belly and didn't notice that it wasn't even a girl cat. One would think that if a vet was contemplating spaying a cat the first thing to do is confirm that it is a female. I don't think she keeps a lot of clients after the first appointment. She still hasn't called back with the results of the chip scan.

Today is going to be a bittersweet day. We are going to be saying goodbye to Sammy, but we know he will be back with his family, and they will be happy.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

-snip-
keep the cat and leave the owner to suffer.
-snip-

Originally Posted by speeder

-snip-
It’s all about what is best for the animal
-snip-

One person concerned for the owner...one person concerned for the animal.

I can tell you my concern is always for what's in the animal's best interest.

Everyone has their own perspectives in life - and mine consists of witnessing way too many instances of garbage humans who "own" an animal....yet are not putting their animal's best interest ahead of theirs.

I was not looking for another pet. This cat was a stray who for weeks & weeks was hanging out at my Mom's. The neighbor was leaving food and water out for it. I did the same. I was hoping he would be willing to take her in. Meanwhile the cat was left outside - vulnerable not only to the elements but also to predators - we do have Coyotes here - and they do take their share of outdoor of cats!

The idea was to foster the cat at my place where it would be safe and taken care of and meanwhile search for it's owner. I did so and nothing came of it. Meanwhile the cat was indeed living it's best life, as all my animals do when under my care.

Now to bring certain parties up to speed.....I took her to a local vet yesterday, who scanned her for a chip. And they did not find one. Additionally they told me this cat is a feral who came from a colony. At some point she was spayed and it's ear clipped to indicate such.

We have colonies of feral cats here and people donate food for them on a regular basis so that makes perfect sense. I have no idea how this one ended up where she did, but if someone did try to keep her, apparently they didn't bother to put a chip in her, but that's not unusual. Of all the pets I have had, and there's been plenty, I have never had a chip put in them. Never.

As far as the future health and happiness of the cat.....I can only relay what my vet said to me once when I took one of my Heelers in to get checked out for something. He said it's shocking to see one of my pets at a vet's office......because nobody cares for their animals like Bazza.

I don't know what else to say. But will continue to advocate for the health and well being of animals as I have always done.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

-snip-
He lives about 30 miles from here and will pick the cat up tomorrow.
-snip-

That's a long way away from his home - speculation he hopped in the back of a truck or trailer maybe?

Cats love jumping up and into things - it's that 'curiosity' of theirs!

Back in 1990 when I was living in Naples, my cat Kinger disappeared and I put an ad out in the local paper. Got a call from some people all the way on the other side of town they had her. I speculated he had jumped into a vehicle or trailer. Kinda stuck with me how important lost and found classifieds are.

Sorry for Vicki, Patrick. Hopefully the cat will be cared for as equally with it's original humans, so that's something to celebrate anyway.

[astrochex]

Talk about ying and yang.

Patrick, I hope your wife will be consoled knowing kitty will be back with his owner.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I'm sorry your wife had to give up the cat, but good for you both for reuniting a lost animal with its owner.

Maybe it's time to visit the shelter? Maybe you don't need another pet.

Several years ago I lost my buddy Toby to an early death from Lymphoma. I had adopted both him and his sister from a feral colony as kittens. He was only about 6 when he passed and I was devastated. A chance visit to the shelter produced Oliver. Tilly took to him quickly and now they are buddies.

[creaturecat]

you done good. the owner must be ecstatic.