17 October 2014

THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAT SOLVED – SHE’S BACK!

Daisy3
I am delighted to report that Daisy is back home!
The bizarre thing is that she neither left nor came back of her own accord.  She was effectively abducted and then returned.
After searching everywhere and calling for her we were beginning to think we would never see her again.  There was however the possibility that she might have wandered down the lane to the neighbour’s house and been trapped in a barn or shed.  He lives by himself, being mentally and physically disabled, and has a daily visit from a carer.  We decided to have a word with her and ask if she had seen the cat on his property so waited at the end of the lane for her car to pass by.
She told us a lot about our neighbour, much of which we already knew, and she came across as a really nice, caring, dependable person, thoroughly concerned for his welfare.  He should really be in a care home but refuses to go, hence the visits from the carer and daily meal deliveries.
As the conversation drew to a close I asked about the cat.  I said we had lost our cat and wondered if she had seen one around his house and that I was worried that she might have accidentally been shut in a barn.  She said “she’s on his bed”.
He had told her that he “found the cat” outside our house and took her home.  The carer, having no idea there were new neighbours next door, concluded that he had picked up an abandoned cat and thought no more about it.  He had kept her indoors and not let her outside at all.
At first I thought she was not going to help us to get Daisy back - she said he would be very upset if the cat went away.  I said “but she’s our cat”.  We must have both looked distraught as she seemed to suddenly change her mind and said she would bring the cat back to us the next day.  She would tell him that the cat had disappeared.  She even reached into the back of the car and gave us a box of cat food she had bought for her.
She was true to her word and Daisy arrived the next day, bewildered and confused, with chronic diarrhoea and riddled with fleas.  Luckily she still remembered how to use a litter tray.
Daisy4
It took Lulu a few hours to get used to Daisy again but now they get along fine.  The fleas are gone, the upset tummy has settled down and Daisy is back to her usual self, following us everywhere and meowing constantly, getting into mischief.  I have rediscovered the joy of having a kitten climbing up your trouser leg as you try to peel potatoes!
So Daisy has gone from being a full-time outdoor cat to a full-time indoor cat for the time being.  We will keep her indoors for a few days then let her out and see what happens – we are very worried that if the neighbour spots her he will simply take her again.  Even if she is allowed outdoors we will certainly shut her in when we go out, just in case he walks by and she goes to him. 
Nothing is ever easy, is it?  We just wanted a cat to deal with the mice……

12 comments:

  1. A dog to stroke, a cat purring in your lap and a glass of wine in the other hand....
    bliss!!
    Nick looks very relaxed... it is all those "Zzzzzzz" waves being broadcast from Daisy and Lulu.
    So glad that all's well that ends well...
    it might be worth getting a roll of netting to go, temporarily, across the gap at the side, by the car port...
    and the one at the back, between the house and barn...
    to stop you neighbour walking in and "rescuing" his cat!
    If you remember, when we came over before you purchased I had no difficulty going in via the carport and out at the back...
    he may well know those routes....
    justathort.
    Baron and RonRon say "Welcome back Daisy"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tim, that's a good idea. We have made the property safe for Lulu but something to make it less accessible for humans would be worthwhile.

      Delete
  2. R
    You need that in lowercase for a word above...

    ReplyDelete
  3. That's a lovely picture of Nick and the animals :-) Even if Daisy is an indoor cat she'll deal with the mice -- they'll know a cat is there and steer clear. Besides, the pickings are undoubtedly better at the neighbours if you are a rodent. I think it is nicer all round that she becomes an indoor cat with outdoor access. With any luck she will now be wary of the neighbour and not let him near her in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Seeing Daisy on the stairs I wonder whether Lulu will be tempted to follow her?

    Nick, Daisy and Lulu look very content. Well done for solving the mystery.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's a lovely picture of Daisy on the stairs. too.

    Frontline works! A Frontlined cat will mop up residual fleas - cat fleas prefer cat to human as host. Also kittens get worms from their mother. A good vetting will sort her out! The vet may chip and/or tattoo her if you explain the problem of your neighbour.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Awww... such a sweet photo, and great to know Daisy is comfortable and safe. Maybe, if you think that the neighbor would actually take care of it, you could get another kitten from the litter for him? Probably a long shot, though. Sad story about the man. I hope Daisy will get to live inside a bit more now :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judith, it did occur to us to get him a kitten of his own. It would be rough on the kitten but it might keep our own safer.
      We will talk to the carer about it when we get the chance.

      Delete
  7. so happy Daisy is back and safe inside. I'm sure she will hunt the mice aneway, both mine takes mices though they are both inside and outside cats

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a story. What a happy ending. Purrrrrrr

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely photo of Nick with Lulu and Daisy. She's a real sweetie and it was lovely to meet her :-) ..and make a fuss of Lulu!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Daisy would certainly be a lot safer from everything else if she remained an indoor cat. Maybe it's a sign!

    ReplyDelete