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How do I retrieve my cat who has returned to our previous home?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 3:07 pm
by AdrianPaul
How do I retrieve my cat who has returned to our previous home? It's about two miles away. They went back there after seven weeks after moving to our new home...
Re: How do I retrieve my cat who has returned to our previous home?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 3:20 pm
by fjm
Is there any reason why you can't simply go and fetch the cat? Are the new owners of the house claiming him/her?
Re: How do I retrieve my cat who has returned to our previous home?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 3:21 pm
by AdrianPaul
fjm wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 3:20 pm
Is there any reason why you can't simply go and fetch the cat? Are the new owners of the house claiming him/her?
How? They are a nervous cat and run away from people, even myself, in this scenario, and they don't like being picked up or carried.
Re: How do I retrieve my cat who has returned to our previous home?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 5:17 pm
by fjm
I see. I would ask around vets, rescues, etc for a trap - it does mean that it needs checking frequently, but is probably the safest way. Meanwhile if you know exactly where the cat is perhaps a former neighbour could be persuaded to feed it in a suitable spot, where you could then put the trap when you have found one.
Re: How do I retrieve my cat who has returned to our previous home?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:12 pm
by AdrianPaul
fjm wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 5:17 pm
I see. I would ask around vets, rescues, etc for a trap - it does mean that it needs checking frequently, but is probably the safest way. Meanwhile if you know exactly where the cat is perhaps a former neighbour could be persuaded to feed it in a suitable spot, where you could then put the trap when you have found one.
Aside from it being very slow to purchase a cat rap, the big problem is accidentally trapping someone else's cat; I've tried a large metal dog crate with food in it, but it needs manually closing and he is too nervous when people are around when he is outside.
Re: How do I retrieve my cat who has returned to our previous home?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 7:50 pm
by fjm
You can usually borrow a trap, so no need to buy, but yes, other cats can get caught. That is why the trap needs checking frequently to release them if necessary. I baited one with particularly good food and caught the same little tortie at least four times. But as the trap was checked every half hour or so there was no time for her to get stressed, and by the third time she purred to see me, and waited to see if I had any more of the good stuff with me...
Re: How do I retrieve my cat who has returned to our previous home?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:33 pm
by AdrianPaul
fjm wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 7:50 pm
You can usually borrow a trap, so no need to buy, but yes, other cats can get caught. That is why the trap needs checking frequently to release them if necessary. I baited one with particularly good food and caught the same little tortie at least four times. But as the trap was checked every half hour or so there was no time for her to get stressed, and by the third time she purred to see me, and waited to see if I had any more of the good stuff with me...
Aside from neighbours complaining, do you need to sit or stand some way from the trap? I can't really go 4 miles to-and-fro every hour or two...
Also, with the Coronavirus, I can't borrow a trap off the RSPCA or Cats Protection.
Re: How do I retrieve my cat who has returned to our previous home?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:21 pm
by exlibris
Would the new owners consider putting out food (and being compensated) for the duration of this lockdown, just to ensure he is fed? However, there is a danger of him getting comfortable if you do that though....
Re: How do I retrieve my cat who has returned to our previous home?
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:33 pm
by AdrianPaul
exlibris wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:21 pm
Would the new owners consider putting out food (and being compensated) for the duration of this lockdown, just to ensure he is fed? However, there is a danger of him getting comfortable if you do that though....
New owners of the house? Feeding him is fine. I can do that. However, feeding him over there is not giving him enough incentive to return home here, so I've asked people not to feed him to see if he returns home here for food. I've put water out for now.