Did you lose a cat?

[beckythemom]

I live half a mile down Gate 4. For a few weeks now this white and calico cat has been coming through my yard, every afternoon. A couple of weeks ago it took up residence under my back porch where, every night for nearly a week from about midnight until the wee hours of the morning, it serenaded us with songs from the album titled "Felines in Heat".

If you are missing a cat, please let me know before my kids get too attached. Right now, it seems rather feral and won't let anybody too close. Other than that, it really is a beautiful cat and I'd hate to think someone's family pet is missing. For the last week we've been leaving food out since she was coming through the yard anyway. If nobody claims it, she's being renamed Patches and we'll continue to try taming her so she can go to the vet, etc.

Thanks!
Becky

[naturenut]

I live half a mile down Gate 4. For a few weeks now this white and calico cat has been coming through my yard, every afternoon. A couple of weeks ago it took up residence under my back porch where, every night for nearly a week from about midnight until the wee hours of the morning, it serenaded us with songs from the album titled "Felines in Heat".

If you are missing a cat, please let me know before my kids get too attached. Right now, it seems rather feral and won't let anybody too close. Other than that, it really is a beautiful cat and I'd hate to think someone's family pet is missing. For the last week we've been leaving food out since she was coming through the yard anyway. If nobody claims it, she's being renamed Patches and we'll continue to try taming her so she can go to the vet, etc.

Thanks!
Becky

If no one claims her you might not want to wait to tame her before getting her to the vet. I would trap her, get her spayed, ear tipped, rabies and then release her back and continue to feed her, as yours. If she's not truly feral you should, over time, be able to tame her, and if she is feral, she will still appreciate the food and shelter you provide. I've spent the last 2 years caring for a feral cat colony, and the most important thing is getting them spayed/neutered ASAP! Let me know if I can be of help. Good Luck, and thanks for being responsible!

[beckythemom]

Ear tipped? Being allergic to all things furry, I haven't had a normal pet in years. This should be interesting.

[cindylu]

I live half a mile down Gate 4. For a few weeks now this white and calico cat has been coming through my yard, every afternoon. A couple of weeks ago it took up residence under my back porch where, every night for nearly a week from about midnight until the wee hours of the morning, it serenaded us with songs from the album titled "Felines in Heat".

If you are missing a cat, please let me know before my kids get too attached. Right now, it seems rather feral and won't let anybody too close. Other than that, it really is a beautiful cat and I'd hate to think someone's family pet is missing. For the last week we've been leaving food out since she was coming through the yard anyway. If nobody claims it, she's being renamed Patches and we'll continue to try taming her so she can go to the vet, etc.

Thanks!
Becky

You CAN'T name her patches cause that's my feral cat's name!! Gee, hope we're not talking about the same cat!! My Patches is spayed but not tipped. She is white with black and gold patches. I live down Gate 4, about 2 miles down from the Gate 4 entrance. Oh, my Patches is very friendly with people she knows.

I'll try to post a photo.

In the meantime, yes, get her fixed. If you go to Briggs they will recommend an inexpensive doctor and give you further information on the procedure. I also spayed/neutered some of the feral cats that come around my house.

[austrianalps]

Ear tipped?

Eartipping means when the eartip gets cut/lasered off. This identifies a feral feline as spayed or neutered once they are released again. It happens under anesthesia while they are fixed, so there is minimal pain involved. Every vet usually gives pain injections with the induction drugs at this point as well. It is a good thing to do!

[beckythemom]

Aha! If this is the same cat, boy if she doesn't get around! If so, I'm glad to hear she's fixed and how ironic that everyone calls her "Patches".

I told my husband that I'm guessing she's the feline version of Disney's "Tramp" who eats at a different house every night. She comes through my yard every day mid-afternoon and then comes back during the night. My boys have been leaving out a cup of dry food every afternoon when they get in from school for the past week or so. (Generic Meow Mix from the Dollar Tree.) I have a really blurry picture, taken from a distance but unfortunately it's really hard to tell she's a cat, much less see her markings.

Becky

You CAN'T name her patches cause that's my feral cat's name!! Gee, hope we're not talking about the same cat!! My Patches is spayed but not tipped. She is white with black and gold patches. I live down Gate 4, about 2 miles down from the Gate 4 entrance. Oh, my Patches is very friendly with people she knows.

I'll try to post a photo.

In the meantime, yes, get her fixed. If you go to Briggs they will recommend an inexpensive doctor and give you further information on the procedure. I also spayed/neutered some of the feral cats that come around my house.

[Tony]

An ear-tipped cat:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:012307_001.jpg

[cindylu]

This is my Patches

[beckythemom]

Definately not the same cat. She just walked her usual route past my living room window and while she has the same basic coloring, her ears and tail are not black. Thanks for responding, though!

[WVGeo]

And you do want to get her spayed ASAP. Feral cats reproduce at an amazing rate, sometimes having another litter while still nursing one. And when males comes around and start spraying because there's a female there - peee uuuu!

[cindylu]

Excellent point Geo. My patches came from such a union!! Not only did I spay Patches but I eventually caught other offspring then eventually the Momma. The Momma had 3 litters in little over a year. Poor thing didn't want to care for the last litter. The Doctor at Hillside said she was probably pregnant while nursing the previous litter.

Hillside was great. I called them and let them know the cats were feral and they let me bring them in when I caught them.

If you go to Briggs animal shelter (off of 340) they well give you a certificate for about 50% off the spay/neutering of the cat(s). Let them know its a feral cat and they will loan a cage to catch the cat and instructions on how to use it. They will give you a list of vets in the area that they work with for spay/neutering pets.

[locolala]

That might be the same cat that hangs out under my porch. Not exactly sure how far down the road I live, but that sounds like what the cat looks like and has been doing. I live off Little Bear Ln, if you know where that is.

[ValentineJessi]

The same cat (I believe it's the same cat) has been spotted several times in my parents yard. My sister tries to leave food out for it.

[Starbuck]

There's an abandoned house down SRD that I've heard is home to feral cats...so be careful if you're feeding strange cats down G4.

[beckythemom]

I think I finally got a picture of her the other day. Will try to post tomorrow.

[JiveTurkey]

This is my Patches

Kitty, you are beautiful.