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1. elzorillo - Member

   I give up!!

   After years of having dogs (still have two), the missus finally persuaded me to get a cat.

   Rescue Cat number 1.. First time I let it out, it returned with it's tail hanging off.. Vet removed the tail.. second time out.. it never returned.

   Rescue Cat number 2.. second time out it returned dragging both it's rear legs behind it dislocated. Vet repaired cat but said it could happen again.. It did within hours and the vet recommended a humane death.

   Rescue Cat number 3.. Got it a few days ago.. Missus decided that, due to my historic failure with cats, this one wouldn't be allowed out.. It immediately ran up into the loft and disappeared into the cavity wall, never to return.

   What is it with cats

   Posted 3 months ago #
2. legend - Member

   disappeared into the cavity wall, never to return.

   erm.........it's still in the wall??

   Posted 3 months ago #
3. elzorillo - Member

   erm.........it's still in the wall??

   Must be..

   The missus recons she spotted a pair of eyes looking at her in a void by the chimney stack as she peeped into the cavity but I think it's her imagination..

   No bad smell yet though so there's still hope of a return

   Posted 3 months ago #
4. mu3266 - Member

   erm.........it's still in the wall??

   +1 for this.

   Have you tried a kitten?

   Posted 3 months ago #
5. Johnny Panic - Member

   Is this a troll? Really?
   How long did you keep cat#1 and cat#2 before letting them out? Several weeks I hope.

   And as for the cat in the wall - you'll need to dig it out. You are responsible for it and leaving it there could be interpreted as cruelty.

   Of course, it's possible you've done everything in your power to rescue it, but from what you've said and the way you've said it, it doesn't sound like you have...

   Finally, before you got each of these cats, you did check that they would be tolerant of dogs in the house, didn't you?

   Posted 3 months ago #
6. elzorillo - Member

   I once managed to tempt a wayward hamster back to captivity after a 10 day stint under the floorboards with a bucket and a peeled apple.

   Maybe some smelly fish?

   Posted 3 months ago #
7. elzorillo - Member

   How long did you keep cat#1 and cat#2 before letting them out? Several weeks I hope.

   about a week.

   And as for the cat in the wall - you'll need to dig it out. You are responsible for it and leaving it there could be interpreted as cruelty.

   I'm not knocking walls down for a cat!

   Of course, it's possible you've done everything in your power to rescue it, but from what you've said and the way you've said it, it doesn't sound like you have...

   I've been poking my nose and making squeeking noises into every entrance to my cavity wall for the past couple of days.

   Finally, before you got each of these cats, you did check that they would be tolerant of dogs in the house, didn't you?

   The dogs don't come into the main house.

   Posted 3 months ago #
8. hels - Member

   I know exactly what the problem is.

   Rescue Cats.

   They are always damaged in some way, metally or physically, or have been abused, there is a reason why people dump cats.

   Get a kitten directly from the mother, choose wisely, don't take it away too early and don't let children near it until it is older and the tormenting won't warp it's personality.

   And you really should find that cat in the wall.

   Posted 3 months ago #
9. legend - Member

   I know exactly what the problem is.

   that (if genuine) the OP isn't responsible enough to look after animals and shouldn't have any more?

   Posted 3 months ago #
10. elzorillo - Member

    that (if genuine) the OP isn't responsible enough to look after animals and shouldn't have any more?

    What did I do wrong?

    Posted 3 months ago #
11. hels - Member

    You got a Rescue Cat. Get a proper one !

    Posted 3 months ago #
12. mintimperial - Member

    If you want to get that cat out of the wall, stick some tuna near where it went in and get ready with something to block the hole up once it's out. (Good idea to keep the dogs out of the way too.) Then double check the house for places it could hide and block them up, cats love hiding in small spaces.

    Posted 3 months ago #
13. Mulletus Maximus - Member

    that (if genuine) the OP isn't responsible enough to look after animals and shouldn't have any more?
    What did I do wrong?

    For a start you know of a Cat stuck in a cavity wall and you're prepared to let it die in there.

    Unfortunately I don't know who you are or where you live, but if I did I would be reporting you to the RSPCA immediately. Idiots like you don't deserve animals.

    Posted 3 months ago #
14. elzorillo - Member

    Unfortunately I don't know who you are or where you live, but if I did I would be reporting you to the RSPCA immediately. Idiots like you don't deserve animals.

    lol are you serious? Just how do you propose I find where the cat is? or are you suggesting I completely demolish the house?

    This is a very old big house with lots of hidden places in walls, under floors etc.

    Posted 3 months ago #
15. mintimperial - Member

    Just how do you propose I find where the cat is?

    Try the tuna thing, seriously. I've done it with three different cats in three different houses, worked every time. Just keep any dogs and kids out of sight for a bit, most cats don't like dogs and they don't like loud noises. Rescue cats even more so.

    Posted 3 months ago #
16. Johnny Panic - Member

    there is a reason why people dump cats.

    
    Wrong. There are many reasons why people dump cats. Can't afford to keep them any more, allergies, change of circumstances (e.g. moving to let properties), death of the owner, failure to spey leading to pregnancy / unwanted kittens,. And plenty of rescue cats are taken into shelters pregnant so the kittens grow up as perfectly normal, healthy, well looked kittens in a shelter environment

    I've had 7 over the years (never more than the current 4 though). Better to get a rescue than any type of pedigree imo.

    A week is too short to acclimatise the cat to your home. At last 3, preferably more. And if they were new to the house I wouldn't let them out until spring. Maybe that's just me but I've never had one fail to return (barring the one that got trapped in a neighbours garage when they were away - happily rescued).

    Dislocated legs: Knees? Knees are an unuausl problem for cats though it does happen. One of mine has a congenital condition where the groove in the femur that locates the patella is missing. There is an operation for this. Mine had the op on his right leg 3 years ago. Completely sucessful. Left leg went 2 weeks ago and has just had the operation on that. Around £1000 a side though which is why insurance isn't optional. Lack of insurance leads to a lot of unecessary 'humane' deaths.

    And so to the cat in the wall. Difficult, but it will eventually starve to death so hopefully you'll do everything you can to prevent that, and then do everything you can to keep it away from the loft in future, and if it means making some holes in the walls then you should. I hope you succeed.

    Missus decided that, due to my historic failure with cats,

    Women eh? Why does she think this is your fault?

    Posted 3 months ago #
17. hels - Member

    Best Cats are moggies, from kittens, when you know the provenance and can bring them up properly. Pedigrees don't make good pets way too neurotic.

    And the post above seems to back my theory about not getting Rescue Cats, £2000 operations, pet insurance, LOL.

    And my cat can hear/smell a tin of tuna opening from a couple of miles away, def try that trick.

    Posted 3 months ago #
18. elzorillo - Member

    Dislocated legs: Knees?

    It was hips.. Vet suggested that once dislocated would pretty much mean that they wouldn't stay in place again for long.

    I'll give the tuna a go this evening.

    Women eh? Why does she think this is your fault?

    She's a woman.. everything is my fault

    Posted 3 months ago #
19. Mulletus Maximus - Member

    And as for the cat in the wall - you'll need to dig it out. You are responsible for it and leaving it there could be interpreted as cruelty.
    I'm not knocking walls down for a cat!

    
    Maybe my comment was a bit harsh, but the above comment ran a little bit sour with me. The cat is you responsibility yet your reply comes across as you not being that bothered about it. The least you can do is speak to the RSPCA and see what they suggest.

    Posted 3 months ago #
20. Johnny Panic - Member

    Agree with you about moggies v pedrigree.
    Rescue cats are no more prone to mishaps than moggies though. If they go out, insure them, or be happy with the idea that you may be forced to choose between shelling out thousands or killing them.

    Posted 3 months ago #
21. bwfc4eva868 - Member

    Only ever had one Rescue cat and she was very temperamental and didn't enjoy being stroked at all for very long.

    Got a Kitten who is now 4 and she is a little soft arse, doesn't like being picked up randomly, but will happily come and park herself on you and play.

    And her babies who are now 1 are soft as shite. Fred or Dave as i call him, he answers to both is a very vocal kitty and like his mother does not like to be randomly picked up and will growl at you, but has never scratched out. He will follow you around like a sheep and enjoys cuddles and just messing about in general. He does his dying swan act which is fun and likes belly rubs.

    Ginger Bollocks is soft as shit also, and thinks he's a bird and is forever covered in twigs when he's not sat on you.

    They are all fed 3 meals a day and have lots of attention, and the two kitties were handled from a young age and are very loving. Mother cat will give them a slap if the are naughty to.

    Posted 3 months ago #
22. elzorillo - Member

    woohoooo.. Tinned fish drew her out

    She seemed none the worse for her ordeal.. but I gave her a good kicking anyway just to get my own back on Mulletmans post above.

    Posted 3 months ago #
23. OCB - Member

    That's great news that she's out ...

    #1. Block up / cover / narrow the hole / holes. If the hole is (holes are) for venting an Aga or serve some similar / other necessary function, some kinda grill malarkey will still allow air, but stop exploration.

    #2. Get her a cardboard box and some bedding, and put it somewhere quiet for her to have as somewhere safe to bolt to (rather than up the cavity).

    #3. Give it 3-4 weeks now before she's allowed out, then only let her out when you / partner is around, and make sure she goes out hungry. Short trips only to start with (~20 minutes or so, then back in), Let her out in the morning too, that way you have all day to sort things out if it comes to it.

    #4. I like cats to be in at night, much safer for them, much safer for all the little birds thereabouts. If you get cats started off like that, they are fine with the idea.

    I grant you this is 'generally' the case, but - rescue cats can settle in fine, they just need a bit more work / care / time. Cats love routine, and get unsettled by change, so a change of home via a rescue centre is a huge thing. I'm assuming the centre have neutered and microchipped her too ...

    Posted 3 months ago #

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