CATS PROTECTION

Missing from Acton Place in High Heaton since Monday afternoon, a completely black shorthair female with green eyes. She was adopted as a stray about three weeks ago, so we don’t know her history or how long she was a stray. She is quite a small cat, and is thin (you can feel all her bones). She is also deaf and has a band of bare skin around her neck where the collar must have been. She moves quite slowly, and sometimes is a bit unsteady on her feet. She seemed happy in her new home – she purred like a fire engine whenever you came near her – and never went out very often or stayed out long. We’re worried about her, as her deafness makes her particularly vulnerable outside on her own. Here’s hoping someone will see her – we’ve been round the nearby streets, but no success. We’d be really, really grateful if anybody has any news of her. We don’t know old she was and whether she’s been neutered, as she was due for a vet’s visit. As mentioned, we’ve paced the streets around. We’ve also contacted the Benton and Claremont cat and dog shelters, and the local vets. There will be an ad in the Chronicle as from Friday, and there are posters in the local newsagents. Maria

Hi Maria,

Sorry I do not have news about your girl and I do hope you find her soon.

I read that you have an ad in the papers as from today,

I lost my cat 18 months ago and placed an ad in the Chronicle etc which I still think is a good idea,

but just to warn you to be prepared for hoax calls.

We got several realy nasty  and very upsetting calls so if you have children I would make sure they dont answer the phone.

I hope you get some good news soon.

Gillian

gillian at November 18, 2011 at 2:23 AM

Hi Maria,

Sorry I do not have news about your girl and I do hope you find her soon.

I read that you have an ad in the papers as from today,

I lost my cat 18 months ago and placed an ad in the Chronicle etc which I still think is a good idea,

but just to warn you to be prepared for hoax calls.

We got several realy nasty  and very upsetting calls so if you have children I would make sure they dont answer the phone.

I hope you get some good news soon.

Gillian

Gillian, thanks for your post. I'm so sorry to report that we have had bad news. Our cat was attacked and killed by a dog - a bull terrier. A neighbour saw the attack and contacted the council to remove the body, but didn't know the cat was ours, so she only got in touch when she saw the ad in the Chronicle. The dog walker didn't have the dog on a lead, nor did he give any contact details so we can't pursue any complaint against him. The only 'mercy' is that the whole thing took place very quickly, so she didn't suffer - much. It really grieves me that, after bad treatment, she was settling into a loving home where she was happy and appreciated, and then something like this happens. Our neighbour thinks she can identify the dog walker and the dog itself, so we won't let it rest. In the meantime, I will try to find out if other people have found themselves in this situation (ie a dangerous dog off the lead with an irresponsible owner) and what can be done. On the better side, we got quite a few calls in response to the ad, and all of them were kind and concerned. I think there are a lot of good people out there as well Regards, Maria

Black Female

Soo sorry to hear about your cat Maria xx

Hi Marie,

I am so sorry to hear what happened.

What a shame as she sounded happy and loved with you.

I have 3 cats 2 of which go out and an 8 month old who is to young yet but I worry every time they leave the house.

I have not heard anything like it around here but did have a friend with a Maine coon which was in there own garden when a young lad let his pit bull off its lead to attack my friends cat and it killed it,

the young lad just walked off.

I also knew a man with a 6 month old Poodle that was killed again by a Pit bull when his wife was walking her and the owner just stood and watched.

There are some sad people out there but as you say some amazing ones who care very much about animals.

Will you get another ?

Have you heard of Drifters reach near the General Hospital.

They are lovely people who rescue cats at their home and they have a beautiful 9 year old cross Siamese girl with the most amazing blue eyes,

They have a web site.

Thank you for letting me no what happened we never found out what happened to our Manx boy.

Regards

Gillian

Hi Gillian, my brother is still very upset about what happened and he feels unready to adopt another stray so soon.  He also worries in case it happens again.  However, there is already another cat on the horizon .... a girl he works with has a stray that visits her and gets fed, and has been doing so for about six weeks now.  It sounds quite a feisty cat.  There is a dog in the house, and the cat and dog don't get on, so the girl can't take in the cat herself permanently : but the cat apparently looks after itself pretty well with respect to the dog.  I think there's a good chance we'll end up with that cat.  I've been reading the website (and others) about recognising strays and dealing with them, and this cat seems like a real stray.  It has all the signs.  It makes me quite angry that people take on a living animal with feelings and personality and then blithely abandon it, treating it as if it were just an inanimate object.  Even if the cat has problems (like an expensive illness they can't afford to treat, or a behavioural problem) there are places and people that will at least attempt to help.  There's no excuse for just dumping it.  It must be heartbreaking looking after abandoned cats : they have so much dignity.

Maria

Hi Maria

What does this cat look like and where is it living as my cat Gizmo who is my profile pic has been missing for nearly 41/2 months and i have heard absolutley nothing about him. Sharon

Hi Sharon, I'm sorry I can't get the details right now as my brother (Peter) is at the match in Manchester and he doesn't carry a mobile.  However I should be able to get some information for you by tomorrow.  I do hope it is your cat - that would be perfect.  I'm so sorry for you and Gizmo.  When I was younger I had a cat (Quincey - full name Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator Cat) who went missing and we looked for him for absolutely ages.  Gizmo looks gorgeous.  Here's hoping.  Maria

Hi Maria

Thank you really appreciate that. Sharon

Sharon, I'm really sorry but I think the stray is not Gizmo.  My brother's workmate lives in Wallsend and the cat she is feeding is a tortoiseshell and, she thinks, local to the area.  However, this is all at second hand and the best thing is to show her your picture of Gizmo on Monday - I think she will be in then - and that will decide the question.  You must be especially worried now with winter and bad weather coming on.  LIfe for a stray is hard at the best of times.  The only good thing is that there are a lot of people out there who clearly care for cats and will do their level best to look after any stray that is around.  I will post again on Monday about Gizmo. 

Maria

PS perhaps the description would still fit Gizmo : tortoiseshell, tortoiseshell-and-white and calico are vague terms and sometimes used interchangeably ...

Hi Maria

Thank you we live in Longbenton which is not far from Wallsend. Some people class Gizmo as tortoiseshell and white. Only female cats are tortoiseshell. if you like i could send some more pics of Gizmo to your email address to be certain if you give it to me. My email is missswalden@aol.com if you can get pics of the cat thank you. Sharon