I adopted two tiny kittens who were born in the outdoors, separated from their mother, and who probably started eating the food left out for them by some residents too early. Both were trapped and I was asked to pick them up. I had been working as a foster home for kittens (two summers ago) and so people tended to think they should call me for the many cats being trapped in our neighborhood. I had a virtual kitten adoption agency in my home that summer and my town had a nightmare of a problem with the numbers of stray cats.
First Boo came to me, then Peeka. They were not even one pound when I got them. Later I received two other brothers from that same litter who were, by the time I got them, feral. Long story short, these other two brothers didn't make it.
Since the agency I worked for had no place for Peeka and Boo, I got them neutered and adopted them myself. They had lots of health problems, digestive, for the first six months, and were constantly at the vet, then they were fine. I have/had one adult cat, a female calico, who never hurt them, but who never liked them. She doesn't like any other animal.
We all got along terrifically until they started itching to get outside, and my adult cat showed them how to break through the screens during the time I was away for two weeks. Later I built a small enclosure under my porch for them but they wanted to be outside of it.
I did let them out and kept a close eye on them as I had with other cats I've had, fed them three times a day to keep them close and constantly went out to call to them to which they would reply. Peek is a Siamese mix so he was naturally vocal and both of them had a return call to me each and every time I did call them. Things seemed to be going well for us.
Except that I have neighbors, two doors down. I could make a paper airplane and throw it into their yard with little effort; that is how close they are too me. This couple are admitted cat haters and unbeknownst to me they began setting traps in their yard. Peek was caught in November and I retrieved him from Animal Control. Afterwards, I let the neighbors know he was my cat and asked if they didn't know this (I know they did) and told them about the two young males who were mine. These are people I have spent time talking to face to face, and who know me by name.
Next, about two weeks later, Boo was trapped, and within a half hour I was looking for him in the neighbors' trap. It was not outside and so I came to learn they had been holding Boo inside their house, rather than calling me or Animal Control. I called the police, who instructed Animal Control to return him to me, but Animal Control instead took Boo, who I then retrieved during their working hours.
The neighbors told the officer they believed I "should have to pay" to have these animals, was one of their comments. So I made a road trip to look for housing in another state where there are not cat leash laws enabling people who hate cats and while I was gone and for weeks after I returned, my cats became indoor cats.
Only problem with that is they did escape. First Peeka got out and this time he didn't return. The silence is deafening. Boo, distraught and doing a lot of whining/crying, left me about eight days later. He got out the front door too; never to come back for the feedings he was always right there for. If it was over a minute past feeding time, Boo would always let me know.
I've contacted Home Again, and filed a report on lost pets, and done everything I know to try to find them, including checking Animal Control every other day, physically, myself. Also, I go out at night, around two or three in the morning, and during other late hours, and search in any hiding places within the park where they may go. If it is windy, I don't bother. I go when it is very quiet and call and listen for them.
Early on in Peeka's going outdoors experience, he would hide under a nearby home where I would find him. I'd call; he'd call back and slowly he would come out of hiding. Boo always seemed smarter, and just always stuck around close to the house, like my older cat does.
I'm so sick I cannot eat and am losing quite a bit of sleep. Peek has been gone since the 2nd of Feb. Some of the things I am trying to come to terms with is why they left, and, of course, what may have happened to them. This is reminding me of how some types of young male felines in the wild leave their group when they reach a certain age. Or perhaps they simply couldn't live being inside all day. Or did someone manage to abduct them... I did give them quite a bit of attention. They were my constant companions and also had each other.
I used to post about them here back when they were kittens and thought I learned a lot about cats. Now I am looking for any insight that might help me find them by understanding something I may be missing about feline behavior. They are a little over a year and a half, both male and were healthy neutered cats. They did start out somewhat wild but very young. If they are still alive, is there any chance they will come back home after this length of time, and of course, if they are not captive somewhere.
I've been leaving articles of my clothing, and litter from their box, and food and water, outside. Something is eating it if it's not my own cat binging. I leave a window open all the time now. I still call them constantly. What else should I be doing?
First Boo came to me, then Peeka. They were not even one pound when I got them. Later I received two other brothers from that same litter who were, by the time I got them, feral. Long story short, these other two brothers didn't make it.
Since the agency I worked for had no place for Peeka and Boo, I got them neutered and adopted them myself. They had lots of health problems, digestive, for the first six months, and were constantly at the vet, then they were fine. I have/had one adult cat, a female calico, who never hurt them, but who never liked them. She doesn't like any other animal.
We all got along terrifically until they started itching to get outside, and my adult cat showed them how to break through the screens during the time I was away for two weeks. Later I built a small enclosure under my porch for them but they wanted to be outside of it.
I did let them out and kept a close eye on them as I had with other cats I've had, fed them three times a day to keep them close and constantly went out to call to them to which they would reply. Peek is a Siamese mix so he was naturally vocal and both of them had a return call to me each and every time I did call them. Things seemed to be going well for us.
Except that I have neighbors, two doors down. I could make a paper airplane and throw it into their yard with little effort; that is how close they are too me. This couple are admitted cat haters and unbeknownst to me they began setting traps in their yard. Peek was caught in November and I retrieved him from Animal Control. Afterwards, I let the neighbors know he was my cat and asked if they didn't know this (I know they did) and told them about the two young males who were mine. These are people I have spent time talking to face to face, and who know me by name.
Next, about two weeks later, Boo was trapped, and within a half hour I was looking for him in the neighbors' trap. It was not outside and so I came to learn they had been holding Boo inside their house, rather than calling me or Animal Control. I called the police, who instructed Animal Control to return him to me, but Animal Control instead took Boo, who I then retrieved during their working hours.
The neighbors told the officer they believed I "should have to pay" to have these animals, was one of their comments. So I made a road trip to look for housing in another state where there are not cat leash laws enabling people who hate cats and while I was gone and for weeks after I returned, my cats became indoor cats.
Only problem with that is they did escape. First Peeka got out and this time he didn't return. The silence is deafening. Boo, distraught and doing a lot of whining/crying, left me about eight days later. He got out the front door too; never to come back for the feedings he was always right there for. If it was over a minute past feeding time, Boo would always let me know.
I've contacted Home Again, and filed a report on lost pets, and done everything I know to try to find them, including checking Animal Control every other day, physically, myself. Also, I go out at night, around two or three in the morning, and during other late hours, and search in any hiding places within the park where they may go. If it is windy, I don't bother. I go when it is very quiet and call and listen for them.
Early on in Peeka's going outdoors experience, he would hide under a nearby home where I would find him. I'd call; he'd call back and slowly he would come out of hiding. Boo always seemed smarter, and just always stuck around close to the house, like my older cat does.
I'm so sick I cannot eat and am losing quite a bit of sleep. Peek has been gone since the 2nd of Feb. Some of the things I am trying to come to terms with is why they left, and, of course, what may have happened to them. This is reminding me of how some types of young male felines in the wild leave their group when they reach a certain age. Or perhaps they simply couldn't live being inside all day. Or did someone manage to abduct them... I did give them quite a bit of attention. They were my constant companions and also had each other.
I used to post about them here back when they were kittens and thought I learned a lot about cats. Now I am looking for any insight that might help me find them by understanding something I may be missing about feline behavior. They are a little over a year and a half, both male and were healthy neutered cats. They did start out somewhat wild but very young. If they are still alive, is there any chance they will come back home after this length of time, and of course, if they are not captive somewhere.
I've been leaving articles of my clothing, and litter from their box, and food and water, outside. Something is eating it if it's not my own cat binging. I leave a window open all the time now. I still call them constantly. What else should I be doing?
