He just turned up, and we're glad he did!

Hi everyone.

I am new here, and so far I really like this site.

About six months ago we noticed a cat on our roof. It seemed a little be tired and quiet, so we gave it some cheese, milk and tuna. Every now and again, we would see it on the roof. At first, we thought that it must belong to someone else, and it would just come visiting every now and again.

During the Summer, there was a thinder storm. The cat came to our back door crying (in meows). We fed him and patted him, until he ran off after an hour or so (by then the storm was disappearing).

On Fridays in the middle of the day, the cat started visiting our house and meowing. He was (and still is) very very friendly. He started responding to our calling for him.

In the morning and at night he started coming for tinned cat food, pellets and water. By now we realised that he had been living in the bushes next to our house for at least six months. He pretty much has moved in. He loves being brushes, patted and of course fed.

Giggio (the cat's name lol) has a very fluffy, very clean coat. He has very large, hand-shakable paws, and his tail is very tall and bushy. He has the most wonderful personality, and he loves sleeping. We think he might be microchipped, but we aren't sure. At this stage, we are having difficultly telling if Giggio is male or female, what his age is, and what his breed is (maybe just a domestic longhair?).

Below is a picture of Giggio. Personally, I think that he is cat show material.

Giggio has been wearing a flea collar since he moved in. What course of action should we take next? See a vet? (note: I am in Australia).

Aww, what a sweet looking fellow.

You should definately take him to the vet to have him checked out.

Yeah, he is adorable. I am not sure what breed he is. Any ideas? I'm sure the vet will be able to tell.

What a pretty fur-baby. Thanks for sharing his/her story

So do you know what sort of breed Giggio is? I was thinking that he might be a persian bred with another cat. He is very fluffy, lol.

He is beautiful - probably a mix of breeds, though I am no expert on that. But plain domestic moggies come in all shapes and sizes and are the best, I think! You do need to get him to a vet, who will vaccinate and deworm him and check for a microchip, in case he had an owner in the past. Then if he/she is not neutered that must be done too. Will he let you put him in a carrier?

I haven't tried putting him in a carrier yet, however he is very calm and trusting of me so far, so it shouldn't be too hard (hopefully). Have any of you ever seen a cat similar to Giggio before?

Btw, thanks everyone for your comments and help so far, I really do appreciate it (and I am sure that Giggio appreciates it too).

Btw, I truely can't believe how many cats are stray in the US. Over the past few weeks, I have been noticing a few cats who seem to be street cats. I have noticed a cat much like Giggio, only he/she has white and grey patch fur. Although, the cat is the same body structure and coat. I have often wondered if they could have been abandoned together. Giggio seems to be friends with the other cat, and visits him in the morning. I haven't seen the white cat very often, however my mother sees it on the streets when she drives to work. I have never had the opertunity to approach or feed it.

He is so beautiful..

Originally Posted by ackbar1

So do you know what sort of breed Giggio is? I was thinking that he might be a persian bred with another cat. He is very fluffy, lol.

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Its doubtful that he is any specific breed of cat..but is likely just a simply beautiful longhair tabby marked moggie

I have a new boy (a stray) as well and he resembles your Giggio except my boy has white feet and a white bib. He has the long bushy tail which is ringed also and big sturdy little feet..awwww...Someone told me that they thought my boy, Rocky, was a Maine Coon or MC mix but its doubtful as I found him starving outside....

Whatever your boy is, he is beautiful!!

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd post an update on Giggio.

I went to the vet today. Giggio was really tame in the car. I couldn't believe it!!! We placed the cat carrier on the floor in the house, and he just walked in. Then in the car, he just sat down in the carrier and was grooming and seemed to be enjoying the scenery.

At the vet, he meowed a little but other than that he was fine. Inside the vet's room, I was shocked to see a syringe just lying next to the computer keyboard. The vet quickly had it contained. There was also a scalpel that had been used in a cupboard that Giggio ran into. A nurse quickly had that contained as well. There was screaming and abusive type language going on in the rooms near the vet's room. The animal steel table didn't look like it had been wiped and the vet didn't wash her hands after exploring my cat's genital area to determine his gender.

Here is what happened at the vet's. Giggio doesn't have aids (test was negative) and he got his first aids shot, Giggio was already desexed, didn't have a microchip so we had him micro chipped to our details, Giggio had his 1st cocktail of vaccinations, was wormed, and I am putting the anti-flea medication squirt stuff on his next this afternoon (I think it's called 'Revolution').

Apparently, fleas here in Australia have become resistant to the anti-flea medicine 'Frontline', so 'Revolution' was recommended.

The vet said that Giggio is a domestic longhair (lol), and from looking at his teeth said that he was over 2 years old (lol).

Ackbar1

He's gorgeous, and definitly doesn't look like a persian. He's a Brown Tabby Domestic Longhair!

lol. Most of the descriptions of different types of breeds seem to be 'yes, Giggio is like that'.

I still can't believe how comfortable Giggio is with traveling in the car. Sometimes I wonder whether he is a cat at all!

Could be a problem. After his shots, he has been much quieter than normal. I am really worried. He didn't eat dinner and he has been weak and sleepy all afternoon. He seemed to get a burst of energy about 30 minutes ago and wanted to go outside. He hasn't asked to come in. What should I do!? Giggio could be having an allergic reaction to the vaccinations or something. (He had the standard mix and an aids vaccination) (first shots).

What should I do!!!???

Cheers and thanks so much,
Ackbar1

Originally Posted by ackbar1

Giggio has been wearing a flea collar since he moved in. What course of action should we take next? See a vet? (note: I am in Australia).

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how marvellous that you have taken this little one in - bless you for this!!

However, please remove the flea collar - it has been shown to cause illnesses in cats. Since you have treated him with frontline, thats all he will need.

It can be normal for Giggio to be quiet after the vaccinations. I would keep an eye on him and if your still concerned give your vet a call and discuss it with him.

Originally Posted by huggles

how marvellous that you have taken this little one in - bless you for this!!

However, please remove the flea collar - it has been shown to cause illnesses in cats. Since you have treated him with frontline, thats all he will need.

It can be normal for Giggio to be quiet after the vaccinations. I would keep an eye on him and if your still concerned give your vet a call and discuss it with him.

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Thanks for the speedy reply. I will remove the flea collar asap. Giggio doesn't seem to like it anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem.

no problems - I just skimmed your post and just wanted to make a note that I see you used Revolution instead of Frontline. Excuse my error.

I would try and get Giggio to come inside and keep him inside for the rest of the evening - what part of Aus are you from? east or west? by the sounds of it, it seems you may be in the west... just keep Giggio indoors for the remainder of the evening and see how he is coping... maybe he just need lots of love

again - how wonderful of you to take this boy in - he sure is adorable!!

We are in the East, just North of Sydney. Yeah, the vet gave us some Revolution. Apparently frontline is no longer effective against fleas, well, the fleas have become more resistant.

Giggio is slowly getting stronger. Is it possible that he had an allergic reaction to the vaccinations?

Edit:

I just rang the vet. This sort of thing happens every now and again to cats when they are vaccinated apparently.

I am monitoring Giggio and if things don't go to plan I will take him back to the vet.