Today I got a call from someone in Rhinebeck - they had a black and white cat show up at their home a few days ago and saw my ad in the paper. If it was Roy he would have had to hitch a ride since Rhinebeck is across the river and 45 min by car. I went over but it wasn't Roy. I think someone did dump this cat there - probably figured out in the country it would be able to hunt and survive. But he was not doing well at all - he was walking funny - probably had some sort of injury and the gentleman who called said that he was not doing well until they started feeding him. Dumping an animal in the country is NOT better then taking them to a shelter. At least in the shelter they have warmth and food - they will not starve to death or freeze to death. The gentleman who was feeding the cat said that he called the SPCA but they told him if it was outside it was probably feral so they wouldn't do anything about it. That gets me - what if someone had Roy and got that answer? If he went to the shelter they would have scanned him and I would have him back. Considering how many lost animal posters are on their walls I am very surprised at this answer. I did tell the gentleman that he could borrow a humane trap and then bring the cat in. It didn't seem quite feral - probably someone's unwanted pet. :-(
I got home disappointed but a lady called around 3:30 saying that she was feeding a black and white cat. She had no idea what he looked like - she only saw him when coming home after dark - a black and white cat would run under her shed. She let me set up a camera - I have my fingers crossed that this is him, but I am not letting myself get my hopes up. I have been disappointed too often now. Please pray/keep us in your thoughts. Getting my Roy back would mean the world to me.
Friday, December 28
Thursday, December 27
December 27, 2007
Today I went to the SPCA to double check that they never had seen Roy. He didn't make it through their system and they do check for microchips so that is one less worry. At least with the chip if he is brought in he will be coming back to me.
I did see a flyer for another lost cat in New Paltz - and my searches brought me to a cat that looked very much like that one. But the number on the flyer was wrong. I hope I wrote it down wrong - it would be pretty sad if they weren't getting any calls because they had a typo on their flyer.
I have a new list of shelters to call - the SPCA gave me the top ones in the area. I did find a company that could get me a mailing list of every house within 3 miles on my house - 1,500 houses. Now I need to decide how far out I want to send my postcards.
While I was sitting at my computer I saw a little black head peeking in the windows (french doors on the porch). I immediately thought Roy had come home and rushed to the door, but it was Leotard - the cat I was feeding in October about a quarter of a mile away. He stood looking in the door for a while - he looks good. I am not sure if he is some one's cat or not. If he comes back to the door we might let him in to take him to a shelter. I am full now (I adopted 3 feral kittens from my backyard) and can't take in another - but if he is friendly he deserves a chance at a home. (I may be full but Roy has a place here - none of the cats I have now would ever be kicked out).
This makes me more determined to send out the posters - if Roy is looking in some one's house I want people to know he is lost - not a stray!
I did see a flyer for another lost cat in New Paltz - and my searches brought me to a cat that looked very much like that one. But the number on the flyer was wrong. I hope I wrote it down wrong - it would be pretty sad if they weren't getting any calls because they had a typo on their flyer.
I have a new list of shelters to call - the SPCA gave me the top ones in the area. I did find a company that could get me a mailing list of every house within 3 miles on my house - 1,500 houses. Now I need to decide how far out I want to send my postcards.
While I was sitting at my computer I saw a little black head peeking in the windows (french doors on the porch). I immediately thought Roy had come home and rushed to the door, but it was Leotard - the cat I was feeding in October about a quarter of a mile away. He stood looking in the door for a while - he looks good. I am not sure if he is some one's cat or not. If he comes back to the door we might let him in to take him to a shelter. I am full now (I adopted 3 feral kittens from my backyard) and can't take in another - but if he is friendly he deserves a chance at a home. (I may be full but Roy has a place here - none of the cats I have now would ever be kicked out).
This makes me more determined to send out the posters - if Roy is looking in some one's house I want people to know he is lost - not a stray!
Monday, December 24
December 24, 2007
It's Christmas eve and no sign of Roy. I don't feel very festive tonight. I have one camera up - haven't gotten a good picture yet. I do have a nice picture of a fox and some birds. I am hoping I might have a good picture of the cat in the area tomorrow.
My next step is going to be sending out postcards to every house within a 1 mile radius. I figure that should get everyone - including those I missed the first time around. I have someone lined up for the postcards - I just need to find a mailing list of those houses.
It would be a great Christmas present to have Roy come home tomorrow - or at least get a lead.
My next step is going to be sending out postcards to every house within a 1 mile radius. I figure that should get everyone - including those I missed the first time around. I have someone lined up for the postcards - I just need to find a mailing list of those houses.
It would be a great Christmas present to have Roy come home tomorrow - or at least get a lead.
Saturday, December 22
December 22, 2007
The lady who called yesterday called again today. It was not Roy that she saw.
I put another ad in the newspaper and put up more posters. I am hoping someone will see them and give me a call. The pictures from last night didn't pan out - I am hoping to get some better ones in the next few days.
I really miss Roy - I hope he is okay where ever he is and that someone is caring for him like he deserves.
I put another ad in the newspaper and put up more posters. I am hoping someone will see them and give me a call. The pictures from last night didn't pan out - I am hoping to get some better ones in the next few days.
I really miss Roy - I hope he is okay where ever he is and that someone is caring for him like he deserves.
Friday, December 21
December 21, 2007
Today I went to the local printing store and found out that printing 300 postcards would be way cheaper then doing flyers. I was thinking of sending them to every house within a 1.5 mile radius (and expanding as needed). I need to get a list of the addresses in a mile of my house before ordering the postcards so I wil be looking for services that do that. Of course this being the holiday season doesn't help.
I did get a phone call from a lady in the next town that a cat has been coming by every few days and tries to get into her house. She said it looked like Roy. She was not comfortable letting me put up a camera but said she will call when the cat shows up again. I have my fingers crossed.
I set up the camera in the other yard. I put it further away from the house so the flash shouldn't bother them and hopefully I will get a cat instead of a possum this time.
I did get a phone call from a lady in the next town that a cat has been coming by every few days and tries to get into her house. She said it looked like Roy. She was not comfortable letting me put up a camera but said she will call when the cat shows up again. I have my fingers crossed.
I set up the camera in the other yard. I put it further away from the house so the flash shouldn't bother them and hopefully I will get a cat instead of a possum this time.
Wednesday, December 19
December 19, 2007
I was all set to set up my camera tonight when I heard it is supposed to snow. Yup - it is snowing right now. I hope it won't be too much, but I didn't set anything up. I don't want to have to dig it all back out again tomorrow.
I have had no new sighting reports or any other news. I still believe he is out there - it is just a matter of figuring out where. Any/all hints and tips are welcome. I have tried everything I can think of - I would like to try what you can think of.
I did do something today - I made 12 more posters before I ran out of tape. I will have to pick more up tomorrow and then I will be putting them up friday. I would put them up tomorrow but I won't get home from work until dark and don't think it would be easy or safe to staple them to posts by the side of the road when it is dark out. I took friday off so that will give me some opportunity. I am really hoping that Roy decided to go up to someone's house and they just don't realize he is a missing cat instead of an outdoor cat. I have a grey one in my yard so I know it is easy to make that mistake.
I have had no new sighting reports or any other news. I still believe he is out there - it is just a matter of figuring out where. Any/all hints and tips are welcome. I have tried everything I can think of - I would like to try what you can think of.
I did do something today - I made 12 more posters before I ran out of tape. I will have to pick more up tomorrow and then I will be putting them up friday. I would put them up tomorrow but I won't get home from work until dark and don't think it would be easy or safe to staple them to posts by the side of the road when it is dark out. I took friday off so that will give me some opportunity. I am really hoping that Roy decided to go up to someone's house and they just don't realize he is a missing cat instead of an outdoor cat. I have a grey one in my yard so I know it is easy to make that mistake.
Tuesday, December 18
December 18, 2007
Neither the ad nor the phone call panned out. The cat from the ad didn't look like Roy (the nose was all white and no marks on the forehead). The number said they didn't call here at all. Which is weird because the number was on the caller id box. I guess it must have been crossed wires somewhere.
Looks like the cats are back to their patterns. This morning the food I keep out was gone. It had been a few days since something came to eat. I guess they were waiting until the weather settled. So tomorrow I will go back to the house I had the camera and ask for permission again. Hopefully that cat is still making a circuit in the area.
Looks like the cats are back to their patterns. This morning the food I keep out was gone. It had been a few days since something came to eat. I guess they were waiting until the weather settled. So tomorrow I will go back to the house I had the camera and ask for permission again. Hopefully that cat is still making a circuit in the area.
