06/06/2026
Story time: The Great Reggie Retrieval 🐾
Thursday afternoon I get a message from a lady called Victoria asking to borrow a cat trap. I explained both of mine were already out on loan and asked what the situation was. She’d recently moved from Stanley to Gateshead and had been trying, unsuccessfully, to catch a cat she cared about. He was outdoors, unneutered, and the plan was to get him booked in as soon as he could be caught.
After the last time I loaned a trap out and people couldn’t follow the very basic instruction of not leaving a trap unattended overnight, I no longer loan traps to people I don’t personally know. Any trapping jobs like this are now done by me.
And honestly, the fewer unneutered cats on my patch, the better. So I retrieved a trap that was already out on loan, finished my cat sits yesterday, and headed back to her old house to get set up.
I was there from about 5:30 to 8:30pm. Nothing.
Just as I’m about to call it a night, message the owner to say I’m retiring the trap and will try again tomorrow, I look up from my phone and… who’s sat casually next to the trap?
Reggie.
Not even five minutes later, he was in. 🎯
I rang Victoria absolutely buzzing and asked if she wanted me to bring him over. It was late though and they understandably hadn’t expected such a speedy capture, so nothing was prepped. We agreed I’d keep him overnight.
Cue chaos.
I actually had to nip to Consett Cat Rescue HQ to collect a large dog crate we’d loaned out on another job. Ended up standing chatting for ages. Anyone who knows Kay knows she’s a talker 🤣 Eventually escaped, grabbed a quick Maccy’s, and got home around 10:30pm. With cats in every room here, the only option was setting the crate up in the living room.
Reggie was promptly flead and wormed, then settled up in the crate, covered over, while kittens peered at him from every possible angle like a very judgemental audience. Not ideal, but the best I could do.
The next day Victoria messaged asking for an ETA so she could grab supplies, and it was then I asked for Reggie’s full story.
He wasn’t actually her cat to begin with. He was a stray she fed daily, who relied on her kindness to get by. After losing her last two cats, she didn’t want any more… but always said if she could catch him, she’d keep him, neuter him, and give him a proper home. When she moved and couldn’t catch him, she was heartbroken, still travelling from Gateshead back to Stanley just to make sure he was fed.
The property manager suggested Consett Cat Rescue, but all Kay’s traps were in use, so she sent Victoria my way.
Today I took Reggie over to his new home. We set him up in the bathroom. Smaller room, easier adjustment, safer for a cat learning indoor life. I gave very firm instructions about windows and doors, because if that lad gets a sniff of freedom, he will absolutely take it.
I also went against my usual policy and microchipped him before neutering. These guys are fully committed to getting him booked in as soon as possible, and if he does manage a sneaky escape, he’s got a safety net to get him back home.
What a lovely family. They took everything on board and did absolutely everything right.
So here’s to Reggie. A new life away from Stanley, indoors, loved… and very soon, without his bo****ks. 💙🐈
