26/02/2025
In case anyone was wondering about the outcome of the ginger feral cat we were looking for. Here is his incredible story.
For a number of years someone in Amber Valley was feeding him, he came regularly but always remained untouchable. When they tried to trap him to get him sterilised, he left that location and found another household to feed him within Amber Valley. This lady fed him for about 2 years and he came regularly, morning and evening. He would arrive at her kitchen door and just sit and wait for his food, very comfortable to be there but not allowing any contact. About 6 months ago the lady's own cat died and the ginger boy vanished.
Shortly after that, the little colony at 44 Main Street started to get a new regular visitor, a ginger boy. He would wait for the other cats to eat and then come and get his fill. He was mostly seen in the evenings. About a month ago the people who feed them noticed he had a wound on his nose. It didn't get better and in fact got worse and worse. We were called to try and trap him, as we had trapped and sterilised the colony, and when Dr Lee saw the photo's of his nose, she knew he had cancer and was suffering. We needed to catch him to end his suffering.
Di started going everyday and setting up a trap. Initially he came and looked at the trap and even hooked the fish out of the back of the trap, almost like he knew what a trap was about, which it turns out he did. After a few evenings, he just came and sat and looked at the trap and at Di. It seemed that he could no longer eat the food.
He then wasn't seen at all for 4 days and that was when we put out our plea to find him. Amazingly, the lady from Amber Valley who hadn't seen him for 6 months, said he had turned up again at her house. Her daughter contacted us in disbelief that it could be the same cat, but after exchanging photo's from 6 months ago and now, we knew it was our boy! He resumed his regular routine of morning and evening visits, but was struggling to eat soft food or kibbles, so was being fed cooked chicken or sausage.
On Monday evening Dr Lee went to meet these wonderful ladies at Amber Valley and when he turned up, they managed to catch him and end his suffering. Although it is a sad outcome, we feel relieved that he didn't suffer for too long, and are very grateful to all the humans who were looking out for him.
Consultations by appointment please, phone/whatsapp Dr Lee Pachonick 066 207 9621.
