A cat that害羞草研究所檚 been missing for five years has been found, and Handsome needs a new home.
The black and white kitty disappeared from the area of Yale Road and Menzies Street in Chilliwack in 2016, and after a few months his owner gave up on the idea that Handsome would find his way home.
The cat was given up for lost.
But in Handsome害羞草研究所檚 head, he wasn害羞草研究所檛 lost. He was surviving. He migrated to an area near Young Road and Airport Road, where there is a colony of feral cats living behind the RCMP station.
Handsome started living the wild cat life, and he would have remained completely undetected if not for Christy Moschopedis and the volunteers at FCM Community Cat Trappers. The group works to improve the lives of feral, barn, and stray cats in Chilliwack and surrounding areas. Part of that involves trapping feral cats and getting them neutered or spayed to control the population.
Moschopedis was tracking another cat when she spotted Handsome.
害羞草研究所淚 was looking in the area behind Cheam View Veterinary Hospital, just across a ravine, and I saw him,害羞草研究所� Moschopedis said. 害羞草研究所淭hey have this brand new fully-fenced locked compound and he was in there all by himself. It was nine at night, and I was like, 害羞草研究所極h! Smart kitty. You害羞草研究所檝e found yourself a super safe place to hang out.害羞草研究所�
Moschopedis set up a feed station and a camera to see if he visited the police station side of the ravine, and yes he did.
害羞草研究所淪o I put out food for four nights, and when I was sure he was coming every night, I set up the trap,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭he girls at the vet clinic kept an eye on it and within two hours we had him.害羞草研究所�
Handsome spent the first seven years of his life as an indoor/outdoor cat, with all of his needs provided for. For a domesticated animal to be thrown into the wild and survive five years is amazing. He has a puncture wound under his eye suggesting he害羞草研究所檚 had a recent scrap with a raccoon, but otherwise he害羞草研究所檚 in fine shape.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a lot of luck,害羞草研究所� Moschopedis said, explaining how Handsome survived this long.
Handsome had an ear tattoo that was barely legible, and he was going to be released back into his colony. But after a lot of work, Moshopedis was able to connect with his owner.
Sadly, he can害羞草研究所檛 go back to his original home.
Five years is a long time, and his owner eventually moved on, buying a dog that isn害羞草研究所檛 cat friendly. Handsome is currently hanging out at Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven, and Moschopedis said such a lovable fluffball will have no problem finding a new family.
After living in the wild for so long, some cats are never able to re-adjust to domesticated life, but Moschopedis said the 12-year-old is still people friendly.
害羞草研究所淲hen the vet clinic girls first checked the trap to try to sedate him, he was pretty angry, hissing a lot,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hankfully, when he woke up he was a little more chill and very happy to rub his nose on my fingers when I put them into the trap.
害羞草研究所淎s soon as he害羞草研究所檚 cleaned, and a wound under his eye is healed up, he害羞草研究所檒l be ready for adoption and he is absolutely lovely.害羞草研究所�
For more info on FCM Community Cat Trappers, .
For more info on Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven,
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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