How many Mudcats have cats!?

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 10:40 AM

Aw Jon, it looks as if she's starting to trust you and your wife.
I'm wondering if she's been neutered, because if not she'll begin 'calling' once Spring gets underway, and male cats from miles around will congregate, fighting and causing mayhem.
She must have been really hungry to have got through three pouches and the bit of chicken! How kind you are to help her, I'm sure she's extremely grateful.
Raggytash, maybe your Nemesis has just been neutered, hence the shaved leg to get the anaesthesia in? But if so, he'd be moving a bit stiffly. He obviously belongs to someone, as does our White Horror.

I have to confess I caved in the other day. I went out the front with a plate of chicken scraps, intending to offer it to SmokeyPokey while I sat on the bench, but he wandered off. Meanwhile, 'Spirit' (the Horror) was watching and came up bold as brass. I'm an idiot, but it's not his fault he's bonkers is it? I gave him the whole plate and he wolfed it down like a good 'un. Smokey came back and was absolutely disgusted with me. My husband laughed, but said I was far too soft (or 'sorft' as my Norfolk neighbour put it)
No doubt The Beast will be haunting our garden even more now. Whatever possessed me?

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 12:58 PM

Ah Sen, Pip is my mother, not my wife. She enjoys folk music and we are both thinking of getting to a local do tonight.

Cat turned up after my last post. She was quite nervy at first today (possibly because Pip was sweeping some leaves up near the porch) and I got treated to a savage hiss when I tried to offer her a treat. She settled down though and she raised her front feet off the ground to accept a stroke before guiding me to the door when it was time to go.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 01:59 PM

Oh I'm so sorry Jon, I didn't realise.

The cat I rescued ('Solo') was very nervous and sometimes spat or lashed out. But I understood - he'd had an awful life being shooed away and so on. He was always sorry, and one could see he felt ashamed.
I only had him for two years before he died of a liver complaint, but at least he had happy times with us and was much loved.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 07:10 PM

No problems at all re Pip and my relationship, Swn.

Racking my brain, there was a cat we took in back when we were in Kent in the 70s but my mate "Snotcat" or Worthy as he was called by Pip was the adult stray I really remember. He was huge and long haired but mostly used to manage the fur himself.

When he first settled with us, he would cower at a had coming towards him but he mostly got over that, poor old thing really but he could (if we were not careful) dominate our other neutered tom...

Only had him about 4 years. He had cat aids, almost certainly from a now gone feral community before he settled here. But, yes as with your cat, you believe you've given them some quality of life over the period you had them.

Couldn't see that working with PussPuss though. He's the born and bred wild feral type that few are ever able to make friends with.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 06:50 AM

We had a funny one this morning. When Pip got up, she thought she heard a cat meowing in the porch. There were also a few tools and bits and pieces on the floor. Anyway, not seeing a cat, she attributed the cat sound to a gull and we figured that the stack of bits could have collapsed at any time.

We didn’t think any more of it until Pip had to go out at 11AM. New stray was sitting and meowing on one the bits of shelving in the porch. Cat had pushed her way through a cat flap, knocking the things that were blocking it over and, as the cat flap was set to only allow entry, had got herself trapped. Having had a late breakfast and having done some exploration around a couple of other rooms in the house, she seems none the worse for the experience. I thought she might even settle down in my room but I started to get worried when I heard her scratching under my bed. She’s gone back outside now.

--
We had the vet in for Mewan late last week, believing the time had come to have her put to sleep. She had really gone down and wasn’t responding to much but she picked up a on the day the vet was due. After some discussion and trying to establish why, the vet decided to give her an antibiotic injection. Mewan has picked up further from there and the vet has suggested a longer course of antibotics (which Pip is out to fetch above).

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 07:01 AM

And Pip has learned something about the new stray who is now officially a HE! She'd mentioned this creature to the vets before but this time, she took a picture of the cat to show and the vet said she knew the cat!

The story goes something like the cat had belonged to someone not very far from us who decided they didn’t want it. Someone else decided to take the cat on but it appears that the cat started wandering. The vet’s view is that if we do manage to persuade it to settle and stay, it’s ours if we want it.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 07:14 AM

I'm glad Jon that Mewan picked up. And I hope the longer-term antibiotics get to grips with whatever is making her poorly.

What a shame about that lovely fluffy cat. How can people decide they 'don't want it'? He (not 'she') sounds very sweet and will very quickly get used to you both I'm sure.

Ours get themselves into daft situations like that. Murphy had slunk unseen into our conservatory while I was putting some washing on a rack (It's nice and hot in there for drying) I shut the door and locked it. A while later, we heard piercing shrieks, which I recognised as Murphy's. We searched high and low, until I saw his worried little brown face peering out of the conservatory. He'd had a blissful few hours basking in the heat, but wanted OUT!!! IMMEDIATELY!!!!

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 07:22 AM

Thanks Sen. I don't think Mewan's longer term prospects are good but we keep her while she is generally happy and it does seem that it was an infection, now on the mend, that had dragged her down so far. As far as I understand it, with the particular lumps she has: They don't spread to other organs so no secondary cancer but get big and can cause cats' problems in other ways. Pip is also trying some homeopathic medicines but I don't hold a lot of hope out there.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 07:31 AM

And... We don't leave things for a while but places we check for a cat are the sheds and (at one time, things have changed now we have an unvented hw cylinder) the airing cupboard. Also (although checked quickly on a hot day if it's been out and we notice the cat has gone) the car - Mewan has managed to get in there unseen while others have got out.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 07:32 AM

(we leave things for a while)

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 09:12 AM

Oh well, have just ordered new locks for a cat flap. Some were lost years ago, possibly Snotcat trying to barge through, and either swept or hoovered up… I’ve taken one remaining stop off one and put in on another so that the situation is that porch/outside now opens both ways and kitchen/porch only opens from the porch but I don’t want to have to keep swapping from one flap to another if we want to make other changes.

At least the current set up will allow stray in and out (although he would be trapped if he got in the kitchen) and (while it prevents her getting in the porch), stops Mewan getting outside – something we don’t want at the moment, at least not “unsupervised”.

I thought around £5 a bit expensive for 4 bits of plastic but still cheaper than a new cat flap. Thoughts of a new cat flaps got me wondering though… I know there are fancy things on the market these days, even ones that work on microchips but do any of them allow rule based programming per cat and per time of day, eg. one cat is allowed in and out access between 8am and 8pm?

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 09:27 AM

Oh if only that were possible Jon! Cat flaps one could programme! We don't much like SmokeyPokey going out for too long as he's sixteen and quite frail, although seems perky enough. One fight with that Horror over the road would be the end we reckon. But it seems a shame both our cats can't come and go as they wish. We daren't go out shopping ourselves unless our two are safely indoors and the cat flap locked shut.
It has to be said, much as we all love our cats, at times they're a Blooming Nuisance!!

By the way, I broke my heart yesterday. I was sitting on the famous bench out the front when I saw the Horror's housemate Marmite running home with a poor fluttering female blackbird in his mouth. I rushed over to our neighbour, who has the nest in her woodshed and has fed the blackbirds all winter. She was in tears. The Thing had torn down the nest; there were three smashed eggs on the ground. And no doubt the female bird would be tortured until it died. We comforted each other and had a cup of tea together. What can one do? My husband was furious and sad when I told him.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 09:34 AM

Ah, Sen. Quite expensive at £80 but since my last post, I've found this one

I don't think it would answer my per cat question (eg. for our current situation with Mewan) but it looks as if it would cater for the in/out during daytime only type things.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 11:22 AM

Congratulations, Jon, on being chosen by the bushy-tailed tomcat.
Are you going to take him to get neutered?

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 11:50 AM

My guess is that he is already neutered, and he doesn't really have the "tom cat" head. If he does decide to stay with us, he will get taken to the vets and be neutered if needed. I believe the vets also have a grooming service so he'd probably get de matted there too.

But take things as they come and bit at a time...

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Charmion
Date: 18 Apr 18 - 11:36 AM

Jon Freeman, if your stray tom is still quite young, the broadening of the chops that identifies a tom cat is still a ways off, as we say in Ontario. Our Watson was neutered very young -- between four and five months, if I recall correctly -- and he was indistinguishable from his sister Isobel until they were both more than two years old. Now that they are almost five years old, Watson is half again Isobel's size and weight, and sports the typical broad face of a full-blown tom. God alone knows what he would have looked like had he not experienced that special trip to the vet!

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Apr 18 - 02:10 PM

Interesting Charmion.

–
I’d been a bit concerned about new stray (I’m calling him Furball but Pip will probably give him a different name) for a few days starting yesterday as we have relatives visiting. I needn’t have worried. Furball turned up this evening when 2 of them were out in the garden. He wouldn’t walk past them to come to the porch for food and they had to move away but he was fine after that. Once settled, he’s anybody’s for a bit of chicken…

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 01 May 18 - 05:49 AM

Mewan picked up further from when I last posted but she took another turn for the worse on Monday we have had her put to sleep this morning. Pip is terribly upset at the moment. Not saying the rest of us aren’t sad but there was a very close bond between Pip and Mewan.

The two strays were around together for a while but I think the new stray pushed PussPuss away. Whatever, it’s been a while seen I’ve seen PussPuss.

New stray stayed in the house for 2-3 hours one day but the next day he seemed very wary and only stayed long enough to eat his meal. He’s not called round in about a week. I spotted a cat as I was looking at the cttv round the back this morning. It was too far in the distance for certainty but I think it was him so maybe he’s still around. Anyway (as with Pusspuss too) I hope he’s ok wherever he is and up to.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 01 May 18 - 07:09 AM

Jon, that's so very sad. I'm truly sorry; I know only too well the distress when one loses a much-loved cat.
Please convey to Pip my sincere condolences. Poor little Mewan, but she was well-looked after I'm sure, and had a lovely life.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 01 May 18 - 08:37 AM

Thanks Sen will do.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Charmion
Date: 01 May 18 - 08:44 AM

So sorry for your loss, Jon. It's so hard to let go of a much-loved cat.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 01 May 18 - 09:09 AM

And thanks Charmion. I’d think those of us who are not youngsters and keep pets have all been through it several times over. It’s never easy but life moves on.

I don’t know if we will get another cat now. We’d take the new stray on board if he does change his mind and decide that’s where he wants to be but with parents in their 80s and my own situation a bit variable, we’d not go looking for a kitten.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 May 18 - 02:17 PM

The Creator of Humans and Cats Alike
moves in mysterious ways.

It is as if the little cat with the big bushy tail
came along just in time
for you to say goodbye to your dear old friend
and make way for someone
to fill the cat-sized vacancy in your heart.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Donuel
Date: 01 May 18 - 02:34 PM

Speaking of mysterious no one knows how portions of feline DNA has made it into the human genome or when it did so.

And whats up with the great Sphinx. Was it just a modified giant hardang? (a cat shape naturally made by sand born wind on rocks)

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: JennieG
Date: 03 May 18 - 01:33 AM

I can't resist posting this.....
There are cats, and there are cats.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Elmore
Date: 03 May 18 - 07:04 PM

OMG. Apparently I've led a long but sheltered life. Plus, that song, as does nearly everything these days ,reminds me of our so-called President. Thanks Jenny.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 04 May 18 - 02:53 AM

I thought of Mr Trump too Elmore!

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: JennieG
Date: 04 May 18 - 04:00 AM

It's actually quite an old song, written in 1931. Many of those old songs were full of double entendres; if you didn't know the 'other' meaning it drifted quite happily over your head, but if you were in the know you probably sniggered.

Some of those old blues songs from the 1920s and 30s are actually quite filthy, when you look at them!

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 04 May 18 - 04:05 AM

Hahaha Jennie, you're right. George Formby's songs were very rude, but extremely funny. 'With my little stick of Blackpool rock' and 'When I'm Cleaning Windows' for example. Full of double entendres.

In those days, we weren't so 'politically correct' or mealy-mouthed! :)

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 13 May 18 - 07:33 PM

Gave our Furball a bit of deworming granules the other day and he took that. Will see if it eases his appetite.

Also, had him for 2 hrs today - he didn't fancy going out in the the rain.

Still, a bit of a puzzle. Affectionate when he turns up yes, not looking like he has a home and being cared for yes but ready to settle here, no - although he will roll over on a carpet and settle down for short periods/

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: keberoxu
Date: 14 May 18 - 02:08 PM

Sounds like you are his humans
whether or not he is your cat . . .

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 May 18 - 01:16 PM

Definitely, K. Or perhaps more accurately, it's the best I can come up with.

I'm pretty confident that he hasn't got another human home but I'd guess he is very comfortable with his outdoor life and is in no hurry to change that.

He let himself in again last night but come about 12:30am, he wanted out. No great panic and he took a last treat and stroke first and hang around a few minutes outside after but he did make it clear he wanted the outside.

I think our previous adult stray that we took in was more clear cut than this one. Memory is a rather foggy but at the moment, it runs that there was a "shall I shan't I" period and a few days absence but on return, he'd pretty much decided here was his home (quite a contrast to Mewan we found as a kitten btw - she just took here as her new home).

Maybe, if he's still around later in the year and things get colder, he might think us a more attractive option. I don't know but, while I'd like him to decide we offer him a good place and may try to tempt him, I've no intention of trying to force him.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Charmion
Date: 16 May 18 - 09:18 AM

When we last took in a street cat, it was Old Bill, and he banged on the door and yelled for admittance. He was sick, wounded, starving, filthy and crawling with vermin, and he had been on the bummel all winter -- in Ottawa, where overnight lows in January frequently drop to -30C.

He settled in quickly, finding the litter box and the kibble dish, and establishing that, indeed, we had laps that were for sitting on. When he had recovered from his snip surgery and the bite wound in his chest, and his white fur had lost the nicotine-stain look he sported on arrival, Bill went AWOL for more than a week. We thought he had left us for good, but then he came strolling up to the back door again, and stayed for 13 years.

Our current moggies have spent their entire lives indoors, and I confess it's much easier on us. Yes, there's more litterbox maintenance and claw damage to the furniture, but worse things happen at sea.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 May 18 - 01:49 PM

Nice story, charmion. We've been wondering how cats get on at about -5C. I can't even imagine -30!

I noticed that even with PussPuss who is as good as untameable that when he was feeding with us fairly regularly, he started to wear his Sunday best white bib and socks (he's mostly tabby). Furball needs a good de-matting though, not something I think he (or we)can solve on his/our own.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 May 18 - 01:12 PM

I still wonder what happened to Steve Shaw
and the cat that was out in the winter elements.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Charmion
Date: 21 May 18 - 11:24 AM

Ottawa's Lower Town, where we lived at the time, had plenty of outdoor nooks and crannies where small predators such as pussycats can hole up and keep warm. The typical Ontario back porch, for example, has a lattice skirting that is easily broken to gain access to the sheltered space under the floorboards.

Bill had a circuit of feeding stations -- households where he could count on the kindness of strangers -- and I often wondered why he picked us to move in with. A Russian family who lived in a row-house across the street would put out chopped chicken for him in a little dish at the entrance to their carport, and their Hungarian neighbours provided kibble and water in a sheltered spot on their deck. I saw Bill frequently over that winter, usually nipping across the street in the pre-dawn gloom to check out the latest offerings. He was a large cat, mostly white with big tabby patches, and he looked quite odd against the snow.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 May 18 - 11:16 AM

Since Sunday when he was out there from about 11am to 6pm, Furball has taken to joining us when we are out in the field/garden round the back. He will meow to make his presence known and will accept a treat if you have one on you but he doesn’t want fussing. He’s just picking spots say 10-20 yards away to relax in.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Charmion
Date: 22 May 18 - 11:22 AM

Furball is training you, Jon Freeman. I bet you already put a cat treat in your pocket before going out into the field round the back. Furball's objective is to extract maximum gain from his relationship with you, without ceding any more of his independence than is absolutely necessary.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 May 18 - 11:30 AM

I haven't got that far yet Charmion but do confess to going back to the house to get him something on more than one occasion.

Your assessment sounds right...

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 22 May 18 - 12:01 PM

Ah, our next-door-neighbours' lovely cat Alfie is like that Jon. He's a long-haired ginger chap (cat, not neighbour!) and if I'm on my famous bench, he'll appear from nowhere, crash against my legs in greeting without even looking at me and saunter off to sit quite far away. It's as if he's saying, "Oh. Hi. But don't stroke me." He's even like that with his owners.

Ours are so touchy-feely, they wind themselves around us, rub their little faces against ours, jump on our laps and poke us on the nose with their little paws, making all kinds of chirpy cat talk. We're always covered in cat hairs from head to toe. My poor husband's cleaner's uniform is black, and he's forever wielding the sticky roller to try and make himself presentable for work!

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 May 18 - 12:48 PM

Furball can be very affectionate at times and does give the impression of having once being well loved. But, as things stand, I think Charmion would be right that things are on his terms and that he is (and, OK all cats are to some degree) quite manipulative.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 May 18 - 06:08 AM

And another change with Furball although this has been mixed with at least one absence of over a day. He has taken to letting himself in at about 6am, finishing any left overs and then sleeping until someone gets up to give him his proper breakfast. He will then sleep that off before making his moves for the day.

I wish he could be persuaded to use a chair and he’s using the most awkward spots, one in the corridor and one in the living room that both ensure we have to step very carefully round him but that may come. As it is, I can lift him on to a chair (yes, he will take that from me now but will struggle if I hold him for more than a couple of seconds) but he’s soon back on the floor.

He’s deposited some huge clumps of fur around and looks a lot better. Taking him in for a proper grooming and getting him used to brushing are still on the cards as/if/when we feel the times are right but I think it’s good he’s managing a lot himself.

Still early days with him and he remains a cat can leave us wondering where we really are with him. One spell, we can think that he really is going to become a settler here and another where you wonder if you will see him again so I guess whatever happens still has to be at his own pace.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 28 May 18 - 12:27 PM

Well Jon, things have certainly progressed with Furball haven't they?!
It's lovely that he lets you pick him up, and that he's getting into a routine where comes in at 6am and eats then has a sleep etc.
How kind and patient you and Pip are! Honestly, in a few weeks he'll be almost completely 'civilised'.
Fur coming out means that he's nourished and new fur is re-growing under the old, making the old stuff shed.
I felt quite choked up reading your latest bulletin. That is one very lucky cat!

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 May 18 - 01:04 PM

Thanks Sen.

I still don’t have your optimism about our long term future ask he can leave us guessing but we’ll keep trying. I don’t think we are being specially kind and patient and some efforts are perhaps motivated by liking him around, although I think Pip in particular has always been a would be helper of waifs and strays…

I guess a few mixed feelings from her side at the moment, coming off the back of Mewan’s departure but she likes him.

He’s certainly getting well fed and I think (can’t remember if I mentioned it before), the worming powder I gave him a week or so back may have had some effect on the nutrients he’s getting inside himself.

As well as the fur, we still, also aim to get the vet to give him a look over once we feel he would take the cat box and trip to/from Cromer but he seems pretty OK, and hoping to reach a more consistent point of trust and stability is the priority. I think… You just try your best...

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 30 May 18 - 08:57 AM

Here's a recent picture. He no longer looks the long haired cat. I don't know whether he grows a thick winter coat or whether much of his long hair was old fur? I think his head looks more "tom cat" now he's lost a lot of fluff.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 30 May 18 - 09:22 AM

What lovely markings Jon! Especially his head - beautiful!
It does indeed look as if the fur nearer his rear end is dead stuff, and will be shed in due course.
His tail is so thick and bushy, he's a really bonny cat isn't he?

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 30 May 18 - 10:32 AM

Yes, he’s a lovely cat and one who, if/when things get more settled would make a good pet here. Pip tells me he’s my cat. (As indicated before…) I don’t know yet but, if he does stay, I suspect it would end up that way in terms of a main association (Mewan by contrast was very much Pip’s cat although she was good friends with the 3 of us here).

Still, I’ve ordered a scanner today -at around £50, it seems worth it in case we get any other passers by too. Not sure at the moment I’d want to know he’s on a missing list but still feel I ought to check and can do it this way without a vet’s trip.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Charmion
Date: 30 May 18 - 06:00 PM

Himself always says that our cats like me best -- Watson clambers onto my shoulder, but not his -- and I'm always struck by how much that bothers me. Himself is the soft touch, the one who opens the patio door so they can enjoy birdwatching and or flings them a bit of steak or chicken; I never do. You'd think the little so-and-sos would be grateful. It's just not fair.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 31 May 18 - 08:44 AM

I think cats are loyal to their bellies first (eg. I could shift Mewan sleeping on Pip’s lap with a bit of chicken) but I’m not sure that it follows that the softest touch need become the cat’s best friend.

Pip is probably easier than me but we can both be softies. One difference there though is that I tend to wind up being the mean one, eg. picking up a settled cat and putting it in a basket for the vets or moving one to another room, etc. Again, I don’t think that has made any real difference.

–

I’ve just scanned Furball for a microchip. Nothing was detected and I think that does end any remaining niggles we had about the possibility of someone missing him.

Subject: RE: How many Mudcats have cats!?
From: Senoufou
Date: 31 May 18 - 08:56 AM

One of our cats, Murphy, prefers me. The other, SmokeyPokey, likes us both, but actually adores my husband. Our little tiny Minty (who had to be put to sleep over a year ago) was completely in love with 'Daddy'.
We still get very sad when we think of him. I've seen my husband secretly shed a tear, so I do understand Pip's sadness Jon.

Excellent that your microchip-detector didn't find anything. He's all yours! (and very lucky he is too!)