Just William

[caddyman]

This charming little fellow is, we think, a stray, perhaps feral young tom that visits us regularly. He is quite timid and won't let people get too close to him; we've never managed to get closer than a couple of metres before he bolts.

Our neighbours, ingenue_the and harold_chasen are already owned by a family of three cats and have therefore found it necessary to chase this chappy off on the occasions that he has found his way into their kitchen looking for food. They are not nasty to him, or anything, but the ruling mogs like their own territory.

Anyway, William as we have taken to calling him, on account of his often-heard "come out and play" mewling, was getting noticeably thinner - quite boney, in fact, so we have been leaving a little food out for him. Not enough to make him fat, but enough, hopefully, to keep body and soul together. The tactic appears to be working as we have generally stuck to a routine. He comes by, has a snack and goes on his way. William is now looking rather better-fed, but still won't come too close.

We put some dry food out when his bedraggled form appeared just after the rain this afternoon. He was clearly tempted, but disappeared off when he saw me sitting in the conservatory.

Any thoughts on how to entice him in, at all? We don't necessarily want him roaming the house, but we would be quite happy for him to shelter in the conservatory when it is open and we're not going to shoo him off.

Comments

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

Quite simply put the food ever closer to your door and eventually inside of wherever you want him to come that far...

[fredlums.livejournal.com]

He looks like Bustus. Try giving him some cat treats (Dreamies etc)- put them on the conservatory floor near the door and he will come and eat them. Also you could try cat milk (cats are lactose intolerant so ordinary milk isn't really good for them). Lady Whiskers was brought into the house by Bustus one day and scared the bejeezus out of me. Since then she will accept treats, cat milk and on Monday she was found asleep on our bed upstairs and then on the scratching post downstairs. Generally she comes along miaows on the sitting room window ledge and has a treat and goes off again. We also leave dry food and water outside.

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

Wet food is always more enticing than dry. Most cats also love cheese.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

William looks rather nice.

Some or all of the above methods should work. Also, if he is very bashful, try not to look at him when he comes meandering, or just glance at him for a second ,then seem to pay attention to other stuff. If he is jittery, the illusion of not being noticed may help him. This method works for Miss Match but then she is something of a mentalist.

It seems to be a lucky time for feral cats finding kind folk to help them - William's the third I have heard of in as many days!

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

You're an old softie! I should imagine it will just take time.

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

OMG he has a moustache!

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes - if they catch you looking, fake a yawn. I learned that off an actual stray cat science type person.

[nortysarah.livejournal.com]

Try sitting somewhere with him behind you, treats dangling, tastily from your hand!