I found a friendly cat in the middle of the desert

[Melsky]

I live in a very rural desert area. We are about 15 miles out of town. The closest house is about a quarter mile away.

Anyway, I heard this meowing, and all my cats were accounted for. I went out on my patio and there's a beautiful red fluffy cat.

It was pretty hungry, though not starving. The cat is very friendly, let me pick it up and pet it. It's healthy, well fed and nice. I put it out in my studio until tomorrow because I was afraid coyotes would get it.

It has to belong to someone. It's such a sweet cat. No collar though. I guess I will try calling the humane society and then any other shelters.

Don't know why I'm writing about it here, but it just was such an odd experience. I've never seen a cat out here, except mine. And they are not allowed out.

Any DUers lose a cat in the middle of the desert?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. No but I would miss him if I lost him

What a cutie (sorry I haven't responded yet..I'll be in the office tomorrow to check my rolodex. :D)

[Lostmessage]

2. Are you far from the road?

Someone might have tossed him out. He is a beautiful cat and If I were you I would name him and take him for his check up and shots.

BTW He looks well fed and healthy.

[murielm99]

3. You are a sweetie to take in a lost kitty.

Years ago, I had a beautiful Russian Blue, who just showed up at the door. I asked all my neighbors, and no one claimed him.

Cats can wander pretty far.

Our current cat was found by my very elderly neighbors, closed up in a cardboard box in their yard. They did not feel they were in good enough health to take on a new pet. She was obviously a house cat, and very well trained. Someone just did not want her any more. The only reason I can think of is that she sometimes plays rough, and bites a bit too hard. Maybe they had kids, and one of them was bitten. But it is play, on her part, and many cats do that.

She is a love, and we call her Claudia. We have had her for about nine years now.

[Melsky]

4. I'm not that far from the road

It's a major road that goes from Twentynine Palms to Vegas.

The problem is, I would LOVE to keep this cat. However, I have 3 other cats and am selling my house and getting ready to move to Canada in the spring. My husband loves cats, but he would be furious.

Kitty is already growing on me. I just went out there and petted him and got him to purr.

I've never had a cat I didn't know let me pick it up like that. It seems very clean and there's no matting at all on the fur, and no fleabites or anything underneath the fur.

I just couldn't leave it out in the desert!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. smart move...he'd be dinner for a critter

[SoCalDem]

7. Press Enterprise used to let people run Free Found Ads

Someone might be frantically looking for him.. Maybe a workman left a sliding door open..

[shrike]

19. too bad you can't keep him

My cat is a foundling. She wandered up to a co-worker's front porch when she was about a year old. She was in good condition and even declawed so she must have been dumped. The co-worker's husband hates cats, so she asked me if I would take her. I've had her ten years now. Healthiest darn animal I've ever seen in my life.

[BurtWorm]

6. It looks like a sweetie.

Is it a boy or a girl?

(How's your house selling, by the way?)

[Melsky]

8. Who can tell, under all that fur?

I haven't made an effort to check. I've heard that orange tabbies are usually boys, the same way calicos are usually girls. Or is that an urban legend?

My house is going to sell soon. I am pretty sure I'm selling it to a guy I met through a DUer! I had posted about selling my house, and his band was playing in Joshua Tree, so he sent me a PM to let me know about the show. They were great, I ended up hanging out with them and the people from the other band that played. The drummer from that band was looking to buy a house in my area, and he's just waiting to hear about a loan.

You can read my reviews of the bands and see pictures in my live journal.

[BurtWorm]

9. I love those martini paintings!

:thumbsup:

Your paintings are so good spirited. They're a pleasure to look at! (So're the house and cat!)

[Melsky]

11. Thanks!

I need to spend more time painting and less messing around on DU!

[Dookus]

13. I have an orange female tabby....

it's not an urban legend. It's just that males are more common than females (though female orange tabbies are nowhere near as rare as male calico's).

A male orange and a female orange can make female orange kittens. That's the only combination. So it's a little unusual, but not terribly rare.

[underseasurveyor]

10. House for sale.

Complete with cat :-) After all, a home just isn't a home without a cat, or five :bounce:

Look at the pads of his feet to see if there are any sores. Maybe he wandered for a ways. Poor baby, in the picture he looks to be slightly traumatized.

[foreigncorrespondent]

12. Melsky...

...you have a great house. If Sappho and I had the money and I was able to actually stay in the U.S. I would talk Sappho into buying it.

[RebelOne]

14. Could be somebody dumped him from a car.

Since you say you are not far from a road.

[LynneSin]

15. Yeah, same thing happened to me about 2 months ago

His name is now Abbott and he's taken over my house

:shrug:

Anyhow, any Vet or Humane society can check to see if the cat has a microchip in it. That could help you find the owner.

If not, you may have a new furball in your life.

[Melsky]

16. I just can't have another cat

If I can't find his owners I'm going to find him a home.

He was so happy to see me this morning! I call him the Sand Lion because he has a mane and I found him on the desert sand.

[zanana]

17. Did you call your local vet's office?

Alot of times, people report missing cats there; they call to see if their cat was injured while missing.

[radwriter0555]

18. He was dumped. Enjoy your new cat! He looks GREAT!

Whatcha gonna name him?

[ploppy]

20. Hows wonderful of you to care

and to take in a lost cat! (I think Xavier would be a good name.) Maybe your local vet could help you find him a home if you are unable to keep him.