Ocicat Welfare

Lost Ocicat

Please can anyone help with any information for a lost family pet.
Cassie has been missing since the 5th October 2009, when he failed to return to his home in Alverley near Bridgnorth. He is an 8 year old neutered Ocicat boy who is sadly missed by his family. Cassie is microchipped.

If you can help with any information please contact Jacky Atkinson who will contact his owners, thank you

Email Jacky
Tel: 01785 850131

If you have a welfare concern please contact our Welfare Officer:
Mrs Mavis Ives Tel: 01865 880626

In the past The Club had some concerns that should an Ocicat need to be found a new home (for whatever reason), there seemed to be no definite place that a cat could be taken to in the short term until a new home was found.

A bank of foster homes throughout the country was required, although we are grateful that at present the need for such homes is very small indeed. We live in a disposable society, and as the numbers of Ocicats increases, so does the possibility of Ocicats in need of short term care and/or new homes.

The Ocicat Club appealed to members for offers of foster homes around the country, even though the chance of being asked to help was slight. We were very grateful to have offers of help from the following members; Cindy Waldron  has offered long since to take in Ocicats and indeed cared for one in the past. Jacky Atkinson has offered to help in the Midlands should need arise. Rosemary Caunter would help in the South if possible.

The Club has an ongoing interest in hearing from any members who feel they may be able to help with any welfare issues. If it is not possible to offer a foster home, if members could please consider whether they might be able to act as “taxi-driver”, to take an Ocicat in need to a foster home in your general area?

URBAN FOXES - BEWARE!

"For years, we kept our cats, Tigre and Fitz, in at night. We live in North London, and our house backs onto our own back garden, as well as all of our neighbors'. During the day, the boys were free to come and go through their cat-flap. At night, we locked the flap, keeping our cats in, and other cats out. It never occurred to us that they would be in any danger outside. We knew there were foxes in the area, and often in our garden. We also knew that foxes and cats avoided each other.

A few months ago, we installed a chip activated cat flap that meant our cats, and only our cats, could enter and leave the house. Suddenly, they could be out at night too, though they generally chose not to be. My only worry was for the birds, but our boys only hunted successfully during the day.

On Saturday morning (4/10/08) I looked out of the kitchen window, and saw our beautiful, gentle, funny, Fitz lying dead. We had been mistaken about foxes. There was no other suspect.

So, what happened? It seems clear that the general rule about foxes does not apply to urban foxes. As their territory is eroded, they are under increasing pressure. I know that this results in physical problems. It would also make sense that they would behave "out of character".

As far as I can tell, even in cities, it is unusual for foxes to kill cats, but I would never, ever let a cat of mine stay out at night again, because it did happen. I would advise anyone in doubt, not to risk the heartache, and keep your cats in."

The Club Comments: A devastated pet owner supplied the above tale, and although they found information that advised that a fox attack on a cat was extremely rare, information on the Internet shows an increasing trend.  The foxes had adapted well to city life, and were kept well fed from our scraps.  In recent years, with the introduction of wheelie bins we have altered the ease of access to our food scraps, resulting in many foxes living on the brink of starvation.

The following link gives details of an attack on a cat by foxes with an explanation to the likely reasons, it is very graphic in it's description and therefore very upsetting, but does explain the worrying risks for our urban pets Click Here