Sweep McVitie...

[Snoof]

Well, I got to have a look at Sweep earlier, and I know the gender...

Are you ready for it?

Are you sure you are?

Absolutely, positively certain?



100%?


Sweep is a BOY! And his name has been upgraded to Sweep McVitie, after the maker of a ginger biscuit whose name matches a certain set of bodyparts Sweep appears in full possession of No worries - we'll be taking care of that

I got to pet him earlier while he was eating. I think he's just a little tart in hiding, but he isn't quite sure about being petted when he's on the floor yet. Nevermind - he'll gladly come for a sniff and he's in the house at least once a day (in the house as opposed to in the conservatory) - that's at least once a day when he's caught!

Anyway... He trundled down the hall to the lounge, had a sniff, and then wandered off again (I can't see the door opening from my seat but Matt said, "Oh hey Sweep" ), so I picked up my camera and went to the kitchen, where he came to say hi with a quick sniff and some prancing to show me (and you!) how gorgeous he really is. As he walked away I made a point of looking, and yep... There's a boy if ever I saw one!

His green eye came out amber again, I'm afraid, I suspect I'll never actually get an accurate picture of it!

"Hello CatPages, look at how gorgeous I am!"

Little lion

He looks better now, but this morning he had smudges everywhere again (you can tell from his feet), and his fur still feels very oily. A friend of mine is picking up a panel for me to put the catflap in and has promised to help me put it in (the original panel needs replacing) because I spent all day sanding a beam in his bedroom as a favour

Hope you enjoy I can't wait to get him here permanently so we can start working on his socialisation. It strikes me as funny that after calling him "she" for ages, it turns out he's a boy and it's like I don't even need to swap my mindset over at all

[Fran]

What a gorgeous boy and love his name!! I think you can tell he is a boy by his face When do you get to bring him home?

[PurpleJackdaw]

what a gorgeous cat he is

[Snoof]

Originally Posted by Fran

What a gorgeous boy and love his name!! I think you can tell he is a boy by his face When do you get to bring him home?

Well, he's already in my house lots, Fran I gave him his own set of bowls yesterday

In the next week we'll be putting in a cat flap. We were already planning to turn it so they need a key to go out rather than to go in, so we'll do that and then when Sweep comes in he won't be able to go out. We'll be taking him to a vet straight away to check him over and see about a possible microchip (if he has one) and have one put in if he doesn't.

He needs his shots and he needs to be neutered, but we'll see what the vet says. He's a bit skinny, but not too badly. I think he'll get a lot better when he gets used to regular meals and sleeping inside where it's warm, to be honest.

Thanks, PJ.

[Fran]

So it's just a case of encouraging him to live with you? Hope it happens soon and you can get the vet to check him over. Sure you will win him over with a few square meals

[Snoof]

Yeah He's a stray - but until a few days ago I wasn't 100% sure that he was. Then the neighbour of the ladies who feed the stray cats around here told me that he is... So yay!

We'll have the vet scan him for a microchip just to make sure he doesn't have one, but if he doesn't, there's nothing else we can do (I've had the rescue check for lost cats matching his description but there are none reported and he's been a stray for quite some time) and he'll be ours

[Fran]

Great news Snoof!! I remember you posting about him and the fact he was covered in engine oil but wasn't sure if you had found out that he was a stray or not...He's lovely!! Hope he makes a home with you soon x

[Snoof]

Yep, that's the one He's doing a bit better now fur-wise, but still very oily and it seems to converge on his spine and his paws - maybe he's stepping in it on a regular basis. I'm not looking forward to giving him a bath, but who knows, he may like it... And he could definitely do with a good brushing!

[Kazz]

He looks well at home to start with shouldn't be hard to persuade him to come live with you forever

[Snoof]

Yep, Kazz - I suspect that he was well-socialised as a kitten and thrown out when he grew up and became a proper cat He's skittish and cautious, and when you startle him he goes straight out whereas Ninja can be lured back (only be me, though) if he gets startled and starts running.

But he's talkative, for a cat in his position, and he seems to be scoping us out to see if he can cadge a home here I'm cool with that, but since he does need care I feel I'll have to keep him inside for a while to ensure I can wash him, get him vaccinated and neutered, and then that he sees this place as a home so I can make sure he's well-fed and cared for.