Area1 new cat: Isam lookalike

Yesterday evening, while walking home after work, we saw a new kitty lounging around Isam‘s territory. He looks exactly like Isam, except that he is grey where Isam is a lovely chocolate. As it was late, we can’t tell if he has the same beautiful green eyes as Isam. But he is different from Isam in that he was extraordinarily friendly – he turns tummy up as soon as you call him. He was of course, full-eared with his equipment intact.

Earlier tonight I saw him again, and this time, very surely, he was lounging right outside Isam and Ian‘s “home”. Ian was there but as the alpha was very calm and did not seem to mind him in the least. This time, instead of jumping in quickly to sterilise their new free-ranging pet as we did Indy, we’re going to watch and see if the family sends him for mojo-robbery themselves.

Again, because of the lighting, we can’t be sure, but this new gentleman in town seem to be older than Isam.

Isam, Sat 22 Nov 2008

It’s been a long time since we updated on Isam. He’s still holding his own as a free-ranging pet cat. Not to say that he is safe from abductions. I’ve come across people trying to lure him, and probably get him home due to his looks. But the fact that he’s still around says something about his character. He is really not an easy cat to like, unless you are willing to give him time. He can seem affectionate but swipe at you without warning. He also does not take food from anyone.

That is why we’ve not attempted to send to send him to the cattery and rehome him. We believe it’s partly due to his lineage. He probalby has Siamese in his heritage and it’s been said that Siamese are fiercely loyal. He’s a difficult cat to read, even to us. So even though we’re not happy that the Malay family has once again co-opted a good-looking cat we sterilised as one of their free-ranging brood, we are at least relieved he seems to be contented where he is.

Idris is friendly-personified tonight

While out looking for Becky whom we’ve not sighted since her return from sterilisation, we met Idris who was milling around with Ian. They showered love on btmao’s legs and then mine.

Tonight, Idris seemed completely different from the last time we saw him. Judging from how friendly Ian is with him, we believe Idris may be the latest addition to Ian’s part-time family. Lucky him… at least he did not get that family’s Iggy treatment. Isam‘s nearby and definitely hissy with Idris, but then Isam’s hissy with every other cat, even the semi-pet alpha, Ian.

Isam’s established… semipet?

Since Isam lost his mojo, and started settling down, something happened that did not surprise us. He’s been hanging out more and more at the home tuft of the other lot of semipets – Ian, Baby’s and Chica. We’re not surprised, the family has a penchant for luring attractive new cats to their flat, as happened with Izzy who was bullied ceaselessly by the resident alpha Ian before we took him out and placed him in fostercare for adoption.

We had to remove Izzy because the ruckus of Ian’s bullying might trigger complaints and cause Izzy and Ian and his housemates’ lives. We explained this to the family before, and they knew and were aware of the dangers and problems because we had asked them to help look out for Bobby when we first moved him to the carpark in Area 1 to save his life. In fact, they had told us of early problems caused by another neighbour’s free-ranging pet cats, who had all disappeared since.

But here we are, with history repeating itself. We had witnessed the confrontations between Ian and Isam before, but since the family is oblivious, we could only watch and hope no one complains. Despite being a semi-pet to the family, Isam, like Ian is always hungry for food. But unlike Izzy, Isam is not a good adoption candidate due to his temper and so we did not remove him into foster care.

Vid: Isam tucks in to btmao’s dinner service

Isam the day after de-mojo

Here’s Isam this morning, none the worse for wear despite his new ear-do.

Look Ma, no tip!

Pensive

Skittish

More pensive brooding – what the hell am I missing

Getting over it: Smell the grass!

Resigned… maybe?

Isam’s new ear-do

V delivered the newly tipped-ear one back this evening. Isam‘s none the worse for the wear, no photos as I was out and btmao was doing a OMO for his release.

He went straight to pigging out, showing no sign of the fierceness and aggression that V said he was treated to from the get-go.

Tomorrow, there’ll be pics if he shows up for brekkie.

Isam in the carrier, and notes on the camera flash

Here’s a vid of Isam before V comes to cart him off.

It’s a bit dark, but the main feature is the audio, he’s got a sweet voice you’ll find.

I did want to take a picture of him, but he’s quite spooked so I didn’t want to move the carrier any more than necessary. In the end I did not take a picture because it would require using the camera’s flash and pointing it into the carrier, right in Isam’s face. I refuse to use the flash at close-range because:

• cats caught for sterilisation are usually stressed and spooked already -why freak them out further with a photo moment that’s only for human use anyway?
• cats have eyes that are far more sensitive to light than human eyes. If you’ve ever stared at a camera and have the flash go off, you’re familiar with the residue ‘blind spot’ that got left behind on your eyes. It can be disconcerting and annoying, and your vision is impaired for maybe up to half and hour. Imagine how much more impact it makes on a cat, especially at close range and he/she has nowhere to hide or turn to shield his/her sensitive eyes.
• The flash is HOT. Once I got too engrossed and didn’t realise I’ve placed my hand right before the flash. When it went off, my hand felt like it got burned.

With all these points in mind, I make it a point NEVER to point a camera with the flash up at any living thing too closely, just to be on the safe side.

The cat doesn’t know or understand what we’re up to with our silly quirks and obsessions. So it is up to us to know what we’re doing, understand the possible implications and try to minimise or avoid it altogether.

It may take a while for us to “get it”, I know it takes ages for me sometime. But I try to not forget the lesson, and share what I know or discover with others.

Isam’s in the bag!

Finally, after the setback on X’mas day, we have Isam.

I arrived on scene to see Isam rubbing himself against btmao’s legs affectionately. Then btmao enticed him with food, while I stood about 2m away with the carrier.

Once he started eating, she scruffed him, and we popped him in gingerly as he unsheathed his claws and started to growl and menace.

I quickly got the carrier back home and into the cats’ room. Hs growls and menace got progressively worse.

Bam Bam the old coot, as expected, was on the scene and ready to tangle with the intruder – what a way to greet a guest!

The room door is closed now, and Isam will be boarded by V and then sent for mojo robbery in the next few days.

PHEW! One down, more to go. Next target, Benji in area2. But he’s been MIA for more than a week now, so we’re going to play by mew.

Well, what do you know….

Chrissy’s just been carted off to the vet’s this morning, and just now, in the Area 1 carpark, btmao saw a new one! A large big-headed male version of Macy (Area 3) right where Chrissy was found.

He was scrawny and scaredy and was checking out some food. But the more btmao tried to befriend him, the further he ran! There you go – another guy who needs to be relieved of mojo.

We’ve certainly got our mojo-stealing work cut out for us:

• Area 1: 2 males – Isam and this new dude (need to, once again, refer to trusty site for possible names).
• Area 2: 3 males – Benji for sure, elusive Buddy and Benny… idealist perfect aim, 3 females – the equally elusive and seldom sighted Buffy, Bella and Omi

Why the tumbling of cats? It’s probably the spring-cleaning season, plus moving season. Cats are either abandoned or they’re semipets learning new geography, thanks to their families moving into the area. We’re bracing ourselves for more to come.

Chrissy secured!

btmao is on leave today. At year’s end, that always mean she ends up running cat errands of one sort or another.

So it didn’t surprise me when she called with the news – she’s got Chrissy in a carrier, and ready for V’s pick up!

Depending on the vet’s verdict, Chrissy may or may not lose her mojo rightaway. We’ve also notified Foster Mum – she’s busy with two new cases on hand (an abuse case – tail amputated, and another kitty with an amputated tail) – but she will also help us take a look at Chrissy and if she can’t be de-mojoed and needs care, we’ll figure it out after.

What was interesting about Chrissy’s capture was that btmao had help. There was a Malaya uncle, whom we’ve never met, who was actually going to give the carpark cats some food from his car.

All the regular Area 1 cats were there, except for Cara: Cassie, Ivan, even Cally! If only Isam was there, we’d have 1 confirmed mojo robbery today.

So anyway, btmao told the encik she already fed them and he didn’t have to leave food.

She also took the opportunity to talk about cat food and nutrition concerns. Turns out encik was feeding Science Diet. Previously, he fed Royal Canin – his cats hated it, keep shedding like crazy and puked like nobody’s business too. They are doing a bit better on Science Diet, but not much.

Since this is the same experience we had with these two brands, btmao asked him to consider Avoderm since it is comparable to Science Diet in price but does not have by-products like SD, or if his budget allows, to consider Natural Balance since Avoderm still does have corn fillers, like SD, which is known to make cats pukey. He was very concerned and enthusiatic and promised to think about what she told him.

The impressive thing about encik is that he’s feeding his home cats and the strays he come across the same kibble, like we do – really, imo, there really is no other way to know the effects of the food you feed homeless cats. Your home cats are the best indicators.

The encik also helped btmao by watching over Chrissy while she went to fetch the carrier. He also assisted with putting Chrissy into the carrier. Encik seemed pleased somebody’s looking after the cats.

I hope btmao took his contact number – maybe we can enlist his help to solve mysteries like Chicken Porridge Day and put a stop to the nonsense.

Isam pics

Finally, the choco boy has been profiled.

First snaps, last weekend:

Isam is quit a big boy. He’s got a handsome coat and is healthy looking overall.

He has beautiful light green eyes, does Isam.

We wanted to get him for de-mojoing, if not fostering. Alas the fates conspired against that – he was affectionate and friendly while chowing down. But once he’s done, he’s scaredy and difficult to get hold of. Plus there was a grandparent pair who kept getting in our way, scaring and spooking him as we tried to get near him. I was very close to commiting murder that day.

Isam’s defense reflex is to scoot upstairs, onto the second floor. He even went into one of the units. I rang the bell and got him out before he got into trouble. But apparently, the block he scooted up wasn’t where his home was. I spoke to the families and none had ever seen him before, but all were in agreement that he’s probably someone’s pet. Luckily, none of them seemed to mind him being there. But before i could talk about TNRM, everybody disappeared. So much for being a soapbox veteran.

In any case, Isam’s behaviour cements our suspicion that he’s a semipet or an abandoned cat.
Yesterday:

After food, he scooted off immediately.

He ran up a block, to the second floor, like the last weekend. I followed him up and down a few flights of stairs. He kept returning to the second floor.

Isam was definitely spooked, but did not enter any homes this time. I decided to stop the tailing since he’s freaking out and I’m not getting anywhere near to solving the location of his homebase.

Today:
No pics, but btmao got to feed him again. Hopefully we can get him snipped soon.

btmao thinks that he is likely to have been abandoned because of behavioural problems. As described, he is very docile and affectionate while eating. But once done he’s anything but. In fact, this morning, he hissed at btmao when she tried to pet him after food.

btmao theorised that his family did not make the effort to shower him with affection or somehow abused him so that his behaviour has developed this way.

Isam does have the potential to be a home cat again – his behaviour during mealtime shows he is capable of displaying affection. But he definitely needs lots of rehab – which calls for tlc and oodles of attention. We know Foster Mum does not have the bandwidth to do that, so we’ve decided to care for him as a clannie and see what we can do. Maybe at some future date, when he’s calm enough, we can think of rehoming him. But for now, mojo-robbery is the key agenda.

Young Siamese Boy – Isam

The young chocolate siamese was spotted again, early this morning by btmao. He’s still scaredy. We’ve decided to name him Isam.

For now we’re going to lean toward the optimistic and take it he’s a semi-pet cat.

Young Siamese Boy on the loose

Cassie’s carpark in Area 1 has a new member.

A young chocolate siamese boy who is very friendly and trusting of humans. He wears a collar and he accepted btmao’s food service readily.

This morning is our second sighting of this young kitt. btmao first spotted him on Saturday. More mojo robbery to plot… sigh.