Stray cat... Showcase cinema, Reading

Tiddlywinks

Hi there

Just posting on the off-chance... We went to the pictures yesterday and on the way out we saw a small (young?) and skinny looking cat (too dark to really see colourings but looked sort of tabby).

Anyway, the cinema is right next to a motorway, a huge roundabout and a complicated road system and is a long way from any houses so the cat is likely to be a stray or feral.

We tried to approach the puddy but s/he ran into some bushes - the whole complex is surrounded by that dense sort of hedge and then a really, really busy road. I'm really worried that he is going to starve or get run over or that he may be lost and frightened.

What would you do? I've tried calling Cats Protection but they are constantly engaged.... I live too far away (15 miles) to make it easy to keep going back but I just feel so worried.

If anyone has lost a cat near there then please go and have a look.

If anyone has any suggestions as to what I could do then please share them.

Thanks

Tiddly

Grimbal

hmm, just tried seeing if they have an active facebook page - not looking like they do. Perhaps give the head office of CPL a call on 03000 12 12 12 & explain the problem contacting the local branch

ETA: is there a Reading FB page at all ? Also worth posting on there asking if anyone has lost their pet

Tiddlywinks

Finally managed to get through to Cats Protection... the person answering said she would pass the details onto the local co-ordinator.

Still can't help worrying though...

I'm not on facebook - if anyone could post something on there for me, I'd be grateful.

Thanks

Tiddly

justanopinion

I live very, very close to there and will drop in on my way home from work and have a look. Which exit did you go out of? See what you mean, the river completely cuts it off at the back, or the poor thing has to get right out by the Reading Road.

Tiddlywinks

justanopinion wrote: »

I live very, very close to there and will drop in on my way home from work and have a look. Which exit did you go out of? See what you mean, the river completely cuts it off at the back, or the poor thing has to get right out by the Reading Road.

Oh wow - that would be great if you could.

Puss was walking slowly in the parking spaces to the left of the exit slip road - the one directly opposite the main cinema entrance - it leads onto the road up to the roundabout (the exit opposite the garden centre). When we approached, it ran into that really deep hedgerow directly next to the exit sliproad.

I just don't know how it could have got there without crossing some really busy roads - unless someone dumped him / her there or it's feral. That cinema is not really near any houses is it? Just major roads, park and ride etc - not great pusscat territory.

It's just that I can't stop worrying about it getting run over or being hungry and frightened .

Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

Tiddly

justanopinion

No worries - I know exactly where you mean. I will pop home for some cat nibbles just in case and go have a hunt. Like you say, even to get to the nearest houses it has to go right up on a busy road. Will post back later.

moggymutt

justanopinion you are a star!

http://www.catchat.org/adoption/berks.html

my geography is lousy, but my computer is telling me that Reading is in Berkshire, and heres some other rescues in that area.

A cat trap will catch the cat very easily if he/she looks to be in danger of running into the road when approached.

Good luck.

justanopinion

Ah, quite alright. Showcase Reading is on the outskirts, going out Wokingham/Winnersh way. I can drive there in 4 mins from home

Kind of just want to leave work now and go and have a hunt!

justanopinion

Hi both. Just got back - there's no sign of a kitty there at the moment. Combed the front car park and went round the bushes. It's tipping it with rain though. Will pop down again in the morning and let you know if I find anything.

Fire_Fox

Contact smaller independent charities as well as CP and the RSPCA
http://www.catchat.org/

moggymutt

Might also be worth asking at the cinema, for bizarre as it may sound, the cat might have been there for years, and they might regularly feed it, or they might have just started feeding it, in which case, where they feed it is the best place to set food to try and catch it.