Lost cat: Tabby and white cat called Dusty - Camberwell area, Southwark

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Dusty

Name:	Dusty
Breed & Species:	Domestic short-haired cat
Colour:	Tabby and white
SimpleColour:
Went missing:	4 years ago (18 November 2020 at around 00:00hrs)
Location:	Matham Grove, London SE22 8PN, UK
Health:	Healthy
Age:	6 years old (approx)
Sex:	Spayed Female
Collar:	No
Microchipped:	Yes
Markings:	Thin short tail, orange flashes on shoulders when crouching to feed.
Circumstances:	Dusty moved in here in May presumably when her food supplies ran out because of lockdown. I have learned she is often in the back yard of the 'Dulwich Tandoori' just beyond my neighbour's garden. I had seen her occasionally over months and fed her a couple of times last Winter. I could not approach her then as she was extremely nervous. When she did move in I had the impresson she had never lived indoors before. Her microchip was unregistered so I have now registered it. She has slowly become more tame and affectionate over time and asking for strokes but still will not tolerate two hands without leaping away in instant panic. Dusty is in need of flea treatment and that finally arrived the same day she went missing. This may be significant. Went to bed on Wednesday 18th november and the cat was just in and we had a nice ritual interaction after she had eaten and I thought she was about to settle. She shortly after I went to bed she made loud scratching noises on the kitchen mat which is her signal to tell me she is going out . She has free access through the cat flap. She normally sleeps most of the night indoors with one or two forays outside which I monitor with a motion detector camera but on this occasion it failed. I got up around 8am, later than normal, the next day and she was not in. I expected her to turn up any time for food. After a couple of hours went by I started calling her as I work from home. I slowly became concerned. She had been late for breakfast before and turned up at 1pm on one occasion. I stayed calm and waited and called occasionally. I started walking the streets looking for her and calling off and on on Thursday afternoon. In the evening I knocked on the neighbour's door and was told the cat had been seen in her garden at around midday. This was a relief but I was now baffled why she had not responded to my calls; at least it probably meant she was around somewhere close so I carried on calling her. Around midnight I saw a cat at the front of the house across the street. I could not definitely tell if was her - it seemed bigger and the tail seemed fluffier but i could not get a clear look. I called and approached but it gave me the slip. Dusty has never been in and out of the front door here so she would not know which house or what to do. I put in many hours over Thursday night after that walking the street and shaking a packet of Dreamies. Today I have been into the Tandoori premises and hunted around their yard - they had not seen her. I checked the neighbours garden on one side but no one was responding to my knocks on the other side. I had to peer in using a step ladder. My worry is that Dusty with a weakness in her back legs has strained a muscle and is perhaps stuck somewhere unable to get out of a garden. However, She has a powerful meow and has communicated with me at a distance with it on occasion. I have not heard her crying on my searches. I have delivered about 60 leaflets with photographs. I have knocked on doors and talked to people in the street.
Other info:	She is medium size but long and slender in the back end with seemingly long back legs that are not always 100% co-ordinated. She is pretty, skittish and has an exceptionally loud and persistent meeow. She is very vocal when she wants attention.
Our ref:	PR68198
Posted on:	20 November 2020
Posted by:	bikedragon

Matham Grove, London SE22 8PN, UK

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petsreunited

20 November 2020 at 21:47

Missing pet report received on Pets Reunited.

petsreunited

20 November 2020 at 21:49

Report is now online.

petsreunited

20 November 2020 at 21:49

Report added to PetWatch™ alert dispatch queue.

petsreunited

20 November 2020 at 21:49

Report added to alert dispatch queue for local Vets and Rescue Centres around Camberwell, Southwark, Greater London.

petsreunited

20 November 2020 at 21:49

'Missing Pet' poster and flyer created

petsreunited

20 November 2020 at 21:49

PetWatch™ follow up reminder scheduled for 27 November 2020

petsreunited

20 November 2020 at 21:49

Local Vets and Rescue Centres reminder scheduled for 27 November 2020

petsreunited

20 November 2020 at 22:29

Report dispatched via email to our local PetWatch alert subscribers.

petsreunited

20 November 2020 at 22:36

Report dispatched via email to local Vets and Rescue Centres.

reggiemollieros

20 November 2020 at 23:21

Sorry your cat is lost. It might be worth trying this Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/819460064836746/?ref=share for London. Also keep a eye on Petslocated and call the chip company so they can flag her as missing on the database. Hope you get her back soon.

bikedragon

21 November 2020 at 00:19

Thanks for your suggestions. I have flagged her as lost with the microchip database. I will look at the facebook. Thank youfor your good wishes!

bikedragon

23 November 2020 at 15:40

The neighbours banged my door and announced she was back. She appeared on the wall between the neighbours garden and the Dulwich Tandoori. I had searched their back yard but I now wonder if she had gone inside as their kitchen door was open the other day with no one obviously working in there. How I missed this possibility defeats me. So I think she must have wandered into the restaurant area and then hid when the cooks appeared. It is also possible she was lost and used the familiar smell of the restaurant to guide her home. She has been hunting mice in their backyard since at least last Winter. She is obviously thinner but otherwise unharmed. She was in great state of agitation and yelled at me for a while and rushed about her home checking it was all real. She is quite new to indoor living I believe. After food and going out and in again a few times and making sure I was still a loyal and devoted subject and not an enemy she has finally settled into a deep sleep. Hopefully for some hours to come.

petsreunited

23 November 2020 at 15:40

Report closed by bikedragon with an outcome of: Safely back home

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