Where everybody knows your name….
Following on from the previous post, I recently heard about a cat named Murphy. Murphy is a well known face in his local area; he’s an extremely friendly boy and enjoys visiting people and places on “his patch.” He spends a lot of time outdoors – through choice – broken up by little check ins.
Unfortunately, someone took advantage of his amiability and actively took Murphy off the street. There’s no confirmed explanation why and this occurred not once, but twice. Police intervention was sought to get Murphy returned home.
While no physical harm had come to Murphy, he was understandably disoriented and distressed. Murphy had his own routine; his own chosen drop ins, and enjoyed that. Those things were disrupted for him, and the result is a cat with much less confidence.
Murphys experience is a clear example of a cat being treated as a possession, rather than recognising his autonomy. His family respect his approach to life and try very much to cater to it.
If you see a cat out and about, and are concerned for their welfare, please follow the appropriate steps to safeguard them. Simply taking a cat with no real acknowledgment of the potential disruption caused may not be the help you think it is.
Murphy , happy at home after his most recent experience.
(Photo source: Murphy’s social media account.)