I’m wondering if my cat Billy is the most mysterious cat in Chandler’s Ford. I also need your advice.
Perhaps readers on Chandler’s Ford Today could help me find out why our cat Billy likes running away from home.
Two years ago, we adopted Billy from Helen, who runs Cat & Kitten Rescue from her home in Chandler’s Ford. Helen rescued Billy from around Asda, where Billy had been scavenging. Helen later did a home visit and decided that our family was decent enough for Billy, the stray cat. However, two months after keeping Billy, he ran away, and never returned for 20 months, until a phone call two months ago led us to our reunion with Billy.
A vet from Boyatt Wood phoned and informed us that Billy had been found. As Billy was microchipped, it was easy for the vet to find us. The vet told us that Mrs Boggust from Tuscan Walk took Billy in. We were so grateful. It was great to be reunited with our beautiful cat.
I visited Mr and Mrs Boggust with my teenage son one day, and they told us how Billy had been living around Tuscan Walk for at least half a year. The kind people in Tuscan Walk all looked after Billy. They bought him food and Billy visited certain houses regularly for food. Mrs Boggust also bought a brush to comb Billy’s fur. She knew Billy so well that she told me Billy prefers milk to water, and Billy loves being stroke gently. The kind Mrs Boggust also gave me two big bags of cat food to take home – she always kept enough food for Billy. Billy used to say hello to her every morning in her back garden under the beautiful Japanese bonsai plants.
We are reunited with Billy, and also lucky enough to get to know the wonderful Mr and Mrs Derek and Bobbie Boggust in Chandler’s Ford community. Since Billy’s return in October, we kept him indoors for three weeks, but once he was let out, he disappeared again. Where did Billy go? He wandered off to Tuscan Walk again, from South Miller’s Dale.
The journey from South Miller’s Dale to Tuscan Walk in Chandler’s Ford measures 1.5 miles. How did Billy manage the journey? Which route did he take? Have you seen Billy crossing Hursley Road?
This evening, Bobbie phoned again to tell us that Billy was back in her back garden. It is an extremely windy evening with persistent rain. No wonder she was worried about Billy being cold and wet. After my husband got home for work late at night, we drove to pick up Billy in Bobbie and Derek’s beautifully decorated house filled with Christmas joy.
We had a great discussion around Billy and his strange behaviour: Why did Billy run away again and again? How did he get from South Miller’s Dale to Tuscan Walk? What do we need to do to make sure Billy comes back to us if he is let out again?
If you have any suggestion, please let us know.
Finally, I must thank the wonderful community in Tuscan Walk in Chandler’s Ford, especially to Derek and Bobbie. Thank you for looking after Billy while he chose to visit you, and you had fed him and spoiled him. Billy was returned to us — clean, healthy, and beautiful.
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I have heard that putting butter on a cat’s paws keeps them at their new home and stops them returning to their old haunts. Might be worth a try. Merry Christmas readers!
Hi Nick,
What a strange idea! I think I’d try anything. Many thanks for the tip! Merry Christmas to you and Chameleon Theatre Company.