The Stray One - Now called Cochise here is his story so far

DATED APRIL 2014

Last year I posted about a stray black and white tom which I started to feed. He was so skinny I could see his bones and I am not want to stand by and do nothing. So he started to receive regular meals from myself much to the dislike of Rambo and Gypsy.

The stray is what I would describe as a proper street cat, big build, confident strut and not what you call a cat who does snuggles! He looks like he has been in a fair few scraps and if you get too close he warns you off with a hiss. However saying this as his visits have become more regular he welcomes me with a meow, rubs against my legs and brushes his head against my hands when I’m feeding him.

He also has patience and puts up with Rambo and Gypsy who have tried their hardest to warn him off with hisses etc., Rambo once hissed right in his face and he did not even flinch, Rambo was not expecting this reaction and did not know what to do so just backed off looking slightly confused and bewildered. I know if he did not have this patience Rambo and Gypsy would not come out on top!

With these regular visits and no one responding on social media sites about him, I decided it was only right he had a name. I wanted a name to show his street cat and his wild side because he is definitely not a house cat or domesticated, my Dad suggested ‘Cochise’ Leader of the Chokonen band of the chiricahua apache of an uprising that began in 1861. I thought this was perfect so now the stray is called Cochise. I have been calling him this for awhile and I’m not sure if he knows his name or just recognises my voice but he does react to it.

Once the summer season had ended and the weather started turning colder and wetter I became more concerned about Cochise, I knew I could not bring him in the house due to Rambo and Gypsy  plus that’s just not Cochise to be in a house so in proper crazy cat lady style I bought a cat shelter! It’s a plastic shelter with a covering so no rain gets in, windproof and will not rot unlike wooden ones. I positioned this in the corner of the garden under some ladders so it is more secluded for him but also gave him a vantage point as he looked out so he knew what was coming (other cats) and nothing would come from behind the shelter. I also put some bedding in to make it super cosy, even street cats surely like to be cosy and warm? Once the shelter was positioned I just had to wait for Cochise.

Cochise came around teatime (he knows what time I get in from work) I got him his food in his bowl and put it outside the shelter. He did not notice the shelter at first food is way too important, however after his fill he went straight inside his shelter for a noisy around. He did not stay but I was happy he now knew it existed and where it was.

For several months I did not see Cochise in his shelter but I knew someone was sleeping in it due to the fur and dirt on the bedding. Corchise at this point was looking a lot happier, healthier and had put weight on, which I was so pleased about. Cochise and Rambo and Gypsy also seemed to have worked out an ‘understanding’ which resulted in less frequent spats. I’m sure Cochise is also getting looked after elsewhere as Princes Avenue is populated with cat people, he probably has an itinerary of who to visit and at what times.

One afternoon in the autumn with an afternoon off I arrived at home early and was thrilled to see Cochise asleep in the shelter. He was all snuggled and soon as he heard me he came out. I only had my iPhone on me so quickly took these two snaps of him.  

Asbo cat who I featured in a post has not been round since Cochise turned up, they are both similar size and I think Cochise has won this territory. I still see Asbo but out the front way where he has claimed his new territory.

6 months on Cochise waits on the back wall which looks into the kitchen to catch my eye and let me know its feeding time and most mornings when I go out he has had a night in the shelter and walks around the corner for breakfast. I do feel in this situation he has domesticated me rather than the other way round. He does let me stroke him a lot more and likes to sit inside the house in the back porch, he never comes further. Cochise I think is quite an old cat and is wary of humans, I enjoy his visits and I am glad I am here to help him to continue his street cat days, fed, safe and warm.