I have been poised at my open back sliding door for an hour and a half with Team Arnold Rescue, my cold tea, my computer, and my camera. I have to say, this ain’t easy.

The trap is set and ready to do its job. Then I saw Arnold! He took two small dollops of the outer lure bait, left the plate of food in inner part of the trap untouched and backed out. He must have remembered the trap from when he was neutered last summer. He circled and circled trying to get the food and walked off into the yard. His sick eye is totally covered with a black membrane and it is pitiful.

Then Sorbet appeared but I scared him off. He’s dying to eat, starving. And the next thing I heard was a cat fight under the deck which I now think is where both Arnold and Sorbet live.

Stay tuned…

I just spoke to the vet and she is going to dispense an antibiotic. Arnold is just sitting hunched over in the sun on a mat at the bottom of my deck. The vet says he remembers the previous trapping and is outsmarting the process. Hopefully, if we can’t get him in, he can start a round of medicine.

I am freezing my butt off by this open door, doing my “Little-Arnold-Come!” call and my cats singling along. Little Arnold remained on the mat at the bottom of the stairs, barely turned his head but his ears are perked…smart guy, this Arnold, but if only he knew I was trying to help him.

reply greenwytch wrote on Nov 22, ’10 aaaw….blessings to that little guy. Bast and Bastet are surely looking out for him and i am sure he senses all the love and protection that we are sending him. still praying for you all…..and how sweet that your kits are trying to help by calling him!

reply sousonne wrote on Nov 22, ’10 I was actually going to suggest that you check to see if the vet would give you antibiotics to put in his food if you couldn’t catch him… I wonder if you put something OVER the cage, to sort of camo it, if that might help? I saw that on a show…they covered the trap to camo it because the animal they were trying to capture was quite wise when it came to traps. If it didn’t look like it was from the wild, they wouldn’t go in. Wonder if you could find a box to place over it with an entrance in the front…something like that….in the meantime, starting antibiotics will help, but if it smells different to him he may not eat it, unless he’s starving. (which you DID mention he was) I hope you are able to help the little guy! You’re doing so much more than most people would do!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10, edited on Nov 22, ’10 HE’S IN!!!!!!!

reply greenwytch wrote on Nov 22, ’10 YES!!!

reply sousonne wrote on Nov 22, ’10 YEAAAAAAAA! Did the cage shut?

reply jadedruid wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Yeah!!!! Arnold thought about it and realizes this is for his own good! Yeah Trapper Sue!!!!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 omg!!! HE MUST HAVE BEEN STARVING AND HE WENT IN AND TRIPPED THE LATCH, HE’S COVERED, I GOTTA EAT, I AM EXHAUSTED!!!

reply greenwytch wrote on Nov 22, ’10 i know he must have heard all of us coaxing him in there. *phew*

reply highpriestesslois wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Poor little guy! Glad you finally caught him. Are you going to keep him, or try and find someone to adopt him?

reply sharons7th wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Yay!! He must have wanted to give you something to write about before he gave in! Glad to hear it.

reply pestep55 wrote on Nov 22, ’10, edited on Nov 22, ’10 He thought about, listened to your cats (they DO communicate) and decided he does trust you /:-)

reply opossumd wrote on Nov 22, ’10 sanssouciblogs said HE’S IN!!!!!!! WELL DONE! Now off you go to the vet.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Hi, Lois, welcome!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 22, ’10 Thanks for the comments, Pat I think you are right. They indeed DO communicate, they have “words” for birds and squirrels and for when Arnold comes. Sharon,now for the update…

reply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Nov 22, ’10, edited on Nov 22, ’10 You are a cat whisperer among your many other talents.:>)

reply shoppingdreams wrote on Nov 22, ’10 I’ve been peeking in all day. This is like watching a movie! I shrieked when I saw you got him, so so so proud of you!!! I wish there were more stories like this, and your picture illustrations, brilliant! I see another book from this adventure!!Looking forward to hearing how the little guy is doing!

reply twattybollocks wrote on Nov 23, ’10 He’s got a real life-saver in you, nice work.