Keith, one of our feral cats, had been missing for three days - we found him this morning, drowned in a water butt.
I had been searching all around the boundary hedges in case he was there (it is almost exactly six months since we found Triangle dead in a hedge) and Shirley came to help me. We walked down a nearby plot and she spotted him in a waterbutt at the side of the path. I just couldn't bear to look at him so Shirl and Tony got him out and buried him at the top of my plot, under the fig tree.
I know he had a good life with us, much better than the majority of feral cats have, but it doesn't stop me from thinking how he must have panicked when he couldn't get out of the water butt.
Shirl made covers for my butts afterwards, and I will try to persuade others to do the same. In fact, they could all be emptied and turned upside down for the winter now.
I've contacted the Council allotments office and asked if keeping water butts covered could be mentioned in their newsletter which goes to every site and it will be.
He was such a beautiful cat who got on with the others really well. Even Psycho was nice to him.
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So sorry to hear about Keith. Very sad with you. Yes Keith was lovely and I am glad that he had a good life with you and the other cats. And under the fig tree is a fitting place. Glad you had Shirley and Tony to comfort you. Sending you a big hug ( ).
That's so sad, Betty, I am really sorry. If people don't want to cover butts, then at least they could put a plank in as an escape ramp?
Oh..sorry to hear that..I don't think I would have dared to look neither..not a nice sight.
Mentioning in newsletter is good idea..lot of people don't even think that animals can drown into butts...you are such a thoughtfull person.. ;)
Mine are covered too..since I found couple of sparrow babies drowned..propably just out of nest too.. :'(
That is such sad news. It has made me decide to cover my two water butts. Young Lorna's (next door) kittens have found they can now scale the 6ft fence and get in to my garden I honestly never thought of the water butts being a danger to them, have been more concerned that my King Charles would be in garden when they come over. So glad to hear Shirl and Tony were there for you.
My sympathies, that's sad news indeed! xx
Oh I am sorry to hear that :'( Wild cats don't lead a long life usually, although usually quite an exciting one! Poor thing... my water butts are not covered, makes me think that it could be a good idea next time I go down there.
So sad. Front garden water butt covered with wooden cover, back garden one plastic cover which is a bit wobbly, so will check it as lovely Dulce jumps on it. It does worry me when it is full, so suppose I had better empty it or get another wooden cover, it was the top of a kitchen chair which had been put in a skip but covers the water butt brilliantly.
Oh, that's tragic! What an awful thing to happen. I'm so sorry.
Oh, that's so so sad, Betty and his final moments are the stuff that nighmares are made of :'(
For something 'good'to come out of his death has to be to raise awareness of the deathtrap these are, both on your allotment site, and on the forums you visit I know that I'll be doing the same.
Thoughts to you all,
Lish X
I am so sorry to hear your very sad news :'(
Sorry no words can say what I want to say ..... big hugs for you....
So sad Betty............hugs to you xxx
So Sorry, :( his life was all the better for your love and careing :-*
already said on another site ,im gutted betty,poor boy x x x x hugs to you x
I'm so sorry Betty.
So sorry to hear your sad news.
June.
So sorry Betty! Poor wee thing. What a horrible way to go.
As usual you take the bad thing and turn it into something positive by helping other creatures to be saved from similar ends. You're quite a positive wizard you know. Hugs to you, T and S. xxxx
(Has Borlotti come for Psycho yet?)
What a sad thing to happen. :'(
You must remember him as he was, a well loved chappy.Please don't dwell on things that will make you even sadder. I can't say anything better than grawrc. Turn this into something positive Betty.
So sad Betty, I really feel for you in your loss,your such a kind and loving person ,your other cats will feel the loss to,just got back from Turkey we go twice a year,I feed cats and street dogs . Its so hard when you feel so much for animals ,we covered or bute last year when a we bird drowned in it, we will spread the word at our lotty,all our sympathy.
That's so sad. Got me thinking about our water butt in the garden now. Must get it covered as it never occurred to me before.
So sorry to hear about this, Betty :-\
We covered all of ours last year after a squirrel was drowned in one. We're still trying to get the rest of the plotholders to cover theirs
So sorry to hear about Keith, Betty.
Very sad to hear this Betty, he was a lovely cat.
We can all learn from this, I have found birds in water butts before and do try to keep them covered but it is something I will pursue on the allotments.
Thank you all so much. I really do appreciate the support and concern from everyone here and I don't know what I would do without you all.
I've made notices asking people to keep their water butts covered, and sent out an email to all the plot holders with emails. I made sure all mine were either covered or empty and turned upside-down and also did some of my neighbours' butts too. I only have a lid for one of my seven butts but an old bread crate does the job perfectly.
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I used this orange netting too
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I've covered the ones we put the chicken wire in with an old banner from Asda because my husband was worried that the cats might get their legs stuck in the chicken wire.
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Not a perfect solution but it will do till I can get something better.
Thanks again everyone.
Sad news - the good thing is, by the looks of him in the photo, he looks as if he lived a good life.
(A wise precaution covering water butts - I'll check that mine are safe too. Thanks)
Only just popped in Betty but have to add my commiserations to all the others I am so sorry I know how much you loved Keith - what a very positive lady you are - lots of luv