Coaxing Oliver inside
 

Thank you, DuffysMom. I am trying to do what it takes to get my beloved Ollie back...and helping out The Villages in terms of humanely treating one more stray.

If you have cats at home, be aware that you may see Ollie. A couple of people have called to say they have seen him "talking" to their pets when perched on a windowsill. This often happens early in the morning and in the early evening -- times that I normally feed him. Thus, without putting anyone out, if you have a bit of tuna, packed in oil, or dry kibble you might be able to coax him into a safe place. Then text me at seven oh three two one seven three seven eight five, or via bracemj at yahoo dot com. I can arrange to get someone to pick Ollie up. Sigh....but I work out of town; fortunately, a friend will pick Oliver up. I've already arranged to have him boarded at Mulberry Grove Animal Hospital until I can come pick him up.

The key now is to get him safely contained. Yes, I'll reimburse for costs associated with his safe return (tuna, etc).

Thanks again, everyone.

Oliver aka Ollie
 

Also, I am offering a reward for his safe return.

I am so sad that you have not yet been reunited with Ollie. The sitings make me hopeful though and I pray for his safe return.

I keep clicking on this thread, hoping that I can finally read about Ollie's safe return. Do you want us to come up as a group to do a massive search for Ollie? I'm more than willing.

Oliver - The Villages Most Wanted Feline!
 

I too keep hoping and wishing Oliver will be found and returned to me. There have been several sightings in the last few days, all in the general vicinity of Glenbrook postal station. I am working with several people in terms of placing humane/havahart traps where he has been seen. He seems to be a tad elusive.

Every time I see a post by you, I hope it is that Ollie has been found and I'm so sad for you when I see that it isn't. The good news he has been sighted and cats really are pretty self-reliant, even our spoiled house kitties. Here's hoping the traps get him for you.

Me too....

Oliver's fur
 

He is a dark orange tabby cat, except for the white on his belly, shown above. Looking at him head on, you'd probably never guess he had any white on him. Think: dark orange, about the color of rust, tabby. Was a big neutered boy, about 16 lbs. when he went misisng.

When he went missing, he had a collar on with two tags on it. The collar and the cat may have been separated. He is probably very hungry and thirsty.

If you have him or see him, please oh please get in touch with me. His human mama, me, wants him back!

I think....someone must be feeding him or has taken him in. We need the Sun to do a story on this. Someone doesn't know where Oliver should be.

Does anyone know anyone who writes for the Sun? Do you have a couple of good pictures?

Oh...I so want him to be home with you.

That is a great idea, humane traps with tuna. I'm sure he is hungry and wants to be found by his human mama.

Oliver - The Villages Daily Sun
 

Graciegirl,

Thanks for a wonderful suggestion. There is a terrific back story to how I met Oliver, and I'd love to be able to speak to a reporter about it. If anyone has any contacts with a reporter, please let me know, either via here or privately.

I think that may be the best way to find him at this point.

I just hope my little guy is ok and getting enough to eat. I'm still heartbroken...

Marcia

Possible Ollie Sighting!
 

Tonight around 8:20pm we spotted a rust colored tabby, pretty large, right in front of The Villages High School. Mrs. K9 got out of her car and called "Ollie" and the cat turned to look and then ran very quickly into a clump of bushes in front of the school. That cat is quick! It was twilight and a little hard to see, but it appeared that the tip of the cat's tail was a bit lighter color than the rest of him.

This was across from Bonefish Grill right in the front yard of the high school. Hope that was your Ollie. Why not set a humane trap with tuna in oil in the clump of bushes right in front of the school? Even if you catch the wrong cat, you can always release him.

Possible Oliver sighting at the High School
 

Does anyone know anyone who lives around the Villages High School who can agree to set out a humane/havahart trap for Ollie? I can supply the trap and tunafish packed in oil. If so, please let me know.

I volunteer to check the trap every afternoon, although I don't live there.

Here's another volunteer. Just tell me where you want traps placed and I'll happily check them for you daily. I'm pretty much all over TV daily anyway. I sure hope you find the big lug.

Oliver & Humane/Havahart
 

K-9 Lover and Redwitch,

Thank you both for your kind offer. I may take you up on those offers and will let you know somewhat later on.

Marcia

I would help too. We are leaving Saturday.:(

Just read your note. I'm close to the High School and would love to help in any way I can.

We used to back on the golf course behind The Villages Charter School. I can tell you that are a lot of orange feral cats in that area. Sadly, a whole lot of orange cats. But of course, that doesn't mean that Oliver isn't there, and I'd be willing to help out with a live trap.

If it makes you feel better, cats have lots to eat in the wild here, geckos, and frogs, and baby bunnies. I know, it is sad, but survival of the fittest.

Marcia, I'll pitch in any way I can. My heart goes out to you. I keep hoping to read good news on this thread, and that Oliver is back home eating Fancy Feast. I'm more than willing to do a search on the weekend.

I woke up today thinking about Oliver. I'm wondering if there have been any recent sightings?

The radio station is always talking about missing pets, have you called them? I'm assuming you've posted bulletins with Oliver's picture in the area and at Rec Centers and Pools? Do you need help calling all the local humane societies, petfinder, etc.?

Apparently there was a possible sighting today in the Enrique/Margarita area. Marcia has already searched the area and will do so again later. If you live in that area, please tell your neighbours.

I'm heading out now with Fireboy, tuna in hand, to look for Oliver in that area and also around the Glenbrook Postal Station.

Happy Hunting, Barefoot! Keeping our fingers and paws crossed up here in Indiana. Have been hoping Oliver has returned home. Thanks goodness for all of the animal lovers in The Villages! I am sure this will have a good ending! :thumbup:

From our travels today, I must say that Marcia is doing a fantastic job of publicizing Oliver's disappearance. We decided to hang out at Mail Stations where Oliver has been seen. We made large colored pictures of Oliver to show to people. The first man I approached on Talley Ridge, I showed him the picture of the cat and he said "Oh, that's Oliver, we've all been looking for him". I probably talked to at least 30 people, and for the most part, they're all aware of Oliver's disappearance and all very concerned. People are so kind in The Villages.

We also drove around Margarita and Enrique and talked to anyone outdoors and showed Oliver's picture. We also talked to people at the local Mail Station. Sadly, we didn't find Oliver. But we did find so many people who love animals and expressed concern, and promised to call if they spot him. And they promised to alert their neighbours.

I think the very best way of publicizing a cat's disappearance is on the radio station. They seem very open to talking about animals that are lost or found. I'm very disappointed we couldn't find anyone who has recently had an Oliver sighting. However there is abundant food available once he hones up his hunting skills. I feel there is still an excellent chance that Oliver and Marcia will be reunited!

Bare,
You're so kind as always. Wish I were there to help. I can't wait to read the happy news of Marcia and Ollie's reunion.

Marcia
You have many, many people looking for Oliver and hoping for his safe return and our prayers are with him and you. The other day I went to a horse farm in Ocala with my friend to see her horse and mentioned that your cat was still missing and how hard you have searched for him and the owner said her siamese had recently had a litter. There is the cutest orange tabby kitten with deep blue eyes and she said it is yours if you are interested. It could be a sibling for Ollie when he returns.

Oliver's human friends
 

All,

Well...still looking.

I had some good sightings over the weekend: near Enrique/Margharita, one off Idlewood, and one in Springdale.

People who are seeing Oliver tend to be seeing him in one of two ways: a) he is "visiting" their cats from the other side of the window/lanai door and the indoor cats are reacting excitedly, or b) he is out sunning himself in someone's back yard. If you see him doing the latter, please approach him quietly and s-l-o-w-l-y so you don't frighten him. That way he can be corraled into an enclosed space easier than if takes off again. If anyone needs to borrow a humane/havahart trap, please contact me privately and I'll arrange it.

Less commonly, I have become aware that some of the hungry formerly domesticated cats are active Sunday nights or on Monday mornings when the trash is put out. I had one report over the weekend that someone had seen Oliver the prior Sunday night. However, I sat out two nights ago waiting for him....and no Oliver.

The cat seen near The Villages High school is indeed orange but has more white on him that Ollie does. That cat's tail was white at the end, sort of like a big fluffy white light bulb. Oliver's tail tip is rust-colored. However, it was good lead and I left some tuna fish out for that cat so he could eat well, at least for onece. One to be a good person, and two I didn't want to drive around with an open can of very odorous tunafish in the car. Not to worry, I also circled back for the tin in the morning and disposed of it properly.

I am still trying to find Oliver and get him contained. Many people have suggested leaving a garage door open about 10 inches so he can get in. Someone saw him run into someone else's garage ah, er 3 weeks ago (and was shooed out shortly thereafter). He was shooed out as everyone thought of him as a stray. I am assuming by now that he and his collar have become separated.

Oliver seems to have gone all over the Villages and/or there are many orange tabby cats.

Thanks again, everyone and I will keep trying!

Marcia

More on Oliver's adventures
 

And, I am very, very, VERY thankful for everyone's prayers and help.

Aside from the reward (or donation to the charity of your choice) I am considering holding a reception for everyone who has helped in getting Oliver returned safely.

I'm thinking that Oliver is outside my usual purview!

On the other hand, the more folks are keeping an eye for our four-footed friends, the more they're going to survive!

SWR
:beer3:

I think there will will be celebrations all throughout TV when Ollie is returned safely home.

Please, please, please let it be!

There will a mini celebration here in upstate NY too, and until then... http://th717.photobucket.com/albums/...sm134plead.gifhttp://th717.photobucket.com/albums/...sm134plead.gifhttp://th717.photobucket.com/albums/...sm134plead.gif let it be!

Oliver Redux
 

All,

There was an interesting post on the site today about a cat being kidnapped from The Villages. It is not in the All about pets area. I hope that Oliver is still ok.

His heartbroken Mama, Marcia

Marcia, I hope that you continue to call the radio station and report Oliver missing. I think that is the very best way to find him, since we don't know what Village Oliver is in right now.

Please don't give up hope. It's amazing how many cats end up coming home after weeks, or months.

Fingers Crossed
Bare

Marcia, as you know, cats are highly intelligent. Don't despair because Olliver is probably over his fear and is now having fun catching grasshoppers, mice, and every other little thing that looks good to eat to a cat. He will be found. Don't give up.

Marcia, when Oliver comes home, lets have a party and celebrate. I'm praying that it's soon.

The story about the abducted cat is a strange one and I'm not sure what to think about it. It's bizarre.

Oliver's return - Weekend sighting
 

There was another sighting over the weekend. This one in Briarwood, where he was seen sitting under a car. Someone there is watching out for him, but if anyone knows anyone in Briarwood that would be willing to put out a trap, that would be even better. I have two havahart traps for use and can supply the trap and tuna.

Marcia

Thank you Marcia.
Thank you Tony.

Our fingers and toes and paws are crossed for Oliver to return to his loved people.

Plus my fingers and toes and my dog's and cat's paws. Ollie, we all want you back home!

Eyes? :shocked:

Bill :thumbup:

.

Why don't you go to that village and put the trap out yourself? Are you not physically able to do this? If someone sighted Oliver under a car, is there a reason you yourself cannot put the trap nearby? Do you need help?