Cat's Daily Routine Baffles Owner

[Guest guest]

A cat is baffling his owner by wandering off at night before

expecting to be collected by car every morning at exactly the same

time and place.

Sgt Podge, a Norwegian Forest Cat, disappears from his owner's home

in Talbot Woods, Bournemouth, every night.

 

The next morning, the 12-year-old cat can always be found in exactly

the same place, on a pavement about one and a half miles (2.4km)

away.

 

His owner, Liz Bullard, takes her son to school before collecting Sgt

Podge.

 

She said the routine began earlier this year, when Sgt Podge

disappeared one day.

 

 

Ms Bullard rang the RSPCA and began telephoning her neighbours to see

if anyone had seen him.

 

An elderly woman who lived about one and a half miles away called

back to say she had found a cat matching Sgt Podge's description.

 

Ms Bullard collected him but within days he vanished again. She rang

the elderly woman to find Sgt Podge was back outside her home.

 

 

Owner Liz Bullard thinks Sgt Podge crosses a golf course every night

 

She said a routine has now become established, where each morning she

takes her son to school before driving to collect Sgt Podge from the

pavement between 0800 and 0815 GMT.

 

It is thought Sgt Podge walks across Meyrick Park Golf Course every

night to reach his destination.

 

Ms Bullard said: " If it's raining he may be in the bush but he comes

running if I clap my hands. "

 

All she has to do is open the car passenger door from the inside for

Sgt Podge to jump in.

 

Wandering the streets

 

Ms Bullard also makes the trip at weekends and during school

holidays - when her son is having a lie in.

 

She does not know why, after 12 years, Sgt Podge has begun the

routine but explained that another woman who lived nearby used to

feed him sardines, and that he may be on the look-out for more

treats.

 

" As long as you know where they are you don't mind as a cat owner, "

Ms Bullard said.

 

" I know where to collect him - as long as he's not wandering the

streets. "

 

Back at home, Sgt Podge has breakfast before going to sleep by a warm

radiator.