I agree with you Booktigger, I had an elderly cat (23) who had Chronic Renal Failure and he lost a little weight and sometimes looked like he had been dragged through a hedge backwards, and unkempt and trying to keep him in was a nightmare he was really happy being outside. He never went far from home in his later years but outside the same, and from the outside looking in it may have looked similar to this case, that I did not care, when in truth the reality was "he was loved, cared for, fed, brushed, cuddled and fussed over" yet some days you couldn't tell to look at him.
I would have been frantic as I said before in the thread if someone had taken him from me, yet relieved he was back. No one can say someone does not care, this cat sounds similar to my Oz - independant and thats something I would not take away from my Oscar or any cat. And he was independant and loved up to and beyond the moment he was PTS.
By the way his sister is totally different - she is a proper home body, and prefers staying in or a saunter in the garden to going out out - they have always been the way they are, different.
I think for what its worth Booktigger that you did the right thing, give it a little while then pop and ask how he is if his owners are like me they will welcome your "kindheart" and you may forma friendship. Cats have a habit of doing that for you.
Karen
