Fred's been spotted!
At about 7.30pm the elderly neighbour who likes birds came round to tell me that he'd seen Fred in his garden moments before, but that on seeing Bob - the neighbour - Fred ran off down the bottom of the garden into the one adjacent. I thanked him and went out to call Fred. No sign.
Strangely, a few hours before that I'd scooped freshly lain poop from the litter tray and spread it round the perimeters of the garden to help the cats scent home.
After the sighting, I got the other cats in and put out the feral cat trap. Then I had a phone call from the neighbour next to Bob who had seen Fred that very moment. She'd got my leaflet, compared the two and was certain it was Fred. She gave him a few munchies but he ran off when she tried to approach him (which he would do, being ex-feral).
Again, I went down the garden calling him. Lucy and Victoria were behaving oddly, going off and coming back then going off again.
The woman said he was thin, but didn't appear hurt in anyway.
I've brought the trap in now, I don't like to leave it out when it's dark and the others are outside. They won't come in and are acting excited. I don't know if they're just picking up my better mood, or they can sense Fred around.
Still no sign of George who isn't a wanderer and in my estimation, less capable of looking after himself than Fred is. I can only hope someone is looking after him, thinking he's stray.