Curiosity may kill the cat but misplaced kindness doesn’t do them any good either.

That’s the problem in Castletown where Jez, an habitue of the square, is regularly whisked off to vets around the island by well meaning people who think he’s a scruffy stray.

But he is well looked after and loved said his owner Dave Hull.

He’s scruffy because he’s got an eczema-type skin condition.

’He suffers from a condition that causes him to pull his fur out and he breaks out in scabs. Especially at this time of year,’ explained Dave. ’He is under treatment for his condition and he gets regular jabs.’

The six-year-old hails from Peel and his mother was a stray; Dave thinks he inherited her feral look with his crazy whiskers.

Not helping his story is gender confusion early in life; he was called Jezebel until Dave discovered she was a he.

Now Jez loves wandering from his home in Malew Street to the square. ’He’s sociable, he likes being part of the gang,’ said Dave.

The problem is people misinterpret his sociability - with his unkempt appearance - as a cry for help.

They take him to the vet, who contacts Dave, who has to pick him up.

Dave has avoided giving him a collar - they can get snagged and trap an animal - but he’s now got one explaining Jez isn’t well but he isn’t lost.

’We’ve been contacted by every vet in the island.

’He can look so ill and scruffy.

’It’s great that people care for animals, but we’re stuck in this back and forth.’

He’s also concerned that - unknown to the driver - Jez jumps into cars and then out at the other end wherever they go, which may account for a recent removal to Gansey.

Jez has ended up as far away as the ManxSPCA at Ard Jerkyll.

Dave resorted to Facebook to publicise their plight, he also distributed posters, but doesn’t like doing that as they can get blown away and create litter.

Nor can he keep Jez indoors as he’d hate it. ’We worry about him,’ Dave said.

’From an owner’s point of view, it is causing a great deal of stress.

’From a pet’s point of view it is just as stressful.

’I don’t want to keep him penned in but I don’t want him to be randomly catnapped and transported across the island.’

Follow Jez through his Facebook page ’Jezthecat’.