This is hard to write, because its kind of like accepting what has happened, and I don't want to accept it.
I've lost my cat George. He and Joe are brothers, about 4 1/2 years old. I've had them for about 4 years - they are longhaired black domestics.
Yesterday I got home at about 8AM, after having done 24 hour "charge of quarters' duty. I went right to bed, and got up at about 2:30 in the afternoon. the first thing I noticed is that George wasn't in bed with me. I called and called, and then I searched - high and low, in all his hiding places, and some he has never thought of.
I went outside and called - he is notoriously chicken about being outside - I've never been nervous about him running away, since I noticed that when he slipped by me he would never venture more than a few feet from the doorway, then dash back inside.
Panicked, I called my girlfriend Cheryl at work - she is a cat person with whom I've experienced the loss of a beloved cat of hers. After work she came over and helped me look some more, and we posted a 'lost' posted with George's picture and my number throughout the apartment complex.
Besides being heartbroken, I'm very puzzled about how George got lost. I always open the door carefully, because he and his brother always meet me there. There are no open widows or doors left when I go out. His brother Joe has always been the adventurous one - George has always been a homebody.
He has hidden before, but always comes dashing out when he hears me rattle his favorite bag of snacks - he has never been able to resist that rattle - not once. Until now. He isn't in this apartment anywhere.
It gets wicked hot here in San Antonio, and he is a furry boy, unused to anything but airconditioned comfort. I'm beside myself.
I left some food and water outside by the door, but today I have to go in to work for the first time ever not knowing where George is.
Am I feeling sorry for myself? Yes. I know I have to get through this, but this is f-cked up bigtime. Just needed to share that. Thanks.
Oh, snood! How very upsetting! And poor George.
I hope he is OK & somehow finds his way back home. So you figure he's outside ... somewhere? I'm crossing my fingers that it could be something like someone's let him inside their place for a bit ... or he's gotten accidentally locked in someone's shed, or something. (both have happened to my cats in the past & I was just as fretful as you.) Does he have any sort of ID on him? ... a collar, a disc with phone number, or something? Oh, poor you!
Snood, I feel for you. I know what a horrible gut-wrenching feeling it is when your beloved pet can't be found.
Don't give up hope just yet, he could still turn up. They go missing for days sometimes or get trapped in garages n stuff.
I'll say a prayer for you tonight.
x
Snood, don't give up. Make up fliers and put them around the neighborhood...I went door to door in circles when I lost one of my cats....each time widening them as time went on. It paid off. Someone saw my flyer and brought him home. Check rescue animal shelters and leave a good picture with his call name.
I know how you feel. I have been there and I really hope you find him.
Another thing to consider...cats when they are not feeling well will hide or run off. This is typical behavior. Just a suggestion, but since he was only 4 that probably is not the problem.
I've had cats do this before. In fact, I just found Buster this afternoon after searching high and low. He'd stayed very well hidden for two days.
The first time I ever had a cat "go on walkabout," it was in the middle of a snowstorm and bitter cold outside. He came back three days later, warm and smelling of perfume. VERY full of himself, too, as I recall.
Don't give up yet.
Thanks all. VNN, I've posted flyers in the immediate neighborhood, and tonight I'll go to those within a quarter mile. I'll keep increasing the circles by a bit each day, as you suggested. It's better than sitting feeling miserable about it.
Someone mentioned today at work that they hoped no psycho had done anything to him, since there was a full moon the night he got lost. Wish she hadn't mentioned that - she meant well.
A neighbor came by a couple hours ago and said he'd seen a black cat dwon in a dryed up creek bed, so I searched up and down it for a half mile or so. Found a cat, but it was an old, crazed looking orange stray - not George.
I'm feeling pretty nuts about this.
Oh dear.
There's nowhere weird he could be in your apartment?
Sometimes they go to ground if they feel sick.
I ask because it seems so unlikely he got out.
He couldn't fall from a window or anything?
I do hope he turns up.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Snood)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
HE'S BA-A-A-C-C-K!!!!
The little demon had evidently gotten into the airconditioning/heating ductwork - he was waiting for me when I got home from class this morning! The door to the ductworks must've been open enough for him to geti in somehow, but it was wide open when he came back.
He seems just fine - has been grooming himself and eating, just like normal - maybe he just needed a break!?
I'm going to find a way to secure that thing a lot better, but for now -
YIPPPEEEE!!!! GEORGE IS BACK!
Thanks dlowan - it was a "weird place in the house" - I bet that sucker traveled as far as he could in the ducts in this apartment building, and had quite a little adventure.
I'm sure gonna have a better weekend, now!!!!
Personally i am relieved (even though I think snood is a weirdo) I would most likely like his cat.
Yeah, I'd probably like your pets, too- yuh freak yuh.
SALLY dog would bite your ass (and kiss your cat)
Have you ever posted pics of your animals, Dys?
See? See? I told you!
Cats are famous for this sort of thing, snood. Every cat owner I know has almost had heart attacks over these disappearances. I've had cats all my life. I've run through the woods, blinded by tears, calling my cat's name. I've knocked on all the doors within a 1/4-mile radius. I've printed posters by the hundreds. I've cried myself to sleep. I've caught colds from searching in rainstorms. And each time, the cat returns, smiling as if to say..."Didja miss me? :wink: "
No matter how many times it happens, it scares me to death.
I'm SO happy to hear that George is okay! Give the little adventurer a scratch under the chin for me, and pour yourself a tall one!
Exactly Eva! His whole demeanor was like "Well, I've been having fun - what've you guys been up to?" Just as spunky as ever, and totally okay in every way.
I'm schedluled to be on leave from work this next week, and it was promising to be a dreary few days mourning the loss of my cat. Ain't it amazing how much sway these little critters have over us?
It's made me feel really appreciative of their presence, and richer for it.
Snood, glad to hear all is well at your home!
One day recently I came home for lunch. We had a futon delivered and the men were setting it up. When they left they stood talking to us at the open front door. We said our goodbyes and I realized Paddy was not around. I asked my sister where he was, had she seen him, she had not. I said I hoped he had not run out the door while we weren't looking. We searched high up and low down, he was nowhere to be found.
Time was short, I HAD to get back to work, as much as I hated leaving not knowing where he was, I had to go. I was flipping mad that we weren't more careful. I left, on the way to work my sister rang me to tell me Paddy was fine, he was hiding deep in her closet, playing his usual game of "when they call me I won't come, let them worry" ... little sad arse that he is.
So I know how you felt Snood, I felt that way too, life just wouldn't be the same without Paddy!
So glad it all turned out well for you!
snood wrote:HE'S BA-A-A-C-C-K!!!!
The little demon had evidently gotten into the airconditioning/heating ductwork - he was waiting for me when I got home from class this morning! The door to the ductworks must've been open enough for him to geti in somehow, but it was wide open when he came back.
He seems just fine - has been grooming himself and eating, just like normal - maybe he just needed a break!?
I'm going to find a way to secure that thing a lot better, but for now -
YIPPPEEEE!!!! GEORGE IS BACK!
Thanks dlowan - it was a "weird place in the house" - I bet that sucker traveled as far as he could in the ducts in this apartment building, and had quite a little adventure.
I'm sure gonna have a better weekend, now!!!!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's really cheered me up to know Snood's cats back. NICE ONE!
x
so glad that George is back and you can stop the fretting
So what's the latest on Paddy, Vivien?
Still on the mend?
Fully mended, perhaps?
Changed his wicked, wicked ways as a result of his last mishap? :wink:
