Reply
Sat 16 Jun, 2007 10:06 pm
Some of you will remember that Barney (#1 cat) disappeared while I was in the hospital. Well, the place was being repainted and getting new carpeting install, and it was inevitable that any cat wanting out would have had more than enough opportunity. Barney and Spooky took it.
It looks like Barney found a new home. He's a friendly critter, and a good looking cat, to boot. Also, we had no black sightings since I got home, so he does seem to be gone. Spook was able to see his way back to the front door, after a few days teasing. So, about two days ago, Spook was wanting out badly, so I let him. Hey, he found his way back before. He's still out there. Spook has put in a few appearances since then, including following me on my walk around the house. He followed me, howling all the way, but not all the way to the door. Can't write him off as long as he's still being seen in the neighborhood.
All my cats are plain house cats, and I'm surprised that Barney didn't show up right away. Now, it's just me and Nermal. Nerm doesn't even want to go out. Strangely, Nermal is getting to be more friendly, and less the wise guy than when he had two others to compete with.
Don't know what else to say about this. Like I say, Barney has probably found a new home and I shouldn't worry. And Spook is still out there, but there's no way I can catch him.
Aw Roger, this is terrible. I'm so sorry.
Spook, you come home!
Now!
Nermal, you hang in there. You're smart!
And Barney. Well, you never know .... I've known cats to be missing for much longer, then return home, out of the blue.
Please keep us posted, Roger. I know how upsetting these situations can be. Comforting hugs to you.
Can you put out food for them?
Roger querido, what a time you're having. Broken and felinially diminished. I'm sorry you're having to deal with all of this. I'm glad Nermal is still with you--and coming out of his shell. Glad Spook is around and visits.
What more can I say?
Has the work in the house been finished? And the workmen gone?
Once things are more "normal" I suspect Spook will return. A lot of disruption for a little cat to deal with in a short time. And you being away in hospital for a while & all ....
Dammit, Roger!!!!
I had a cat go weird once when I had been away........managed to catch him by putting out irresistible food, and then not letting him out for a week, so that whatever brain thinh he'd had settled.
I hope they both come back.
Sure, I put out food, but not much at one time. Sometimes neighbor's dog gets off the leash, and his cat is insatable.
To be honest, I'm feeling guilty. Instead of missing them, I should be grieving. Our yard cats at work came down with some sort of resperative disease about this time last year. One was a favorite - used to wander into the office when the door was open, greated me when I got back from lunch, and even let me pet him, but not much.I took him to the doctor, and they treated him for two days and said he was ready to come home. Next day, he had died in his sleep. That affected me much more that the loss of Barney, and probably Spooky.
Yeah, Spook will probably drop in. If he does, I don't know whether he should have indoor/outdoor privilages, or be a prisoner.
roger wrote:Sure, I put out food, but not much at one time. Sometimes neighbor's dog gets off the leash, and his cat is insatable.
To be honest, I'm feeling guilty. Instead of missing them, I should be grieving. Our yard cats at work came down with some sort of resperative disease about this time last year. One was a favorite - used to wander into the office when the door was open, greated me when I got back from lunch, and even let me pet him, but not much.I took him to the doctor, and they treated him for two days and said he was ready to come home. Next day, he had died in his sleep. That affected me much more that the loss of Barney, and probably Spooky.
Yeah, Spook will probably drop in. If he does, I don't know whether he should have indoor/outdoor privilages, or be a prisoner.
Well, you have a lot on your mind/body at present....and they are not dead.
I commisserate with you on your missing buddies. It's kinda scary how joined at the hip I am with my cat Georgie. He went missing for 3 days last year, and my sadness at the thought that he was gone forever was multiplied because he is the one who always positions himself physically close to me wherever I am in the house - a constant presence. His brother Josey stays mostly out of reach - it would've suprised me a lot less for him to just up and go.
How do we get attached to these little clawed furballs, anyway?
snood wrote:I commisserate with you on your missing buddies. It's kinda scary how joined at the hip I am with my cat Georgie. He went missing for 3 days last year, and my sadness at the thought that he was gone forever was multiplied because he is the one who always positions himself physically close to me wherever I am in the house - a constant presence. His brother Josey stays mostly out of reach - it would've suprised me a lot less for him to just up and go.
How do we get attached to these little clawed furballs, anyway?
The purr definitely helps......and the little chirrup of greeting...and the way they smile by blinking....and the soft fur to stroke...and the playfulness....and the quiet cuddling up....
roger wrote:To be honest, I'm feeling guilty. Instead of missing them, I should be grieving. Our yard cats at work came down with some sort of resperative disease about this time last year. One was a favorite - used to wander into the office when the door was open, greated me when I got back from lunch, and even let me pet him, but not much.I took him to the doctor, and they treated him for two days and said he was ready to come home. Next day, he had died in his sleep. That affected me much more that the loss of Barney, and probably Spooky.
Yeah, Spook will probably drop in. If he does, I don't know whether he should have indoor/outdoor privilages, or be a prisoner.
I hear you.
It's a difficult balance isn't it, giving a cat the freedom to be a cat (& enjoy the outdoors, climb trees & stuff like that ..) & keeping them 100% safe & confined indoors.
I walk a middle road on this. The cat flap, food indoors only (to avoid encouraging other neighborhood cats from hovering around) the religious adherence to annual immunity shot deadlines, the night curfews, the need to be home a lot, etc .... it's a commitment that requires constant attention to any signs that something could be amiss or could need attending to. And of course there's always the risk of the odd tragedy occurring. (though I've also had cats live to 22 & 18 years of age in recent years.)
It's a personal thing, I guess. But I choose to give my cat/s a life as close as possible to that which I think they'd most like to live. I realize that in many places that this is not an option, though. And I realize there are many people whose views are very different to mine.
It conflicts me a lot to keep Joe a prisoner, although George doesn't seem interested in going anywhere. The couple of times I've tried to be the guy who lets the cat out on occasion haven't gone well.
snood wrote:How do we get attached to these little clawed furballs, anyway?
Yes it's because they're fascinating, wonderful, loveable and all that ...
But I think it's also because we have so much
power over what sort of existence they'll have. Most of us here want to use that power with integrity.
Power over our pets, as a part of what's attractive about having them?
...Don't know quite how to think about that - although it strikes me as odd. Strikes me that anyone thinking they are "powerful" as related to a cat is a little self-deceived... yeah, they depend on us for food and stuff, but at the center of the cat/person relationship is the absolute inviolability of their independence.
Kinda like saying our "power" over our children is part of that relationship - isn't easily palatable...
snood wrote:Power over our pets, as a part of what's attractive about having them?
No, that's not what I meant, snood. Perhaps I expressed it clumsily. I meant that a big part of our attachment/commitment to them is that we have such a huge influence over the quality of the lives they have. Taking the responsibility seriously, if you like ....
But hey, I don't want to derail Roger's thread.
Sorry, Roger.
A girlfriend of mine had a cat that disappeared for 5 years! Then, one day the cat came home limping and old. He walked around the house, rubbed against some things, then left never to be seen again.
thanks for sharing that...
Roger--
Have you considered walking with an open container of something with a rich, oily fishy smell?
If the Wandering Boyo approached are you agile enough to make a capture?
Perhaps when he figures you've suffered enough..... After all, vanishing without a word of warning....
About Nermal...
we had a cat by the name of Rascal, whom we got as a female kitten from a friend at a time we already had Spackle, an older male who was king of the yard and hearth. The day after Spackle's last, Rascal changed personality, becoming Queen of all she surveyed. Interesting process...
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace