My cat is lost

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@MacCat

Don’t give up hope…

Aye, don’t give up hope. The 3rd thread I started on these boards was about my cat Mao, and part of her story included being missing for over 14 months. But I eventually found her and brought her home, and we shared another 11 years or so together. It can happen. Don’t give up hope.

@Bo

A couple of years later, Helene and I broke up, and I eventually moved to Orlando, bringing Mao with me. For six months, from April to September, I lived on the porch of my aunt’s house in St. Cloud. Mao was very upset with the move, but she slept near me every night, purring like a deisel engine. When I got my own place she was again upset with the move, but happy to discover that the new house had less people living in it, and thus more room for her.

Less than two months later, I let her out one morning as I left for work. I came home well after dark, and she wasn’t at the door waiting for me. The next morning, she still wasn’t at the door, and I began to worry. When there was still no sign of her that evening, I knew something was wrong. I printed up “LOST” fliers and posted them on mailboxes, telephone poles, fences… I gave one to the guys at the Fire House down the street, to most of the neighbors, and brought one to the Kissimmee animal shelter in case she turned up there.

For more than a month I spent several hours a day after work looking for her, calling her name, hoping that she was just lost and would come to my voice, but no luck. She was gone, vanished, and I blamed myself for letting her out unsupervised before she knew our new home well. For months I checked the shelter regularly, but I never found her, and the good folks working there assured me they hadn’t had her brought in. I was beside myself for having failed in my responsibility, depressed at what I saw as somehow abandoning this poor cat because I had to go to work.

Imagine my surprise then, some 14 months later. I was jogging the same route I had used for more than a year, when in the dusky light I saw something dart across the road and into the trees. I called out and she stopped, but the noise of passing traffic scared her and she plunged into the swampy forest. I called and called, but it was soon dark and I had to give up the search. Every moment away from work was spent in the area, looking for her and calling her name. Two weeks later, I saw her again. She ran into a fenced yard, but I could plainly see her. I ran the mile or so back to the house, and got my car.

The people living in the house were a bit surprised when I knocked on the door and explained that I wanted to drive my car into their backyard in order to catch a cat, but they acquiesced and opened the gate for me. After nearly 30 minutes of cajoling, I managed to throw a towel over her, grab her, and toss her into the car. I jumped in the driver’s seat, slammed the door shut and hollered my thanks as I drove back onto the street, my precious little girl mewling painfully from the floorboards of the passenger seat. Skinny from a year of picking through garbage, she hissed and spit at me as I picked her up again, and fought to get free… lemme tell you, a 20 pound cat with a full set of claws is no picnic to carry 50 yards. It oughta be an Olympic event, but I bet no one can get proper insurance for it.

Anyway, once I had her inside with the door closed, she immediately settled down. It was as though she recognized the place, knew she was home at last, and was grateful. For months she would sit next to me wherever I was and just purr. I beamed at how very very lucky I was to have her back in my life, and decided that she needed to stay indoors for her own good. Mao never seemed inclined to go out after that, either, so I never felt like I was depriving her of anything.

Don’t give up hope.

[Tabby_Cat]

Thanks for the kind words and stories! No news yet, I’m afraid. I’ve taken to just setting food out and watching it, but no luck so far.

[curlcoat]

Not a cat, but Bo’s story reminded me of a dog that was lost by a friend for over a year. Then one evening I was driving to their house and the dog ran across the road in front of me. I followed her while calling her owners and after quite a bit of a chase, we managed to corner her in a garage. Once her owner took hold of her, she recognized him and just melted all over the place, but before that she was terrified of these “strangers” that were chasing her.

So, another vote for don’t give up!

[foxymoron]

Just wanted to add my voice to the chorus of well-wishers here.
My kitty Dinah was lost for four weeks last Spring, so I know the worry and heartache you’re feeling.
I hope you get Tara back soon!

[Tabby_Cat]

She’s back!

I went out this morning at 4am to watch the kitty buffet, and as soon as I get out the back door of my apartment, I hear a loud and unmistakeable EEEOW. And a few more. I call her name and she rustles around in the planter box at the back!

I try to wait for her to get closer, but she sees the security guard and dashes out the front gate. I follow (and call my wife) and we chat outside the gate for a little while before hearing Tara EEEOW again, this time from the drain. Woo! So we lure her in with some tuna, pet her head a little, and grab her! And now she’s back home, albeit a lot smellier, skinnier and with thinner fur.
So yay!!! Good news for everyone!! 28 days since she was lost. I’m wondering if we should take her to the vet? Or if it would be too stressful now?

[a35362]

YAAAAAAAAAYY! does a happy dance

(Okay, who thought Tabby_Cat was a single woman, not a married man?)

Silly kitty! Welcome home, Tara!

[River_Hippie]

YaY!

Great news!

[DianaG]

Yay Tara!!!

Assuming that she’s not clearly sick, I’d say watch her for a day or two, and then decide whether a trip to the vet is warranted. When my Gary came back he had a terrible cold, but it was the weekend and no one could see him. By Monday, with plenty of steam and snuggles (and water, lots and lots of water) he was fine.

[Dung_Beetle]

About time, naughty kitty!

[Tabby_Cat]

@a35362

YAAAAAAAAAYY! does a happy dance

(Okay, who thought Tabby_Cat was a single woman, not a married man?)

Silly kitty! Welcome home, Tara!

You’re not the first one!

[kath94]

Yaay Tara! Welcome home!

I love a happy ending!

[BottledBlondJeanie]

Yay! Woohoo! I almost stopped checking this thread.

Tabby, I would wait a couple of days and bring her in for a checkup. It is likely she picked up some worms

But yay!

[SeaDragonTattoo]

WOW!

So glad she’s home! Give her canned food with water added to it to get her re-hydrated. If she seems in good spirits and is eating, I wouldn’t worry too much about a vet visit right away. If she contracted FIV or FeLV while out, it won’t show up for 30 days (FeLV) to 90 days (FIV) anyway. Check her for fleas, though, and see if you can get flea medication (like Revolution, Frontline, or Advantage) without a visit right now, and only if you need it. I wouldn’t stress her with a flea bath or anything like that, they’re usually toxic to cats anyway.

Give her lots of warmth and snuggles, I’m sure she’s as happy to be back as you are!

[a35362]

I can haz closure?

[deb2world]

Yeah!! Does Snoopy Happy Dance

Poor little thing. If she purring and snuggling yet? It might take her until tomorrow to do that.

Instead of a trip to the vet, why not just call and get your vets opinion on what to feed her.

[PapSett]

What wonderful news! I just love happy endings!

Please give Tara a snuggle for me.

[Hanna]

Great news! I’m so happy for both of you!

[Tabby_Cat]

Already snuggling! I’m trying to get some sleep (is it 645am already??) but failing from the adrenaline. Tried to get her off the bed (she’s stinky! Even after a bath!) but failed. So she’s under the covers leaning against me. :

[Alice_The_Goon]

So glad she came home! Yay for happy endings!

[Tabby_Cat]

Yeah, kinda worried if she caught anything, I’ve got another cat at home…