This was the last time I saw her. It was March 21st.
My cats are indoor-outdoor cats. Farm cats. I kept them inside for several days after we moved in then started letting them out again. Spice disappeared for a couple of days, until I heard her crying and pulled her out of a tangle of brush in a ravine. Diego was gone for about ten days. He showed up on the back porch one day as if he had no idea anyone was worried about him. I’ve kept him inside, snacking on cinnamon toast, since then. It’s not easy keeping ten cats inside the house. I’ll start letting them out again. Eventually. When I get over the trauma of losing them like that and am convinced they are fully settled in our new home. At one point, the three of them–Spice, Diego, and Sugar–were gone all at the same time. This was my Sackcloth and Sobbing Period. Then Spice and Diego came back. But Sugar…..
I thought I’d never see Sugar again. Then two days ago, my boys–who drive across the river ford every day to head to high school–said they saw Sugar across the river in a meadow. How she got across the river is a mystery, but they were convinced it was Sugar. Princess went up and down the road across the river giving out our phone number at every house and asking about Sugar. She found one man who said he’d seen her.
Yesterday, he called me.
“Your cat’s here right now.” He told me he couldn’t get near her. She’d run.
I jumped in the car and chased right over there. I pulled over on the side of the road in front of his house and jumped out. There was Sugar, running across his meadow. I called to her and tried to not run, afraid I’d scare her off. But she was already scared. She ran across the road and up a hill. I clambered (don’t you love the word clambered?) up the hill after her. I sat down, shook the can of Pounce I’d brought with me, and called her and called her. But by then I couldn’t even see her anymore.
Then the man yelled up at me that she’d come back down off the hill and run up the road.
I clambered back down and took off after her before I realized she was too far ahead of me and still running. I went back to my car and drove after her. About a half mile down the road, I spotted her again. I pulled over, grabbed the Pounce (and my camera, of course!) and called her.
She stopped on the hill and looked at me. I got out of the car and sat down on the side of the road in the dirt. I shook the Pounce can and talked to her and called her. And talked to her some more. I knew there was no use going after her. She’d run. I’d have to convince her to come to me.
But she seemed terrified, almost as if she’d gone wild, and she didn’t seem to recognize me. I raised her from the day she was born in the corner of my bathroom at the old farmhouse.
I didn’t care if I had to sit there for hours on the side of the road in the dirt. I was within sight of my Sugar. I wasn’t going home without her.
I kept talking to her, pleading with her, and then she started crying. And crying. And that’s when I knew it was going to be okay. She was crying. She recognized me. She was telling me how bad and awful and horrible it had been and how much she’d missed me. She started coming down the hill. And she kept coming till I put away the camera because Sugar was more important than pictures and I tossed bits of Pounce closer and closer. She ate up the pieces and came closer and cried and cried and I waited, waited, waited, till she had almost climbed into my lap then I picked her up and ran to the car.
She didn’t really like the part about the car ride.
Home, she stuck her head in the cat bowl and didn’t bring it out for quite some time. She’s soooo thin, poor baby.
Then she looked around, as if reacquainting herself with her surroundings.
And I think she said something like, “Don’t ever let me do that again, it was terrible.”
Then she gave herself some serious down time.
My Sugar is home.
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on April 18, 2008
5:43
am
:cattail: :cattail:
5:55
am
PS my mom swears that rubbing butter on kittys paws after moving to a new place is the trick that will let them to find their way back home the first time they leave the house. I guess they smell the butter kitty prints right back to your door. Might be worth a try?
6:25
am
My three furry friends (Touche. Tramp and Stormy) and I are so glad your Sugar is back home again. Oh, how we do love cats of ours.
6:45
am
7:35
am
If I had land, I still wouldn’t let my cats roam freely, but I *would* build (have built) a cat enclosure large enough to give them lots of space to be outside, safely. There are a number of companies that sell cat fencing and cat enclosures, but they’re pretty pricey. My townhouse back space is fenced (wooden) and last fall Dad and I used privacy lattice and made struts so we could attach it to the fence at a 60-degree angle. Apparently that angle throws off a cat’s depth perception and they can’t get over it.
When I was growing up in Quebec, no one thought twice about letting cats roam — that was natural. But now — I couldn’t do it now. I’m too attached to my fur babies and there are too many dangers.
May all your fur kids stay safe and healthy, Suzanne!
-Kim
7:42
am
8:06
am
8:27
am
I’m sure she missed her momma (she probably told you so) and is happy to be home safe after her adventure.
Now she has a tale to tell the others!
8:27
am
I’ve been away from my baby for almost a week. We go home today and I can’t wait to have her yell at me for leaving.
8:40
am
8:57
am
8:57
am
9:08
am
My husband was home within half an hour. By then, our cat was sound asleep on his side of the bed, having gone through a very large bowl of food. Husband picked up the sleeping furball and just held him close for a minute. Then he looked at me and said softly “I was so afraid I’d find him on the side of the road.”
He put the cat back on the bed (Doc never even woke up) and went back to his workshop. Cat was still asleep when he came back.
9:10
am
9:20
am
9:48
am
9:56
am
10:22
am
10:54
am
:catmeow:
10:58
am
11:07
am
I’m curious about the 10 cats/chicken thing. Will you have “chickens in the road” or will they be in an enclosure where the cats can’t get them?
Linda~
11:12
am
On another note, do you have to cool the sugar\water\coffee mixture down before adding the vodka when making Kaluha?
11:21
am
11:28
am
Linda, I certainly don’t want the cats having access to the babies! But they aren’t going to tackle older chickens, I don’t think. The chicken lady at the farm where I got the eggs had several cats (and dogs) running around with her chickens.
11:58
am
My inside cats were all strays and ferals so I always worry. My one was missing for a week once and darn if he didn’t do it again for 10 days another time. I got sight of him a couple of times but I saw that same wild look in his eyes. I think the only reason I got him back was this huge thunderstorm – he hasn’t wanted to leave since lol.
I have 3 female ferals that I’ve taken care of for 11-13 yrs. and every once in a while they disappear – I’ve learned that they go for 3 days (always 3 days) – I call it their “trek.” If all are gone I don’t worry too much but when only one disappears I’m constantly looking outside.
Then there was the time…(too many cats with too many stores lol).
12:14
pm
12:19
pm
12:21
pm
I love the fact that you use a can of Pounce to lure your cats. Our 18 year old Siamese, Scampi would come running when he heard that sound.
Venus, our 5 year old Lynx Point, came to us after Scampi moved on to whatever is next this past January. Pounce must be the universal cat caller (next to leering construction men :thumbsup: ) because when we brought Venus home she immediately went upstairs and hid under our bed and I think she would have stayed there for weeks had it not been for our can of Pounce. We would shake that can and then sit and patiently wait for her to peek her head out from under the bed skirt. Never underestimate the power of Pounce cat treats.
I am so glad Sugar is back home. Give that sweet kitty a big hug for me.
The things we do for our cats.
12:21
pm
1:03
pm
OK…I’m going to go hold my dog and shower her w/kisses, now!
Blessings from Ohio…
1:13
pm
I’m so glad she is home and safe! Isn’t Pounce a wonderful thing for getting their attention?
1:53
pm
2:23
pm
All the best,
Shell
2:59
pm
3:00
pm
3:06
pm
3:19
pm
3:19
pm
3:23
pm
Get some rest Sugar!
3:26
pm
3:39
pm
Our Tally-WHO-who went for a walk 3 years ago now and I’m still hoping he comes home – he was/is the best cat EVER.
3:51
pm
5:05
pm
:J
5:54
pm
5:55
pm
7:27
pm
11:56
pm
9:15
am
12:59
pm
3:51
am
I was so thrilled when you found her and how she came back to you. :purr:
Reminded me of a similar experience I had with my own cat years ago when I had a friend pet sit for me. But he allowed my cat to get out and my kitty wasn’t happy there anyway.
We feared that he got out and into the street, since my friend lived in the city. We walked for blocks and blocks putting up signs.
But then while calling out to him we realized my kitty was in the drain outlet right in front of my friend’s apartment. He, toowas afraid to come to me at first, and then I was overwelmed with emotion, like you were, when he jumped into my arms covered in filth and mud.
It was a beautiful moment.
I’m so glad you ahd Sugar had your own beautiful moment and that she is back home safe and sound. :cattail:
10:45
pm
11:29
pm
3:34
pm
4:10
pm
6:12
am
8:07
pm