Feline Phew!

[billroper]

Last night around midnight, daisy_knotwise said to me, "Where's fuzzbucket_cat?" And we compared notes and realized that we hadn't seen him all day, nor had he woken me up at sunrise that morning. I also realized that this might have something to do with why I hadn't been beaten up by Fuzzbucket over the litter scoop that Katie had thrust into his pan, blocking the entrance.

So we took turns going down and calling out the back door and checking all the closets and the basement. No cat. Now Fuzz has stayed out overnight before and for more than one night as well, but not in a very long time. I was pretty worried. When I woke up at 5 AM, I went down to call for him again, but still no Fuzz.

This morning, I suggested to Gretchen that she call the local Humane Society to see if someone had picked him up. This seemed unlikely unless he were badly injured, but I'd lost one cat to the outdoors with no further final resolution and I really didn't want to lose another the same way.

As I headed off to work, I stuck my head out the patio door. "Fuzzbucket! Here Fuzz!"

And I heard a rustling and a "Meow! Meow!"

About 15 seconds later, he popped over the fence to my right and ambled into the house, walking past me, and up the stairs to flop on the bed with Gretchen. Showed me, I suppose.

I'll let him out again, of course. He wouldn't be happy if I didn't.

And if you love something, sometimes you need to let it go free. Even if it means that you may never know what happened to it.

Comments

Fuzzbucket

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

I am so glad your kitty came back! Louie's and my current cats (three) do not go outside at all, but I remember plainly when my much loved tomcat Darth-kitty went out (26 years ago -- the kitty has long since gone to his kitty reward) and didn't come back for 48 hours. I had been really worried! (And that played a role in my deciding to have him altered. There was a stretch when I really didn't like doing that to kitties, but realizing that at one point I would either have to imprison a very, very unhappy cat, or risk losing him entirely, led me to come to my senses.) Pet Fuzzbucket a few times for me (although I don't really remember him from that last time Louie and I were at your place).

Nate

Re: Fuzzbucket

[billroper]

You likely didn't see a lot of Fuzz -- more likely you saw Bilbo. Fuzz is a bit of a fraidy cat around people that he doesn't know well.

I believe he thinks of it as "natural caution". :)

[kizoku42.livejournal.com]

:-) I thought that was going to be "Feline Pew!", especially when the litterbox was mentioned.

[birder2.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Fuzz came back. After the second time I lost a cat to a car on Florida Ave., I stopped letting mine out--strictly indoor cats now.