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> 72 Hours Missing, I'm starting to freak out
kips
post Jul 8 2007, 03:40 AM
Post #21





Group: Pet Lovers
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Joined: 5-December 04
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He is the most beautiful cat. Dont give up hope. My beautiful boy Nelson disappeared when he was five years old for about 5 days - the longest five days of my life. He is a cat that never goes anywhere so it was completely out of character. I was beside myself - I ate a banana in that five days - I thought I was going to have a break down. Anyway one afternoon I was sitting out the back (crying) and I heard his voice and thought I really was going insane and there he was. I swear to god I still wonder where he went and why. This cat sleeps in my bed everynight and only goes out to the toilet reluctantly so the whole thing was very strange. Anyway my point is dont give up because I never would have thought I would have got back my boy. Good luck and I 'll keep checking for good news.
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Mink&WillowsMom
post Jul 8 2007, 11:37 AM
Post #22





Group: Pet Lovers
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From: Western Washington
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Hope is such a funny thing. Today is Day 8. I believe Twitch has died. You can see why from my posts above, but another reason is that as soon as I arrived at that point, my dad quieted in my head. Haven't heard him needing to tell me anymore, "he's okay, he's with me." Maybe it's my own intuitive knowing, I don't know what it is, but I'm not hearing it like a gong anymore.

And yet, I am not able to turn off the back porch light at night yet. (Which had become my signal to him I was still awake and would let him in if he wanted.) I am not able to take down his food dish at his house. I am not able to take down the flyers I posted. Just on the chance....

But then, I've also not yet been able to erase my dad's final voicemail off my answering machine either. Even though I have it on a CD and on a .wav file (courtesy of a very gracious local radio station). It just seems so ... final.

Not yet.


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...You precious children, of four feet, whiskers, and mischief...
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Mink&WillowsMom
post Jul 8 2007, 11:30 PM
Post #23





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From: Western Washington
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HOPE BEATS! A neighbor called, to say her neighbor had seen a fluffy gray cat in her back yard today, and gave me her address. I went over and turned out it was not the same cat she'd seen, that one had been pale, nearly white. "But..." she said, yesterday or the day before she saw a tabby in the street when she was at the corner. At first she thought it was her cat (who is indeed a brown tabby stripe), then realized it was too big and had white feet. It dashed into the woods, "in that clearing spot, over near Scott's house." That's only two lots over!!!!!

I just walked through the woods, gently calling, and heard nothing, but.... Is it possible he's just taking some time to think things through? So as I walked, I talked to him, told him how much I want him to come live with me, or he can stay in his house, and I'll come over every day and spend time with him there.

Tomorrow I'll be spending some serious time in the woods (about 6 acres' worth). Please let it be him! And if so, please let him decide to come home...

Keep your fingers crossed for us --- AND be prepared to catch me if my hopes come crashing down again....
Kimberly


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...You precious children, of four feet, whiskers, and mischief...
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paris
post Jul 9 2007, 06:13 AM
Post #24





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Hi Kimberly and 5catsmom.

It's funny, all three of us are going through the same thing (although you, Kimberly, have more to deal with). I wake up each morning and look out the window, and brace myself to see the deck empty. It's a moment I dread. Next thing I do is check here hoping that either Twitchet or Shadow has returned. All three of us are on a roller coaster ride between hope and despair.

I think a cat's sense of time is different from ours, and I do believe most cats can survive out there, and many choose to be out there. I don't blame myself for letting Bennett be an outdoor cat, but why wasn't I more careful and keep putting a collar/id tag on him? (They used to come off, but still....) I also feel guilty for not micro-chipping Bennett (a small procedure.) How stupid of me.

I got a few calls from the ads I had in the paper. I spoke to two people who had a cat hanging around their home. They seemed conscientious enough to feed the cat and call me. But when I suggested to them they put a FREE classified ad in the local paper (takes 2 minutes to do) they listened to me but never placed the ad. My point.....these people at least took the time to read the "Lost/Found" ads but didn't take the extra step to place their own ads for other people to read. So I'm wondering if there are people out there that may see or be feeding our cats but they aren't even thinking to look at the Lost/Found ads. For all I know, someone has Bennett visiting them in their yard and just thinks it's some friendly neighborhood cat.

Did Twitchet and did Shadow have id tags or microchips?
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Mink&WillowsMom
post Jul 9 2007, 11:13 AM
Post #25





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Twitch has both.


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...You precious children, of four feet, whiskers, and mischief...
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paris
post Jul 9 2007, 11:50 AM
Post #26





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QUOTE (Mink&WillowsMom @ Jul 9 2007, 11:13 AM)
Twitch has both.

That's great.
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Mink&WillowsMom
post Jul 12 2007, 09:28 PM
Post #27





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From: Western Washington
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I don't quite know what to do with these feelings....

I have come to accept that Twitch is dead. It's been 12 days.

But three times now people have said they might have seen him. Twice, "I saw a big fluffy tabby with white feet dash into the woods," and then a woman at a nearby garden store (well, 5 miles away) said they had a huge Maine coon move in under their building.

It's so unlikely, I don't want to raise my hopes. But WHAT is THAT?!? WHY am I not wanting to dance on my tippy-toes that he might be alive? Rationally, I know I'm weighing the likelihood (miniscule) against the pain of crashing down again (enormous), but I feel like I'm betraying him by not being more excited.

It feels so weird to feel this way. Has anybody else gone through this?
Kimberly


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...You precious children, of four feet, whiskers, and mischief...
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paris
post Jul 13 2007, 01:36 PM
Post #28





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Hi Kimberly.

I was just going to post to see how you and Barb (5catsmom) were doing!!

Yes, I am going through the same thing. I am still waiting for Bennett to come back or for someone to contact me, something. I have not given up hope and it has been over a month.

I wanted to share a story with you. I have met (via internet) someone who lost a beautiful tiger cat, 10 months old. We have been corresponding and helping each other, as we live near each other. Her cat went missing on June 30. She lives near woods, and the cat was not that used to being outdoors. She was told by her vet that the cat was killed by an animal......she was heartbroken.

Last evening, I checked my email and guess what? She found her cat!! The cat had wandered about 6 miles and ended up at some good person's home. Through the lost/found ads, they contacted each other, and the cat is happy, healthy and back home.

I am waiting to hear that Twitch is back. I don't know what happened to Twitch or Bennett, but I do believe it is at least a good possibility that either/both of them are still around. I can understand that you don't want to get your hopes up, but don't give up yet.
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Mink&WillowsMom
post Jul 13 2007, 02:14 PM
Post #29





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From: Western Washington
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Thanks Paris. The hope rollercoaster is a rough ride. Up, down, up, down. The Garden Center caught the cat they were seeing, and I raced up there. Not Twitch, though she does look *remarkably* like him. She's beautiful and loving, I hope she finds her way back home. I think I am going to start distributing flyers in a wider reach.

A friend of mine lost her malamute last year, somebody had picked him up. She posted flyers everywhere. Nothing. She gave up hope. Then on a whim, her friend posted a flyer at the grocery store 9 miles away. The FedEx lady saw it, and remembered a gent on her route another 20 miles away had found such a dog. Lo and behold, same dog, so my friend got her dog back.

I'm still leaving the porch light on for him, still leaving his cat door panel in the sliding glass door at his house, still leaving food in the dish in case he makes it home.

*sigh*


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...You precious children, of four feet, whiskers, and mischief...
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zookeeper
post Jul 13 2007, 02:24 PM
Post #30





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Dear M and W'sMom,

I was so happy to read your post that folks have seen your Twichit. I understand completely when you say that you can't let yourself get too hopeful. I'm like that too. I'm the furthest thing from a fatalist but I do kind of wait for the other shoe to drop more often than not.

It's rather sad but sometimes I feel like if you expect nothing, you can really be over the moon when good things happen. (As they so often do, don't forget)

You've suffered incredible loss and are protecting yourself, surely on an unconcious level, from yet another staggering blow. It's okay, you're human.

I'm looking forward to your post to tell us that he has come home.

Sharon
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Mink&WillowsMom
post Jul 13 2007, 08:32 PM
Post #31





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QUOTE (zookeeper @ Jul 13 2007, 12:24 PM)
I'm looking forward to your post to tell us that he has come home.

me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too

I walked a path through the woods where two people have seen a white-footed tabby, calling and calling and calling. I was surprised to find it connects to a road with several houses. I hadn't realized they were so close, since I only knew the paved route. Tomorrow I'll knock on their doors with flyers.


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...You precious children, of four feet, whiskers, and mischief...
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Mink&WillowsMom
post Jul 14 2007, 04:49 PM
Post #32





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I've learned there is a white-footed tabby that lives right near where others have seen it dash into the woods. At this point I just don't think there's anything else I can do except work on accepting the loss. One upside: I have decided I'll install cat-fencing at the house I'm remodeling (Twitch's /my father's house). Costly, but a drop in the bucket compared to heartbreak.

For good news, go check out 5catsmom's "do you always feel like..." post. smile.gif


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...You precious children, of four feet, whiskers, and mischief...
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toonie
post Jul 22 2007, 06:39 AM
Post #33





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They say 'never two without three'--I hope you will be delighted with a suprise comeback, I hope you get to do the 'Moose Mom Cat Came Back Dance' biggrin.gif . Hugs and much love.Take care and know that wherever they are, they're also here with us,
seeing us through, heart and soul.
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Mink&WillowsMom
post Jul 22 2007, 12:51 PM
Post #34





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I did learn the white footed tabby seen up the street is another cat who lives there. *sigh*

But yes, I love the "it comes in threes" idea!!!! Please please please let me be the third with a happy ending!!!!


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...You precious children, of four feet, whiskers, and mischief...
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Mink&WillowsMom
post Jul 22 2007, 02:06 PM
Post #35





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To Barb and Paris, do you feel that your babies came home as a direct result of continued effort on your part, or just the groundwork you laid out? Barb, how many times did you contact the shelter? Do you feel like you had to keep calling and reminding them, keeping it fresh in their minds, or were they acting on information they'd simply held onto? Paris, had you still been calling and calling in the neighborhood, do you think hearing you led him home, or did he just come home when he was darn well ready?

I just don't know what to do... How long to actively search, and when to just leave it in Twitch's hands to come home when he wants to, if he's able...
Kimberlimbo


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...You precious children, of four feet, whiskers, and mischief...
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paris
post Jul 22 2007, 06:17 PM
Post #36





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QUOTE (toonie @ Jul 22 2007, 06:39 AM)
They say 'never two without three'

Wow, I thought this was just a French expression ("Jamais deux sans trois"). I was actually going to quote that but I thought it would be foreign to Americans, but let's count. Altogether now:

1. Shadow.
2. Bennett.
3. Twitchet!!
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paris
post Jul 22 2007, 06:30 PM
Post #37





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QUOTE (Mink&WillowsMom @ Jul 22 2007, 02:06 PM)
To Barb and Paris, do you feel that your babies came home as a direct result of continued effort on your part, or just the groundwork you laid out?  Barb, how many times did you contact the shelter?  Do you feel like you had to keep calling and reminding them, keeping it fresh in their minds, or were they acting on information they'd simply held onto?  Paris, had you still been calling and calling in the neighborhood, do you think hearing you led him home, or did he just come home when he was darn well ready? 

I just don't know what to do...  How long to actively search, and when to just leave it in Twitch's hands to come home when he wants to, if he's able...
Kimberlimbo

Hi Kim.

Barb and I had different resolutions. Mine was, as I expected, that Bennett came home when ready. Having said that, I felt it necessary to continue to have feelers out. I continued to renew several classified ads (including Craigslist). I also was told to stop by the shelter once a week, but I was pretty reassured that they were on top of things as I questioned them several times. They promised me that anyone who calls in or brings in a stray, they match it up with their records in their "lost cat" book. I asked a few different people to make sure. This shelter is pretty well-run and I don't know the policies of yours. So renewing ads in the classified and periodically visiting or emailing the shelter to let them know that the lost cat report is still active (they said they keep in for four months) I feel would be a good safety net, and not be too draining on your time and emotions.

I'm sorry, but I posted some questions on my own thread for you, as all our stories have become a bit intertwined. How much of an outdoor cat is Twitchet? Is the cat-door at your dad's place still open, and can it be set to close on one side?
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Mink&WillowsMom
post Jul 22 2007, 10:05 PM
Post #38





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QUOTE (paris @ Jul 22 2007, 04:30 PM)
Mine was, as I expected, that Bennett came home when ready.

That's resonating so strongly with me tonight. Both that you expected it, and that it had to do with him being ready to come back. (For others, please note that part of this conversation is on Bennett's Back! thread.) I'm clinging to the idea he's on a Walkabout, sorting through things. He and I have such a connection, please come home honey....


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5catsmom
post Jul 24 2007, 01:42 AM
Post #39





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Kim,
I feel certain that Shadow came home mostly because I and my son were at the shelter every other day, without fail. It got to where the guy who mops the floor in the cat room knew us by sight and would say that she was there or not. Even so, we always checked, even the isolation rooms (those were last so we didn't carry germs to the healthy cats. When it got too sad and frustrating for me, my son went to the shelter, so he was the one they called when she came in. I believe that's why we got her back, diligence in working the shelter system. Even so, we told all our neighbors, we searched everywhere - ironically in the wrong direction of where she was - and put flyers inside people's mailboxes. We listed on craigslist and posted a flyer at the neighborhood's busiest coffee shop. I went out every night and walked up and down the street. We told all the mailmen in the area to watch out, and gave them flyers to put in their trucks.

I honestly can't tell you how long to search, I guess that's the hardest decision to make. There were days when I'd lie in bed and think that I couldn't do this anymore, go looking, and then go looking anyway, or maybe take the day off. I think at one point I in my postings I mentioned a woman featured in the Washington Post who'd searched for 4 years to no avail, with all kinds of gadgetry. I know there are tracking dogs - at least in this area, but how good a job they'd do, I don't know. Hon, I just can't give you any consistent answers. I wish I could. If you have a shelter, all I can say is haunt it, and get to know the folks there. Twitch is such an amazing looking cat that he'd be hard to miss, but one of his defenses is the color of his coat, he'd blend in very well to his surroundings. When the weather closes in he may very well give up his walkabout or be found and brought somewhere. Post flyers everywhere and visit the shelter as often as you can.

I wish I could give you more advice than that. You both remain in my thoughts and prayers, and I wish you both peace and a joyful reunion. Do take care - Barb
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paris
post Jul 24 2007, 05:41 AM
Post #40





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QUOTE (5catsmom @ Jul 24 2007, 01:42 AM)
I honestly can't tell you how long to search, I guess that's the hardest decision to make.  There were days when I'd lie in bed and think that I couldn't do this anymore, go looking, and then go looking anyway, or  maybe take the day off. 

Agreed, Barb. This is absolutely the hardest part, and you can't just say "ok, today I give up and stop looking" because the mind will not let you do that. You are in a grey zone. You also said you were looking in the wrong direction. My friend, whose 9 month old cat went missing, also was not looking in the right direction (she kept to her neighborhood basically.)

Kim, what I think is important is to have a wide radius of search. I don't mean by foot, but by at least registering a lost-cat report at shelters within a 30 mile radius. I would email or mail a photograph of Twitchet. In addition, I would also place "lost cat" in classified papers in that radius also. I find that this is not that draining to do, but it widens your reach. The most important thing when someone finds a stray cat is that they are able to contact you. Most people who find a stray would probably only look in their local district's paper.
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