Remembering. . .one year ago

One year ago today, our Tucker slipped out of the house and went missing. It was such a surreal time, full of emotions. Here's what I learned from the experience, and from finding him.

1. Always be watchful when you leave your home. Do a headcount before shutting the door. It's that one time you "quickly dash out" when something could happen.

2. Guilt can consume you.

3. Jim and I loved Tucker equally. Not that I doubted it before, but seeing Jim searching late into the night made my heart ache with both sadness and happiness.

4. We learned a lot about looking for a lost cat, and wrote a lengthy post about it. We know at least one person has found their cat based on what we wrote. While we don't wish this experience on anyone, we're thrilled it could help someone else.

5. True happiness at being reunited. As long as I live, I will never forget the details in the night I found him. This photo will be my all-time favorite, probably always. I had no idea how much I was smiling in this photo until I looked at it later.

6. Treasure every day together. Life is short and precious.

Tucker and the neighbor girls

Last night, as I pulled into the driveway after work, two neighbor girls came up to me. They live two houses down, and were a great help when Tucker was missing. In fact, it was their dad who called us, sighting him in another neighborhood. If it hadn't been for this family, we probably would not have found him.

They asked about Tucker, and I offered to let them see him. I brought him just outside the back door. The girl's grandmother has pets, and they were gentle with him. I asked if I could take their photo, and they said yes.

They asked if I could take just one more photo. . .

Tucker was amazing with them, sitting quietly and letting them pet and reposition him. I'm going to print these photos for them and make up a little Easter basket as a surprise. We owe them a lot for helping us find our boy.

Also, on another note, our friend Susan has a cord chewer on her hands! Can anyone offer suggestions? Read her post here.

Four wonderful months and giveaway winner!

Today marks four months since the day I found Tucker. We have been thankful for each of those days. It's been wonderful to see him return to health.

A big THANK YOU for the love and support you've given us.

 

We are also happy to announce our giveaway winner:

 The winner is. . Chuck! Chuck happens to be a co-worker of ours, so we can deliver the Lifters to him today! Congrats and thanks to all who entered!

Do you think Tucker has aged?

In some ways, it seems to me that Tucker's "great escape" has aged him greatly. I see him sleeping somewhere and think he looks so much older than he used to. What do you think? Am I imagining things?

Come on, Mom. I still look good.

Oh yes, you do, Tucker. You'll always be handsome to us.

A special ornament, and a weight update

Soon after Tucker's return, a co-worker gave me a Hallmark ornament. He suggested putting a photo of Tucker it it to commemorate his return. I really liked idea, and it has a special place on our tree this year.

Tucker has stalled in his weight gain, and was down one ounce. He is getting fed four times per day (two full meals and two smaller meals). If anyone has thoughts about this, I'm all ears. (He eats wet food only.)

I thought I would show you my "high tech" system of tracking his weight, hee.

A special frame for a special day

I crafted a special frame for Tucker's return. It was a dog frame I picked up at a thrift store, upcycled into a new frame. I spray-painted it black and added twine, letters, and embellishments. I really like how it turned out.

Also, I weighed the boy last night and he's the same weight as he was on the 7th--up 9 1/2 ounces. He has about 9 more ounces to go before he reaches his pre-escape weight. In his prime, he was nearly 15 pounds, but in the past couple of years he's been about 14.

Tucker's temporary outdoor "home"

I went back and took some daytime photos of where I found Tucker. I first saw him come out from under this car, near the garbage cans:

When he got spooked, he ran in the side yard of this house. We had checked this yard many times because of all the junk around it.

We think he'd been living in this garage (with broken door) for at least a week. Though we had shined flashlights inside and called his name, he did not respond then.

Tucker has a vet appointment today to get checked over. He is eating pretty well and is in a good mood. The cats are still separated and we'll take it slow in re-introducing. The hard part is over--we can deal with this.

Map and morning update

I did a Google map of how far Tucker traveled from our house. The "A" pin on the bottom is our house. I took some photos of where he was found on my way to work this morning, but the camera is in my car, so I'll upload those later.

I called Jim already (I can't get away from work today) and Tucker is doing fine. We will have to re-introduce the cats, because both Benny and Sadie are freaked out. I'm going to buy a Feliway diffuser today and plug that in, and some Rescue Remedy too.

I posted the news on Facebook and was thrilled to see the flurry of activity around it. People at work gathered around me this morning. It's truly a celebration. I am blessed.

Finding Tucker--the story!

I went out at dusk on Monday, and walked through our back alley. I decided to go out the furthest that he had been sighted and work my way back home. I was near a corner--where both Jim and I had checked many times before. I saw a cat emerge from under a car, and I immediately recognized those two eyeballs.

I called his name, and he meowed. I came closer and offered him some treats, and he ran away. I called Jim on the phone, frantic, then went over to where I saw him run. I kept calling his name, over and over. He was meowing but keeping a distance. I sat down and kept repeating his name, and he finally came to me.

I scooped him up and ran to the street. I saw an SUV with a female driver and asked her for a ride.  I'm sure I sounded nuts, but I didn't care.

He's thin, dirty, and a little confused, but who cares?!? He is home. I made a vet appointment for Wednesday night to check him over. He's in my lap now, purring away. Jim took this photo, which is now my favorite.

Thank you, thank you, for all of the support, purrs, and love you have sent us during the past 11 days. It kept us going. We are so thankful. I made myself some promises if he comes back, and I plan to honor them. Stay tuned in the coming days.

TUCKER IS HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found him, I found him!

The whole story later, but here are some pix. He is thin but ok.

Jim crying tears of joy.

Things not to say to someone when they've lost their cat

In the past 10 days, I've met some caring and helpful people. However, there have also been people who have said rude or inconsiderate things. Here are some examples:

1. Making a joke. This is NOT funny, nor did I wish for this to happen.
2. Saying "It's just a cat/pet." Tucker has helped me through some hard times. He means more to me than I can explain.
3. Sending us spam. This happened to Jim, and he did not download the file(s) when the "person" didn't respond.
4. Not answering your door. We aren't threatening people. You can see our red eyes and lost posters in our hands. We would do the same for you if the situation were reversed.
5. Offering to replace our cat. We want him home!
6. Saying that he won't look the same if he comes home. We don't care what he may look like. We love him regardless.

What you CAN do for me:

1. Let me cry on your shoulder.
2. If you live in my city, offer to hang up a poster in your vet's office or community board.
3. Offer to check lost and found pet websites.
4. If you really, really care, offer to search with me. Just to have someone to walk with me will mean so much.
5. CALL if you see him, anytime day or night.

Still no news

The weather, while warmer, has been windy and stormy for two days. We've been searching during the late evening, with no signs. I am trying to place a classified in our local paper, but their system isn't working, despite two different browsers and trying three different times.

Sigh.

Nine long, lonely days

Today marks nine days since Tucker disappeared. We spent a lot of time searching last night, both in the neighborhood and farther away. I was singing the silly song I made up for him a while ago when I searched. . .I hope he could hear me. Jim biked around until his bike battery died. . and when he came back in the house I could tell he had been crying. :-(

No luck at the shelter today. I am going to spread some vacuum cleaner bag contents around the yard, and replace the used laundry we have out. I am feeling very hopeless today.

Sadie's little gift and Tucker search update

One night after work, I took off the sweater vest I was wearing and put it on the futon. Sadie took a nap on it and left her little imprint.. . .

. . and a little tiny whisker.

It makes me cry, though just about everything makes me cry these days.

Tucker search update: I covered some new ground last night, in addition to the usual nearby places. I talked to a woman in the 100 block of our street who was walking her dog and gave her a flyer. I have met some wonderful, helpful people in the past week.

I've taken many of your suggestions--put out bowls of food in case he is scared of the trap, and put out some used laundry with our scents in the front and back yards.

Thank you for your continued thoughts and comments. This has been the strangest, oddest week.

Exhausted

Everything has caught up with me, and I am exhausted mentally and physically today. I guess I could not live on adrenaline forever.

Nothing at the local shelter today. Jim is going to look around the neighborhood before work this afternoon. I'm going to need a nap before I do any searching. I already broke out in cold sores, and sure don't want to get sick too.

Sadie did a sweet thing last night that I want to share. She has seemed unaffected by Tucker's absence, but last night she climbed into my lap (rare) and started purring. She leaned over and gently licked my lips twice. She's never done anything like it before. It warmed my heart for a little while.

The sweetest, saddest sign

I received this card in the mail from my niece yesterday (age 8). I admit I burst out crying when I saw it, but know that her heart is in the right place.

Thank you for all of your suggestions and help. We are reaching out to as many people, vet clinics, etc. as possible to find him. I'm updating my posts on craigslist, contact or visit the shelters daily. I truly hope he will find his way back home (if we don't find him first). 

I read an article last night about 10-14 days being a "threshold point," where a cat whereby driven by hunger or thirst to return home. We've heard stories about cats returning after 1, 2, 6 weeks or more. Sigh.

Wednesday's news

Jim and I hit the streets again today.  We both went back to the neighborhood he was supposedly spotted. Between the two of us, we spent about four hours searching.

Of course, I visited the local humane society, checked lost and found websites, and dropped off a flyer at another vet clinic.

Are you out there, Tucker boy? We hope you are staying safe and warm, where ever you are. :-(

Walking the neighborhoods

I left work early today to walk back to the neighborhood Tucker was possibly sighted in last night. A woman raking leaves heard me and told me she'd seen a cat last night--around the same time we received the call from our neighbor. I ran back home and drove back with flyers. She said the cat looked similar to him, and she would call if she sees him again. Maybe it isn't him, but I'll cross my fingers anyway.

I walked 2.5 hours this afternoon, and even had two neighbors open their garages (again) to check inside.

I called Jim with the news, and he bemoaned the fact that he could not leave work today to search. He has a lighter workload tomorrow and will spend some time looking. I feel a bit more hopeful tonight. Maybe he really is still out there.

Losing my mind

I've been listening to Paul McCartney's new album (New) and this song has been on my mind a lot. It's called "Looking at her," but I've been changing the words to "Looking for him." The part about losing my mind is particularly true. . .

I'm going to the shelter during lunch again. If he isn't there, I plan to take an hour's vacation time to look at the location he was supposedly seen at last night. It's much easier to search in the daylight, and there were several hiding spots I'd like to get a better look at.

Busy night here

We got a call from a neighbor about a "large cat" matching the description. We zoomed over there, but it was a good quarter mile away from the house. Searched for an hour to no avail. I have a hard time believing he would travel that far--and it's across a busier street. Everything I've heard and read says they stay very close to home. But, of course, we'll check out any and all leads!

I placed some used litter in the front and back yards, baited the trap with tuna, laminated a sign and staked it in the front yard, and filled out two online reports (lostmykitty and petkey.org). I contacted the last two houses on the street and gave them a flyer.

I went to the local shelter and the emergency vets today, and a friend went to another shelter. We got a little snow so I searched around the house outside too but could not see any tracks.

Sigh. It's getting so cold tonight. :-( Stay safe, Tucker boy.