Pets - Trauma Pending

We've had a cat for three years.  Raised her from a kitten here at our neighborhood home.  She rules the block - bird-killer, badass, hard to even approach.  But she loves us!  Purrs while being fed...

She came up missing 11 days ago - we didn't really realize it until she'd been gone 3 days.  At that point I started asking the neighbors if they'd seen anything, and they had.  I got a report that the other neighbor's dogs were chasing my cat under the first neighbor's house.  This correlated with seeing the neighbor boy around that second neighbor's place, trying to control his dogs...  was that when my cat met it's end?! 

When Charmy didn't show up over the next three to four days, I was sure the neighbor's dog had cornered her and she was gone...  She'd never been gone more than one night from our home.

The days passed and I'd spoken to all the neighbors and asked that they keep an eye out, but I admit that I had very little hope that Charmy was alive.

My son was heavily affected by the loss of his loved companion.  Tears before school were hard to console, and I found myself trying to sell him on how this wild cat's lifestyle on the edge wasn't something we could ever control...

11 days had passed.  I was looking at her food and water and litterbox in the bathroom and her scratching post in the living room, and I was thinking, "how long until we get rid of those?" because I knew she was GONE!!!

And then, as I was drying a dish from dinner, and other family members were still at the table, we heard it.  MEOW.  At our door. -- I thought it was fake.  I thought it must be from another cat if it did exist.  I swear to you, there's nothing so real as this:  it was not my cat-it could not be my cat.  We opened the door and it was Charmy!  I still can't believe it.

She has a significant wound on her belly, will be seeing the vet before being allowed "outside" again, and we're all amazed and so thankful that she's alive.   

Great bedtime read. Hope the kitty has a full and speedy recovery.

Awesome story Eric! we had almost the exact same thing happen with our cat. Missing for days, convinced he was gone, grieving the loss... so sad. Then we hear him under the house. After much pleading (and feeding) he comes out. Two broken teeth and limping badly. No bite marks or open wounds. Probably hit by a car.

So glad yours came home too. I hope your boy's alright, that's tough to go through.

ruben

Awesome story Eric! we had almost the exact same thing happen with our cat. Missing for days, convinced he was gone, grieving the loss... so sad. Then we hear him under the house. After much pleading (and feeding) he comes out. Two broken teeth and limping badly. No bite marks or open wounds. Probably hit by a car.

So glad yours came home too. I hope your boy's alright, that's tough to go through.

ruben

Thank you, Ruben.

Great bedtime read. Hope the kitty has a full and speedy recovery.

Thank you, Brian.

 

When I read this story I still get all broken up when I get to the part where she meows and we're all  freaked out that it's her.  I'm so thankful for that cat.   

 

Hi Eric,

I was really feeling your pain, your son's pain and your family's pain. We have a cat that my younger son brought home when he was in the fifth grade. Paws as we later named home  had some really traumatic physical injuries when she was younger and even in the last 2 years, and we thought for sure we would loose her a couple of times.
My wife and I and I know even my son knows that this cat who was once a stray with her kittens came calling at our back door asking for a home. She has been the best cat/pet that we could ever have prayed for and  she is part of our family and she knows it.
I am so happy for you and your family that she made it back home!!
That's like a movie script with a happy ending!!
I am sure that she knew that if she could get home, she woujld be O.K., because there would be family there to take care of her and fill her with love.
I think that cats are very in tune with energy!!
and what a learning experience for your son.

Good things happen to good people.

Take Care,

Da Bruddah (Michael)

Thank you, Michael!   

Thanks for sharing the "happy ending" cat story Eric.

Congrats on your cat returning home.  It's amazing how much our pets mean to us. Just another part of the family.

Great ending 

8 lives left bro! Glad it came home!

So glad this has a happy ending.  I have a couple neurotic cats these days.  One who wont go outside except the fenced back yard and the other who cant be corralled.  I try to get this one inside every night lest the random coyote gets a snack, but she was a stray before I got her, so....


Hope the vet visit makes her healthy again.


Jim

Glad your kitty came home!

I remember when I was a kid we had a cat chased off by a new neighborhood dog. She came back 6 weeks (!) later, and we'd already replaced her. She loved another 16 years

We got a new kitten just this February. He tries very hard to get outside, then freaks out when outside and won't come in or allow anyone to get near him. Last time I had to corner him and use my cast net to catch him. So now we use the mudroom as a sallyport.

Gotta love those little kitties that bring us so much joy, even though they refused to be "owned".

So glad I read all the way through this Eric. Best possible ending ever.

I lost my cat of 9 yrs this fall when she did not turn up for dinner one night. She had lived at our house before we bought it, we called her the little gray landlady. I figure either she went walkabout to find her own place to rest (she was 10), or coyotes got her. RIP little Mer.

Very glad for you and your family that Charmy came back!!

We lost our little Ginger Boots earlier this year...think it affected me the most...loved that little booger.

My dog Barley has also been depressed since his little buddy passed, but we are bringing home a new puppy this weekend so hopefully that will help! 

Gave Ginger Boots a proper burial though, and I know he is in kitty heaven now.

Thanks for sharing Eric.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim