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lost white cat

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Started 10 months ago by eric
Latest reply from gracie

eric

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my indoor cat got out sometime yesterday. she is old and probably not going to be very friendly with or approach strangers. i find it tough to believe she went far...

i have a fenced in yard and am suprised she made it out of there. i didn't realize she was gone until very early this AM (4 0r 5). i've gone around the neighborhood and so far no luck.

Luna is a smallish white long haired cat. all white - no mistaking her. location around 83rd and earl. no collar, no chip. please, no lectures. i've had this cat for 15+ years without incident and am very concerned.

Posted 10 months ago #
Chickster

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Be sure to post on craigslist with pics so you can add that link here...and post on phinneywood.com, too, in their lost pets section. Hope you find your kitty soon!

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/laf/3141266664.html

here is a link to craigslist. thanks.

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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neighbor said she was heading west last night. that doesn't mean thats where she'll end up obviously, but its a start.

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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two nights missing. getting anxious. she's older and is probably hiding out in a garage or some similar space.. please please please check out your garage or yard, under your steps.

changed avitar to photo of Luna.

Posted 10 months ago #
h2o_girl

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I'm so sorry she's still out there, Eric! I talked to you for a minute in front of my apt bldg - you were on your bike. I checked all around my back yard and under my deck. I'll check again this evening when I get home from work. I hope you find her.

Posted 10 months ago #
joelsey

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Eric, as the owner of an indoor only senior cat, my heart goes out to you. I have some extra time over the next few days, so I'll head out on my Vespa after work and search in the general area.

Thinking good thoughts for you and Luna.

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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thanks, joelsey, that's very kind.

the truth is, i really don't expect her to be out in the open or approach anyone, unless she's really hungry/thirsty. i picture her hiding, frightened. hopefully unharmed.

i've put fliers all over the area, ad on craigslist, here, fliers at animal hospital, vets, etc....

now i just feel helpless and like there isn't much i can do. i've been going up and down the alleys nearby calling her name. sigh. i know its only been two nights but i'm dying right now.

upside - lots and lots of kind concerned neighbors!

Posted 10 months ago #
lifeisamazing

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This is to everyone - Even if you're not near where Luna comes from, look in all of the little holes in your house/yard/garage/shed. When we lost our guy, he had apparently been chased out of various cat's territories until he was two miles from home! A wonderful woman grabbed him and kept him in her house until she found a picture we'd put up at petco
He was on his own for 4 weeks until she found him so, Eric, don't lose hope. He came home after 5 full weeks, a bit scratched up but home and safe.
Oh, and I don't know if you're already doing this but she may (weirdly) not come to your voice but may come to the sound of a shaking food container if you feed her dry food.
Thinking good thoughts. Hang in there.

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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thanks life.

the cat territory thing is of some concern. lots of outdoor cats in my neighborhood, and a few raccoons. in fact this AM, one of the neighbor cats was hanging out atop my fence.

i don't wan to be obnoxious with this, so i will only bump this up once a day if needed.

edit; thank very much h2o gal.

Posted 10 months ago #
lifeisamazing

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I know Eric, I hesitated to say so but I couldn't think of a way for what I was saying to make sense and to, hopefully, get people to check their yards regardless of how far away they are without explaining what was explained to me. If it's any consolation, if a cat doesn't stand it's ground (like Luna won't since she is not trying to stake out territory) they don't get hurt, they just run. My boy wasn't scratched like in a hard core cat fight. He was fine with just a few little scratches.
bump

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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got a call an hour or so ago - seen in a garage on 86th and 26th. no dice.

thought she'd be on the south side of 85th but not so i guess.

thanks, neighbors, for looking out.

Posted 10 months ago #
VeganBiker

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eric - I am cat sitting for friends near 80th and 31st and noticed a sign for your cat on the pole at that intersection. I am riding/walking from 62nd and 28th up there every day so I am keeping an eye out for Luna. I hope you get her back soon.

Posted 10 months ago #
joelsey

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Hey Eric. I am just hoping I can get a sighting of her and then call you from the Vespa. I like using it because I can cover a lot of territory, and I can go up and down the alleys.

I'll be out there again tonight. Sorry, I didn't see her last night.

Posted 10 months ago #
gracie

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Eric - suggestion of looking up - as in the trees. My cat disappeared, called & looked for him. By chance I stopped by this house block from my house, got out of car, & leaning against it in frustration said outloud "where are you?" - then I heard this tiny meow. He had been chased up a huge fir tree by a dog found out. Also is bushes in your yard or nearby look under there - your beautiful cat could be there if possibly injured or just plain scared.
Another one of my cats got locked in a basement of a house & was there for nine days. So hopefully your kind neighbors are checking their basements, sheds.
Best of luck finding your beautiful cat.

Posted 10 months ago #
pandabur

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eric - where are you in Ballard (cross streets)?

Posted 10 months ago #
Chickster

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Yes, gracie, was also going to say to look up...have had kitties get up but couldn't get back down trees because they kept climbing higher and got stuck.

Have had current indoor kitty escape and hide. He was declawed when we "rescued" him, so he can't climb trees. He's a low-ground hider who didn't meow much back then when called, so bring a flashlight and really hunker down and look again in some of the same places.

Sending out good "find Luna" vibes...hope to be in that area today to help search.

>^..^<

Posted 10 months ago #
Chickster

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Silly smart phone...double posting...wish there was just a darn "delete" button!

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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YES!!! Luna is safe and sound and at my house!

had a call last night that she was in someones garage on 86th and 26th, no luck. today my mom, god bless her, decided to come over from Whidbey island to help out (which she has done the last two days also.) and spotted her and the end of 26th by 88th.

she couldn't catch her - in fact cute fuzzy Luna bit her, etc - then ducked into a drain pipe. couldn't reach her, and the pipe was blocked from the other side. mom sat there for like 3 hours or more waiting on animal control - they couldn't reach her. then someone from public utilities came and snaked out the clogged end, Luna dashed out and mom was able to throw a blanket over her and get her into the cat carrier.

hero for the day! yay mom!

i met so many kind and concerned people and am thankful for everyones' help, thoughts, tips. whew.

Thanks Ballard!

Posted 10 months ago #
h2o_girl

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YAY! So glad Luna is home. And what a lovely woman your mother is. That is fantastic.

Posted 10 months ago #
SmartsyArtsy

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I'm so glad you have her back home.

Posted 10 months ago #
great idea

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what an ordeal!

aren't moms the best?!!!

Posted 10 months ago #
Chef Wahoo

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I'm so glad Luna is home, Eric. And what a great mother you have!

Posted 10 months ago #
Chickster

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What a great story with such a happy ending! So happy for you and Luna! A true community effort led by mom!!! Love it! >^..^<

Posted 10 months ago #
lakreitz

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Moms can fix just about anything.

I am glad Luna is home with you and safe after crossing a busy street. It sounds like she was very frightened by the whole experience.

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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"Moms can fix just about anything"

isn't that the truth. i am very fortunate in many ways, and having a selfless, giving, nice-beyond-nice mom is just one!

all's well that ends well. thanks again, everyone. especially the woman who called last night after seeing Luna in neighbors' garage. she started this whole triumph.

and now, i return to robot form.

Posted 10 months ago #
PDaddymom

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So glad to hear your Luna is home safe and sound. Thank you for keeping her as an indoor kitty :-) And dog Puzzle is home too. Two happy endings!

Posted 10 months ago #
BuffaloHawk

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Congrats... Awesome story robot

Peace and mom's are awesome

Posted 10 months ago #
PDaddymom

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Feels sort of healing after the tragedy of little dog Arlee....

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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trust me, i thought about that little dog/thread.

even after "only" a couple nights, i was beginning to try to prepare myself for all the possible outcomes - not trying to project negativity, but truely wondering how i'd react if the worst came true.

i really don't know how i'd handle a long extended worry everyday scenerio.

Posted 10 months ago #
lifeisamazing

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Wow!! I'm so glad!!!! Yay!!
Isn't it weird how when they're scared they go all feral on you?! How wonderful that your mom had the wherewithal to do it all right so poor Luna (who clearly wasn't herself) didn't get away! Smart mom.
And the wonderful person that called in the sighting. What a great little cybercommunity.

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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i was actuallly slightly encouraged by her viciousness! i figured she'd be easy pickings for the local raccoons and cats, but even at 16+, she is fiesty.

its true though - when they are scared and/or disoriented they are totally primal. i didn't mention, as the story is even longer and more drawn out than i have posted, that ma called me at work "she's here but hissing and biting, etc, - you need to come here!" i got there to see luna in this weird drain pipe (88th and 26th), she was growling and not at all happy to see anyone grabbing at her, even her buddy of 15 years, me.

also, thanks to the residence next to this pipe - wonderful, friendly lady brought mom a chair to sit in and dried fish to try to get luna's attention. and to the old fella who insisted on helping us. and also....

Posted 10 months ago #
joelsey

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WOOOOOHOOOO!!!! I am so happy Luna is home. Probably not as happy as you are, Eric, or Luna.

Mad props to your Mom for hanging in there and getting it done. That's love right there!

I have an 15 year old cat who is a total love in the house. She's front declawed (not by us) and we've only had her 5 years, but she's just a total lap cat. However, if she's outside with us (supervised only) and she sees a neighbor's cat, she gets some spunk to her!

Posted 10 months ago #
gracie

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Eric - so happy Luna is back home. if she could only tell you her adventures. What a mom you have. So lucky. Bet Luna will think twice about going out into the big world again. Poor babe was scared to death.
When my cat was missing for 9 days, and found in a basement on an upper shelf way way back behind boxes - he initially wouldn't come out to me either. Lots of baby talk & soon I heard a tiny "meow?" - like is that really you?
Little Arlee - I think of her often - especially when I drive by Green Lake and look at Duck Island. We were all so hoping for a happy ending like Luna's.
PDaddy - you still have signs up about Puzzle. Another happy ending with your furry buddy home!

Posted 10 months ago #
eric

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ah, one last comment - i have done my best to gather the signs i put up, i imagine i must have missed one here and there. i'll make one more check later, but feel free to yank 'em down if you happen upon one.

Posted 10 months ago #
gracie

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eric - if I see any (but haven't) will take them down for you. The ones I was seeing, as driving down street, were about Puzzle. Again, so glad Luna is home. I get my two new little ones this weekend. And the fun begins............

Posted 10 months ago #
PDaddymom

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Gracie - to clarify, Puzzle is not my dog - I just posted a notice of her being missing here from phinneywood. (On my way to the bus I see many puzzle posters and I have been taking them down.) I know what you mean about a devoted animal companion turning wild when stressed - they totally revert to their wild nature - especially cats - fight or flight kicks in for sure! Gracie - remind me - you are getting two kitties, right? Teeny wee ones?

Posted 10 months ago #
lifeisamazing

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OK, I have to add my "how weird do cats get when they're lost" story. I caught our small black squishy-faced Thomas as a feral kitten and he always retained a bit of that. We were in Sandpoint Idaho and coming from the city he just loved the woods. So much so that one night he didn't come home, or the next, or for the next several nights. We kept seeing him out in the woods and he kept crying like he wanted to come home but every time I'd get close enough to grab him he'd run - Arghh!!! Finally I did the cartoon dive up and forward and I came down flat catching him between my chin, arms and chest (he wasn't hurt, I didn't bleed much) Once I had him he acted like "Where have you beeeeeen????" He slept on my late husbands lap for 4 hours or so until he said plaintively (my husband, not the cat) "Honey, I really HAVE to go to the bathroom".
He wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer (the cat, not my husband) but he was so damn cute it didn't matter. (my husband was both smart and cute)

Posted 10 months ago #
gracie

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PDaddy - Apologies about the posters. And yep, getting two little ones. About 7 weeks old. They are so incredibly cute. Just talked to owner of mama cat this past weekend & she said the kittens are still small - which I kinda like. My last cat never got above 8# and many times mistaken for a kitten.
Life...love that story. My cat would sleep on me in bed & if I had to get up, he didn't care. He even came into the bathroom when a kitten as I was taking a bubble bath. Sat on side of tub playing with bubbles - and me - like an idiot - said, come here, baby. He jumped on my chest, was purring away until his tail hit the water. I had scratches and fur all over me as he scrambled to get out. Talk about dumb on my part.

Posted 10 months ago #