The Vent and Rant Thread

[WT Sharpe]

I always worry because of the wildlife in your area, kindlekitten. I hope you find Arwen soon.

[covingtoncat73]

I hope she comes back soon, KK!

Well, another acquaintance in my age group (I'm talking people barely in their 40s here) has died. There have been several in the last two years (two to cancer, one to a car accident). Well, now there is another. I hadn't seen him since Jr. High but his parents and my parents were friends in the hippy days and I have pictures of me with him when we were little. The family isn't saying how but mom has heard from his aunt that he was having a troubled life. It could be OD or suicide or simply a heart attack or stroke. His poor mother lost both her mother and her sister last year, too, and her only other child is severely disabled and in a home. He didn't have a partner or a child, so no grandchildren, either.

[kindlekitten]

Ok, so last Friday I had some people over to do some work here. Even though it's a disaster zone, I do have to keep up with some stuff.

So we were talking in one of the front rooms about what needs to be done, etc etc.... let me backtrack with this, when you walk in the main entrance of my house, immediately in front of you are a powder room and one of the stairways going up. To the right is what used to be my formal living room to which I had added floor to ceiling glass doors that can be an issue closing at times.
Immediately to the left is what used to be my library, chill out, talk, music, chess, whatever.

So the cats have catflaps to and through most of these rooms because the doors are all closed in the winter, as Mr. Contractor from hell dude destroyed my central heat so I have to be very careful about which doors I leave open.
anyway, these people left through the front door and I went the other way. About an hour and a half later, Strider was discovered maoing his brains out in the front yard. He was very happy to come in. About 10 minutes later Arwen was on some stuff on the deck looking in. I think this is part of what distinguishes Savannah from not. She wanted in but wouldn't articulate it. This part of the deck is supposed to have steps, but as everything is still so screwed, it doesn't. My leg is giving me no end of grief, but drag my ass up there
. Oh yeah, this is the same portion of deck I fractured my femur on after the first knee replacement. Anyway, I stumble, she freaks and lits off like the hounds of hell are after her. The area she heads for is essentially primeval forest. We haven't seen her since then. Strider has been completely upset, maoing constantly

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

Ok, so last Friday I had some people over to do some work here. Even though it's a disaster zone, I do have to keep up with some stuff.

So we were talking in one of the front rooms about what needs to be done, etc etc.... let me backtrack with this, when you walk in the main entrance of my house, immediately in front of you are a powder room and one of the stairways going up. To the right is what used to be my formal living room to which I had added floor to ceiling glass doors that can be an issue closing at times.
Immediately to the left is what used to be my library, chill out, talk, music, chess, whatever.

So the cats have catflaps to and through most of these rooms because the doors are all closed in the winter, as Mr. Contractor from hell dude destroyed my central heat so I have to be very careful about which doors I leave open.
anyway, these people left through the front door and I went the other way. About an hour and a half later, Strider was discovered maoing his brains out in the front yard. He was very happy to come in. About 10 minutes later Arwen was on some stuff on the deck looking in. I think this is part of what distinguishes Savannah from not. She wanted in but wouldn't articulate it. This part of the deck is supposed to have steps, but as everything is still so screwed, it doesn't. My leg is giving me no end of grief, but drag my ass up there
. Oh yeah, this is the same portion of deck I fractured my femur on after the first knee replacement. Anyway, I stumble, she freaks and lits off like the hounds of hell are after her. The area she heads for is essentially primeval forest. We haven't seen her since then. Strider has been completely upset, maoing constantly

KK:

I don't know if you remember this--I believe I mentioned it on this thread, maybe a year or two ago?--but if you have someone else who can help you, (walking and all), and if it's dry where you are (dry and cold), get them to take leavings from your poop-bucket (the bucket you use for the bag full of the stuff from the catboxes, preferably the clumped pee), put it in a nylon stocking, and head out to where you last saw Arwen. Then DRAG the stocking back toward the house. If it's cold and dry, scent from their pads doesn't stick to the ground, and she can have trouble finding her way back home. If you help her with scent, she may well be able to.

As deranged as it made me look at the time, in a normal suburban neighborhood, I used this for my missing-for-more-than-a-week, not-too-bright male Himmy, 20+ years ago, and it worked. After I'd done this two nights in a row, he found his way back home.

I hope this helps.

Hitch

[kindlekitten]

Put the cat litter in a stocking and drag it about? Is that what I'm hearing? Yes I can do that.

This particular loss seems so bizarre. I almost feel like a loss emotion has been broken off
I'm devestated, but can't cry let alone get emotional. I want/need to cry but can't yet. She's either decided to live in the wild, or she's just gone. I'm not sure why I feel this way

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

Put the cat litter in a stocking and drag it about? Is that what I'm hearing? Yes I can do that.

Yup. Put dirty, scooped litter into a stocking/pantyhose and drag it from where she is (was) to the house. Do it a lot. From the woods to the house. Any chance she was in heat? And might come to her senses?

This particular loss seems so bizarre. I almost feel like a loss emotion has been broken off
I'm devestated, but can't cry let alone get emotional. I want/need to cry but can't yet. She's either decided to live in the wild, or she's just gone. I'm not sure why I feel this way

You're in shock. You know this from the military, kiddo. Try the stocking.

Hitch

[badgoodDeb]

A few conversations ago, Arwen had been in heat. So she might still be. (this until KK gets back and answers) I guess KK hasn't heard any nasty animal noises from the woods, as with the last baby she lost -- indicating a run in with a wild beast. At least, she hasn't *heard* anything like that yet.

Fingers crossed and prayers going up too.

Would it help to cook up a dinner for herself (for KK) of a really smelly steak or tuna fish, or something that the cat could smell and get interested in? Or wouldn't that reach the outdoors?

[kindlekitten]

Yeah, her heat was 3 to 4 weeks over. She's very un food motivated. Strider came to me from his breeder as a "mine mine mine" sort of critter. Even the day I picked him up after having met him she did the crinkle thing. ARwen figured out that there was almost always food associated with crinkle noise. She'd investigate but rarely partake. I figure if she isn't GONE gone, she is in the woods immediately to the south of me. They are incredibly dangerous as there is an arroyo, for lack of a better descripting a small canyon covered with decades of downed trees and branches. The kids and I went exploring in there shortly after we moved here. I slipped off of a log and stopped about 15 feet down . So that's one direction.

Sorry my phone has been lighting up like crazy. Will check in later. big doings at the city level and I should be there

[badgoodDeb]

Ok. Do keep us posted. We're worried too.

[kindlekitten]

ok, better news this morning. she showed up outside of the catio which is right next to my bed. she has a very unique mao, hearing that more or less woke up, I thought I was having a waking dream. then I heard her bell, both cats are belled and they are unique sounds. I dashed outside, no shoes, she went into a thick stand of raspberry bushes. then when I made my way to the front and she was sitting on some stuff stored there. she sat for a minute, but then back under the deck. I went back into the house, closed up the dog and cat flaps in my room, grabbed a particularly stinky cat food. I dropped bits of it between the stand of bushes and gate. the can itself is sitting very close to the door. of course I had to come into work. I only have another hour left. I'm certain that as she has appeared close to the house and was maoing like mad, she is finished with her adventure. If she doesn't come quickly/easily I'll put Strider in his harness and we'll go out together. He was maoing like a crazy man when I left. he knows she's out there.

[cromag]

Good luck!

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

ok, better news this morning. she showed up outside of the catio which is right next to my bed. she has a very unique mao, hearing that more or less woke up, I thought I was having a waking dream. then I heard her bell, both cats are belled and they are unique sounds. I dashed outside, no shoes, she went into a thick stand of raspberry bushes. then when I made my way to the front and she was sitting on some stuff stored there. she sat for a minute, but then back under the deck. I went back into the house, closed up the dog and cat flaps in my room, grabbed a particularly stinky cat food. I dropped bits of it between the stand of bushes and gate. the can itself is sitting very close to the door. of course I had to come into work. I only have another hour left. I'm certain that as she has appeared close to the house and was maoing like mad, she is finished with her adventure. If she doesn't come quickly/easily I'll put Strider in his harness and we'll go out together. He was maoing like a crazy man when I left. he knows she's out there.

Hooray!!! Let us know when you snag that wench!

Hitch

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

ok, better news this morning. she showed up outside of the catio which is right next to my bed. she has a very unique mao, hearing that more or less woke up, I thought I was having a waking dream. then I heard her bell, both cats are belled and they are unique sounds. I dashed outside, no shoes, she went into a thick stand of raspberry bushes. then when I made my way to the front and she was sitting on some stuff stored there. she sat for a minute, but then back under the deck. I went back into the house, closed up the dog and cat flaps in my room, grabbed a particularly stinky cat food. I dropped bits of it between the stand of bushes and gate. the can itself is sitting very close to the door. of course I had to come into work. I only have another hour left. I'm certain that as she has appeared close to the house and was maoing like mad, she is finished with her adventure. If she doesn't come quickly/easily I'll put Strider in his harness and we'll go out together. He was maoing like a crazy man when I left. he knows she's out there.

Oh, good. The good news is she is back and clearly would like back in. Now it's just a matter of allowing her to come back while maintaining her dignity and letting it be clear she only does it because she chooses to.

[kindlekitten]

Exactly. However I'm arranging to borrow a live trap just in case

[badgoodDeb]

Oh good!!! I'm glad she has deigned to come home, as long as she can decide when to do so.