Friday 24 August 2007

Missing

Bussie went missing on Tuesday evening, having injured his back leg. He came down and told us about it, of course, yowling vociferously. We had a good look at it, and it didn’t look broken – just sprained. But he was obviously in pain, poor thing, and curled up on the bunks in the hall (his favourite place) and had his tea brought to him. I had to go out to a meeting later but Pip kept checking him - and suddenly he was gone.

He hasn’t been seen since, and this isn’t a wandering cat, but a spoilt only son. He always comes home for meals, adores his creature comforts.

Himself says, ‘He’ll be back in the morning/evening/lunchtime,’ repeating it like a mantra. I'm silent, feeling sick, my imagination working overtime.

Meanwhile we patrol the streets like ghosts, calling and calling him, dropping leaflets into neighbouring houses as it got dark last night. I've rung the local radio station, been to the vets, told all our friends nearby. We come home and look at the bunks, accusingly empty. His bowl of biscuits, untouched.

What really worries me is that he’s in pain and alone - I can’t bear to think of any animal, particularly my Bussie, suffering. Where on earth is he?

17 comments:

Daniele said...

Oh nooo flowerpot!! I'm so sorry to read this. You're having no luck lately with your beloved animals. I keep my fingers crossed he'll be back home soon and this will all end well. Thinking of you.

Elaine Denning said...

Oh, that's terrible. I really hope you find him soon.

I guess you've checked inside the house too? Under the beds? That kind of thing?

You never know, if a neighbour found him with a poorly leg, they may have taken him in. I know that's what I would have done.

Hugs. x

Aoj and The Lurchers said...

Flowerpot, got everything crossed that Bussie comes home very soon,

laurie said...

oh what a terrible feeling that must be. i'm so sorry! it's very scary, and your stomach must be in knots.

put a blankie and a bowl of food outside your door for when he does come back. he will.

(are you sure he's not hiding in the house? i know that cats do that, and i know they can hide very, very well.)

good luck and please keep us posted.

Cornish Dreamer said...

I agree with Laurie - having just spoken to my Mum, she said the same thing. Cats sometimes hide like that when they're in pain. Anything's worth a try.

Remember, if you want ET and me to go out as a mini search party, you only need to ask.

RT

Akelamalu said...

Oh honey how awful for you, maybe someone took him in and as soon as he's better he'll be back. x

Flowerpot said...

I keep trying to leave messages for yuo all and am unable - something very strange is happening to my internet connection.

Thanks so much for all your support - it means a lot. I will be back to call in on your blogs when Firefox lets me!

Anonymous said...

I do hope he comes home soon, or you find him hiding in the airing cupboard.... I don't think I could ever have a cat for this precise reason! You do hear miraculous tales of cats finding their way home, and getting out of real scrapes, so I'm sure he'll appear soon. Fingers crossed for you....

BreadBox said...

Oh no! This is so hard: the not knowning, not knowing how hard to hope... we've gone through this a few times, and even when things have turned out well it's been incredibly hard: hugs and thoughts to you....
N.

Hannah Velten said...

Oh, how I empathise with you - what a nightmare! Poor thing...But I've lost a dog and a cat before, and they both turned up fine - dog was trapped indoors in a neighbour's outbuilding as someone had accidently locked her in, and the cat disappeared for ages...until one evening she launched herself at the french windows in the livingroom, fit well and healthy - obviously having been looked after by someone else for ages...so don't despair...Good luck x

Em said...

I can well appreciate what you're going through, having lost three out of four of our pets for a couple of days at various points. Hopefully he's just found somewhere cool and quiet to rest up. Cats can go without food for a few days without too much trouble so, fingers crossed, he should be home soon. {{{hugs}}}

the rotten correspondent said...

Oh flowerpot, I'm so sorry. You must be beside yourself. Please keep us up to date on what is going on. I'm crossing my fingers he'll be on the doorstep any minute now.

Lesley Rigby said...

(Graham's Mum)
I really, really hope he returns soon. You must be demented over this. I had a cat who returned after 6 months but that doesn't help you any at the moment. He must have been taken in by someone who thought he was a stray. He will recover and return - don't be thinking the worst because you will be wrong!!

Flowerpot said...

I'm overwhelmed by all your messages of support - thank you so, so much. As I write (early Sat morning) there's still no sign of him and I dont know that he'd go to anyone else as he's not an overly friendly cat - still, who knows with cats? He might well be tempted by food...
I can only hope the best, but your support is wonderful. I'm not able to visit your blogs or thank you individually at the moment as my internet connection is still up the spout, but THANK YOU ALL, and a big hello to those who I haven't 'met' before - please come back and I'll update you when I have some news. Bless you all.

Lesley Rigby said...

Bussie was my first thought this morning and I hoped your blog would say he had returned.He might not have had any choice about being taken in if someone saw he was in pain. He was probably picked up, taken in, fed and "watered", and has surrendered to being a patient. This sounds like a lot of trouble but would it be possible to print out a number of Gone Missing notices and post one at the end of each road locally asking that person to pass it on to their neighbour? If you live in an underpopulated area of course this wouldn't work. I just wish I was there to help you. My cat returned after 6 months looking in the peak of health and twice the size but 'went down' because we had another cat!

Penny Pincher said...

Oh flower - how awful - i just heard the news. And still no sign of him yet. That's the trouble with cats - they go AWOL. Dogs can be kept under control more.
Is he microchipped?
Spread your news of his loss far and wide. As he could he have been inadvertently catnapped by tourist going home? or have there been
removal lorries locally?? He might have sneaked in a neighbours place/she/garage. Go round calling and peering in their properties in case they gone away for weekend.
Hope you have good news to share soon.

Flowerpot said...

yes I did all that, lady thinker. And he is microchipped. Oh god...