He left us for the trailer park - BUT HE'S HOME NOW!!!!

Oh my goodness, i'm lost for words!!.

I'm so pleased Squirts back home safe and sound It may take a while for Squirt to fully adapt again, but with patience you'll all get there

What a christmas present this is for you both

I am so glad to hear your news! Welcome back, Squirt!

(Maybe a mod could modify the thread title to let people know he is home?)

Yay!! I am so happy to hear Squirt i back safe at home!!

Thanks again everybody. Your well wishes and moral support have been fantastic. Squirt is resting quietly, warm and dry, in the basement with a full belly. We, as Lori said, went down a few hours ago and he came right to us purrin' and gerblin' and sucking up the scratchies. I don't think it'll take long for him to get back to his normal self.

Thanks again.

I think a visit to the vet would be in order before re-introducing Squirt to your other cat(s).
If he's been out in the woods for 2-3 months, no telling what he might have picked-up.

Congratulations BTW, glad your story has a happy ending.

Originally Posted by gemlady

I am so glad to hear your news! Welcome back, Squirt!

(Maybe a mod could modify the thread title to let people know he is home?)

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This is absolutely the best news I've heard in a long time.

And I changed the title so people can see the good news.

He's the same ole' Squirt! A lot lighter but it's like someone flicked a switch and he's gone back into "home" mode!







We'll try to integrate him back into the rest of the house tomorrow. The princess (Shadow) will take some time to get used to him again.

Originally Posted by katachtig

This is absolutely the best news I've heard in a long time.

And I changed the title so people can see the good news.

Click to expand...

Thanks!

Wonderful news Welcome home Squirt .

Hello Squirt!, you little wanderer you

Awwwww he looks great Have you done the vanilla trick with them so they all smell the same?, because that should help them get used to each other again.

Originally Posted by knottybuoyz

He's the same ole' Squirt! A lot lighter but it's like someone flicked a switch and he's gone back into "home" mode!

We'll try to integrate him back into the rest of the house tomorrow. The princess (Shadow) will take some time to get used to him again.

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He looks great!! and doesn't appear to have missed any meals??? what a cutie!

Originally Posted by proudmamiof4

He looks great!! and doesn't appear to have missed any meals??? what a cutie!

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I'd guestimate he's down to about 9 lbs from 16 when he jumped ship. He's all fur and we can feel the riblets. I think he's lost a lot of muscle tone mostly.

Lori said it this morning; "It's like the last 3-1/2 months haven't happened" as far as Squirt's concerned! He's fit back in just like a key in a lock!

He slept on the bed with us last night (and hogged her side of the bed). She swears he was talking in his sleep. Probably dreaming about breakfast!

We are so happy to have him back and just in time too, it's snowing today. The princess, as you can imagine, has her nose out of joint a little bit but they haven't come to blows yet.

Wow, what a great story! You guys really put your all into it.

Now...no more boat trips with the kitties, I presume?

I' ll bet he was dreaming of breakfast and enjoying a warm comfortable night of sleep!! He is probably as happy to be home as you are to have him. I was so excited about his return, that was all I talked about last night. Of course, everyone already thinks of me as a crazy cat lady. Glad he is back and I hope Shadow will welcome him as well!!

Originally Posted by mrblanche

Wow, what a great story! You guys really put your all into it.

Now...no more boat trips with the kitties, I presume?

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Oh I think we'll all go again next year. We'll just keep an extra tight harnass on Squirt. Now we know he'll go if he gets the chance we just have to be ever vigilant in preventing him from doing that. It's kinda weird because he had shown no indications whatsoever that he wanted off the boat. Now Shadow her first year it's all she wanted was off the boat and she got a couple of good dunkings in the drink as a result.

We had discussed leaving Squirt with someone while we were on the boat but Lori didn't want to. I knew he'd be a handful being such a big fella but it actually worked out ok till he abandoned ship.

We just have to get Squirt to enjoy the ride like Shadow does!

Originally Posted by knottybuoyz

Oh I think we'll all go again next year. We'll just keep an extra tight harnass on Squirt.

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Well I don't know about that. I think we will just have to wait until next year to judge whether or not it is a good idea. I'm good with finding alternate arrangements right now.

Originally Posted by knottybuoyz

We had discussed leaving Squirt with someone while we were on the boat but Lori didn't want to.

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Well it wasn't quite that simple. Squirt had been abandoned before. If we left him for 3 weeks he would feel abandoned again. He still had trust issues with humans and Rick and I were the only people he trusted, so finding someone to feed him that would not terrify him was difficult. Rick's mom and dad typically feed our animals if there is a need but Squirt was even afraid of them. Our other choice was to board him for the 3 weeks. Again, with such trust issues, the thought of having him caged up with a total stranger caring for him (He would be terrified) did not sit well with me. So we took him on a couple of day trips with us and he was fine. The decision was made to take him with us.

We will see how the next little while plays out. He seems different in a couple of ways. First of all he is not the least bit interested in going out. He uses to like to make a couple of trips outdoors each day but was always in overnight and through the day when we are at work. He also seems to be eating less. maybe because he had to ration what he had for so long?? I know before he would eat just because he could. that was one of the reasons he was 16 lbs. the vet said that it was probably because he had been abandoned before and never knew when he would get food again. In any case I don't care! We stocked up on food this weekend so if he goes on an eating binge we have lots for him. it is just so great to have him back!

I have the same trust issues with my cats. I have had to abandon my favorite thing of travel because they were not comfortable traveling. I tried traveling with them.

I have certainly missed being able to go anywhere. My Grandma passed away in March of 06 and her burial was out of state. I had to arrange going to that around the cats, while the whole family went for the weekend, I could only go on a day trip.

This year, I have been concentrating on finding someone. I want someone not in the family/friend because many times, my family has traveled together. I have been unsuccessful with finding someone I feel comfortable with, but a lot of that has to do with me.

My plan is, that when I find someone, that I can get them to come over once a week, so that my cats will get to know them and feel comfortable with them and I will be there, too, so I will feel comfortable with the process, as well. So that when I need or want to go somewhere, I can.

Thats an idea maybe for you. So you dont have to find someone right then that he will trust but someone he already is comfortable with.

Originally Posted by Knottygirlz

Well I don't know about that. I think we will just have to wait until next year to judge whether or not it is a good idea. I'm good with finding alternate arrangements right now.

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Doh! Looks like I've been overruled by the "Admiral"!


Yes dear!

Originally Posted by knottybuoyz

Doh! Looks like I've been overruled by the "Admiral"!

Yes dear!

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Salute when you say that, Captain.

Originally Posted by Knottygirlz

Well I don't know about that. I think we will just have to wait until next year to judge whether or not it is a good idea. I'm good with finding alternate arrangements right now.

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by knottybuoyz

Doh! Looks like I've been overruled by the "Admiral"!

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Yes, listen to your good lady wife, because it's not often we women are wrong

Seriously though, you've had a stressful few months and you don't want to go through that again Find someone who you can trust and you can enjoy your break just as much