Don't worry, he's safe NOW!!
The kids like to play in the garage and I always do a check before I leave to make sure no one is hiding in there b/c they will be closed in for several hours until I come back.
Yesterday - did my standard thing and left. Last night we get back to my condo and open the garage door. Next thing I know - TEX is running around behind the bushes in front of the courtyard. Huh?
He doesn't seem to recognize us. OK - don't panic. Don't chase. I crouch down, wiggle my fingers at him and call. Nope. At first he heads right for the tree where I have the bird feeders, gazing up in the dusky nightfall... looking for his feathered prey I am sure. Call again. Nope. I start moving towards him, calling, the panic rising in my throat. He dashes off... across the lawn and two driveways... then makes a sudden 180 and darts into my next door neighbor's courtyard.
Mind you, it's dark out now and he is a tuxedo cat! Usually, they have the gate on their courtyard entrance locked. But this time, not. I can barely make out Tex in the lights coming from the windows but again, he runs.. .and slides up underneath their bay window. I am also calling for my boyfriend, who manages to find his way over ... he gets down on the ground and sweeps his long arms under the window overhang. No Tex. Eeep!
I go into MY house and quickly grab a can of Fancy Feast and a plate. Tex is a little piggie.... black and white fur covering one big long digestive tract! I pop open the can and put it on the plate... place it on the ground of the courtyard and call. NOTHING.
We start to move away, thinking we are scaring him and then, from the corner of my eye, I see white socks and mitts... running across the street to the island in the cul-de-sac and darting into some trees and bushes there.
We pick up the plate of FF and head over, calling him. I THINK.. THINK I can make out his white markings hiding in there, but not sure. I am now beginning to fear we won't catch him....when... he comes trotting out.. tail up... and rubs on Doug's legs!!!! Whew!!! Double Whew!!! I grab him up and hand him to Doug, retrieve the plate of food and we go back inside.
Tex was a bit spooked ... but settled in quickly once wet food was available.
And here is the kicker... we often leave the front door open a bit but lock the storm door so the cats can look out, but not GET out. Do you know that this little stinker went to the storm door several times... mooing.... and rattling the door. He wanted OUT!
Uhhh... noooooo.
The kids like to play in the garage and I always do a check before I leave to make sure no one is hiding in there b/c they will be closed in for several hours until I come back.
Yesterday - did my standard thing and left. Last night we get back to my condo and open the garage door. Next thing I know - TEX is running around behind the bushes in front of the courtyard. Huh?
He doesn't seem to recognize us. OK - don't panic. Don't chase. I crouch down, wiggle my fingers at him and call. Nope. At first he heads right for the tree where I have the bird feeders, gazing up in the dusky nightfall... looking for his feathered prey I am sure. Call again. Nope. I start moving towards him, calling, the panic rising in my throat. He dashes off... across the lawn and two driveways... then makes a sudden 180 and darts into my next door neighbor's courtyard.
Mind you, it's dark out now and he is a tuxedo cat! Usually, they have the gate on their courtyard entrance locked. But this time, not. I can barely make out Tex in the lights coming from the windows but again, he runs.. .and slides up underneath their bay window. I am also calling for my boyfriend, who manages to find his way over ... he gets down on the ground and sweeps his long arms under the window overhang. No Tex. Eeep!
I go into MY house and quickly grab a can of Fancy Feast and a plate. Tex is a little piggie.... black and white fur covering one big long digestive tract! I pop open the can and put it on the plate... place it on the ground of the courtyard and call. NOTHING.
We start to move away, thinking we are scaring him and then, from the corner of my eye, I see white socks and mitts... running across the street to the island in the cul-de-sac and darting into some trees and bushes there.
We pick up the plate of FF and head over, calling him. I THINK.. THINK I can make out his white markings hiding in there, but not sure. I am now beginning to fear we won't catch him....when... he comes trotting out.. tail up... and rubs on Doug's legs!!!! Whew!!! Double Whew!!! I grab him up and hand him to Doug, retrieve the plate of food and we go back inside.
Tex was a bit spooked ... but settled in quickly once wet food was available.
And here is the kicker... we often leave the front door open a bit but lock the storm door so the cats can look out, but not GET out. Do you know that this little stinker went to the storm door several times... mooing.... and rattling the door. He wanted OUT!
