Marlow bolted

After watering my garden this morning I evidently failed to close the back door completely. Sasha scratched it open. I heard the noise from the kitchen but thought they were fooling with the new rug I put down a few days ago. I went to look and Marlow was already outside. He looked at me, turned and ran. He didn't stop to look back. He disappeared into the thick brush across the street. 

Becky is going to let me have it when she wakes up. I hope he comes back sooner rather than later.

He has not been outdoors since November 2009.

Be sure it is Becky who is leading the search partyies.  You can stay at home to watch the telephone (unless you can direct the telephone to your cell-phone of course).

Set up the signs Missing at message places in the neigbourhood.

Search best be done at dusk or even night.

Good luck!    *vibes*

I don't think would be of any use to search. If I spotted him, which chances of doing so are slim, he'd run again. 

He's tough and wary. If he wants to come back in he will.

I really expect him to return. I have this vision of him meowing at my patio door in the middle of the night. I just don't know which night it will be.

OH no hno: sorry to hear this and this sort of thing does happen so try not to feel bad. I would start leaving out food/water which you probably are already doing anyway. I do hope that Marlow :rub: comes home soon and your vision comes true. :cross: Please keep us updated.

que sera sera

Oh I'm so sorry! How's Becky taking it?

If you want to be more proactive http://www.lost-pets.org/content/view/3/1/

Hope he comes home, no worse for the wear. :heart2:

Marlow is still around! I just saw him outside our back door. He's as skittish as the day he showed up 3 yrs ago. At least he remembers where he lives. I'm guessing he will stick around.

Great news! Absolutely, he will stick around. He already knows what a wonderful home he has with you. Not odd at all that he is skittish as day one outside. Just keep the food coming for him on a schedule and soon enough I think you will have him back inside :cross: But this is a happy day that you saw him!!!!!!!!

Feralvr said:

Great news! Absolutely, he will stick around. He already knows what a wonderful home he has with you. Not odd at all that he is skittish as day one outside. Just keep the food coming for him on a schedule and soon enough I think you will have him back inside :cross: But this is a happy day that you saw him!!!!!!!!

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Hope he's back inside and safe soon! (And I expect that'll be the last time he bolts).

I was awakened this morning by Sasha reacting to Marlow's presence at the patio door. Instead of running for the hills when he saw me this time, he did a few "I'm not sure what I should do" circles then sat on the deck corner out of view. I could still see him from BR window. I refilled his bowl outside the mudroom door and retreated inside. I watched him eat from kitchen window. Sasha is stashed in the bedroom with Becky, the back door is wide open. I don't really expect him to walk in today but who knows. Probably soon. 

Until this morning we did not know what was eating all the food we have been putting out. The late Mr. Nemeier's gray cat and the two elusive calicos were possible suspects as was the raccoon I see often. I had not seen any of the cats for weeks though .

Anyway, that's the good news.

The door was open about an hour. The refilled (very small amount) bowl was untouched. I figured Marlow was off for the day and closed the door. Five minutes later the food was gone. I guess Marlow was afraid to come near the open door.

Many vibes that he gets back inside soon. But it is good news that he is around and eating.

Interesting. Our friendly outside boy, Baloo, disappeared for about a month (after having never been gone for more than a day or two for over a year). When he came back, he seemed SO happy to be home. He wants more attention, more pets, and is always near now.

Even though Marlow doesn't seem to want to come in on his own (yet)... I wonder what he'll be like once he's back inside? :dk: I'm guessing very happy :lol3: . Such odd, unpredictable creatures sometimes!

Well, Marlow decided to walk in. He had been hanging out on the deck this evening. Becky went out and coaxed him close for a few pets and one thing led to another. Next thing you know she's brushing him. She asked him in but he wouldn't come. Later he came to the door and cried. She opened and after a bit he came in. 

Sasha is livid. He thought Marlow was gone for good. He just keeps Marlow moving, following him, growling and hissing. Acting like he never met him before. 

8 hrs later and Sasha is still dogging Marlow. Hissing and growling. 

LDG said:

Interesting. Our friendly outside boy, Baloo, disappeared for about a month (after having never been gone for more than a day or two for over a year). When he came back, he seemed SO happy to be home. He wants more attention, more pets, and is always near now.
Even though Marlow doesn't seem to want to come in on his own (yet)... I wonder what he'll be like once he's back inside?

I'm guessing very happy

. Such odd, unpredictable creatures sometimes!

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Marlow has been different. He has spoken more in the last 8 hrs than he has in the last two and a half years. He actively seeks attention and lets us pet him like never before. He laid down and let me pick the burrs off his belly! He has seemingly been telling Sasha that we are HIS people too. Obviously, a 1%er like Sasha is pissed.

First, so glad he is back safe! Marlow will smell like a total stranger to Sasha, so not only does he now have a rival again in the house, but he thinks it is someone new! And of course he will try to drive that person away. You may have to retry some introduction techniques, like putting vanilla essence or lavender oil under each chin, to make them smell alike. Rub Marlow with some of your dirty laundry to give him the 'house smell'. And obviously, give both of them lots of attention. Good luck, at least everyone is safe.

diggerled said:

8 hrs later and Sasha is still dogging Marlow. Hissing and growling. 
Marlow has been different. He has spoken more in the last 8 hrs than he has in the last two and a half years. He actively seeks attention and lets us pet him like never before. He laid down and let me pick the burrs off his belly! He has seemingly been telling Sasha that we are HIS people too. Obviously, a 1%er like Sasha is pissed.

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He's both home AND back inside! And I just have to laugh at how silly these kitties are. Happy to be back inside, wants more pets, claiming ownership of mom and dad.... yet refused to come inside at first. So glad he's safe and unharmed. :heart2:

jennyranson said:

First, so glad he is back safe! Marlow will smell like a total stranger to Sasha, so not only does he now have a rival again in the house, but he thinks it is someone new! And of course he will try to drive that person away. You may have to retry some introduction techniques, like putting vanilla essence or lavender oil under each chin, to make them smell alike. Rub Marlow with some of your dirty laundry to give him the 'house smell'. And obviously, give both of them lots of attention. Good luck, at least everyone is safe.

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:nod: Aw.... poor Sasha. :rub:

Your plan of action worked out perfectly. Letting Marlow just decide when it was time to come in. Guess he made his choice on a few different aspects in his life. Indoors, more pets and attention and realizing that the best place for him is indoors . Let's hope it stays that way. Sorry about Sasha - but am thinking she just needs to realize that it IS the same Marlow. He must smell something awful to her :lol3: Happy :happy3: he is safe now.

I'm home from work and things are getting close to normal now. After I posted this morning I decided to let Marlow go back outside. (Things were pretty awful with Sasha). He went out but did not get off the deck. Ten minutes later he was standing at the door! I had to put Sasha up in a room while I opened the door and let Marlow walk right back in.

The difference now is that Marlow is more assertive about his residency. When I went to pet Sasha and give a couple "good boys", Marlow spoke up as if to say "hey, I want some too". This never happened before. Marlow has always stood on the sidelines in favor of Sasha. It was Marlow who slept in Sasha's regular spot on the bed last night. I don't know where Sasha slept. 

Marlow's detour may have been a shortcut on the path to domestication.