Something I feared that would bite me back big-time: letting my little chump outdoors
that fateful one night, now missing for 11 days. I feel rightfully like sheet and take
100% responsibility for this stressful and totally heart-breaking mess.
First time in 17 years that he goes missing for that long, always came back home
after his day/night walk, ALWAYS. I sadly triggered the bullet in that Russian
outdoors cat roulette.
The first seven days, I walked around the neighbourhood, called his name at night,
put ads online, made a notice at the vet clinic, talked to neighbours, litter trail,
placed his cushion outside, my old sweater on the patio, etc.
Until I learned online that my sweetie poo Elmo (who is sterilized, clawed, chipped,
collared with ID medallion) has probably bunkered down to survival mode if the
unthinkable hasn't happened to him (shudders), gone off the radar and silent,
probably very close to home, likely frustratingly right under my nose!
I read so many happy endings testimonials here on TCS and elsewhere online
(to keep my spirits up) and 90-95% of the time, the cat comes back on its own
with all the flyers, name-calling, ads, all for nothing!
So I decided to play the waiting game too.
I love my cat so much and I realize that I just can't let myself go crazy over him,
that even though I think he's still alive and I miss the genuine happiness he has
brought me over the last 17 years, my life still has to go on and Elmo will
come back but on his own terms in his typical mischievous cat behaviour.
Have I given up on Elmo too soon after only 11 days?
that fateful one night, now missing for 11 days. I feel rightfully like sheet and take
100% responsibility for this stressful and totally heart-breaking mess.
First time in 17 years that he goes missing for that long, always came back home
after his day/night walk, ALWAYS. I sadly triggered the bullet in that Russian
outdoors cat roulette.
The first seven days, I walked around the neighbourhood, called his name at night,
put ads online, made a notice at the vet clinic, talked to neighbours, litter trail,
placed his cushion outside, my old sweater on the patio, etc.
Until I learned online that my sweetie poo Elmo (who is sterilized, clawed, chipped,
collared with ID medallion) has probably bunkered down to survival mode if the
unthinkable hasn't happened to him (shudders), gone off the radar and silent,
probably very close to home, likely frustratingly right under my nose!
I read so many happy endings testimonials here on TCS and elsewhere online
(to keep my spirits up) and 90-95% of the time, the cat comes back on its own
with all the flyers, name-calling, ads, all for nothing!
So I decided to play the waiting game too.
I love my cat so much and I realize that I just can't let myself go crazy over him,
that even though I think he's still alive and I miss the genuine happiness he has
brought me over the last 17 years, my life still has to go on and Elmo will
come back but on his own terms in his typical mischievous cat behaviour.
Have I given up on Elmo too soon after only 11 days?
