Ulysses is missing. I am going to strangle Tybalt.

mom of 10 cats · Apr 10, 2006

We have had an ongoing argument since we moved up to the mountains about letting cats outside. His view: we live in the middle of nowhere, more than a mile and a half from a road, and the cats should be able to go outside and roam. My argument: There are coyote, fox, cougar, bobcat, hawks, eagles and owls here, as well as hunters (there have been two shootings of pet dogs in our neighborhood this hunting season). I say, no way Jose for the cats going out unless they are leashed and supervised.

So basically, whenever I am not home, he lets them out. It's been a bone of contention between us.

He emailed me frantically around midnight; he was getting ready to go to bed and couldn't find Ulysses. He had last seen him around 7 PM when he was feeding the cats, and Ulysses didn't want to come in to eat.

If any of our cats could hold their own against a predator, it's him. He was semi-feral when we got him, although he has come a long way towards being sociable since that time. He's a big strong guy, tough and full of himself. I hope he is just being a wiseguy, sitting somewhere in the woods laughing when he hears Tybalt calling for him.

Please send "come home Ulysses" vibes.

I think Tybalt has learned his lesson, regardless of the outcome. I just pray it is not at the cost of Ulysses' life.

commonoddity042 · Apr 10, 2006

Originally Posted by Mom of 10 Cats

We have had an ongoing argument since we moved up to the mountains about letting cats outside. His view: we live in the middle of nowhere, more than a mile and a half from a road, and the cats should be able to go outside and roam. My argument: There are coyote, fox, cougar, bobcat, hawks, eagles and owls here, as well as hunters (there have been two shootings of pet dogs in our neighborhood this hunting season). I say, no way Jose for the cats going out unless they are leashed and supervised.

So basically, whenever I am not home, he lets them out. It's been a bone of contention between us.

He emailed me frantically around midnight; he was getting ready to go to bed and couldn't find Ulysses. He had last seen him around 7 PM when he was feeding the cats, and Ulysses didn't want to come in to eat.

If any of our cats could hold their own against a predator, it's him. He was semi-feral when we got him, although he has come a long way towards being sociable since that time. He's a big strong guy, tough and full of himself. I hope he is just being a wiseguy, sitting somewhere in the woods laughing when he hears Tybalt calling for him.

Please send "come home Ulysses" vibes.

I think Tybalt has learned his lesson, regardless of the outcome. I just pray it is not at the cost of Ulysses' life.

I hope that Ulysses returns safely. The beginning of the thread name scared me a little because Ulysses is what one of my foster boys was renamed after adoption. I hope that Tybalt understand WHY you were against letting them roam. If they were indoor, there'd be no worrying right now...

commonoddity042 · Apr 10, 2006

Any word of Ulysses?

catloverin_ks · Apr 10, 2006

Aww~sorry to hear this.

I will send lots of COME HOME QUICK AND SAFE vibes to you!! Please let us know if hes returned yet.

trouts mom · Apr 10, 2006

Please please come home little buddy! Mommy is worried!

Hurry hurry home!

mom of 10 cats · Apr 10, 2006

Still no sign of him, more than 24 hours later.

We went to the Humane Society and filed a lost report, but my suspicion is that he met up with some predator and won't be coming home.

The verdict from Tybalt is that no cats are going outside at all now. It just breaks my heart that this is what it took to make him see reality.

commonoddity042 · Apr 10, 2006

Originally Posted by Mom of 10 Cats

Still no sign of him, more than 24 hours later.

We went to the Humane Society and filed a lost report, but my suspicion is that he met up with some predator and won't be coming home.

The verdict from Tybalt is that no cats are going outside at all now. It just breaks my heart that this is what it took to make him see reality.

I hope he actually is okay and just being a doofus. (hug)

Unfortunately, it usually takes a tragedy for people to realize the importance of precautions.

pombina · Apr 11, 2006

Goodness I am so sorry Ulysses is missing. I really hope he just comes home and hasn't met any predators.

jamasmom · Apr 11, 2006

Come home Ulysses!!!!! Meowmy misses you!!!!

catloverin_ks · Apr 11, 2006

Any sign of Ulysses??

lorie d. · Apr 11, 2006

Oh no!!!!!!! Since Ulysses was once semi-feral I hope he just had an urge to wander off by himself for a while and nothing serious has happened to him.

Tybalt, you should have known better!!!!!!

Shame on you!!!!!

chichismom · Apr 11, 2006

o no! That's awful

I hope he's just being a stubborn boy

Ulysses, come home now!!!!!

mom of 10 cats · Apr 11, 2006

I had nightmares all last night about Ulysses.

Every time I hear a noise outside, I go rushing to a window to call him, hoping against hope that he's going to be there.

chichismom · Apr 11, 2006

Have you walked around the property yet? He might be stuck in somewhere

I wish I lived near you, I would help ya look in a heartbeat. Please keep us updated! Ulysses has me all worked up!

callista · Apr 11, 2006

Poor Ulysses... hopefully, being semi-feral before, he knows how to ferret out mice and other small prey to survive on...

I'm curious--Can I ask something? How do you take care of 10 cats--don't they fight? You must have an awfully big house and a lot of patience, anyway; I don't think I could take care of that many. Are all the cats in your sig residents at the "cat sanctuary"? Is that like a shelter, or more of a foster home?

Sorry about all the questions... I'm curious... you're free to smack me if I'm being annoying.

Anyway, I sure hope Ulysses is okay. Most cats have good instincts; and if Ulysses made it on his own before, he could easily be just fine now, right?

Come home soon, Kittycat...

mom of 10 cats · Apr 11, 2006

Callista,my user name is inaccurate

I had ten cats when I joined TCS, years ago. We have 41, 40 if Ulysses is truly gone.

They all get along quite well, there are occasional squabbles but no real fights. We live in a 1500+ sq ft cabin 8000 ft up in the Rockies.

Still no sign at all of Ulysses.

catsknowme · Apr 11, 2006

Oh, Sue, I am so sorry for what you are going through! Hopefully, Ulysses is just out & about. We live in the Eastern Sierra, on 10 acres bordering BLM & USFS, so have the same predator issues. If I were you I'd make Tybalt go around the perimeter of your land and "mark territory", esp. where you see scat from foxes, coyotes & bobcat. Since Ulysses disappeared during the day, hopefully the predators were not out when he wandered off. I am saying prayers and sending {{{come home soon}}} vibes out your way. I hope that Tybalt is giving you some TLC, as a way of redemption! I once came home from a weekend visit to my grandson in San Diego, and found out that my husband had accidentally locked out JC for a weekend!!

When I drove up, out came JC, proud as punch!! I almost got sick to my stomach- I was so RELIEVED that JC was okay,but realizing what had happened.....Hugs, Susan

dulcie riley · Apr 12, 2006

I hope he comes home soon - I have had cats missing before and know what it is like, so worrying!!!! I'll send you some good thoughts and hope he hears them!! Maybe he is just off wandering - have you done any grid stuff or looked in every nook and craggy in the area (and I realize there must be many.) Good luck!!

callista · Apr 12, 2006

Yes indeed... I have a missing cat, myself, a little orange tabby named Skimble. Well, he's really a friend's cat; but I stayed in my friend's apartment for a summer, and cared for her cat; so naturally we know and trust each other. He's been gone a month, and I've pretty much given up hope; but maybe some other family has seen what a lovely little cat he is and taken him in.

Originally Posted by Mom of 10 Cats

I had nightmares all last night about Ulysses.

Every time I hear a noise outside, I go rushing to a window to call him, hoping against hope that he's going to be there.

You know, the funniest thing happened last night... I must have been thinking about your Ulysses, because when I went to sleep I dreamed of a cat chasing and hunting mice... mouse after mouse, easily as anything, quick as lightning--you know how cats flash their paws out on top of a mouse; like that.

Cats are never truly tame; their instincts stay with them and protect them to a great degree even when they have learned to trust humans.

I guess maybe I'm trying to say that I think your Ulysses is going to be just fine...

mom of 10 cats · Apr 12, 2006

Thank you :hug:

I dreamed about him again this afternoon; he and Pan were playing in a field that's about 1/2 a mile away from the house. Two cute brown tabbies just having fun

Helped me to feel a little better. I still call for Ulysses every time I go to leave the house or come home.

Ulysses is missing. I am going to strangle Tybalt.

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