Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Runaway
Emmett got out last night. We had someone here finishing a carpet installation, and we think he ran out when the guy was packing up his van. It was late, and Emmett often floats around the house at night, so we didn’t think much of the fact that he wasn’t stalking The Smoosh or climbing on our heads.
My morning routine was hectic and rushed today so I didn’t notice he wasn’t underfoot as I got ready for the day. Tony realized he wasn’t around when Emmett wasn’t hanging around the bathroom while Tony got ready, so he started searching the house. He searched every closet, under every chair and bed, all of Emmett’s hiding spots. Nothing.
I finally checked my email around 8:30 to find a message from Tony that Emmett was gone. I quickly arranged for a substitute and got coverage for my class until the sub could show up. I zoomed home and started combing the same neighborhood Tony has scoured for the last three hours, imagining the worst. Before coming in to call the animal shelter, I walked around the entire perimeter of the townhouse groups on our side of the street. I shook a container of food and called his name. I thought he might be hiding under someone’s patio furniture or in a child’s playhouse. I lifted up all the patio furniture covers I saw. Finally, about fourteen houses down, I saw him, crouched under a chair (I think) up against someone’s townhouse.
I went to him and he immediately tried to hide from me. Maybe he knew he was going to be grounded for life, maybe he thought he was going to continue this ridiculous adventure of his, I don’t know. All I know is I lifted his enormous 18 pounds under one arm and grabbed my cell phone with my free hand to call Tony. I put Emmett on the ground and scruffed him gently, so I could dial. After I informed Tony that I had him, I started walking home, shaking all over, heart beating out of my chest.
We brought him in, no worse for wear - a little cold, maybe. Tony ran upstairs to get the collar and tag Emmett had wriggled out of recently and snapped it back on his neck. This experience was awful - I never want to relive it. I’m going to rethink microchipping the cats, too. I’m sure I’ve lost several years off my life this morning, but here’s one thing I know for sure. In a real crisis, you can see a person’s true character. My friends at work were wonderful - totally having my back as soon as I got the message from Tony - taking my class for me until the sub came so I could rush out to get home. But no one was more amazing in this situation than Tony. By the time I made it home, he had already searched the house and neighborhood multiple times and made fifty flyers to hang up. I can’t even articulate adequately how much I love him.
As for Emmett, he’s curled up in his favorite chair, clearly glad to be home. I’m sure he doesn’t even remember his big night out any more.
I’m so glad everything turned out ok. I don’t even know the poor cat and when I saw the title and first line, my heart skipped a beat.
Perhaps being such a huge cat made it too much trouble to run very far away. :)
Hey, tanks.
@Tony: hay vavy
@Craig: HA! I think he got down the street and ran out of energy because he hadn’t eaten in five minutes, so he just went to sleep.
OMG, that gave me an anxiety attack! I am so glad you found him and he was safe. My kitties want outside so bad sometimes! But,if they ever got lost, I would leave work, too, to go look for them. :) /applause
Thank goodness you found him and he is home safe and sound!! I had to skip to the end to make sure it ended ok before I could continue reading!
We live in fear of Chewie running out of the front door or finally finding a way out of the back yard.
Oh my lawd .. if something had happened to my favorite shower stalker - I’m not sure what I would have done!!!
You’ll need two tracking chips for that one I’m sure!
oh YAY i’m so glad he’s home safe and sound! we had a kitty get out once, and i swear my heart stopped until i found him (hunkered down in the neighbor’s bushes). what an awful feeling. we have microchips in both of our kitties as well as our greyhound; we just figure you can never be too careful! {{hugs!}}
pets sometimes seem to go feral really quickly aftr getting out. catching them asap is so important. i have known people that had to trap their pets (dogs and cats) after they got loose because they just seem to go totally wild and will not come to people they have lived with for ever. i guess the fear just ramps up to the point where they just lose it.
Okay, I have been CRAP about commenting and I’m sorry about that. I am so glad you found Emmett and that you have such great people to rely on.
Oh my goodness! I’m so happy he is safe. I haven’t been here for awhile, just life stuff, nothing bad, went to New York last weekend to see Clay!!!
Seriously, I totally understand the lost cat thing!!!!
Where is the prego angel?
:)