Heather's Heavenly Vapes - THE BIG THREAD (Part 6)

Bronze

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 19, 2012
40,240
188,000
Yes. It’s hard to predict them, but I was afraid that he’d go far after not being allowed out for a long time. That he’d get the idea that your place equals confinement. If you keep him in a long time again and then try letting him roam, he just might stay away even though it’s warm and he gets fed there. Cats can be so stubborn and independent.
It’s actually been the opposite. Prior to the catio when I let him out every day (after being confined for three weeks) he gradually worked his way up. Initially it was just a few hours a day. Then all day. Then he got up to 2-1/2 days over the course of 2 weeks. Post-catio this is the third Tuesday I let him out (after a two month confinement). First Tuesday he was gone 8 hours. Second Tuesday 6 hours. Now 38 hours and counting.
 

Nermal

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Jun 8, 2013
2,926
22,514
Farmington, NM USA
Yes. It’s hard to predict them, but I was afraid that he’d go far after not being allowed out for a long time. That he’d get the idea that your place equals confinement. If you keep him in a long time again and then try letting him roam, he just might stay away even though it’s warm and he gets fed there. Cats can be so stubborn and independent.

We feed them, we pet them, we give them a safe place to sleep; sure they are independent - in their own minds.
 

Ceejay0875

Super Member
ECF Veteran
May 24, 2016
429
5,055
50
It’s actually been the opposite. Prior to the catio when I let him out every day (after being confined for three weeks) he gradually worked his way up. Initially it was just a few hours a day. Then all day. Then he got up to 2-1/2 days over the course of 2 weeks. Post-catio this is the third Tuesday I let him out (after a two month confinement). First Tuesday he was gone 8 hours. Second Tuesday 6 hours. Now 38 hours and counting.
Might want to look into getting him chipped.
 

LAwaters

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Feb 25, 2014
3,269
48,888
It’s actually been the opposite. Prior to the catio when I let him out every day (after being confined for three weeks) he gradually worked his way up. Initially it was just a few hours a day. Then all day. Then he got up to 2-1/2 days over the course of 2 weeks. Post-catio this is the third Tuesday I let him out (after a two month confinement). First Tuesday he was gone 8 hours. Second Tuesday 6 hours. Now 38 hours and counting.

Ugh. Unpredictable little jerks. I wonder if he has a 2nd home. And if he does, did they build him an epic catio?!?

If I sound like an old mother hen, it’s because I am one.

True story:

At the little elementary school I attended, when I was in 3rd grade there was a first grade boy who tugged at my heartstrings. I became his big sister and protector. One day at lunchtime recess some boys were picking on him. I marched into the midst of them and fixed that.

The 2nd grade teacher was on playground duty that day and she was quite unhappy with me for tossing those boys about. (No one was hurt, just put in their places.)

After recess she marched into our classroom and up to the chalkboard. Angrily grabbed the chalk and wrote, “Lori Schlener is an old mother hen” — and marched out of the room.

All the kids laughed. But the old gal had insight! I’m still the same. :)

We feed them, we pet them, we give them a safe place to sleep; sure they are independent - in their own minds.

Good point! But they would say they independently snookered us into it all.
 

DavidOH

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Apr 9, 2013
5,309
61,459
Ohio
Morning.....

20200905_223614.jpg
 

cats5365

Super Member
Supporting Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Dec 27, 2013
767
6,790
United States
No Whiskey. 61 hours.
You mentioned that a neighbor house sold recently. Do you think he could have gotten inside somewhere and got locked in? I had a couple of different ferals that went missing for several days, and when they returned, they were starving and thirsty, so I assume they got into someone's garage or shed and were stuck for several days until the door got opened again.

I'm sending the "GO HOME" mojo to Whiskey.
:nun::nun::nun::nun::nun:
 

Bronze

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 19, 2012
40,240
188,000
You mentioned that a neighbor house sold recently. Do you think he could have gotten inside somewhere and got locked in? I had a couple of different ferals that went missing for several days, and when they returned, they were starving and thirsty, so I assume they got into someone's garage or shed and were stuck for several days until the door got opened again.

I'm sending the "GO HOME" mojo to Whiskey.
:nun::nun::nun::nun::nun:
That thought crossed my mind. I stood in front of their garage door earler today and called him. Shook the treat can too. Heard nothing. No meowing. Also a possibility he got in someone’s garage or crawl. When he was young he got in my crawl after I left the door open. I unknowingly locked him in. Next day the neighbor asked if I saw him. It suddenly occured to me I thought I heard a faint meow when I was in bed the night before. So faint I thought I was hearing things. Sure enough he was in there.

This is far from the first time he’s been gone for an extended period. He was frequently gone for 1,2,3 weeks or more. He obviously found a food source during those times. Possibly hunted his own. He’s an accomplished hunter. He never looked emaciated when he returned. So while it’s not a good sign he’s been gone for 2-1/2 days, it is far from unprecedented. What I know is if/when I get my mitts on him again it will be his last day in the wild. So I hope he’s enjoying himself. He probably knows.

I’ll put out a neighborhood email tomorrow or Saturday. Sadly, most of the neighborhood (consisting of 75 homes) knows him or has seen him. I don’t even need to post a picture. They know what he looks like. :facepalm:
 
Last edited:

Users who are viewing this thread