OMG! I almost lost my cats tonight

[LynneSin]

I just got home from the Philly Flower Show and Trader Joe's. So as soon as I parked and unlocked my door - I had to hit the bathroom. Knowing the flowers and cold stuff from TJ could survive on my porch for 5 minutes I dashed upstairs thinking the screen door closed behind me.

It didn't



I come downstairs and there is Evita outside looking thru the bags.

OMG, if she gets out I'll never catch her. I can't even catch her when she's indoors she's so agile. And anytime I walk near her she has always run away but at least that was inside. Fortunately she came in pretty quickly and hid under the sofa.

Then I hear a meow outside and there's Abbott next door under a chair on the porch. Crap, I actually have to catch him and last time he got somewhere he shouldn't be he kept hiding places I couldn't reach him (he got down in my basement). Normally he's the dumb one that sees me and roles over for a belly rub.

So after 10 minutes of chasing him as he dashed under chairs I finally caught him by just a leg. Felt bad but after he struggled a few seconds he just sat down under the small brick wall between my house and the neighbors (it has small openings. So somehow I had to dig him out and well he's a big guy and the openings aren't quite Abbott size (Evita could get thru but she's 7lbs less than Abbott).

But I managed to get him out and indoors.

Lesson learned - make sure the damn door is clothes BEFORE running upstairs to the bathroom

[snappyturtle]

1. I hate it when that happens! It's terrifying to me. Good for

you...in getting them back indoors safely. Whew!

[Chan790]

2. I learned a secret.

Don't chase. Just sit down with their favorite toy or blanket outside. When they get bored or want to be petted...they come to you. Makes it easy. The longest I ever had to wait was 90 minutes.

[RiffRandell]

3. Oh god I'm so glad you got them in.

last spring our 19 year old cat got out because I left the garage door open...it stormed badly that night; I didn't sleep for 2 days and then we found her in our neighbor's garage 2 days later. It was awful. The funny thing is she was a totally indoor cat that never tried to get outside---I guess she was curious that day. She did learn a harsh lesson, as did I. Always make sure all doors sre closed!

[meti57b]

4. They say, don't tell someone 'I know how you feel'...............

...... but believe me, .... I *know* how you must have felt.

The worst, was once after I was carrying stuff out the door to the garage, ... I realized one of my three cats was missing. We searched everywhere in the house, thoroughly, several times, but he wasn't anywhere. I had to assume he sneaked out when I was carrying armloads of stuff out the door.

I posted "lost cat" signs around our street and nearest intersection, knocked on doors, looked in garages with open doors, and called the three closest Humane Society shelters to tell them if they found a cat matching my description, that he is mine.

I came home from looking, despondent, and while walking through the house, I said to my husband that I was going to sleep, and if anyone brought the cat back, to not mix him with the other cats, because he might have picked up some disease or something ... all the time knowing, that no-one would be bringing that cat back.

So, looking through the bedroom door where I had locked up the other two cats...... there were *three* cats! There he was! I didn't even go into the room. I just went outside, took down the signs, informed my neighbors ... etc. All three cats got a really late dinner.

[WillParkinson]

5. You never would have had this problem if you upgraded to dogs!

I'm glad you were able to keep your family together. I know you would be devastated if something were to happen.

[Brigid]

6. Don't you mean "downgraded" to dogs?

This message posted at the request of Brigid and Patrick, my two feline overlords.

[Yavin4]

7. We used to tap a can with a can opener

and our cats would come running back.

[grasswire]

8. yeah, snapping the pop top on a can works

Fancy Feast here!

I have enticed a reluctant kittyboy who was walking on the leash but decided to lay down and have a hissy fit thus.

[grasswire]

9. What an awful feeling.

I'm so glad it worked out for you.

Couple of months ago I was snoozing on the sofa (which is by the front door) and was awakened by a cool breeze hitting my face. Turned my head and the door had come open and the two kitties were heading in that direction.

GAH!

If they got out here they would never come back -- there is far too much nature outside to play in -- and herds of Canada geese to stalk! Geese they only can drool over through the big picture window. And a few raccoons to tangle with, too!