Conference misery::feline_v1

    I know how you are feeling, my cat is still missing and it has been
    over three weeks now.  It is possible that she is heading back to
    Nashua.  Have someone check the old house and the area.  It might
    be to soon for her to have reached there yet, but keep checking.
    When we told our vet about Taffy he said to keep checking, it's
    almost like they have built in sonar or something.  I'll be praying
    for a safe return.  Please keep us posted.
    
    Cindy

    Can someone tell me if it's common for cats whose owners have moved
    house (and taken the cat with them) to set off looking for their
    old territory again, even when they have a good and happy home?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Karen
    (who_will_be_moving_house_soon)

     
    Barbara,
    
            I can only come close to understanding how you feel.  We
    still have Pretty Boy lost and that's in another town over the river
    and I know how we feel about that..... :^(  .  Maybe I can try to
    help a little.  Can you post a more detailed description of her.
    I have no idea where they have already checked but I'd be happy
    to make a few calls to see if there are any cats that match her
    description in the surrounding area.  I know they have a new animal
    control officer in Milford, N.H. which is very close to Mount Vernon.
    And I believe Milford (not have a shelter) brings the animals to
    Nashua which I can easily get a hold of.  I hope she comes back
    on her own.  It would make everyone so happy I'm sure.
    
                                                             Kim

    Could you tell me exactly where your friends live in Mont Vernon?
    
    I work with a girls who lives there and they know everybody i town
    on a first name basis, and they have a child who goes to "the"
    school in Mont Vernon.
    
    As the previous note requsted, please give us a complete
    discription and I will print it out and give to the girl who lives
    there and she will take it from there.
    
    It's hard to tell you not to worry, but know that we will do
    everything we can.
    
    Barbara

    Oh geez, Barbara!  How sad!

    Have you rented your Nashua house?  If so, maybe you could ask the people
    there to keep an eye out.  It's such a traffic-filled area, though...

    I will be happy to go and check around your Nashua place.  Though if she's
    been more or less ensconced in Mt. Vernon, it seems odd that she'd
    suddenly decide to take off.  I do hope nothing has happened to her!

    I can attest to Elenore's sweetness.  I fed her over Christmas last year
    while Joe and Barbara were away.

    Sigh....

							-- Nina

    Oh thank you, thank you. I'm sorry I haven't been back to read
    this notesfile in a few days. Needless to say, El has not yet
    returned.
    
    Description of Elenore:
    
    Smallish-to-medium calico, orangish, black and brown and white mix
    (very pretty.) Her markings are (I'm doing this
    from memory): White feet, white belly, black slanting across
     one side of her face, little black goatee, one ear black and one
    brown I think. She *had* on a blue collar with a small hanging
    metal tag.
    
    A friend of mine has offered to swing by the house in Nashua,
    but I'm not sure if he can do it more than once. Anyone that
    is in the area, the house is at 13 Summer St., on the intersection
    of Summer and Granite. (Summer is off of Concord St. north of
    downtown.) The house is still empty, so I can't ask people living
    there to look out for her.
    
    The Nashua house is at least 20 miles from Mt. Vernon, along
    very busy streets. How could a cat make it back there?!? Well,
    I guess anything is possible.
    
    Details about Mt. Vernon house:
    My friends are: Sue and Marty Jenkins
                    Remington Rd.
                    Mt. Vernon
                    phone: 673-7723
    
    As they are wonderful people who love Elenore, I'm sure any
    help would be appreciated. Sue has told me that she's posted
    notices around town and has called the local Animal Rescue.
    I've also sent her a picture of El so she can make new
    signs with the photo. And, she will be/perhaps already has posted
     a reward notice in the local paper.
    
    The area that Marty and Sue live in is quite wooded and away
    from the main town.
    
    By the way, if anybody finds the cat, I'm offering the choice
    of $50 or 30 British pounds! :-) [laughing on the outside, crying
    on the inside...] Or, a larger donation to the charity of the
    finder's choice.
    
    I am returning to Nashua this coming weekend and will look around, 
    but I fear that I won't know where to begin. So, please know that you're
    help is *very* appreciated. Anyone who wants to reach me in Nashua:
    I will be staying at the Sheraton Tara from evening of Oct. 7th 
    through Oct. 14th.
    
    My work phone number in the UK  (DTN) is: 830-4320
    Or, to contact me at Spitbrook Rd., send mail to VAXUUM::CORMAN
    or leave a message with the CUP documentation manager,
    Paul Hammerstrom, in ZK01-2.
    
    Again, many many thanks. If anyone has *any* other ideas, suggestions,
    or comments, it makes me feel better to hear them, so please do
    write them in.
     
    Regards, Barbara 
     
             

    
    
    	I'm sure this isn't the same cat, but yesterday on the way to
    	MK1 (Merrimack facility) on Continental Blvd. right infront
    	of the Cemetary (seems fitting somehow) was a dead Calico Cat
    	with a collar on.  I did not stop (sorry but there was heavy
    	traffic behind me at 8:00 in the morning). When I came in
    	this morning the body was not there.  I think the Town Public
    	Works Dept. picks up the bodies in Merrimack.  I would assume
    	the cat lived in the development right across the street, and
    	I only posted this note just in case.  Hopefully it is not your
    	lost cat.
    
    	I think we all know how you must feel.  Keep us posted.
    
    	P.S.  I just called the P.W.D. and they do not pick up CATS/DOGS
    	In Merrimack the Police Dept. does.  They only pick up wild
    	animals (skunks etc.)  Just for an FYI.
    
    	Well the Police Dept. does not know of any cat that was picked
    	up on Continential Blvd.  So maybe someone in the neighbor did.
    
    	Sorry - it was the best I could do....again I got my fingers
    	crossed that Kitty will come home.  And YES cats will travel
    	back to it's old homestead, my Mothers cat did many years ago.
    	It travelled 14 miles and somehow found it way back to the old
    	house.  Very skinny, but in a few weeks it was back to it's
    	normal weight.  We were given an old wives tale that you put
    	butter on its paws when you arrive at the new house and it
    	licks them (which gives it something to do and calms it at the
    	same time ) and it somehow loses it's scent of the old house.
    	Like I said - it was an old wives tale, but the cat did not
    	travel back after we did it (could have been just too tired!)
    

    Thanks for your note Barbara -
    
    I have given the sccretary who lives in Mt.Vernon all the info.
    She lives two  road south of Remington Road. She has 3 cats who
    spend all their day time out side until the snow comes. Food and
    water are put out for them also. Maybe if there is a stray out
    there it would be drawn by the other cats and the food.
    
    I also saw that calico cat by the side of the road about the same
    time, and looked for it again this morning. At that time I did not
    have a description of your cat to compare to anything. As hard as
    it would be IF that could have been Eleanor at least you would know
    where she is.
    
    If anything comes up I will put it on the system and call the
    Tara also.
    
    This must be a sad trip for you. I hope you have news one way or
    the other.
    
    Regards,
    Barbara

    Gulp.
    
    Well, thanks for the info. Yes, we would rather know than not know...
    of course. I am sure, also, that we are doing all we can, especially 
    with other people willing to help out. 
    
    What can I do about that cat in Merrimack? Perhaps I'll turn "sleuth"
    for the weekend, and go knocking on doors in that area -- why not,
    right? Can you tell me specifically where you saw the body? I'm
    slightly familiar with Merrimack, but can't recall that apartment
    complex. 
    
    I don't think that was her (though anything's possible) since
    that cat had a collar on, which would mean that 
    she would probably still have had her
    tag, and there's been no calls to my friends in Mt. Vernon.
    (Hanging onto hope, here?)
    
    Well, on we go. However it gets resolved, I hope to be able
    to add a few notes to this notesfile on more lighthearted
    subjects, in the future! 
    
    Regards, Barbara 
    
    

    
    
    	I have beed contacted by the basenoter Barbara Corman and gave
    	her all the info I could remember, but I have just gotten off
    	the phone with the Merrimack Animal Officer and she gave me
    	the description of the cat she picked up yesterday in front
    	of the cemetary on Continential Blvd.
    
    	The cat was an adult female
    	Small build
    	White chest
    	Dark Calico Colors
    	Most impt- she had a reflective white flea collar on (If I remember
    		   El had a blue leather one).
    	The Animal Officer could not give me a description of the head
    	markings since the cat had extensive head injury (sorry for
    	being grusome, but that's the facts).
    
    	So I personally think this was another cat (which was not claimed
    	by anyone and has already been cremated.)
    
    	Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
    
    
    	-Dee
    

    Hi Dee:
    
    Shoooo. Yes, that's another cat. (So sorry for the owners of that
    one....) El did not have a white flea collar; she had on a brown
    collar; my husband reminded me last night that we had switched
    her collar from the old blue one to a brown one right before we
    brought her over to Sue and Marty.
    
    So, back to beating the woods for her. What an ordeal.
    
    There are no words that can express our appreciation for your
    help. I hope I can repay you in some way (but *not* by searching
    for a lost cat from your household!)
    
    With regards, barbara

    
    
    	I went to a Wildlife Meeting last night and they brought up
    a very interesting fact:
    
    	Over 50% of lost cats in New England (especially in the wooded
    areas) are due to OWLS.  Yes folks if you leave a cat out at night
    and it always stays in your neighborhood (not known to wander) and
    one night it doesn't come home and you can't find it, it very well
    may have been caught by an owl.  Cats are one of their main dishes.
    I'm not saying El was a victim, but be aware that this does happen
    and more often than we would like to believe.  So take care and
    keep an eye on your cat.
    
    	Here's still hoping El is found and all is well.
    
    	Regards,
    
    
    	Dee (former owner of a beautiful tiger cat who lived to 16 yrs.
    	     old - who is still missed dearly)
    

    That's very interesting.  I would have thought that a full-grown
    cat would be too big for an owl.  Not that the owl couldn't carry
    it, but that it couldn't easily win the fight to the death.  I know
    how cats kill their prey; I have no idea how owls or other birds
    do it.
    
    Owls and cats are both part of nature's grand and beautiful scheme.
    
       Gary

    
    
    
    	Re:  14
    
    	It isn't a fight that takes place.  What happens is that the
    	cat is picked up by the claws of the owl and carried away,
    	while in flight (those with weak stomaches don't read) the
    	owl drops the cat from a high distance and the fall kills
    	the cat and then the owl retrieves it and takes it home to
    	the family for dinner.
    
    	Not a pleasant story, but a true one.
    
    

    Owls generally kill by using their extremely long talons to pierce
    the prey, and squeeze/suffocate it.  Their feet are extremely strong.
    
    As for size, some owls get VERY large -  spreads up to 5', with
    several around 3'.  Many of these are indiginous to this area.
    
    Gary

    I don't suppose we could take this discussion into another note
    somewhere?.... :-)  Imagining Eleanor as a snack for a big old owl family
    is not my idea of a good time; however, it's good to understand
    all the possibilities, I agree. Better an owl than a car, wouldn't
    you say? (Don't answer that.) Well, anyhow, I'm off to Heathrow 
    airport now; as I'm flying over the Northeast toward Logan, I'll 
    keep my eyes open for owls taking cats for rides. 
    
    Then again, I'll think about something else completely.
    
    Regards, Barbara 

    Someone in a previous reply asked if it was common for a cat to
    leave a happy home in search of an old home.  Yes.  It has happened
    to me with one of my cats.  And she was living with me when she
    left.  She just liked the old place better I guess. 
    
    Cats are territorial and don't give up their territory easily.  If you 
    move, you should keep your cats inside for a period of several weeks so
    that they can become accustomed to their new territory.  When you
    do begin letting them out, it is a good idea to supervise them for
    awhile to prevent them from taking off at the first chance.
          
    I hope that El is found.  Has someone gone to the old house to look
    for her?  That is where I found Chrissy both times she left home.
    
    JO

    Hello again:
    
    I just returned to the UK from two weeks in the States. During 
    that time, I was in the Nashua area and searched far and wide
    for El. No luck, I'm sorry to say. I checked around and in the
    old house almost every day for a week and a half, left notices
    with all the neighbors, posted signs, etc. I have hopes that
     if she returns to that house, I'll be notified. 
    
    It was very difficult emotionally to drive through Amherst 
    and Mt. Vernon, my eyes constantly scanning the woods. After a week
    or so, I finally had to accept that I probably won't be seeing her 
    again. That's the only way to get any peace of mind after awhile -- 
    one has to come to terms. My friends back in Mt. Vernon will 
    continue to watch for her, of course.
    
    Thanks for the support -- Barbara
    

    Great news!!!!
    
    We've been notified that a cat that looks very much like Eleanor
    has been living in a kindhearted woman's barn in Amherst for two
    weeks. This woman (Betty) has been feeding the cat; the cat goes exploring
    during the day and then comes back at night. It's probably El,
    although she's yet to be caught. When Betty sees her again, she
    will immediately contact my friends. Betty said that this cat
    has a collar and tag, like Eleanor, is in good health, and
    when shown a picture of Eleanor, said "That's the cat."
    
    Yikes.
    
    I give thanks for all the friends and the kindhearted strangers
    in this world.
    
    Will post an update when there's more news.
    Barbara 

    re: .20
    
    ...just the way to make a good day into a great day!
    
    We'll all be waiting and hoping....
     
    Good luck!!!!!!
    
    Linda
    

    
    
       OH BOY  are my fingers ever crossed!!!!!!!!  
    
                                                    praying its true,
                                                                kim

    Oh, hurray!  What great news!
    

    That is wonderful news, I'm praying for you.  Let us know.
    
    Cindy

    <major sigh of relief....>
    
    She's home and safe.
    
    It took a full week to catch her, but Eleanor is back at Sue and
    Marty's house. Somehow or other, Betty (the nice woman who was
    feeding Eleanor) "trapped" El -- I *think* she used a real trap,
    but am not clear on how she did it as yet -- and immediately
    called Sue and Marty to come retrieve El. Sue called to say
    that El was back at home, rather dirty and acting alittle
    "wild" (unfriendly), but looking well fed. And, she was allowing
    herself to be petted, and was even purring.
    
    It's hard for me to believe how lucky we are, that El wasn't
    hurt in her weeks out in the open, that she found a place to
    be fed and to sleep, that Betty saw our notices and recognized
    the cat... it's remarkable.
    
    Sue and Marty will be keeping Eleanor inside from now on,
    that's for sure.  
    
    I credit the help of several devoted animal lovers, including
    Sue and Marty, and kind Betty. Also, special credit goes to
    Lisa Walker, an employee at Digital who knows and loves
    animals and did everything humanly possible to help.        
    
    All you folks that are still looking for your lost friends,
    take heart. It's been almost a month and a half since El
    first got lost, and there she is, in one piece! So, keep up 
    the search, put up notices *with a photograph* of your kitty,
    and spread the word. With some luck, it'll work.
    
    And, one more time, thanks to all of you Feliners for your
    ongoing support. I'll see you around this notesfile!
     
    With best regards, Barbara
                    

    
    YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
    
    another happy ending

    Boy, am I happy for you.  I can empathize with what you've been
    going through, since our cat, Elroy, has been missing for 6 weeks
    now (see note 1829 for details).
    
    Just when we're ready to give up hope (as you mentioned, at a certain
    point, that's the only way you can cope), we hear a story like this.
    
    I'm glad that yours had a happy ending.  I'm not so optimistic about
    ours ...
    
    Leslie Harrison

    Hi Leslie:
    
    Jsut an additional note, for your information (and for all other
    cat owners who are still missing their pals):
    
    We found out that Betty, the kind lady who looked after Eleanor,
    did *not* see our posters, which was how I originally thought she'd
    learned who to call. Instead, she responded to the ad in a local
    paper. This paper only comes out once a week and has limited
    distribution, so I had thought the ad  wouldn't be very useful. 
    Just goes to show, right? So, keep doing everything you can think 
    of. Advertising seems to be especially important.
    
    Thanks for your nice note; it's kind of you to feel good for
    us when you're missing Elroy so much. Yes, as I said, 
    I personally went through a period of believing Eleanor was 
    dead and gone, never to be seen again  -- it *must be* the 
    only way to come to terms with the loss, huh? 
    (I think my note 1811.0, and replies, demonstrated clearly
     how I was feeling.) But, if you can keep hoping, there *is* a 
    very good chance yours will get back home. Think of the luck
    that was with us -- Eleanor wasn't hurt, found a nice place to
    stay and get fed, Betty eventually saw the newspaper ad, 
    Eleanor didn't get lost again while wandering near Betty's
    house every day, and so forth. If all of this can happen, 
    anything can. At least it's hopeful to hear that there are
    more cat lovers out there than one would think, so Elroy
    might be looked after at someone's house. After all, there
    must be a lot of Bettys out there, if Eleanor just happened
    to find one...
    
    My thoughts are with you. Barbara