Conference misery::feline_v1

    Gosh, that's awful.  Please let us know what happens.  Wish I were
    closer so I could help.
    

    I'll keep a lookout.  I wonder what would have caused them to take off
    like that....

    Roberta -
      If they can have them start leaving food out for the cats.  That
    might give you an indication if they are still in the area.  
      Nancy DC

    I spoke to Randy last night.  She has done everything we could ever
    think of and more.  Both of us have been putting out food; it has
    been eaten but who knows what is eating it.  There are racoons,
    skunks, and possums in our area.  We have woods behind our condos
    that lead into a residential neighborhood.  Randy found the road
    which leads to that neighborhood and distributed/hung fliers.  She
    placed ads in all of the local newspapers.  Every vet and shelter
    has been notified as well as the local police.
    
    We are baffled that no one has seen either of the cats.  She said
    they are very vocal, and would probably approach a human being if
    hungry.  There has been absolutely no sign of them both, and Randy
    feels that they are either in someone's house, or hiding in the
    woods.  Usually when an indoor only cat gets out in our development,
    they huddle and hide in the bushes or under decks and are always
    found sooner or later.  These two have simply vanished.
    
    I can't stop thinking about them.  If it were any of my cats, I
    would be devastated.
    
    Thanks for the good thoughts all.
    
    
    --Roberta
    

    Geez, the owners probably don't even know yet?  Hah?  That's awful - I
    too wish I were closer to help in the search!  They are probably
    somewhere close - hiding under a sheltor of some sort - petrified!  I
    hope they are safe whereever they are.
    
    Keep us posted.
    Sonia

    Roberta:
    
    If I read your base note correctly, what seems strange to me is that of
    the three cats in the house - only two vanished....why didn't the third
    one follow? (Guess we are all wondering that...stupid question on my
    part...sorry!!)
    
    Although you said you could understand the door flying open - do you
    think it IS possible that someone went in and just took the two
    cats?  Stranger things have happened!
    
    I keep thinking that if one were gone - and it was in the woods hiding
    (or whatever) that it would be difficult to locate him...but TWO.  I
    would think ONE of them might wander back - or start to cry or look
    for food.
    
    I am not an expert on cats (just loving them) so maybe cats 'stick'
    together when they are frightened - it just does seem weird that two
    cats could totally disappear.
    
    I do hope that they are found safe and sound - if I were Randy I would
    be frantic and devastated.  You are a very nice person to do what you
    are doing she is very lucky to have you as a friend/neighbor.  Wish I 
    could help but I live in Leominster and I don't think the cats
    would/could want THAT far.
    
    Sending prayers 
    
    Marilyn
               
    

    It's just me again!!!!
    
    Another thought.  Wasn't there a note/reply in here - not too long ago
    - about a missing cat that was black and white?  I believe someones'
    reply mentioned something about a large number of black and white cats 
    in New England (Massachusetts?) and that quite of few of them had been
    reported missing?
    
    Horrible thought!
    
    
    Sending LOTS of prayers
    
    Marilyn
    
    

    Hi Marilyn,
    
    Let me see if I can answer some of your questions.
    
    Yes, the front doors really do blow open on occasion.  They are
    kind of tricky; you can think they are closed tight but it is very
    easy to push them open.  Once Nikki decided to climb up on the 2nd
    floor balcony of a unit two doors down from me that was still vacant
    and he refused to come down.  I went to the front door of the unit,
    which was locked, and was able to push it open very easily and go
    upstairs to rescue Nik!  Most of our neighbors who have pets have
    installed deadbolts for this very reason.  (Luckily, Nikki has become
    too fat to implement his climbing ability again; this was two years
    ago!!).
    
    Believe me, Randy has wondered why her 3rd cat and the dog didn't
    escape the house, especially because it is this 3rd cat who always
    showed an interest in going outside.  In the almost-three years
    I have lived in this development, no one has ever had an animal
    kidnapped or malicously hurt.  Most of the people around us have
    pets, and love animals very much.  As you stated, stranger things
    have happened.  I'd like to believe that these two weren't snatched,
    just became scared and ran.
    
    One detail I am not clear on and didn't ask Randy to clarify is
    this:  When her sister came to the house and found the door open,
    I'm not certain if that meant the front door was open (as in wide
    open), or simply unlocked.  If the wind could have blown it open,
    it also could have blown it closed just as easily.  But, now that
    I think of it, the door would have stayed locked if blown shut again,
    so my assumption is that her sister found the door open, as in wide
    open, or partially open.
    
    I wish I could take a walk through those woods myself but they are
    very thick and not easily trespassable.  I did stand at the edge
    of them last night and called, but saw or heard nothing.
    
    With everything Randy has done, it is now a matter of waiting, hoping,
    and praying.
    
    
    --Roberta
    

    Oh, how very sad.  Just thinking of those two cats out 'somewhere'
    without food, in the cold and rain, brings tears to my eyes.
    
    My beloved Benji (a Siamese that _someBODY_ dumped on the side of
    Route 2 in Lancaster) wandered off in the woods by Spec Pond and was
    forced up a tree by two dogs.  He was up there for 2 days, in the 
    pouring rain, before my husband and I got a phone call and rescued him.  
    He ended up having distemper - but with shots, pills, and putting him 
    in bed with us every night (wrapped in a baby blanket) he survived.  
    He lived to be 19+ years old - we never knew his exact age - the vet 
    figures he was about a year old (by looking at his teeth) and we had 
    him for 18 and a half years.  He eventually developed a tumor behind 
    his eye and had to be put down.  
    
    So sad, I can't even talk about it without crying.
    
    I hope that Randy finds them and that they are safe and sound!
    
    Marilyn, Otis & Tiffany
    

    
    	Those two poor kitties.
    
    	Please extend our best wishes to your neighbor and good
    	luck in finding them!  Hope they are home soon.
    
    	JJ, Brandi, Sasha, Chloe and Duke
    

    Do the cats have collars and id tags?  If not someone may have taken
    them in not realizing they belong to someone  else.  Also, sometimes
    people "adopt" cats even if they are tagged, but later find they
    can't deal with them and free them, so the cats may reappear some
    time from now (these people are a little around the bend, as you can
    imagine, but I gather it does happen.)
    

    This may be a stupid idea, but is there any chance that the cats may
    have become scared and hidden IN the condo?  Perhaps they got locked
    into a room or drawer or something like that.  Has a thorough search
    of the condo been done?  We once searched frantically for Bumpytail
    and finally found her in one of my husband's bureau drawers where
    she'd apparently spent the entire day.
    Just a thought.
      Nancy DC

    Nancy, yup, that was my first suggestion to them!  They searched
    the house 3X top to bottom.  Now, I don't know the extent of that
    search (drawers, etc.) but knowing them like I do, I have a good
    feeling it was very thorough.
    
    No idea is stupid!  This is a situation where most would resort
    to desparate measures to find their beloved pets!
    

    Thank you all for your kind words and concerns in regards to my 
    two lost cats.  I just got into this notes file and to my surprise
    Roberta had added the note about my cats, I did not know Roberta
    worked for DEC too.  
    
    I do want to say that we have been receiving calls regarding lost
    cats (not ours), and it is nice to know that people do care and they
    do keep their eyes open for you 
    
    And after reading your replies you made me feel better.  
    
    Thanks for your concerns..
    Randi
    

    And I didn't know that Randi worked for DEC either!!  Small world!
    She came by my house after work to share the news that she had read
    my note.
    
    Hope Gizzy and Apollo are found soon.
    
    
    --Roberta
    

    Hi Roberta/Randi....
    
    I was wondering what the latest update was for Gizzy and Apollo?
    
    Have you been able to locate them....did they come home (praying
    that you say YES)!!!
    
    PLease let us know how the search is going.
    
    Marilyn, Otis & Tiffany
    

    Yes Roberta, we would like to know if there is any good news?
    
    Robyn, Rocky & Smokey (we're keeping our paws crossed)

    I think I can post this note for Roberta.
    
    There is no news on these two cats. No one has seen them. It is just
    like they have disappeared.
    
    The owners and all the caring Condo folks are still looking.
    
    Barbara

    Thanks Barbara, pls. keep up posted.  We think about them alot.
    
    Sending prayers,
    
    Robyn, Rocky & Smokey

    What a baffling situation.  It's almost as though someone stole the two
    cats!
    
    Thanks for the update and I do hope that there will a happy ending here
    - someday soon!
    
    Sending lots of hope and good luck...
    
    Marilyn, Otis & Tiffany