Well, Skittles the Cat: GONE. She got out Thursday, and she's just gone.

[bertha katzenengel]

I fear we'll never see her again. I'm not mourning yet, and I'm not kicking myself -- well, not too much. I should've had her spayed a long time ago, but I just couldn't catch her.

I haven't had good luck with torties. So far there've been four, all feral. Our first one had to be put down. Our second was a success (TNR'd) but we haven't seen her in a year. Our third, Ringtail, just had her umpteenth litter. Can't catch her. And Skittles is our fourth.

Her hormones were too strong and she found a way to get out. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5129138&mesg_id=5129138

I'm crazy about that sweet little kitty, even though she's not socialized. I hope she comes home (and comes into the house or bites on a trap) before she gives birth. If she ever comes home.

:(

[Aristus]

1. Shit, bertha!

I thought you were referring to OUR Skittles, not your Skittles.

I'm gonna make her kick your ass for scaring me.

Oh, and I AM sorry your Skittles has gone missing. I hope she comes back.

[bertha katzenengel]

2. Aristus, I'm so sorry...

I changed the thread title. :yoiks:

[DS1]

3. Reminds me of my minou

He's a wild child, out right now, in the most torrential downpours in state history, and loving every minute of it no doubt

:hug:

[bertha katzenengel]

4. minou

:hug:

[newsguyatl]

5. i take it she's

not microchipped either?

[bertha katzenengel]

13. nope - she would've been along w/ the spay

:(

[clyrc]

6. Our cat left and didn't come back a month ago

I miss her a whole lot, but I hope she just took up with some other family. She was unhappy that we brought another found kitten into our home.

Here's hoping your kitty comes back safe and unharmed.

[bertha katzenengel]

14. i'm sorry, clyrc

:pals:

[Haole Girl]

7. Did you try leaving opened cans of tuna around?

It brought my cat home after 3 days on the run. :)


Edit: spelling

[bertha katzenengel]

15. not a bad idea - but with lots of ferals, not to mention raccoons and

possums, I don't think I'd better ;)

[radwriter0555]

8. You could put up posters, pix and offer a reward; people are pretty

good about responding to that stuff.

[bertha katzenengel]

16. Good idea - but she never got socialized, so there's no way for

anyone to catch her. I will put out traps as soon as I quit my job. Wish I didn't have to wait but - no time to maintain them.

[Archae]

9. dupe

n/t

[Archae]

10. I really do sympathize, bertha.

Several years ago my gorgeous b/w female cat Patches, snuck out my door, and I finally located her, thanks to a neighbor a few blocks away.

She was hit by a car. :cry:

I now have another b/w female cat, Lucky, who is just as sweet.

But I'll always miss Patches.

[bertha katzenengel]

17. oh, dear Archae

I'm sorry. :pals: Our first tortie's name was Patches.

Go give Lucky some loving. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. I bet she'll come back to have her litter...

Being a mom is so much easier when they don't have to hunt for food...

[bertha katzenengel]

18. I sure hope you're right.

BTW, you make a fine looking 17th century woman... ;)

[reyd reid reed]

12. I'm sorry about your cat

And I'll keep my fingers crossed that she comes home soon. Torties can be a handful...we've had two in recent years -- Psycho kitty and her daughter, Cookie (I call her Psycho-kitty, Jr.). Ultimately, I couldn't keep Psycho kitty and had to send her to live with my oldest son but she ran off.

Cookie truly is her mother's daughter, though.

[bertha katzenengel]

19. I never knew this about torties.

Never knew they were so, well, wild!

[catmandu57]

20. Sam had a bad habit

when he was younger of getting himself locked into garages and sheds, usually he would get out in a few days and come home. He hasn't done it in four years now, the last time I wrote his obit, because he was gone for over a week when he finally did get free and come home he was just about done in, skinny and hoarse, hungry and thirsty I think he learned his lesson about going into strange places.
hopefully, Skittles will come home, it's like worrying about children when they're out.

edit: fixed spelling

[bertha katzenengel]

29. SHE'S BACK!

And she was starved, per Mrs. V. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5159209&mesg_id=5159209

:bounce:

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. Oh no...I'm so sorry. Gosh they make us worry so.

My first cat (A big alley, tabby, tomcat) Sweetie used to find all manner of ways to get out. We never could keep a screen whole. Unfortunately, his need for freedom cost him his life...and me my heart for a while. I hope she comes back soon. :( :hug:

[bertha katzenengel]

28. SHE'S BACK!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5159209&mesg_id=5159209

(I'm so sorry about Sweetie :hug:)

[jukes]

22. i hope you get her back, V

she's a pretty girl.

i had a feral kickout a screen & jump 2 stories to the top of a car in my drive; saw his prints headed for the woods and never saw him again.

another feral pried open the sticky, not-quite-closed front door a year ago; several ferals bolted but i chased down all but him on foot (had to give myself 4 stitches in my right hand from a Sydney-bite) the escapee returned a week later y lived under a neighbors shed for a month till i was able to re-trap him. had to use steak as bait, the rascal.

i'd say you have a 50/50. good luck!
:pals:


BTW: my screens are all reinforced w/ hardware cloth now (1/2" grid) y i've replaced the front door. damn tricky-assed ferals!!!!

[bertha katzenengel]

27. JUKES - SHE'S BACK!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5159209&mesg_id=5159209

[jukes]

30. SWEET!

i'll reply in the other thread!

[hyphenate]

23. I'm SO sorry to hear this!

I know the special brand of grief associated with a pet escaping, never to be found again--I lost one on my move cross-country and one eight months later after she escaped from the house. I'm still mourning them both.

There are a lot of "what if" questions associated with this kind of loss--mostly no closure because you have no idea whether they're alive or not, if they were killed or not, and how rough life is out there in the "wild."

My two were handraised, and were never outside during their lives with me. I still wonder sadly how they would manage to survive without instincts from the outdoor world.

I SO hope that Skittles will come home for you! Please keep us updated on this!

Mary

[bertha katzenengel]

26. SHE'S BACK!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5159209&mesg_id=5159209

[noonwitch]

24. Maybe she left to go have her kittens?

Cats are weird, you never know what they're up to. She might have decided to have the litter somewhere outside.

[bertha katzenengel]

25. Oh -- she would've just got knocked up on this little jaunt, noonie.

But she's back! see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5159209&mesg_id=5159209

[Skittles]

31. oh dear

BERTHA GET MY NAMESAKE FIXED PRONTO!!!