Blaze took her home but not her cat - pic

[Kadie]

Blaze took her home but not her cat: A relieved Connie Kirchner kisses her Buddy after discovering that he had survived the 49er Fire, which destroyed her house in Auburn, Calif. Kirchner and her family were forced to flee the home Sunday before they could grab Buddy.

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / AP

[CatWoman]

1. awwwwwww

:loveya:

[KittyWampus]

2. I would go insane if my kitties were left behind.

[BuelahWitch]

12. Me too

When the fire alarm or the tornado sirens go off the first thing I do is grab kitty and put her in her carrier. Possessions can be replaced, but my furbaby can't.

[Hansel]

18. Me too.

We throw them in the crawl space when the warnings start. If the siren go off, we go in with them and put them in the crates.

[Arugula Latte]

28. Me too.

Life without kitties is unimaginable.

[Butch350]

32. Oh boy - K, F and O

[skier_]

42. So would I

I love my cats.. hah.

[JVS]

3. In before the denunciations of her family for being...

"forced to flee the home Sunday before they could grab Buddy"

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Hooray for a clever kitteh who saved himself!

[Warpy]

5. That's a pretty grubby kitty

but I hope he's completely OK.

I think we underestimate the ability of our fuzzy friends to get through a lot of this stuff. They're damned resourceful when the occasion calls for it.

Still, it's better if we can shove them into that carrier and take them along.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. I am not sure how mine would fare, having lived indoors for all 15 years of their lives.

:(

[JVS]

8. Yeah, that cat in the picture has a thousand yard stare thing going. Looks traumatized.

[Warpy]

11. Mine's a rescue who's lived indoors for 15 of her 16 years

and sometimes she's not easy to grab when it's cat carrier time.

I manage, though, and certainly would should the occasion demand it.

[Hansel]

21. He's covered with soot.

One of our cat periodically climbs in behind the furnace. He looks just like that when he comes back out. We always thank him for dusting.

[malaise]

7. That's lovely

Only animal lovers would understand how much her stress level was reduced when she found Buddy.

[Tansy_Gold]

9. HAVE A PLAN, PEOPLE

I'm sorry if I come across as a real meanie, but I just do not understand how people can choose to live in an area where natural emergencies are kind of part of the landscape (pun intended) yet don't have a plan in place for when an evacuation is announced. And that plan ought to include looking out for the safety of those who are dependent on you -- THE ANIMALS.

I'm glad the cat survived, but I would have to take this woman by the shoulders and shake the living crap out of her and scream WHY DIDN'T YOU HAVE A CRATE FOR THE CAT THAT YOU COULD PUT HIM IN AND TAKE HIM WITH YOU???????


sheesh.


Tansy Gold, who isn't even a cat person

[joeybee12]

13. I agree...it's not like the fire started two minutes ago...

...they should have been prepared.

[Doremus]

14. Kittehs often have other plans that negate the best-laid plans of mice & men.

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. It can be very, very hard to find let alone corral a kitty in the best of times. I live

in a trailer, most of which have a 10 minute burn time. I would hope I would have time to grab the kids and the cats. :scared:

[Booster]

25. You don't have a cat, huh? During a disaster they hide someplace

and watch you scramble like mad trying to find them. If you're lucky enough to spot them, then they think it's a game and dart all over the place while you scream and pull your hair out. I'm glad this lady got her cat back; a lot of people won't.

[Tansy_Gold]

30. The plan should be in place before -- BEFORE -- the disaster.

Especially a disaster like this that does give warning and time to act. I've had cats and I know how independent they can be. But knowing that, I would have a PLAN to make sure that at the first sign of threat, I'd be getting them safe.

I feel very sorry for the animals, all of them: chickens, boas, goats, cats, gerbils, dogs, pigs, horses, lions, tigers, and bears.

But I have a difficult time understanding people who take on the responsibility of a pet/animal and then don't make sure they have a plan of action in place to take care of the animal in a crisis situation.


That's just the way I am.

[Beaverhausen]

37. I have one that will run and hide...even from me.

A friend lost a cat in an apt. fire a few years ago. The cat was freaked and was hiding under the bed- they lifted the mattress and tried to get her but the smoke and fire were too much and they had to get out. Kitty didn't make it.

[Skittles]

36. I have my cats microchipped and crates/collars ready

yes INDEED - but I have to tell you - my cats scatter to the winds if they hear a lightning bolt - cats can be notoriously difficult to locate / catch - and I live in a tiny apartment

[Kadie]

41. Even with a plan

It can be very difficult to catch a cat. Especially a scared one. I haven't seen information as to why this lady wasn't able to take her cat with her.

[joeybee12]

10. Glad that kitty made it...

...although how quick moving was that fire that they didn't have any time to prepare and grabbed him?

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. What if he was outside?? I've known people who couldn't find their cat on moving day who

left and then came back days later to try again and catch the kitty.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

15. Another awwwwwwwww

[Control-Z]

17. especially touched by this pic

and story today. broke my left wrist and sprained the right night before last. my sweet kitty has been curled up by my side since i got home from the hospital. we seldom get the opportunity to cuddle so much. he is the sweetest animal on earth and i'm loving him up right now. i would be devastated to leave him behind for anything.

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. Ouch! Glad you are more or less ok and that kitty is taking care of yo. Did you

fall?? :hug:

[Control-Z]

26. yes - lol - so embarrassing -

bowling - crossed the line onto the overly oiled lane - foot flew out from under me. i was so worried about hitting my back (i've had 4 lower back surgeries) that i took the full weight of the fall on my hands. and it was a hard fall. i heard the cracking bones. actually went into shock later.

but got a strike on the fall. then bowled one more frame with my right hand (didn't want my kids to know how hurt i was) and got another strike. woohoo. then the pain got to be a bit much and kids saw the bump sticking out the hand.

feel incredibly klutzy and so embarrassed. bowling - practically the most passive sport ever. who gets hurt bowling?

[GreenPartyVoter]

33. Holy cow! You kept on bowling?! That takes some serious discipline there. I woulda

been bawling like a baby, I just know it.

[Control-Z]

39. it was for my kids

- trying to laugh (along with them) and keep playing to hide my embarrassment. trust me, i really have no discipline. :)

[Kadie]

34. Ouch!

Hope you are feeling better real soon Control-Z. Sounds like you have a really sweet kitty. Glad he is there for you.

:hug:

[Control-Z]

38. thanks!

:) he is a sweetheart, and is making me feel better already.

[samplegirl]

22. What a heartquake!!!!!

[Creena]

23. OMG Kitteh!

:loveya:

Lots of love, noms, and by the looks of the fur, a...BATH!

[Lagomorph]

24. Uber Cat says....

You left your cat!?!?!?!

[CatWoman]

29. HA!!!

:rofl:

[dixiegrrrrl]

31. WTF you say? She did?

[Kadie]

35. lolcat

:rofl:

did you see this caption?




:rofl:

[ellie]

27. Kitteh!

[EndersDame]

40. this is so touching

[havocmom]

43. Prior to fire season (or any other disaster season in your area) get pets used to crates

Leave crates out, make them inviting. If things start looking bad, crate pet. Have car loaded with emergency supplies, and include pet food, leashes, what ever would be essential.

A crated pet waiting by the door is a safer pet when fires are heading at you.

[swishyfeet]

44. Makes me think of...

Blaze the Trail Cat:

[tblue37]

45. I'm the sort of person who would probably get killed running back into a burning building to save my

cats, so I am thrilled to hear about her kitty surviving the flames!