My Boy: Cato

[Perseus]

Kaffe, here's another resource for finding pets in San Francisco.  A lot of the shelters report the found pets to this organization.  You can do a search online and also post about Cato being lost here:
http://petharbor.com/WelcomeFrameSet.htm

Please keep in touch as we're all praying for his safe return.

[Bonkers]

Kaffe, any word yet on Cato? Did you get your ads up on the sites that were suggested?

[kaffe]

No Cato yet... I just did another mail box drop of Cato's leaflets.  Went to the local humane society (nearest here) in San Mateo yesterday to register lost pet and to look at their kennels - no Cato there.  I talked to neighbors, searched yards... left some soled clothing out, Cato's kitty litter box and food bowls out for him to pick up scent... walked up and down several blocks calling him... I'm loosing my mind

[lesliek]

Kaffe found Cato last night,he seems fine. I'm sure she'll be on later to let everyone know. I saw it on Itchmo and thought everyone here would want to know.

[Bonkers]

   This is great news! I am so happy for Kaffe.  Thanks lesliek for letting us know

[Perseus]

OMG, such great news!  I'm so happy for Kaffe and Cato to be reunited!!  Thank you lesliek!  I can't wait to hear all the details of how she found him. 

Please rest now Kaffe and take it easy for a while, you've been through a lot.

[kaffe]

Thank you LeslieK for conveying the good news that Cato is home!  I've been busy putting down flyers and posters and talking to neighbors virtually all day... anyway, this is how I found Cato:

After dinner last night, I took another walk around the block to look for Cato.  As usual, I began to tear up and cry as I talked to God.  For the last three days, I used to ask Him, “Lord, please bring Cato back home to me...”  This night, in utter frustration and near despair, I cried: “Lord Jesus, You know exactly where Cato is. And you can command an angel to help guide him to me... I don’t understand why you won’t help me!  See those people from Itchmo?  They’re all helping me to the best of their power – and they’re only sinful humans like me ...  Why won’t You help me, God of my salvation, God of my praise?  What’s the point of praying if You won’t answer?” ... and so on... then this phrase crept to my mind: “Trust in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, and He will do it...”  The cold windy night drove me back indoors, resigned to “wait.”  But something drove me to go down the outside steps to the basement.  I go in there when I want to be alone and undisturbed.  I sat on an abandoned backseat to talk and argue with God once more.  I was just opening my mouth with the first syllables of distres when I heard a low “meoow-meoow.”  I asked, “Mitten?  is that you?” A loud “Meoow.”  Holding my breath, I sing-songed: “Cato, Mitten?”  Louder: “Meoow Meooow.”  Goodness! thought I; it’s Cato and he is in the storage room.  I tried the handle.  It was locked!  I looked around for a way inside, all the time talking softly and calmly to Cato, who was now talking back to me plaintively, as if wondering why I wouldn’t open the door immediately.  When I was convinced that there was no other way Cato could get out of that storage room but through the door, I said, “Minute-minute sweetheart: Mama open door little-little while.”  Dashing upstairs to the house, I called a locksmith, who came in record time from the city.  I gave him explicit instructions:  just unlock the door, do not open it wide - just enough to check that it is indeed unlocked and DO NOT make noise.  He performed magnificently.  I paid him and then with flashlight and kibble bag in hand, I entered the storage room quietly, calling softly, “Cato?  Mitten-mitten?  Meowmie here babie...”  I went over the room with the flash light beam and then, right at the back, behind an abandoned mattress, I saw him: Cato!  I stepped outside the storeroom to grab Cato’s bowl and kibble bag.  Sitting on my haunches facing the storage room door, I shook the kibble bag and called: “Mitten! Come-come! Foodie-food-food!”  As expected, Cato came trotting out on his own, straight to the food bowl. He began to eat and purr.  I gently grabbed his nape to lift him up to my face so I could examine his body.  A bit dusty but Hale and Whole.   Finally, the tears of gratitude and relief came flooding.  After many hugs and kisses, I stuffed Cato into his soft-sided carrier and carried him upstairs.  He looked so happy to be back: rolled on the rug, purred and purred and seemed not to be able to bear letting me out of his sight. I had to get in and out of the room getting supplies: cleaning cloths, food water, brush...   As I was ministering to him, this song came to my mind:

http://www.imeem.com/people/H5KGomY/music/4UI0Q4wK/john-denver-annies-other-song/

And from the wanderer himself, BIG Purrs and Sandpaper lickins in Mitten-Thank-You's for all your prayers and support.   

[Bonkers]

  Oh my kaffe! Poor Cato (and Meomie) went thru quite an ordeal. Do you know how Cato came to be locked in the storage room?

[sherrylynne]

I am so glad you found him, Kaffe! You both must be so relieved

[kaffe]

  Oh my kaffe! Poor Cato (and Meomie) went thru quite an ordeal. Do you know how Cato came to be locked in the storage room?

I beleive he roamed around for 3 days and 3 nights, probably coming to feed now and again at his food bowl left perpetually full outside.  On the fourth day of his disappearnace, at nightfall, he decided it was time to come home to me.  He must have crept back into the hole behind the steps of my neighbor's house (which is attached to ours) and crawled along towards my side of the house.  There's a hole in the "ceiling" of the basement storage room from where Cato undoubtedly dropped through. He could jump down safely from that height (around 7  8 ft), but could not jump back up.  Cato was "trapped" in the storage room and it was by divine guidance that I went down the basement last night.  That's my theory, anyway becuase no one opens the storage room around here except the landlord, who hasn't come around for 2 weeks.

[sherrylynne]

And I think you'd better tell that kitty he's had enough adventuring to last him a life time!

[Perseus]

Cato!  I'm so glad you're home with mommie!  And what an adventure he had (and you, too).  Thanks for letting us know all is well.

[kaffe]

 
Persues:  Cato is sooooo grounded.  Or so Ithought.  I took pity on him today and took him along with me to the neighbor's for tea and so he can contine acquaintance with her two kitties, Sahara and Twister.  But dont worry - Cato was stuffed into his soft-sided carrier  but allowed to roam my neighbor's living room - after every door and every window was locked!     He had a smashing time hiding under the couch cover    He's such a silly twit!  But I love him so.  Angel Kaffe must have scolded him real good last Sunday!

[GreyGhost]

This is great news. I am so happy to hear cato is back and all is well. Sorry I didn't get here sooner.

[Perseus]

Angel Kaffe must have scolded him real good last Sunday!

Kaffe must be watching over you both!