OT - Good thoughts needed fast - QI MIA

Fingers are crossed here... Our cats occasionally wander off for a day or so, and a friend has just welcomed home (severe frosts all week!) a cat that has spent the whole summer and autumn on walkabout!

As at 2.45pm today he's still not home. DH is shattered. I spent the morning on the phone - notifying the council (no cats were picked up on the weekend but they were very impressed that he was desexed and wearing ID), none made it to the other animal shelter, and the local vets haven't had him in either. So depending on which way you look at it, it's either good or bad.

My boss at work very tactfully put it that "cats wander off to die" which did wonders for my morale. We know and have been wondering this but to be told so bluntly is hurtful.

Wayne came home from work early and has been doorknocking but Merlot hasn't been seen since Saturday morning. Our next door neighbours said that they always knew when we were away because Merlot would sit in the driveway awaiting our return!

I only hope he returns soon. Thanks so much for the positive thoughts, and whaddya mean there's something in the mail for me?????

(((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))) to all.

and whaddya mean there's something in the mail for me?????

Well, Sharon, there's a funny story, so I guess I'll spill the beans so to speak.

Whenever we send mail at the Post Office, the usual questions are- is it fragile, is it perishable, is it hazardous? When I told them, "Well, since it's FRUITCAKE it's sure not fragile, it's certainly not perishable, but it darn well *may* be hazardous!", about twenty people in the Post Office burst out laughing. You know all the old stories about fruitcakes....

Hope that gave you a little smile when you're feeling so badly right now. Still praying for Merlot's quick return.

Leslie (Creator of Seventy Pounds of Fruitcake--- this year- and shipp> As at 2.45pm today he's still not home. DH is shattered. I spent the

Oh my heavens! That did bring a smile to my face Leslie. Thank you so much!

Chances are that he ran off chasing some particularly yummy looking piece of wildlife or a potential girlfriend and simply lost his bearings. My desexed male still remembers that he is supposed to be attracted to girl cats, but then he isn't sure what to do once he's got one. A friend's cat chased something out of his yard and went missing for a month, but he eventually returned.

Does Merlot eat tinned food? Does he come running at the mere sound of a can opener touching a tin of tuna? Does he get treats or crunchy food from a noisy bag? Go out in the quiet hours of the night and open every food container he knows the sound of. If he is in hearing range he may come running, or may make noise so you can find him.

Check any businesses that may be nearby just in case he got locked in a storage area during the weekend. Also check all small cramped spaces in the area in case he has gotten himself trapped by his own curiosity. If he had a collar, look near fences, under storage sheds, and in brushy areas in case his collar has snagged on something.

I hope you find him, or he finds you. Debra in VA See my quilts at

On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 15:14:16 -0600, Kate Dicey wrote (in article ):

Katie Mae just wandered off for a week not long a gone. I was beside myself, but one rainy day last week, David said she strolled in dry as a bone with a lot to say. ( I was at work).

Now that its gotten cold, she's been sticking pretty close to us. Maybe her other family arent' as good cat butlers as we are.

Maureen

I hope you find him soon. Sugar and Fiona send their kitty hugs too. Linda in Tx

Prayers for a safe return coming your way. Is your darling neutered? Does it have the implant that carries your address and phone number?

Leslie on a fruitcake note:

Last friday a few of my guild mates (5) got together to make reversible Christmas table runners. The subject of fruit cake came up and someone asked if anyone knew where the monastery was that made and sold the fruit cakes.

Well I know, but you had better get there fast because they run out of them early. They wanted directions, I ended up volunteering to drive over there. We were done sewing at 4:00 PM. Four of us got into my car and off we went. We surveyed everything in the shop and ended up leaving with 9 fruit cakes (at $21 each), 7 jars of jelly/jam, 2 tubs of whipped flavored honey, 1 CD, an 2 books. They don't sell fabric!

By the way we all got our table runners done!

Bonnie, in Middletown, VA

Sharon, I sincerely hope he's merely wandered off to explore some interesting hunting possibilities and that he's home (or on the way) as I type. {{{{Hugs}}}}

Oh Sharon I sure hope Merlot returns soon safe and sound. Harley loves to sneak out of the house and wander around the neighborhood. He's not an outdoor cat but thinks he is. He always comes back though. He, Sarge, Buster and Comit all send their regards and wish a safe return for Merlot.

Just thought of this after reading Tigg's post. Did anyone have a service technician(plumber, carpenter, electrician) in your neighborhood recently? Perhaps Merlot decided to investigate the interloping vehicle and got stuck inside. A quick call to the service person's shop couldn't hurt, especially if he jumped out and scared them, and is now hiding near their place of business.

-- Carey in MA (sending homing thoughts to Merlot, along with the indoor and the many outdoor kitties around my house that are saying he's foolish for not coming back sooner to be fed at home...)

There's a monastery in Middletown? Interesting.

The local Catholic church has a bazaar once a year. I go every time I can. There is no fruitcake. There are loaves of stollen (sp), sticky buns, pies, and yeast rolls. This year I bought 4 different homemade jams and preserves, rolls, and some home made cucumber pickles that remind me of the ones my mom made when I was a child. Yum!

Next year I'm buying all the sweet pickles and rhubarb preserves I can get my hot little hands on. :-) Debra in VA See my quilts at

Yep he's neutered but doesn't have a microchip although he has about 3 tags hanging off of his collar and is well known in the neighbourhood and "Cat Who Sleeps and Sunbakes"

No, not in Middletown, it's about 15/20 miles from here near the Shenandoah river off of route 7 east of Berryville, VA.

Holy Cross Abbey

Bonnie, in Middletown, VA

Oh Bonnie, what a smiling precious memory. My mom was a pickle-maker. All of us gratefully accepted her pickle gifts and quietly sneaked them on to our son. He loved them, would probably have killed for them - and we got to see that he had a good supply for a long time. May God especially bless the pickle eaters - not to mention the fruitcakes. Polly

LOL Snigs - Merlot would be hissing at you - "she's" a "he"!

Phoebe (the labrador pup) from across the road tried to muscle in on his territory and received a swat across the nose for her trouble so I don't think he's been chased anywhere. All the neighbours have been wonderful in checking everywhere. We have also put up a flyer in the supermarket ("The" gathering place - everyone ends up there!) and have notified the vet, council and local shelter. Maddy and Mikky took one of Maddy's homework assignments which was a flyer on why I love my pet to school today to show and tell and ask anyone who sees him to please tell her. Mads thought of that one herself and woke me at 6am today to tell me! If you want to spread news tell a class full of 8 year olds and one of 5/6 year olds!!!

I checked out the shelter again today, including their quarantine area, and while there were some almost like him (jet black but shorthair), he wasn't there. I could have adopted half a dozen but they weren't Mighty Merlot. We've told the girls that we think he ran away, or maybe went away because he was really sick and didn't want to hurt us but we are...were being postive.

We just found out that over-the-road neighbour saw him on their porch on Sunday night and he was looking really ill. Baffles me that Merlot didn't come home but apparently this neighbour talked to another (who just told us) and said he thought it may have been feline aids, in which case there is nothing we could do. I think Merlot's time was just up.

Oh, Sharon, I'm so sorry! Having just gone through the loss of a beloved QI myself, I can really sympathize with how you must be feeling. {{{{Hugs to all}}}}}

Sharon, why does this neighbor think Merlot has feline AIDS? Can he tell by just observing? I have a friend here with a kitty who has feline AIDS, and while there is no cure, there are meds to fight it and keep him at a high quality of life longer. There are many stories of beautiful kitties who get adopted by adoring strangers, and the kitties come home even months later; they find their way home over many kilometers. I still have hope. Cyndi