Update...I believe in Miracles

[QueenOfCalifornia]

All of you who poured out sympathy for the loss of my beloved cat Spike yesterday - You all made me feel better. Sad but better. Thank you. Now I do believe in miracles.

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........

SPIKE CAME HOME AFTER BEING GONE FOR TWO AND A HALF DAYS AND NIGHTS! WE ALL THOUGHT HE HAD BEEN EATEN BY A COYOTE BUT IT LOOKS LIKE HE WAS TRAPPED SOMEPLACE.

He was very, very hungry. He was very happy to see all of us. Of course none of us could believe our good fortune because we all love that cat so much.

Our guess is he got caught in someones garage. They were gone for a couple of nights. Or he could have gotten his collar caught in a tree --- His collar is supposed to be the break-away type made for outdoor cats but this one would not snap apart under pressure when I checked it last night. He is getting a new collar today or tomorrow.

I went to the kitchen last night and was getting something - it was about 10:40 - I had looked out the sliding glass door a thousand times hoping to see him there asking to come in - I kept telling myself to stop torturing myself because I know Spike and Spike never, ever is gone for more than a single night. Well, I glanced at the door, wishing that my wonderful, orange friend would be there - The reflection from the kitchen light made the door more mirror like than clear but I saw a movement - were my old eyes seeing a shadow from the trees outside after all, there was a stiff wind. I just stared at the bottom right corner of the door and there it was again, a familiar silhouette. I rushed over to see if it could be true, could Spike be there? I opened the door and in he walked. He looked up and meowed. He ran a circle around my legs and purred. I cried out "SPIKE! Oh my god, Spike you came back." Spike closed his cat eyes and did that wonderful cat smile that cats do and then, like a good kitty he jumped up where his bowl is kept and looked horrified to not find it there. I had taken it away since it just made me cry when I saw it. I grabbed one of my good bowls from the cupboard and filled it with Meow Mix. He ate like he was starved half to death. I woke the whole family by yelling "Spike's home!" I kept crying and everyone hugged and kissed that dirty, orange cat. I followed him into the living room where the Cats-mas tree is set up he went under the tree, laid on his back and played with a gold ball... Then he found a piece of red poster paper that my daughter had left on the floor and posed for the picture I am posting below...

xoxo To all of you kind wonderful people who said warm, kind things about Spike. I have never been so relieved and so happy and so surprised in my life.
BAD KITTY! :spank:

[Shell Beau]

1. Yay!!!

:woohoo:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

4. !!!!!!!

No shit. I looked at him upstairs, where he is sleeping now, and cried again today. It was the tears of relief.

I am so happy he is here. :) :bounce:

[motely36]

2. Yay!!!!!

:bounce:

:toast:

:party:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

21. Gee....

Wiz!

Thanks! :D

[KitchenWitch]

3. Glad your master is home safely!

Bad kitty indeed!

:hug:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

8. xoxo

:pals:

[redqueen]

5. Awwww... yay!

That's a great pic. He's a cutie. :)

:hug:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

22. He is

a stinker... What a bad, bad kitty :)

[redqueen]

26. I think they're all stinkers.

All those years of being worshipped... they just never got over it. :P

[Symarip]

6. He might have been chased by Coyotes

And it took him a while to get back.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

12. I asked him

and he is taking the 5th....

He isn't telling us where he was. He is on house arrest for the day.

[Symarip]

13. I hope he sticks around

Your thread bummed me out yesterday at work, which I hate. Do you have any idea how hard it is to type interactive instruction while teared up?!?! Well, ma'am, it ain't fun.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

19. Awwww....

I wish I could hug you. I am soooo sorry about making anyone here feel bad. I really was certain that Spike was gone for good. I have never been so happy to be wrong in my life. :pals:

[Symarip]

20. ANOTHER FESTIVUS MIRACLE

It really has been the 21 Days of Festivus, so far.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

23. Yes!

The holiday for the rest of us!

[WolverineDG]

7. Glad to hear that your furbaby came home

He's all "What's the big deal" on that paper, btw. Damn cat.

;)


dg

[QueenOfCalifornia]

10. He is so funny

he went and framed himself on a background and posed. Yes... he did act like "Hey, you guys are acting like fools!" when we all kissed his dirty cat face and hugged him.

:bounce:

[lizziegrace]

9. I'm so happy for all of you!!

Widget disappeared for 11 days in the winter when he was 9 months old. I had given him up for dead. I came home for lunch one day (which I never did...) and pulled into the driveway. I looked around the bend and saw a scraggly cat come out of the woods, meowing in a low growl. I thought that this poor creature needed a home. He got closer and closer. I realized it was Widget and when I called his name, he started to run. He had lost 1/2 his body weight and was severely dehydrated. I was afraid to pick him up, fearing he was hurt.

He ended up with an upper respiratory infection and lost fur in patches, but he was okay. He cried every time I left the room for several weeks and has been an indoor cat ever since. He's now almost 16.

It was a Disney movie, I tell ya. Much like yours. :hug:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

16. Did Widget

ever tell his story? Or did he clam up like Spike? Spike is sleeping and refuses to give details. Little shit.

[lizziegrace]

46. His condition was pretty telling

the pads of his paws were shriveled and his nails were worn down to the quick. He's gotten locked in somewhere and couldn't get out. It was just after New Year's when he came home.

He spent the first night sleeping on my back with his face against mine. Middle of the night, he started sneezing - right in my face.

Spike is a little shit. ;) He came home without a scratch, thank you very much. :P (says Spike...)

[InternalDialogue]

33. No wonder you're so attached to each other!

He got a second chance at a good life, and I'm happy he decided to take it!

[lizziegrace]

47. Yep

when I say Widget and I have been to hell and back and back, I mean it. :)

:hug:

[myrna minx]

11. I am so happy for you.

:bounce: I have a fur baby myself, and would be devastated if something happened to him.

[DS1]

14. I knew it

:7


spike, ya little bastid

[QueenOfCalifornia]

18. yes you did!

You had better judgement than me on this one... He just used up at least 2 of his 9 lives.

[SOteric]

15. Yay!!

And extra chin-scratchies for Spike from DU's Lounge.

[motely36]

17. When was a kid one of our cats disappeared for a few weeks

One day he showed up on the porch. We let him in and his mama took one look at him and whopped him across the nose!

[Schema Thing]

53. I had a cat that would do that every now and then, when I was a kid

[kentauros]

24. Awwww, that's so cute!

:D

I know I never said anything the first time (I'm not that good at the condolances bit) so I'm happy he's come back.

[LostinVA]

25. Haruka told me last night your kitty would come home -- I'm emailing her your OP

I'm so glad there's been a happy ending!!!

[QueenOfCalifornia]

30. Hugs from

California Canyon Land! Damned coyotes... guess he outran them...

[Ava]

27. YAY!!!!

:woohoo:

so glad to hear that spike is ok!! :hug:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

31. Oh Ava...

Thanks.

Our family unit is now whole again.
:pals:

[Missy Vixen]

28. I am so glad Spike is home!

We'll hug our two juvenile delinquent Maine Coon boys extra-tight for him.

:woohoo:

I'm so excited for you and your family!
Julie

[Bertha Venation]

29. Congratulations! How thrilling!!

I had a similar event; I know how you feel, I truly do. Give that beautiful cat a squeeze from the cats of the Waldorf Cat Haven.

:hug: YAY

[CaliforniaPeggy]

32. My dear Gilligan!

What fantastic news!

I am so thrilled that Spike came home safely!

Bad, bad kitty!

His punishment will consist of many scritches under his chin, food on demand, his favorite toys, and lots and lots of love!

:bounce: :bounce:

[mikeytherat]

34. Christmas is a time for miracles!

I had my three fuzzbutts sending "Find your way home" vibes from here on the East Coast. Glad they worked!


I sent out special Orange Cat vibes - Charlie


I sent out special Tummy Stripe vibes - Weird Harold


I usually cannot be bothered with such things, being Queen of the Universe and all, but I did it anyway - Hannah

mikey_the_rat

[QueenOfCalifornia]

48. Awwww....

A nice bundle of cats Mikey!

(You changed your avatar, didn't you?)

[MissMillie]

35. SPIKE!!! You ol' so-an-so!!!!

I'm so glad he's ok.


:bounce:

[hamsterjill]

36. Yeah, Spike!

I read your post yesterday and was saddened because it's so horrible to lose one.

I've had one disappear before and we found him locked in a garage a couple of doors down. He'd gotten out of our house by accident, something had frightened him, he ran into the garage, and the homeowners closed it not knowing he was inside. Luckily, he was loud enough that we eventually heard him, but it was a horrible time not knowing where he was and that he was safe.

Now to be the party pooper here - I do hope you will keep closer tabs on Mr. Spike's exploits outside. Just because the coyotes didn't get him THIS time, doesn't mean that they won't next time. So please don't give them the opportunity if you can avoid it.

Thanks for loving the boy!!!

[Capn Sunshine]

37. what great news

I'm glad for you.

[XemaSab]

38. Do you live in Maine?

:scared:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

58. Why do you ask?

I don't think there is a huge coyote population in Maine....

I live in the wild, wild west. :)

[XemaSab]

63. You ever read Pet Semetary?

:scared::scared::scared:

[Flaxbee]

39. Hooray! I'm so happy Spike came back!

Fantastic news, Gilligan :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[BarenakedLady]

40. What wonderful news!

I lost an orange Spike-kitty many years ago. He never came home. I'm so glad your kitty came back.

:bounce:

[Inchworm]

41. Fuckin' A!!

That is totally cool news!

Give Spike a hug from us all!

:woohoo::hug::woohoo:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

54. I have

hugged him lots today. We have been asking him to come clean as to his 2 and a half missing days but he is not telling. Maybe an alien abduction?

[krispos42]

42. Yay!

5th rec!

[deutsey]

43. That's wonderful...We had a similar story, only it wasn't completely a happy ending.

When I was a kid, our cat had disappeared for a very long time...months. We assumed she was dead.

One morning, though, she showed up at our door. We were so happy to see her, but discovered that somehow part of her flea collar had actually become embedded into her flesh. She apparently had had some injury in which the skin had grown over part of the collar as it healed.

Unfortunately, when we took her to the vet they told us we had to put her to sleep because the flea collar was toxic, if I remember correctly. Very sad, but at least we got to see her one last time. And I'm still amazed and find consolation at her dedication to come back home, even after whatever it was she had been through.

[Jamastiene]

44. If miracles are good enough for Joey Ramone, they are good enough for me.

I, too, believe in miracles.

It's GREAT to hear your baby is home safe and sound. Please give him a hug (and some of his favorite treats) from Yogi, Sunday Girl, and me. :party:

[driver8]

45. That is wonderful news!!

So glad that Spike is home, safe and sound!!

[BurtWorm]

49. He looks so contrite in that photo.

:spray:

[GCP]

50. Wonderful news! I'm so glad

And he looks in pretty good shape all in all.
I nearly PM'd you to try going out and shouting for him - thinking he might be trapped somewhere - but I thought it might just upset you more so I kept quiet.

Wish I hadn't - but HE'S BACK YEEAAHHH!!!!

[QueenOfCalifornia]

59. I had screamed like a crazy

lady for him for two days. He was out, way in the canyon or trapped down the street in a garage. I am sort of leaning toward him being caught by his collar in an oak tree - He is quite the climber - Like I said, I bought a break away collar so this wouldn't happen but the thing was not working - It would not snap apart last night when I tested it. I feel terrible thinking he was out there caught for that long and could have starved or died of thirst.

His collar will be replaced by a new working break away type - He has a brass name tag with my phone number that will move from the collar of doom to the new, cat-friendly kind.

Poor kitty. Naughty kitty.... :spank: :D

[ailsagirl]

51. Congratulations!!! My four cats are housebound...

much as I would like to let them out. Too many bad things can happen where I live.

:)

[pinstikfartherin]

52. Awesome!!!

I'm so happy for you and your Spike! :woohoo:

[ThomCat]

55. Yay! I'm glad Spike made it home safe!

:loveya:

I hope you can somehow convert him into an indoor cat now to prevent any more scares like this one from ever happening again.

Please, please, please find a way to keep him indoors.

A toast to Spike's health! :toast:

[hedgehog]

56. I'm so glad to hear he's come back to you. We're only guardians for

any of these little beasts. I'd still let him go out if that's his nature.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

57. I knew he'd come back

I once had a cat disappear IN A BLIZZARD. She came home two weeks later. Skinny as hell, but otherwise okay.

She got out, and then we had three feet of snow dumped on us. I thought she was dead for sure. She came home, and I took her to the vet the next day. He said she probably was just eating snow to survive, but was actually otherwise none the worse for wear.

[applegrove]

60. Happy for you.

[crim son]

61. Finally, some excellent news!

Spike is back!!!! And what a cutie-pie. I'm really glad, Gilligan.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

62. That's wonderful news!

What a relief, that he came back!

I know just how you feel... a long time ago, I think the winter of 1983, my lovable tabby, Leonard, slipped out the back door when we weren't looking and disappeared. This was in January, and it was well below zero with a lot of snow on the ground. Like you, I was worried sick. We tried unsuccessfully to follow his tracks in the snow, put up posters, called the shelters -- nothing. It got so cold every night I was sure he was going to freeze to death, wherever he was. By the end of the week (he disappeared on a Sunday) I was sure I'd never see him again, but on Friday morning, as I was about to leave for work, I heard a meow at the back door, and there he was. He was tired and hungry and had dead leaves in his fur, but was otherwise none the worse for the wear. I suppose he got locked up in somebody's garage. I was so delighted to see him -- and he never tried to run away again. He lived to the ripe old age of 18.



Welcome back, Spike. Leonard was watching over you, I think. :hug:

[DS1]

64. Nice story

Mine was gone for 2 weeks also in a dead of winter, in 2 feet of snow. Our backyard was pure coyote country. After the first week I was starting to accept that he was gone. A week later after that he came smashing through the plastic replacement screen my house mate had put up after she had slammed the door hard enough to break the glass. I was sitting in a couch, lamenting my loss when BAM, there he is. He'd leap through the plastic face first, and wanted his dinner. So there's my Rambo, covered in snow, looking at me after jumping up 5 feet to get through the plastic window, :D

[MilesColtrane]

65. Allright!!

Cats...with their nine lives and curiosity...

What are going to do?

Maybe he'll think twice about snooping someplace where he could be trapped in the future.

[SeattleGirl]

66. I am so happy for you!!!

And I'll bet anything you didn't spank the little critter, but hugged the stuffin' out of him instead!

[Connonym]

67. wonderful news! nt

[emilyg]

68. He is beautiful. Glad you have him back.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

69. good to hear !!! YaaY !!! Spike is home !!!

:)

[Systematic Chaos]

70. Good on you! Your cat is so beautiful... looks just like one of ours!

We call ours Shakey. I'll try and post pictures someday soon. :)

[alphafemale]

71. Great News!

:hug: