Elmo is gone ... - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

07/20/2006 08:25:45 AM · #1

... for 1 ½ day now.
Elmo is our almost 2-year-old red-cat (we also like to call him our little hair-monster)
Normally he won't go outside because of things like this.. it freaks me out to think of what could've happened to him. been searching in the neighbourhood couple of times, calling his name, but nothing. Asked some people if they've seen him, nothing..
Probably he's just having a great party, but all kinds of doom-scenes have crossed my mind.
Every sound we hear, that could sound like a cat-sound, makes us jump up and check all doors, he might be back, but he didn't come back yet.
Hard not to cry every time I think about him, and I know, it's just 1 ½ day... but it almost feels like forever... :(
Bowser, his "big brother" (not really his brother) misses him just as much as we do..

here's an old photo I took from Elmo

Sorry for this post, but had to get it off my chest somehow..

Message edited by author 2006-07-20 08:25:59.

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

07/20/2006 08:30:19 AM · #2

I am so sorry Hanneke. I know how you feel. I have a black persian called Suka. She only comes to me. She won't go near hubby or the children. If someone comes onto the premises she is gone. She isn't a hunter...actually probably the worst. She was so proud she caught a dead mouse once..lmao!

But the problem is...if someone new comes near for longer than normal she disappears. Not for an hour or a day...but for up to 6 weeks at a time. She returns without any meat on her. Her bones stick out through her long coat. It is depressing. She calls me and waits for me to answer her and then she follows my voice until she finds me. She disappears often and it always takes a few months to get her condition back. She is so frightened of other people I know that she isn't getting fed elsewhere, so she must be living on dead mice or insects that she finds.

So please...have faith in Elmo. They are smart and will survive and come back to the ones they love.

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

Olympus 12-45mm /f4.0 Pro

07/20/2006 08:32:32 AM · #3

You have my sympathy, biteme, I know how hard it is to have your cat out missing. Hopefully you're right, and he's just chasing mice somewhere and will be back again soon.

Have you checked the local pound/animal shelter, just incase he somehow got turned in there?

LoveSpuds

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/20/2006 08:35:44 AM · #4

Try not to worry too much. I had a cat a few years ago who would disappear for a week at a time. He is probably out making little kitties with the local puddy cats

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/20/2006 08:40:21 AM · #5

@ Love; not gonna happen, but maybe he THINKS he's making little kitties haha ;-)

@ Odyssey: no I haven't called yet. Want to wait a couple of days, because the shelter is 20 km away from here. Can't imagine he's that far away.

I know, it might be a bit of a dramatic reaction of me (I mean, it's just 1 ½ day!), but he's never been outside before, and I'm worried he can't find our house anymore. Or other people like him (yes, he's sweet) and took him to their place. Or worse.

Pff. It just sucks. The weather is too hot (35 degrees C). I hope he's found a place in the shadows.

Message edited by author 2006-07-20 08:40:52.

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

07/20/2006 08:49:52 AM · #6

Be sure to put up posters around the neighborhood in case someone took him in or has seen him. Also continue to look for him and call his name. Usually cats do not wander far from home.

otisXmike

Canon EOS-30D

07/20/2006 09:03:13 AM · #7

I wouldn't worry too much... cats are pretty smart and I'm sure he'll get hungry and come back soon! I've had many house only cats get out and spend a day or 2 or 5 away and come back with nothing more than fleas!

Don't worry, he'll come back!

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

07/20/2006 04:53:38 PM · #8

Still nothing. Made another round through the neighbourhood, nope.

It's dark right now, way passed his dinnertime, for the 2nd time.

:-(

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

07/20/2006 05:16:15 PM · #9

Our kitty got out by accident once for about 2 hours and was terrible.
I can't imagine how you feel Hanneke.

I'm sorry - hope Elmo makes his way home.

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

07/20/2006 05:22:13 PM · #10

our cat hates it outside. He likes to sit in the window and look out, but if we try to take him out in the yard just to get some fresh air he gets all tensed up and wants to go back in right away. I guess we are lucky in that regard.

DjFenzl

07/20/2006 05:23:30 PM · #11

When I live in the Sierra mountains I had a 6 year old fat declawed cat that stayed indoors all th time. she eventually got so fat she was able to push the screen out of the window and got free. She came back 6 months later normal size. It was really weird but I guess she was able to live off of forrest mice and such even though she was declawed. Cat's are very resourceful and resilient animals.

My Dad owns 4 cats that were all "strays" that showed up at his house. I imagine that's what happens to a lot of cats. They just end up like Benji traveling the country from house to house.

My last cat was accidentally let out by my daughter. That was 2 years ago. I imagine he's got a new family now.

We have 5 dogs (including 2 Great Danes) now so I don't imagine we'll be seeing him again.

Jaded_Housewife

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

07/20/2006 05:23:37 PM · #12

My bestfriend, I mean cat :) got out when i was a teenager and he was gone for over a week. I spent every night sleeping in the door way with the door open in a bad trailer park at that (no offense i grew up in them) but this wasnt the greatest one. man i loved that cat. I had some food by my head (lol) in hopes hed come back and walk in and guess what? one night he did. i heard him eating and I slowly closed the door. he had gotten in a fight and was missing part of his ear and was very scared but he was ok and i had him for a long time after that. he never tried to get out again. it was also hurricane season so besides myself being pelted by wind and rain as i slept in the doorway lol he was scared out of his mind out there. but he made it home. cats are very smart. i'm sure your cat it just out exploring still. the novelty probably hasnt worn off yet.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

07/20/2006 05:23:46 PM · #13

It's Summer, and he's a tomcat.... ;-)

Our tomcat used to disappear for 2 weeks at a time. They can travel up to 5-10 miles away when they're mating or hunting, and they do tend to find their way home okay.

The cat we have now is female, and doesn't travel as far.

So hang in there.

Neuferland

Google Pixel 2

07/20/2006 05:28:26 PM · #14

CHeck with the local shelters, put up flyers with his picture. Don't give up. Been there, done that too many times to count. Put a lost ad in the local paper.

Deannda

Marjo

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/20/2006 05:29:56 PM · #15

So sorry. Don't give up hope. Post some flyers. My son and daughter-in-law's cat got out and was missing for 3 months. Finally, someone called and said that they saw a cat like theirs about 1 mile from their house.
Sure enough, it was theirs. She'd been living in a wooded area with some ferral cats and was being fed by a kind neighbor that left food for all of them on a regular basis. It was the first time she had ever been out of the house. They refer to it as "Martina's big adventure". Let's hope your kitty will be found safe, too.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

07/20/2006 05:38:11 PM · #16

almost looks like I'm freaking out here for nothing...
man, 2 weeks, 6 months?! what's 2 days?

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

07/20/2006 05:41:06 PM · #17

Aweeee sorry to hear about Elmo's wandering, Hanneke! :/ Kitties do like to wander though, I just hope he wanders home soon. Sounds like you really miss him.

fotomann_forever

07/20/2006 05:41:50 PM · #18

*hugs*

DjFenzl

07/20/2006 05:42:05 PM · #19

Originally posted by biteme:

almost looks like I'm freaking out here for nothing...
man, 2 weeks, 6 months?! what's 2 days?

It's definately a nerve wracking thing - especially the first few days - a lot of us have been there, it's never easy. Just don't give up hope is all ;)

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

07/20/2006 05:43:18 PM · #20

Originally posted by biteme:

almost looks like I'm freaking out here for nothing...
man, 2 weeks, 6 months?! what's 2 days?

48 of the longest hours you can remember....

alfresco

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

07/20/2006 05:46:39 PM · #21

:(

Elmo's out on the town Han, he'll come waltzing home like nothing happened. Stinking kids ... errr .. cats :/

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

07/20/2006 06:06:35 PM · #22

It sure is Brad... never been so grumpy and acting nervous before. Have to check the door every 5 mintes. Hubby's going crazy because of me, but he's also very sweet.. ;-)

Yep Cin, I miss him like hell. Now I know what an animal really can do to you.

blemt

Nikon D70

07/20/2006 06:18:18 PM · #23

You are gonna laugh, but does he have a blanket or bedding he sleeps on? Many years ago one of the family cats got out late one night without his collar. He didn't come back. We went through the same thing for over a week. One suggestion made by the local humane society was to put something with a familiar smell outside.

We stuck his favorite blanket on the porch. 24 hours later, he came home! Scared the tar out of all of us.

It's worth at least a shot. *big hug*