I mentioned that the story of Dude’s disappearance had changed somewhat. This was due to a phone conversation Adam had with the family that found Dude last Saturday night. I had this fear of Dude being injured by their dogs and they just put him out front to let him crawl off into a bush and die. I needed to know exactly what happened that night but was afraid if I called I would just cry a lot. Not a particularly productive conversation.
It is darkly amusing to me when my Aspie husband has an easier time on the phone than I do. Adam talked to the wife and figured out exactly where they lived in order to get a better idea of where to search. I have kindly provided a picture for your viewing pleasure. It is fairly complicated, so I shall explain it to you.
This is part of my scruffy winter backyard. If you look at the back of my yard you will see a block wall. This wall runs between my neighborhood and another one. Cats frequently use it as a highway, the perfect height and width for cruising around town. Notice the two story house directly behind us? Okay, now look just a bit to the left and you’ll see a one story house with a chimney. THAT HOUSE IS WHERE DUDE WAS FOUND. RIGHT THERE. Likely three minutes after he went outside. This is important for several reasons. I shall bore you with them now.
Originally I thought Dude had gone out of our area, which was totally uncharacteristic of him. Maybe he was tired of the chaos at home, maybe he was sick and wanted to go somewhere to die. I’m morbid, I realize this. Part of me felt hurt, lost, and abandoned. Finding out Dude jumped into a yard RIGHT THE FUCK THERE and then flipped out when dogs came at him, got picked up by strangers, and put out their front door made everything change for me.
Dude wasn’t wandering around the neighborhood, he just went a few feet away and BAM! he was completely lost, traumatized, and disoriented. I don’t know what your neighborhood looks like, but mine looks like this:
My house is handily labeled “A” by Google maps. I circled the house he went to in blue. If you look at the street structure you’ll notice if he traveled by street he would have a long and meandering way to get home. If he knew where home was anymore. There are several fields very near us, a school, a park, and then some large fields. I have no idea where Dude went, or if he’ll return home. We’re still looking, I’m still driving to shelters, posting ads, looking online, pasting fliers, walking around calling his name. Poor kitty didn’t mean to leave home. I try not to think about how scared he might be, and try to imagine him enjoying the thrill of the hunt instead.
This was one of the many birds that eat the chickens’ feed in the backyard. It decided to fly into the house and before Adam could get it outside Dude caught it. He ran outside with his kill, and a moment later only one feather was left. He’s quite agile for a big cat. I hope his belly is full and he finds his way back to me.
Looks like he’s a survivor! I’m sure he’s either doing just fine on his own, or he’s found a sucker to provide for him until he decides to come home. Good luck.
So a little clarification please: did the dogs actually attack Dude or not???
Guess you’re riffing on The Hunger Chronicles; here’s a vote for Dude pulling this out! Cats are pretty amazing overall…
Hoping too that dude finds his way home soon.
If dude is a climber, do you think he could just climb the wall again, seeing he went over it to begin with, and find his way home, would he recognize familiarity with the yard and the chickens? I guess your search parameters have broadened. That’s one big neighborhood to get lost in. I guess you need to concentrate on the perimeter of the area that he ended up in. Hopefully someone had to see him or knows where he is.
J.