In Which Barry Pwns the Back Alley...

[desperance]

(...And Drives Chaz Frantic)

I do not love him. I do not. He is an imp sent from hell to distress me.

This evening I let him out into the back yard, as I have been doing all summer when the weather's nice. I settled down to some late work, post-insulation men; next thing I knew, it was his supper-time, and he was not fussing around my feet. So I wandered casually out into the yard, to fetch him in - and he wasn't there. I searched it utterly, and the house too, and he really wasn't there.

Panic. From an upper window I can see partway into a couple of neighbours' yards, those he could easily get into; no sign of him. So I went up the back alley, calling, and still no sign. (And, of course, I'm going to London tomorrow, due to be away till Friday, and my mind is thinking "have to cancel, can't go if he's missing, what if he turned up and I wasn't here...?")

Coming back desperately to the house, I met a couple of local lasses at the corner, and asked if they'd seen a young black cat. No, they said, sorry - and then pointed over my shoulder and cried yes! yes!

So I looked back and there he was, scrambling up onto the back wall from one of my neighbours' yards (actually the neighbour who's been having new windows fitted; maybe the noises attracted him...?). So I hoiked him down, thanked the girls profusely and brought the wretch home; and am trying not to cancel plans to buy him a cat-flap, not to swear that he's never going outside again ever. I know you have to let them stretch their wings, you have to let them run; but - well, hell, it was his supper-time and he wasn't there, and that's too much stress for me.

Comments

[guipago.livejournal.com]

And this is why ours only go out for supervised jaunts on a harness and tether. :P

Although Loki is pretty good about staying out of too much trouble and coming home, especially at my parents' house. Although she usually brings a friend back. Stupid moles.

[fjm.livejournal.com]

He's a boy. They wander. But ours have given us heart attacks before now. Miss P disappeared for three days last year. I think she slipped out through the front door one night. I'd given her up when I heard her "meep" one morning.

[bookzombie.livejournal.com]

Oh boy, do I remember the first time Benji stayed out all night. I was a complete wreck!

And Demon (a previous cat who died a few years ago) managed to find somewhere to hide while we were moving from Cambridge. I searched the place high and low without finding him and then when the packing was finished he just sauntered in from somewhere.

And we don't see Snowy for several days at a time sometimes, particularly when the weather is fine. I think the old railway embankment that runs behind the garden gives her plenty of safe exploration space (and she seems to like watching a neighbour's avairy for some odd reason...)

[devonellington.livejournal.com]

Mine are all indoor babies, let out in the hallway occasionally under supervision. And still, if I can't find one, I have a fit.

Of course, 45 minutes later, I discover she's been watching from a hiding place, laughing at me . . .