That Darned Cat....

Well, I just spent over an hour tearing my house apart, shaking a bowl of cat food inside and outside and all points in between.
I was frantically searching for Tripod, one of our two cats. It wouldn't be such a big deal except, as his name might indicate, Tripod is a special needs kitty. He is missing a hind foot. Marah and I found Tripod as a kitten. He was half dead, his foot had been cut off and was a mess. He was in the window of a convenience store eating a powdered doughnut that the clerk had given him. I got the "OHHHHHHHHH MOOOOOOOOM" cry from Marah. We CAN'T leave him, she wailed. I shook my head knowing that Wayne was going to love this one. I caved in and said, "OK Marah. We'll take the cat home and if he lives through the weekend, we'll find a good home for him." I guess we did. Tripod is 7 now and we adore him. On the Monday after we took him home, I took the kitten to the vet and as I like to say, $107.00 later, he was all ours.
Our vet at the time later recommended that we declaw Tripod all the way around and that he stay a house cat. He wouldn't be able to defend himself at all outside, so we agreed. We still laugh because I asked the vet if I got a 25% discount since he only had 3 feet. Instead, the vet took care of his claws and his manhood all in one failed swoop. "Poddy" as Frieda calls him and "IPOD" as Mrs. Mary, our surrogate mom calls him, is a character. He is not one bit "catty." He is totally opposite his demanding counterpart Izzy (a Hurricane Isabel rescued kitten). Tripod is very calm, very well mannered and is quite aware of his limitations. He doesn't go outside, only onto the porch. Since it was nice today, I had all the doors and windows open and Tripod spent the better part of the day on the window ledge of the screened porch watching birds and sleeping.
Things got a little kooky around here during feeding time this evening. Wayne was coming home, I was taking care of the "evening feed" of goats and donkeys and people were all around our place. I knew Tripod was safe and sound on the porch and went about my chores. Wayne jumped in the shower, we left and I never gave a thought to making sure Tripod was inside, which is also unlike me. I'm always "counting heads" around here and accounting for everyone. I had remembered feeding the two felines at their 5pm demanded time and knowing Pod could go back inside whenever he wanted, I figured that's what he would do when he was ready.
Usually, when we come home, everyone is happy. We generally have two cats under foot and Geordie hopping all over the place. Tonight, however, was different. Geordie loves a ride better than breathing air and we gave him a treat and took him out with us. So, he was accounted for. When we came in, Izzy was slinking around, but no Tripod.
I didn't give it a lot of thought until I crawled into bed. EVERY night, when I get into bed, Tripod gets right at my feet. He stays there all night. I was in bed answering emails and realized I hadn't seen him since 5pm. I called, no Poddy. I got up and checked all the hiding places, no Poddy. I felt a wave of panic...WHAT IF I LEFT HIM ON THE PORCH AND HE GOT OUT????
I calmed down and methodically destroyed Marah's room looking in and under everything because Pod is known to hang out there frequently. I checked pantries, closets, even the DRYER (you just never know!). I shook the bag of cat food...still no Tripod. Geordie and Izzy sensed my unrest and were following me around as I asked THEM where Tripod might be.
I didn't wake Wayne, but started feeling kind of sick. I went outside and shook food, called and called and nothing.
I couldn't believe that he MIGHT have actually gotten out. I knew he wouldn't know quite what to do. He panics and starts yowling when he has slipped out only on a handful of occasions and he can't get back inside fast enough.
So, I ripped the whole house apart AGAIN! No sign of him anywhere. I was about to start to cry and decided I'd check everywhere again with a flashlight. I had made my way back through the house and for the 3rd time turned on every light in our bedroom...Wayne still snoozing...and decided to go through our closet again. It has shelves and although I had checked them well the other 2 times, I didn't have a better idea so I checked them again.
Flashlight in hand, I started dumping my shoes off the shelves, (I had already dumped all of Wayne's out).
Deep in back corner of my closet popped up a sleepy eyed little head. TRIPOD was clearly disturbed that I had the audacity to make all that noise and interrupt his nap. But he was there. He was fine. I scooped him up and hugged him tight and laid him at the foot of the bed.
I hope he sleeps well. He's got one heck of a mess to help me clean up in the morning. I have to laugh out loud because when Wayne wakes up in the morning, I know he's going to think I went stark raving mad after he fell asleep tonight.
Kids and animals....
And one great big mess to clean up. Oh well. I needed to go through all those shoes anyway.
I'm glad you're safe and sound little Poddy. You had me really worried there.
And this big mess I've made...it'll be waiting for me tomorrow.

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