I’m One of “Those” People Now

Dwight told me, “Tell the truth. When you write, tell the truth, even if it makes you look bad.”

Yesterday, in the 46-degree sunshine, I let Maude, my cat, lounge on the deck off my bedroom. In the summer, she sleeps out there. Once or twice, I found her venturing onto the roof, but, when I called she scurried back onto the deck.

Around 5:00, as it cooled off, I went to close the sliding glass door. Maude was not on the deck. I checked under my bed, under the highboy dresser, in the linen closet, and in Maude’s room.

No Maude.

I called, “Here kitty, kitty, kitty.”

Nothing.

I checked the backyard.

I looked in the guest bathroom next to the heater.

I called and called and called.

Faith, Gus and I walked around the neighborhood calling and making “ta ta ta ta” We checked garages, patios, the open space and the Preserve.

I posted on kpcw.org and Facebook. I called the local veterinarians. I even reported my missing kitty to the Summit County Animal Control.

Now, I am defeated.

Whenever I saw a “lost pet” poster, ad, or posting, I thought, “How could they let their pet go?”

I am very cautious. I actually have double-gate protection everywhere my dogs go. Both the side-yard and the backyard are double-gated. Inside, they are naked. But, when we leave the house, they wear their bling.

Well, I let Maude out onto my deck. She was not wearing a collar. She is micro-chipped.

Maude is gone.

I am one of “those” people. I cannot find my cat.

I brought her home with a festering wound on her thigh when she was just four months old. She trusted me.

Maude has a respiratory issue and a mass growing in her lung.

For seven-and-a-half years, Maude trusted me.

Yesterday, I let her down.

Now, the heat is cranked up, but the dog door and the sliding glass door are both open. The garage door is about a foot from being closed.

Please, keep her in your prayers.