Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr
Cat owner Tracie Steger posted those words of encouragement on Craigslist last month when her pet cat returned home after having been missing for almost two weeks, reports the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times.
Giggle-Blizzard is one of Steger's many pets, including six other cats and two dogs. Steger normally allows her animals to roam free and unattended in her yard, and they are trained well enough to come to her when she calls them in. But according to the paper, on November 15, Steger was dismayed to find that one of her cats -- Giggle-Blizzard -- did not return with the rest of the pets.
Steger's next moves were the standard actions familiar to anyone who's ever been unfortunate enough to lose a pet: an immediate but fruitless neighborhood search; signs attached to telephone polls; calls to neighbors; posts placed on Craigslist. "I was frantic," Steger told the St. Petersburg Times. But as the days passed, hope dwindled.
Finally, though, Giggle-Blizzard returned suddenly and unexpectedly on Thanksgiving night. The cat had made its own way back to Steger's home. His hind legs both had been crushed when he was hit by a car, probably several days prior to his return, according to his vets. The agony the poor feline must have endured is unimaginable, but with two surgeries, Giggle-Blizzard's vets were able to save his legs and his life.
With her cat safely home and on the mend, Steger was moved to update her Craigslist post with the message of hope for other owners of missing pets. "If they know they are loved ... it may be just enough to bring them home to you."
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This is the kind of story I like to read. Thanks AOL.
epandre1.............Boy you are a grouch aren't you? Did Santa not bring you anything this year? You fit the category of a lower animal yourself.
epandre--You erroneously assume that compassion is limited. Another egregious mistake is to assume that cats, dogs, and other warm-blooded animals don't have feelings, emotions. If they are incapable of thought, then they are incapable of learning. Clearly, they can learn. Therefore, they are thinking beings. To assume that humans are the only creatures who think and have emotions shows unbelievable ignorance, prejudice and hatred. You could use a healthy dose of compassion.
well duh! goes to show you the cat has more sense then the owner, idiot......do not
let your animals roam free. not only can they leave but can be killed by bigger animals and pet napped.
Dude I have a cat whom I would love nothing more than to always keep safe in the house but she has a mind of her own and gets out to roam a couple hours at least at night....... although I am always aware she is out and call her every 1/2 hour or so to come in until she does, she loves to be out and about and trust me when I tell you I love my animals more than I love most people.. so dont be so harsh until you know the whole story..........
Also a Republican..........Warmest regards
People should keep their animals on their own property. There is nothing I can't stand more than looking out my window and seeing someones cat taking a crap in the sand for my horseshoe pits or my kids sandbox. What's really nasty is male cats marking their territory let them mark your yard, house, garbage pails etc. it smells horrible.
This would not have happened if you do Not allow your cats out!!
It is wonderful that the cat was able to make its way back home; however, there is a lesson to be learned here and that is that it is not safe to leave pets outside unattended - even if they are in your yard. Cats particularly can wander off and there are people who will steal animals - not to mention wild animals that can get into your yard. Hawks and owls can take smaller pets and fences are no defense against them. Coyotes, bobcats and other predators can easily jump 6 foot fences. Our pets depend on us to keep them safe.
You are so right!! Couldn't have said it better myself. Do not let them outside!! Poor kitty!!
You said it. This is not a happy story. The free-roaming cat has probably been infected with Feline Leukemia and/or Feline AIDS, which is running at a very high infection rate among outdoor and feral domestic cats in the United States, and the cat returning will probably pass it along to the other cats in this woman's household. They will be dead in very short order. I would no more contemplate letting a cat loose outdoors to avoid wild dogs, cruel children, sick adults, poisoned food, traps, vehicles and other perils than I would let a two year old toddler do the same. Cats are clever survivors, but they have not had time to evolve in order to avoid all the perils that have developed in the Human environment of the past 100 years.
I have 4 cats right now, and two of them are outside/inside cats, and however much we'd like to change that ever since our cats brother was killed by a fox this summer, we can't contain them in our house or else they get very irritated at us and spray :/ However we do keep the other two cats inside.
You are 100% correct, Jean. Not only are they meals for coyotes or owls (I've seen an owl with a cat and it doesn't sound pretty), but they can also get very sick from other cats. Cat fights cause deep and dirty scratches. They also contract illnesses from other animals. I adopted an alley cat that had contracted feline leukemia in it's first years left outdoors. After all of the drugs I had to give my cat, she eventually had to be euthanized after a very uncomfortable life. I've always had an indoor cat that only went outdoors while I was there with it in my backyard. Strangely enough, they always wanted back in the house. Cats feel safe and happy in the house, hence, a "domestic cat". I think some people feel kitty litter is too expensive and don't want to clean the box out. These people shouldn't own cats!
Maybe he went looking for a new name...
OMG!!!!!!!!! This is a happy-sad story! This should teach the owner a very important lesson, that her cats should not be let out to roam! Thank god the ct came home and is going to be fine but really......... I would NEVER allow my cats to roam free in my yard. But at least the cat is home and getting the care she needs.
What a blessing! Giggle-Blizzard is so fortunate to have found his way home and to endure the horrendous pain of two broken hind legs. I can't even imagine what he went through during his heroic journey back to his family. What a wonderful Thanksgiving night that must have been. I'm so glad Giggle-Bilizzard is mending now...he sounds like an incredibly strong cat. I'm sure he is getting all the love he deserves, congratulations!
My vet says the average life expectancy of a cat that gets outside is 3 years. If this person loves her pets so much she should protect them. Imagine the pain and agony suffered by that poor cat - caused by her "so what" attitude and neglect. She says they come when she calls to make herself look better. The cat could have already been hit by then. He obviously couldn't have gone far once he was hit.
Kathleen,
Your Vet is an educated idiot! I have 2 "outside" cats and they have survived quite nicely for 9 years. Wait maybe your vet is not an idiot....with 9 at an average of 3 lives per year, that means they would live 27 years.....so......NEVER MIND.
I used to run the Cat Boards on America Online, and I've heard the same statistic for many years; that indoor-only cats have an average lifespan of 8-12 years, while indoor-outdoor cats average 3. I just love the cat owners who congratulate themselves on letting their cats run 'free' and the cats keep returning home safely every night...until the day they don't. I'm sure when that sad day comes, they find some way to displace the blame and responsibility so that there's no lingering guilt. They rail at 'control freaks,' but what they're really railing at is the need to show any control over their responsibilities and make an effort at all.
Yes, it's hard to keep a cat that has been outside indoors. But nowadays, it's *necessary.* If you don't want to bother, don't own a cat.
Agreed, indoor cats live longer. I had (1) outdoor cat that we rescued from a junk yard, he lived only 5 years before being hit by a car one night when he wouldn't come home. On the other hand, I have (4) indoor only cats...no worrying about them, they have a bunch of windows to look out & i take them outside...on leashes, very happy.
I had a 15 year old cat that was an indoor/outdoor cat...she did just fine. I also currently have an 8 year old cat who enjoys going outside. Cats are hunters and explorers, I think it's cruel to keep them locked up if there is a yard for them to go out in.