MetaChat - The Bees is lost in the woods

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17 May 2008

The Bees is lost in the woods and she's never been outside before. This is not good.→[More:] So i've been promising to take her out and the weather was really nice and it's Caturday, right? i put on her harness and put her in her trolley and we go out back to where she watches all day, and like a fool i let her out of the trolley without clipping her leash, because the only other time she's been outside untethered she just sat next to me on a deck. She's walking really slow, but was trembling in the trolley before i let her out, and the terrain is so uneven that she was out of reach in a matter of seconds and into the thick foliage.
i've been out in the woods for hours looking for her. It's really nice back there and while now i wish i had looked for morels and such before and think it'd be nice to write back there, i have no idea where she is.
My old cat Phil would have been just great and we would have walk together in the woods but the Bees is very nervous in the unfamiliar and not as bright and afraid of noisy machinery, and some trucks and equipment gets put back there.
i haven't eaten yet or showered. i finally fully dumped my battery last night so i'm waiting for this laptop to charge to take it out because she loves it.
i'm not freaking out but this kinda really sucks. There's big cats and deer and all manner of weirdos out there.
If i tan from this, there'll be hell to pay.

post by: ethylene at: 16:52 | 62 comments

Maybe put out some food?

posted by sperose 17 May | 17:00

She's not that into food unless she's in a safe place.
Besides there's too much sensory interference out there. Close to the building people's telly noise, and the wind and rustling washing out any other sound but motors.
i'm gonna give this ten more minutes of charge and then i'm going back out.
i blame this on my wanting to read an issue of the New Yorker uninterrupted for once and being a bad person.

posted by ethylene 17 May | 17:09

Oh no! I'd still put food out, just in case. Calling for her out the door might be good, too. Sometimes cats freak out and hide and don't answer you, but they know where the food comes from, that's for sure.

posted by interrobang 17 May | 17:20

My cats sometimes dashes out of my apartment, into our building's courtyard. The sound of an opening can of wet food usually makes him come running back in. Maybe try that?

posted by charleena 17 May | 17:48

This may sound nuts but I've known it work.

Empty the cannister/bag of your vacuum cleaner outside your home (assuming she ran off near your home). All the dust bunnies and general fluff in there will smell really strongly of you and her home. The scent will carry on the air too, so if she's around and in hiding or slightly lost, it can be the thing that convinces her which direction home is.

Hurry home Bees!

posted by Arqa 17 May | 17:56

I like Arqa's idea. Maybe also put some of your dirty clothes near the door, so she can catch the scent.

The couple times my cats have gotten out, I was terrified (and so were they). They managed to make it home, though. (The one time, I walked around and around and around the neighborhood calling for my big wuss of a cat. I was about to give up when I stuck my head in the neighbor's shed and called for him. I heard this pitiful little "Mommy??", and he came slinking out from under the floorboards. I know he'd heard me calling him before, but he was just too scared to come out until he saw me for himself.)

Fingers crossed, sending good thoughts.

posted by mudpuppie 17 May | 18:22

i just came in after another hour of hiking in the woods. i took pictures just for the hell of it since i was being blinded by the golden hour but it's not like i could really have a nice time taking pictures and hiking in the woods.
She was the runt of the litter so she's not so strong and she's never been in nature before. It's not a city or suburban yard, it's actual nature, and we live on the second floor in an inaccessible apartment, but i think she's hiding somewhere in some rusty machinery or a thicket or something; i have no idea. i left her trolley out there just in case but i hope no one tries to take it. And now people keep calling to check if she's back yet. It's getting buggy and she doesn't have her medicine on because i was going to do it after her bath after this outing.
It's just a waiting game unless some dog or motor has scared her or she got really confused in the foliage. She's got her reflective harness on so she can't hide from predators.
She really doesn't give a crap about food unless she's home.
The only thing she really lovs is the computer.

i'm gonna finally wash up and make myself eat something and go back out there with it and hope she comes out otherwise i hope to see her serenading me from below but she's not a big meower and once it's dark, i don't know what will happen. The other cats are all so much bigger than her and she's such a little lady without a lot of upper body strength.
*sigh*

posted by ethylene 17 May | 18:28

Good luck, eth.

posted by occhiblu 17 May | 18:32

Aw man - good luck ethylene. Here's hoping one night out will make her never want to leave home again.

posted by chewatadistance 17 May | 18:37

It seems kinda stupid to clean up when i'm going to cover myself in bug repellent and go back out, but i think i did enough stinking and stomping in the woods. i can hear the birds she watches. i forgot to rinse out the shampoo before using conditioner.

She's been in cars and other people's houses. She's like one of those people who loves things all natural but would never leave the city.

Agh.
i'm packing you people up and taking you with me.

posted by ethylene 17 May | 18:49

Oh, eth. Good luck.

posted by goo 17 May | 18:52

Good luck, eth and Bees.

posted by By the Grace of God 17 May | 18:59

Well this sucks.

i should have stayed in the same spot and never have gone calling for her in the woods in the first place. It probably confused her and made her more lost of it did anything.

i'm going to make another pass for her with a big flashlight but besides people hearing me yell for her, there's too much general noise and echoes and i don't know what to do.

posted by ethylene 17 May | 20:08

Sucks big time. Wish I had some advice. Big hugs and good luck.

Oliver has gotten out a couple times, but not gone very far. All I had to do is call him in a nice voice, talk to him in an even nicer voice once he got close. At that point he was all purrs and wrapping himself around my legs. *quickgrab*

On reading that - I guess I do have some advice. Don't yell at her when you see her again. Sweet talk her until you get her inside.

posted by deborah 17 May | 20:41

The torch battery died really quickly. It's charging but it's no use.
i got some hysterical crying out on the phone.
It's cold, damp, might rain and a full moon, and i discovered a flowing sewer grate so i have to wonder if there are holes she's dead in.
She usually comes at the sound of my voice no matter what, but if she's hiding somewhere i have no idea where or how to get her out. Or if her harness is caught on something.
All she ever wants to do is be held, she's so helpless.
i'm so tired.

posted by ethylene 17 May | 20:55

Hang in there, eth. I'm sure she's okay.

posted by middleclasstool 17 May | 21:15

I hope Bees comes home very soon! Poor, eth. I hope you are doing okay.

posted by LoriFLA 17 May | 21:21

oh dear.
::hugs ethylene::

posted by casarkos 17 May | 21:29

Oh, hell. Read this on finding lost pets, if you haven't, eth... and please don't neglect the safety bits. If you put up flyers, don't mention the color of her collar &/or harness, for example.

She's probably close by, which is so horribly frustrating! If only they would come, or at least answer when you call. My first cat went missing for several days, and of course I imagined the worst... and when I was about to lose hope of her ever coming back, she strolls back all casual-like. Bizarre.

Hugs to you and the Bees, sweetheart. All my wishes and sending energy for a happy reunion at the very soonest.

posted by taz 17 May | 21:52

It's raining hard. i tried another futile pass with the flashlight but even i could barely hear me and it had just started raining. i brought in the trolley.
If it wasn't the weekend i could find the building manager to help tomorrow for all the weird spots and moving weird things but he's off hunting or camping or something, and people aren't around.

Everyone's always asking me for help so no one has any help to give. "You always know best" is not helping.

Tomorrow i cannot be blamed for dismantling a hovercraft. It's trashed anyway.

posted by ethylene 17 May | 22:10

Just looking at different tubes advice and techniques... here's an interesting one: Consider using a trained tracking dog. Contact local obedience class teachers and inquire about hiring someone with a dog with Utility Dog certification to locate the cat by scent.

posted by taz 17 May | 22:13

Lost cat behavior. This is good because it talks about indoor cats, lost outside. The majority of the time, they are found within a 3 house radius of the owner's home hiding and living under a deck, porch, or in heavy brush. Suggests that because they are more scared than outdoor cats, they are less likely to move far or get into various dangerous situations - they're more likely to stay at the first hiding place they find.

posted by taz 17 May | 22:23

i'm sure she's barely yards from where i last saw her unless she got caught somewhere or got startled by something, but there have been lots of somethings.

My worry is mostly about how totally unprepared she is. My other cat Phil was able to deal with anything, i knew i never had to worry about him at all. Beatrix startles easily and gets very nervous. Yesterday she got her head caught in a hole in a piece of colored cellophane and she could not get it out. She's just such a freaking baby AND now it's pouring outside.

i'm exhausted. i know there's nothing left i can do tonight, but the idea of her being caught on or in something and terrified, not being able to come to me-- just knowing she's cold and hungry and scared all alone when she's usually within a yard of me at all times if she can help it is so sad.

posted by ethylene 17 May | 22:48

I know, baby. I'm so sorry! But it's important you take care of yourself, because you'll be needing all your wits and energy to get that girl back home!

posted by taz 17 May | 23:06

Also, I'm thinking that as bad as the rain may seem - adding misery to agony, seemingly... it may even be for the best, in that it will make her even more unlikely to stray further. If she has found a little hole out of the rain, she certainly won't be going out into the wet.

posted by taz 17 May | 23:13

Thanks, hon, and everyone, it's just that her life shouldn't be so hard. It was suppose to be a really good day.

posted by ethylene 17 May | 23:13

My worry is mostly about how totally unprepared she is.

You know, it's easy to think of it that way -- in human terms. But the fact is, she's a CAT. She's not like us. She's got survival instincts that we don't have. We think, and think, and think, and overthink. Cats, and their ilk, just fucking survive.

Wherever she is, eth, she's going to get through the night. Even if she was the runt. She can do it. Don't convince yourself that she's toast.

Tomorrow, you set out to find her again. Because tonight, she's okay.

posted by mudpuppie 18 May | 00:10

Cats are tough little buggers - the species is the ultimate survivalist. I am sending soothing vibes and suggest that you make a very early start in the morning before most people have a chance to be up and start making too much noise.

For sure she's going to be under something very close by - waiting for the rain to stop and for her human to come and get her.

posted by ninazer0 18 May | 00:38

I hope she shows up soon sweetie. You stay strong now.

posted by ramix 18 May | 01:09

She will be fine, as mudpuppie and others said, but OMG. I can understand why you are freaked. I'd be the same way.

Please let us know when she's home. ok?

posted by BoringPostcards 18 May | 01:37

I'm catching up late here, but I know on the day I moved here one of my cats got out and was lost in the forest. He found his way home.

Let us know as soon as you can when there's more news.

posted by essexjan 18 May | 02:26

With cats in general, i'd agree, but Beatrix has had some trauma and no street smarts, just none.

BUT SHE'S BACK!

i tried to but i couldn't sleep, sobbing my head off. i blanked my mind to go empty and calm, but (3am) i kept getting impressions of her, wet and so cold, dirty, scared, and i pleaded to it to come home--
--then out of nowhere, her voice!
i called to her out the window, threw on some clothes and a trench coat and dived into the still pounding rain, forgot the flashlight and ran into the swampy, stormy, total darkness.
i called to her but couldn't see a thing, groped toward nothing, and there she was, standing on top a loose pile of scrap wood on her hind legs putting her paws on my chest. She foisted herself onto me and i ran back inside.
So now we are both filthy and wet. She is never going unleashed in such an instance again, and someone's getting a bath. She even wants it. She doesn't want to finish her food, she wants me to look at her ridiculously dirty paw.

Good god, i'm relieved. i was going to be in no shape tomorrow to do anything.

*phew!*

posted by ethylene 18 May | 02:39

Adding to Mudpuppies great idea of the dirty clothes, when you go out next, wear some stinky clothes, and no deodorant/scent. Take a book, go to where she escaped, put out some of the stinkiest food that she likes. Sit down and be prepared to sit for a long while, calling her with your usual Bees call. The hard part (I know from experience) is calling without panic or stress in your voice. If she likes dry food and is used to the sound of it rattling in a box or tin, take that too, and do a bit of rattling and calling.

Even though you think she's helpless, she'll revert to grown up cat behaviour when she's outside. She'll likely be fascinated with all the new stuff out there too, the smells, the noises, the bugs and meeces. She'll probably be more active at dawn and dusk, so these are prime times for looking for her.

I really hope she appears soon, my thoughts are with you ethylene

posted by Arqa 18 May | 02:44

YAY! Between preview and hitting post you posted that!

I'm so happy for you and her that's GREAT!

posted by Arqa 18 May | 02:46

We are both freshly bathed and grooming now.
i love cats, have the utmost respect for nature and the killing machine, but she's a weirdo. She likes clothes and spends a lot of time on her hind legs pretending to have a collarbone and just doesn't do like a grown up cat. i blame her first father and her big bully brothers, the murder of her mother and childhood injury.
There is no way she was in the filthy scrap pile the whole time and it's a total shite place to be in a storm.
Two loud meows is all she's got and two loud meows is what she gave me, and all i needed. i guess i was summoned to run in the muddy dark but i can't believe i was even standing in the right place for her to grab me.

The little weirdo and i are celebrating tomorrow. All day lounging, feasting and festivities for the boneless. If it wasn't 4am i'd let everyone know to stand down.

posted by ethylene 18 May | 03:20

oh, maaaaaaaan! Eth! I am so glad! Gawd.

I kept picturing something just like that happening in my mind... Reunion fantasies. yayayayayay!

posted by taz 18 May | 03:53

YAAAAAAAYY!!

posted by mudpuppie 18 May | 04:36

What a relief! I am so glad Bees is home!

posted by LoriFLA 18 May | 07:51

YAAAY!!

posted by rainbaby 18 May | 09:24

(((ethylene and beatrix)))

posted by deborah 18 May | 09:29

w00t! Welcome home, Bees! (What a relief.)

posted by BoringPostcards 18 May | 10:18

YAY!!!!! I'm so glad she got through to you, in whatever voice she has.

posted by occhiblu 18 May | 10:36

GOODIE!!!! I'm so glad, eth! You guys can nap and loll all day today. :D

posted by chewatadistance 18 May | 10:56

Oh, awesome. So happy you found each other.

posted by middleclasstool 18 May | 11:01

omgomg yay! I'm so glad for you two.

posted by casarkos 18 May | 11:21

Whew! Just saw this, and am so glad she came back before I read it.

posted by me3dia 18 May | 11:44

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY BEES!!!!!!

posted by sperose 18 May | 12:54

Yay!

posted by DMan 18 May | 13:27

Glad kitty's ok.

posted by brujita 18 May | 13:48

Her "voice" was the two loud meows, not some angel jazz.
i can't believe how many people assumed she was dead.
My mother was all, "That's amazing, I was sure she was dead." So not helpful.

We are snuggling.
We are safe.

posted by ethylene 18 May | 15:09

I'm very happy that she's okay.

posted by box 18 May | 15:30

wb ms. bees!

posted by By the Grace of God 18 May | 15:47

I'm glad she's back. I missed this yesterday, and so scrolled down to the end to (hopefully) see a happy ending. I am so relieved that she's home!!!!! I know the scariness (this just happened to us about two weeks ago, also a happy ending), so I had my fingers crossed! Yay, Bees!

posted by redvixen 18 May | 17:30

HOORAY!

posted by interrobang 18 May | 20:34

Now she's like a legless kitty with a velcro strip, stuck to me or waiting at my feet. i think it was pretty traumatizing for her, or she has Frontline poisoning.

posted by ethylene 18 May | 20:48

Yay! I'm glad she's back!

posted by fluffy battle kitten 18 May | 21:18

Wow, you go away for a couple of days...

I'm glad everything turned out OK. Had it been more timely, I probably would have told the story of my cat who disappeared for about 3-4 weeks - to the point where I'd figured she was gone for good - before she reappeared much skinnier than when she'd left, and very hungry indeed. As it is, I'm glad things worked out the way they did. You're a good cat mom, eth.

posted by bmarkey 19 May | 00:07

Thank goodness she's back. Hope you got enough sleep.

posted by seanyboy 19 May | 02:29

Oh, thank goodness.

posted by ninazer0 19 May | 02:42

CONGRATS!

I know I've freaked out the couple of times my kitty has gotten out, so I can really feel for you - so very glad for the two of you that she's home safely. YAY!

posted by mightshould 19 May | 07:15

Man that's great ethylene! YAY!

Pesto got out of the house once, and was gone for several days. I had totally given up on him for gone, when he suddenly appeared outside my window. I opened the back door, and he came racing in. He doesn't venture far anymore, and when he does sneak out it's about 10 feet for me to go pick him up.

posted by eekacat 19 May | 09:33

Oh eth, I only just read this entire thread right now. So glad you two are safe together at home.

posted by tangerine 19 May | 21:17

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