Not a Feral Cat!

Now that I've got your attention...

Muffin disappeared from our Wingfoot Court residence on 12 August. He is an 8.5 year old neutured and DECLAWED Himalayan (looks like a long haired Siamese) with blue eyes. As luck would have it, since he had been recently groomed, I had not yet put his collar back on him which does have his name and identifying info. At the time of his disappearance, we were having a deck built on our home so I'm sure all the outside noise around the house frightened him even more. Then as everyone knows, we felt the effects of that blasted hurricane Charley which probably made him flee even further astray.

Yes, if you have noticed the flashlights along the walking trail at midnight or later, that is only my spouse and I doing one of our nighttime walks searching for him. I thought that since it's quieter then, our voices would carry and maybe he'd respond to us.

I'd like to think that since he has never been out in his life, he'd stick close to home; ie, along the walking trail or maybe over to the Southern Walk apartments. But, does anyone really know how a cat thinks?

Normally Muffin is not a shy cat. He's one of those whose the first to demand his rightful attention and believed everyone came to the house specifically to see him rather than a mere mortal. He adores people and if one is lucky, he'll jump in your lap to give you one of his famous stomach massages with his little declawed paws or alternatively, he'll lay in the middle of the floor on his back with his paws in the air and look at you beseechingly with those big blue eyes to rub his belly!

We have distributed and/or put up 300 posters to include the Giant & Safeway shopping centers; notified Animal Control as well as Fancy Cats Organization. If anyone has any further suggestions, we would love to hear them. We want to get him back into the family fold.

I've also got notices about Muffin in another HOA column but want to cover as many bases as I can for finding him. He has never been out since he was born.

Again, call anytime if you have spotted him:
571 223 0879 or 571 276 5490

 

I received a call today (24 August) from a teen who gave an accurate description of Muffin around the Eagle Ridge Middle School. I went there and searched for about an hour but no luck. If anyone lives in that area, I'd appreciate if they could keep a look out for him.

If he is spotted, I think if one person were to approach him quietly and softly saying his name, he may come. But if more than one person approaches, he would likely get scared and run off.

Another key way to get his attention is to have some food in a cup, say his name, then say the word "food" and "look."

 

I hope you find Muffin soon. I really do.
We have two indoor kitties. If I find muffin I will take him home and call you.

 

Many many thanks! I've got some colored posters getting printed tomorrow so I'll be getting those out.

 

that's so sad. I hope that it was your kitty that the kid called about. Let us know!

 

Still looking but not giving up hope! On a side note, something is hanging out by our house. I have put Muffin's kitty carrier in the backyard near the wooded area with food and water in it. Last night we had some leftover turkey bbq so I put it in the carrier feed bowl and it is gone today. Since dogs do not run loose, I figure it is a cat or squirrel out there. Unfortunately though, I don't think it's Muffin.

 

Hope you find your cat! Is your cat hooked on the Nip? That's how I get mine back when I want him. Try putting some out by the house. If he's in to it he'll come b/c that's some potent stuff.

 

Thanks Homer! Glad to see you back.

I've not thought of putting any catnip out for him; I've not given him any in quite some time. I'm hoping that if he does not come back, it's because someone has taken him in and once experiencing his loving personality, does not want to give him up.



Hope you find your cat! Is your cat hooked on the Nip? That's how I get mine back when I want him. Try putting some out by the house. If he's in to it he'll come b/c that's some potent stuff.
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Update: I received a call today (26 August) from a lovely family near Chickeoan (sp?) Trail who spotted a cat like Muffin in their backyard. I went over and met with the family and searched the area but unfortunately no success. If anyone else also lives in that area, I'd be so appreciative if you could keep your eyes out. He's really getting farther afield from our Wingfoot Court home. I'm going to get some posters up in this area probably this evening. If anyone would be interested in receiving a poster which has his photo on it, please don't hesitate to email or call me and I'd be glad to send it.

Sonya: It was a pleasure meeting you and many many thanks for your call!!

 

I just wanted to add that if anyone has children who would like to assist in getting Muffin home (or anyone for that matter!) we are offering a $100 reward for his return. Since he has been gone for two weeks now, I'm beginning to think that our greatest chance of getting him back is for someone to feed him and gain his trust so that he would go inside (he is fully housetrained!!!!) and then we can come and collect him. I've been following up on each sighting but by the time I get to the area, it seems that he has taken off or is just too scared to come out.

 

We live on Chickacoan Trail and my kids and I went looking for Muffin today. They are so sad for you and have looked or called his name hoping to find him. We will keep looking...good luck!

 

Donna,

Thank you so much! The last 2 calls I've received with sightings have been along the trail. My husband and I are going to walk over there shortly ourselves and look again too.

It's funny how the house seems bigger and so much quieter without him!

 

Initially it had sounded like Muffin was likely hanging around Chickacoan Trail as I had received multiple calls over the weekend of a Himilayan seen in backyards near the trail. However I received another call last night from a family who had initially contacted me about sighting him to inform me they have since learned that another family who lives near the Trail does own a Himilayan which is allowed out. If that's the case, then Muffin is still out somewhere in Broadlands. Former sightings included around the Eagle Ridge Middle School which is in fact much closer to our Southern Walk home on Wingfoot Court. We appreciate all the calls we've received and very anxious to get him back home to us.

 

Well, contrary to my previous message, Muffin may indeed be around Chickacoan Trail. I have received several more calls that really do sound so much like Muffin and his personality on/around the trail at the North Park playground and Catstail something court. Please, if you spot him, call at anytime.

 

I was walking by the Southern Walk apartments and I saw a cat like in your description run by the mailboxes. This was three days ago thought so Muffin if most likely gone.

************************
Resident since 1992!

 

Kate,

Thanks for the info. As far as I'm concerned, while Muffin is still out there, any cat matching his description in/around Broadlands is worth for me to check out. I'll get over there and look since we are in the SFH directly behind the Southern Walk apartments.

If you happen to have another sighting, please call me -- 571 223 0879 or 571 276 5490.

Regards,
Carol

 

Again, the majority of calls I am receiving regarding Muffin are concentrated on Chickacoan Trail and specifically near Catstail Court. Yesterday he was spotted on the porch of a home of a family with multi-cats (indoor). Yes - Muffin comes from a multi-cat family. However, while he was on the porch, when another neighbor attempted to get close to him, he became very skittish and took off back into the wooded area behind the trail. With this cooler and rainy weather, I'd like to make an appeal that if anyone lives in this area and sees Muffin, if they can possibly bring him in and call me. I find that while I respond to each sighting, by the time I arrive he is nowhere around and/or hiding and too scared to come out.

I also want to sincerely thank everyone for their calls of sightings as well as support.