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polly said:
I want to love react those posts but that gurning face is all wrong. Thank you though x



Thanks Epona. We are all in shock - she had really only been a bit off her food for a week :(

My kids strong-armed me into getting her a week after our last cat died, but this time I think we will wait for a cat to find us, as they seem to do.
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polly I’m sorry to hear this news. This does sound like a harsh blow indeed,

(also sorry I posted in the wrong thread…. )
 
I’ve recovered from the shock of this now so here’s our recent news….

I posted then deleted something the other night, and here’s what happened.


Cat and I were out walking, as we do. We were near the Big Road, but not by it. A drunk person lurched past us very suddenly and took a sharp veer towards Cat, who darted under a parked car. Drunk person started shouting ”Oh! There’s a cat! Here kitty kitty! There’s a cat under the car!“ and made stumbling movements towards the car. I was saying “It’s fine, he’s alright, he’s with me, that’s okay“ etc but drunk person was now laser focused and leant down, then fell, to look under the car.

By horrible coincidence an ambulance went by on the Big Road and blurted it’s siren, which startled Cat, who then ran out from under the car and out into the road. He whirled round to look back but was still in the road. I stayed very still while my heart reached out to him to come back or go over, because a car was coming down the street. Drunk person pointed at Cat and said ”He’s there! He’s there!” which both distracted and startled him and I saw the moving car apparently hit my cat. I swear I heard the impact.

Car stopped, then went on. Drunk person was suddenly silent and preoccupied with other things ( or at any rate completely faded out of my awareness) while I called him. He ran like the wind over the road to the other side while I made sure to keep my eye on him. He went down the street, over the Big Road (miraculously missing another car) over the wall and across the common. I saw him galloping like a whirling scattered ghost running for the far fence line, where he disappeared into the Ivy.

As soon as I lost sight of him I started moving and ran to where I’d seen him disappear. I called and called his name as loud as I could over and over again. There is a big estate block there and I imagine I woke or disturbed people already in bed. I searched the base of the fence, through all the Ivy and overgrowth but there was no trace of him. I walked the fence line back and forth constantly calling and seeking him. I had a vision of seeing him bloodied and at bay somewhere. I climbed over the fence and went all along on the inside, checked all the ground floor balconies, all the edges, under all the bushes, through the brambles. I went back over the fence onto the common and checked the fence line again, calling all the time and stopping to listen. He has no meow, or only a very small one, so I made sure, when there was no traffic, to be still and listen.

Judging by the way he ran, I assumed he’d been hit in the rear end. I was fearing a broken pelvis or internal injuries. I searched for an hour, then went back to my flat just in case he’d somehow gone home and to get a better torch than the one on my phone. I searched til I was exhausted, then came home.

I felt weirdly detached. I knew he’d been hit, so I knew he was in pain and fear. But I couldn’t work out where he’d gone or how he’d done it and that seemed to flummox any further thought. The fence was intact and I hadn’t seen him climb it. In my searching I’d not seen any holes in the fence and it was chest high to me so not an easy leap. I kept listening for my own feelings but I had nothing of my own, only determination and awareness of his fear and suffering.

My plan was to sleep, then first thing check with the local vets and then ask at the flats around the common and widen the search. I was pretty sure that if he could, he’d come home, or at least try, so I was also worried he‘d get part way, fall into exhaustion and creep under a gate or behind a wall somewhere.

About 2 hours after I lay down I woke up to the sound of the cat flap clack and then the loudest meow I’ve heard from him. I called his name, sat up and was getting out of bed when he was suddenly there. I fully expected to see him broken and bloodied but he leapt onto the bed with ease, pretty much into my arms, purring so hard and loud I thought he’d choke. I hugged him as hard as he’d allow, then checked him all over,

Not a scratch.

I got up and he led me to the kitchen for some food, I watched him walking, no limp, no sway, no sign of any injury at all. I watched him eat, again with no sign of distress or injury, and we went back to bed. He had a good wash, cuddled up beside my shoulder and laid his paw in my hand, gently flexing his claws once or twice, he sighed and purred for a bit, then went to his preferred spot at my feet and crashed out.

The next morning I checked him all over again but he seems to have escaped injury completely, and he’s been fine since.

I think he must have lost one of his lives that night. I have no clue how he got throough or over that fence, or along it without me seeing.

Him coming home means crossed the big road. I’m both bothered by that and very proud of him for managing to find his way home safely.

I imagine some will be thinking “I knew that would happen, it was only a matter of time, walking the night streets with a cat is asking for trouble” and that may be right, but it gives us both such joy I don’t think I’ll stop. I’ll be more cautious about staying away from the big road, which is a shame cos he absolutely loves being on the common.

Anyway, that’s our news.
 
Last edited:
May Kasahara said:
Viv's got a great big notch out of her ear :( She came in with it all bloody last night. It's cleaner now but still raw edged.

View attachment 345335

She doesn't seem bothered, so I guess we'll just keep an eye out for infection and let it heal? Can't imagine a vet would have much useful input at this stage.
Click to expand...


That’s a pretty impressive notch there.

I suspect cats compare their ear notches with each other for props. They probably angle their heads in such a way as to accentuate the notches when meeting and greeting each other.
 
I confess that I’m mystified by the miracle of no injury. I was absolutely certain he’d been hit by the car.





ETA
Just for the record, I know cats running in traffic is also terribly dangerous as a cause of traffic accident too. I just feel that we all got very lucky that night.
 
story said:
I’ve recovered from the shock of this now so here’s our recent news….

I posted then deleted something the other night, and here’s what happened.


Cat and I were out walking, as we do. We were near the Big Road, but not by it. A drunk person lurched past us very suddenly and took a sharp veer towards Cat, who darted under a parked car. Drunk person started shouting ”Oh! There’s a cat! Here kitty kitty! There’s a cat under the car!“ and made stumbling movements towards the car. I was saying “It’s fine, he’s alright, he’s with me, that’s okay“ etc but drunk person was now laser focused and leant down, then fell, to look under the car.

By horrible coincidence an ambulance went by on the Big Road and blurted it’s siren, which startled Cat, who then ran out from under the car and out into the road. He whirled round to look back but was still in the road. I stayed very still while my heart reached out to him to come back or go over, because a car was coming down the street. Drunk person pointed at Cat and said ”He’s there! He’s there!” which both distracted and startled him and I saw the moving car apparently hit my cat. I swear I heard the impact.

Car stopped, then went on. Drunk person was suddenly silent and preoccupied with other things ( or at any rate completely faded out of my awareness) while I called him. He ran like the wind over the road to the other side while I made sure to keep my eye on him. He went down the street, over the Big Road (miraculously missing another car) over the wall and across the common. I saw him galloping like a whirling scattered ghost running for the far fence line, where he disappeared into the Ivy.

As soon as I lost sight of him I started moving and ran to where I’d seen him disappear. I called and called his name as loud as I could over and over again. There is a big estate block there and I imagine I woke or disturbed people already in bed. I searched the base of the fence, through all the Ivy and overgrowth but there was no trace of him. I walked the fence line back and forth constantly calling and seeking him. I had a vision of seeing him bloodied and at bay somewhere. I climbed over the fence and went all along on the inside, checked all the ground floor balconies, all the edges, under all the bushes, through the brambles. I went back over the fence onto the common and checked the fence line again, calling all the time and stopping to listen. He has no meow, or only a very small one, so I made sure, when there was no traffic, to be still and listen.

Judging by the way he ran, I assumed he’d been hit in the rear end. I was fearing a broken pelvis or internal injuries. I searched for an hour, then went back to my flat just in case he’d somehow gone home and to get a better torch than the one on my phone. I searched til I was exhausted, then came home.

I felt weirdly detached. I knew he’d been hit, so I knew he was in pain and fear. But I couldn’t work out where he’d gone or how he’d done it and that seemed to flummox any further thought. The fence was intact and I hadn’t seen him climb it. In my searching I’d not seen any holes in the fence and it was chest high to me so not an easy leap. I kept listening for my own feelings but I had nothing of my own, only determination and awareness of his fear and suffering.

My plan was to sleep, then first thing check with the local vets and then ask at the flats around the common and widen the search. I was pretty sure that if he could, he’d come home, or at least try, so I was also worried he‘d get part way, fall into exhaustion and creep under a gate or behind a wall somewhere.

About 2 hours after I lay down I woke up to the sound of the cat flap clack and then the loudest meow I’ve heard from him. I called his name, sat up and was getting out of bed when he was suddenly there. I fully expected to see him broken and bloodied but he leapt onto the bed with ease, pretty much into my arms, purring so hard and loud I thought he’d choke. I hugged him as hard as he’d allow, then checked him all over,

Not a scratch.

I got up and he led me to the kitchen for some food, I watched him walking, no limp, no sway, no sign of any injury at all. I watched him eat, again with no sign of distress or injury, and we went back to bed. He had a good wash, cuddled up beside my shoulder and laid his paw in my hand, gently flexing his claws once or twice, he sighed and purred for a bit, then went to his preferred spot at my feet and crashed out.

The next morning I checked him all over again but he seems to have escaped injury completely, and he’s been fine since.

I think he must have lost one of his lives that night. I have no clue how he got throough or over that fence, or along it without me seeing.

Him coming home means crossed the big road. I’m both bothered by that and very proud of him for managing to find his way home safely.

I imagine some will be thinking “I knew that would happen, it was only a matter of time, walking the night streets with a cat is asking for trouble” and that may be right, but it gives us both such joy I don’t think I’ll stop. I’ll be more cautious about staying away from the big road, which is a shame cos he absolutely loves being on the common.

Anyway, that’s our news.
Click to expand...

Christ I read that with my heart in my mouth.

So glad he is OK.

Very worrying time for you, I can only imagine the relief when he returned unharmed.

Love to you both!
 
If he was badly frightened, he might have been running with his tail tucked down which might have looked a bit odd or given him an odd gait.

Keep an eye out for any signs that something isn't right, cats are good at hiding pain so if there's any sign of anything wrong (appetite, energy levels, gait, behaviour, piss or shit not right, sitting in an odd position - slightly hunched rather than relaxed can be a sign of internal pain) - get him checked ofc.

Sounds like he had a narrow escape bless him.
 
Epona said:
If he was badly frightened, he might have been running with his tail tucked down which might have looked a bit odd or given him an odd gait.

Keep an eye out for any signs that something isn't right, cats are good at hiding pain so if there's any sign of anything wrong (appetite, energy levels, gait, behaviour, piss or shit not right, sitting in an odd position - slightly hunched rather than relaxed can be a sign of internal pain) - get him checked ofc.

Sounds like he had a narrow escape bless him.
Click to expand...

I’ve been checking and keeping an eye on him. He is either absolutely unscathed, or the best little masker in town.

It wasn’t so much the way he was running that gave me to believe he’d been hit so much as the sound of impact and where he was when the car apparently hit him.


Yes, a very narrow escape! He’s definitely down to 8 lives now, I reckon.
 
story said:
I’ve been checking and keeping an eye on him. He is either absolutely unscathed, or the best little masker in town.

It wasn’t so much the way he was running that gave me to believe he’d been hit so much as the sound of impact and where he was when the car apparently hit him.


Yes, a very narrow escape! He’s definitely down to 8 lives now, I reckon.
Click to expand...

You know what, the sound of impact could have been something shifting in the boot of the car if they braked suddenly, rather than the sound of them hitting your cat - here's hoping.

Idiot drunk not only nearly did for your cat, but also nearly caused a road accident in the process :(

Not your fault for wanting a nightly wander with your cat, I've read your tales of your walks with him and it sounds lovely.
 
story said:
I confess that I’m mystified by the miracle of no injury. I was absolutely certain he’d been hit by the car.
Click to expand...

Epona said:
If he was badly frightened, he might have been running with his tail tucked down which might have looked a bit odd or given him an odd gait.
Click to expand...

i have only once - in 30 + years of driving - done a full scale emergency stop, and that was when a kitty ran across the road in front of me at night.

didn't feel or hear any bump, and no sign of kitty when i got out, so i must have missed them by the thickness of their tail hairs...

story - i can't remember if your resident kitty will wear a collar, and i may well be stating the obvious, but you can get high visibility / reflective collars - may be worthwhile for night walkies

out of curiosity, i searched and you can get full kitty high-vis jackets

tabby kitty wearing orange high vis jacket and looking faintly unimpressed

presume they come with a disclaimer for any injuries that hooman might incur trying to get kitty to wear it
 
Thanks for the kindness everyone. This is a bit self indulgent but I wanted to write a last post about her here, for posterity! And because I know everyone here gets it.

We buried Wicket yesterday. Absolutely surreal and I think the sadness has only just hit me now. I can't quite grasp that she's gone. My son asked if we could frame a photo of her for the grave so I've just been putting them all into an album for him and his sister to choose from - it's lovely seeing her progression from terrified shelter cat to relaxed and demanding family cat. I'm gutted that we didn't have longer to keep building that trust and love, because I know there was more to come.

They told us at the shelter that she didn't play, but she was the most playful cat I've owned! She was fierce and fast, and hilarious trying to take corners at full pelt - but she wasn't a hunter and co-existed with the birds in the garden really happily. Recently, she would sleep under the feeders and they were profoundly unbothered :D A reasonable mouser though, actually. Best way.

She was a little pig - 'food motivated' they called it at the CPL :D - and would demand more food as soon as she could see any of the plate.

I'll miss her beautiful feather duster tail and the way the long fur came through her toe pads, like a design fault. And her pretty face. And the way she would lie on me in the evening, slowly getting closer and closer to my face with her kneading claws. It was really painful :D I will miss getting up and not having her rub her little face on my feet as I get her food ready. I guess I won't miss the way she would only ever shit in the dining room.

I wish my last memory of her wasn't so awful. But that's part of the deal isn't it.

First and last photos (before she got ill). Bye baby.

B5AD58A4-2E08-4002-8A1A-411539DBD2BA.jpegAD78796D-CE90-4487-990A-F4FE6672C9C0.jpeg
 
polly said:
Thanks for the kindness everyone. This is a bit self indulgent but I wanted to write a last post about her here, for posterity! And because I know everyone here gets it.

We buried Wicket yesterday. Absolutely surreal and I think the sadness has only just hit me now. I can't quite grasp that she's gone. My son asked if we could frame a photo of her for the grave so I've just been putting them all into an album for him and his sister to choose from - it's lovely seeing her progression from terrified shelter cat to relaxed and demanding family cat. I'm gutted that we didn't have longer to keep building that trust and love, because I know there was more to come.

They told us at the shelter that she didn't play, but she was the most playful cat I've owned! She was fierce and fast, and hilarious trying to take corners at full pelt - but she wasn't a hunter and co-existed with the birds in the garden really happily. Recently, she would sleep under the feeders and they were profoundly unbothered :D A reasonable mouser though, actually. Best way.

She was a little pig - 'food motivated' they called it at the CPL :D - and would demand more food as soon as she could see any of the plate.

I'll miss her beautiful feather duster tail and the way the long fur came through her toe pads, like a design fault. And her pretty face. And the way she would lie on me in the evening, slowly getting closer and closer to my face with her kneading claws. It was really painful :D I will miss getting up and not having her rub her little face on my feet as I get her food ready. I guess I won't miss the way she would only ever shit in the dining room.

I wish my last memory of her wasn't so awful. But that's part of the deal isn't it.

First and last photos (before she got ill). Bye baby.

View attachment 345437View attachment 345438
Click to expand...
What a lovely eulogy! RIP Wicket.
 
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