(sigh)...Well, now it's Official.

[badgerpup]

Tomorrow (Thursday) I will have formally qualified for the status and will join the ranks of "Crazy Cat Lady" with the acquisiton of my fifth cat. :hide::yoiks:

It's all Wimsey's fault.:grr:

Hear ye the tail...er...tale:
I went to work Saturday night (July 4th) and left the monsters cats in the house. Figured the BOOM! factor wouldn't bother them so much; they'd dealt with thunderstorms before...but the smell of the fireworks...not to mention the atmosphere of people drunk on beer, 'patriotism' and the excitement of just generally blowing shit up would probably upset them.

So, I got home about 6:20 on Sunday morning, let them out (Esme decided to stay inside), told them (as I always do) "Have a good day, and be careful!" and then I went to bed.
Later that day, Finnegan and Riktor came home, but no sign of Wimsey. I wasn't too worried...until it got later and still no Wimsey. Next day (the 6th)...still no Wimsey. Now I'm getting scared.

My neighbor across the street- a very nice, elderly lady, mentioned that Animal Control had picked up a LOT of animals who'd been terrified by the fireworks and had run like hell out their usual haunts. I thought this was a long shot, since my guys had been INSIDE...but the scent hangs around...and people still had some fireworks left over from last night...and while Wimsey's usual sign of disapproval is peeing on something, sometimes cats do take business trips when they're mad at their humans...so I called the animal shelter.

Too early, got the answering machine. Figured I'd have to go down there and check after I got done with physical therapy.

Walk in the door and hear all these kittens crying (I'm innocent! Choose me! What am I doing here? Let me out!) It's only funny when it's a LOLcat caption...and now I don't think I'll be able to see much humor in those particular caps anymore.:cry:

All of them black kittens...must have been about a dozen kittens there and it broke my heart, because you know how hard it is for black cats to find homes.
One kitten in particular...reaching out through the bars and of course I responded...
the attendant took him out and the kid jumped on my shoulder and started up the motor.
He's just the kind I like, too...some Siamese in his gene pool and he looks like he's going to be a leggy boy.
I can't get him out of my mind...and I know if I just let it go the chances of him finding a home are pretty small.

So...The clowder is going to increase by one.
Oh, and Wimsey? The little shit showed up...about 20 minutes after I'd gotten home from the animal shelter, none the worse for wear. :banghead:
I called them and told them they could stand down on his account (I'd filled out a 'Lost Cat' slip for him and now it wasn't needed). They were very nice about it.

Wimsey got major cuddles and the "Where the hell were you don't ever do that again you scared me so badly" speech. Neighbors must have been busting a gut if they'd heard.
I've asked Wimsey (hope it penetrated his furry little skull) to please at least just check in every 24 hours to let me know he's OK.
My old Alpha Cat Misha used to do that during the summer- he'd stop in to let me know he was OK, maybe grab something to eat, pick up his messages, and then he was off again. But he'd always be right there to greet me when I came home...

I hope the new guy will settle well into the clowder...I just don't feel right in letting it go now...and if Wimsey doesn't like it, he's got only himself to blame.

Now I need to go buy another cat box and food dispenser...

I'll let y'all know the little guy's name as soon as he tells me.