Rocky runs away & now he's whiny

This was his wanted poster!

It has been a full week and I feel better, but I never want Rocky to get outside ever again. Last Friday morning I woke up early, opened the front window and went back to sleep. When I woke up again, the front window screen was on the porch and Rocky was gone. I freaked out! Even thought I walked all over the neighborhood, rode my bike and car around town, and walked through the woods behind our apartment building, Rocky was no where to be found.

I felt horrible, but what could I do? At around 7 that night, I made up Lost Cat posters, called the police, and then canvassed the neighborhood to see if anyone had seen our little Rocky-butt. (You gotta have pet names for you pet, right?) No luck.

I did go to sleep that night but not for long. I woke up at 2 a.m. and put out lost cat messages at two really good websites: Animal Rescue League of NH & the NHSPCA both of which I recommend highly if you have lost your pet. One of the various hints I found on line was to go out between 1 and 5 a.m. to look for nocturnal cats. That is what I did. I didn't see Rocky on my travels around Newmarket, but I did spot 2 other cats. It was drizzling a bit and not condusive to cats. I had thought for sure that the thunderstorm earlier would have chased Rocky home since he HATES storms. No dice.

When I finally pulled back in and got out of the van at 4 a.m. Rocky was on the porch looking almost exactly like the picture. He was under the table on the porch and he actually hissed at me! He was also half-drenched. I imagine that he was sticking his head under a rock and couldn't get his backside in there too. So, he is home after almost 20 hours away from us. I can't imagine what it is like to lose a child! I felt horrible and he is just a cat! (Don't let him hear me say that. He thinks he is a human if not a tiger or dog).

So, Rocky is home and whining up a storm. All's well that end's well, right? I guess the next cat story I tell should be about Schmooshy, but what more is there to say other than she hates everyone, is beautiful and doesn't do much other than sleep and eat. For fairness' sake, here she is:

And now for the other webpage you have to check out: Cat of the Day. Check it out every day. You will just fall in love with them all! (There is a link to Dog of the Day and Pet of the day too!)