When I was a teenager, we had a Great Dane. She was a regal looking fawn colored dog, but she didn’t know she was a dog. She was my constant companion, sleeping on my feet at night. She loved to accompany me as I walked through the woods each weekend. My family went to Paw Paw Creek on Lake Texoma for weekend getaways, and during the fall and winter my main occupation was hiking.
Hullabaloo never let me leave the house without her. I can see her now in my mind’s eye, with her tongue hanging out galloping through the trees and across fields. We had a good time together, that dog and I.
But one, day she went waltzing across the trailer camp by herself. When she passed the neighbor’s house, their yappy chihuahua came charging out at Hullabaloo. That dang chihuahua was always annoying, and I guess Lu had just about had enough. She picked up the chihuahua in her mouth and spat it back out. I don’t think she intended to hurt the little dog, but the skin of it’s back caught on Lu’s eye tooth and almost ripped the chihuahua’s back off. The little rat survived after hundreds of stitches, but it’s owner was apoplectic and insisted that we get rid of Lu.
My Mom and Dad agreed to it. Cousin Jerry had always loved her, so my Daddy decided to give Hullabaloo to him. Though the decision was made, and I darned well knew it, my Momma asked me how I felt about it.
I was a teenager. I had to be “macha.” So, I stuck out my chin and said, “I don’t care. I don’t like the dog anyway.”
It was a lie. My heart ached. But, I refused to let anyone see me cry. On the day my cousin came to get the dog, I refused to leave my room to tell her goodbye. I only saw her one more time.
My heart still aches when I think about that dog. I wish I hadn’t been so “macha.” I don’t know what I was thinking.
Tonight I caught myself being “macha” again. It didn’t last long.
I have a wonderful little cat named “Houdini.” She is aptly named, because she loves to hide and ignore us when we want her. Call her all you want; she won’t show her face. She is skittish and shy. Houdini isn’t much of a “people” cat. She doesn’t like to be held, but if she’s in the right mood she loves to be petted. If I have the cat brush, I can’t get her out of my face. She’ll actually get in my lap if I will comb her silky fur. At night, she loves to curl up on my feet to keep me warm.
Tonight we can’t find her.
She didn’t come out to eat when I opened the can for them this evening. Then, I realized that I hadn’t seen her that morning when I fed the cats their can of food. Last night she didn’t sleep at my feet. This morning, the other cats woke me at an ungodly hour, but I thought they had just decided they were hungry. Now, I realize it was a different kind of yowling.
It’s true, we have a rather large house with lots of hiding places, but we’ve looked in them all three times over. We’ve checked all the closets and under the stairs. There is no Houdini.
Early yesterday morning, I had found the door from the house into the garage open. The cats had gone out there (though the garage scares them to pieces if you try to force them into it). I remember shooing them back inside…but I don’t remember how many came back. Houdini hides so much during the day, that it isn’t unusual not to see her. I have no physical memory of seeing her after that time.
If Houdini was in the garage, she might have escaped outside when I opened the garage door to get to my car. If she got outside, we will never get her back. She won’t come when she is called; she will only hunker down and hide better, especially if she is afraid. Being an indoor cat, I can bet she would be afraid.
If she got outside, the coyotes that roam my yard each night have already found her.
My first instinct, being that “macha” type of gal, was to stick out my chin and say, “One less litter box to clean.” But, I don’t mean it.
I hope that in an hour or two Houdini comes waltzing into the kitchen with a quizzical expression on her face yawning, “What’s all the fuss?”
I don’t think it’s gonna happen. I’m sitting here holding a cat brush, and my macha has just melted into tears.
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{ 24 comments }
OMG….I am melting here. I will send as many positive thoughts and karma as I possibly can and hope and pray that your little Houdini comes back really, really soon. I can relate to this story.
So sorry Shelly… hope your little Houdini comes home soon, safe and sound.
Guess I was due for a good cry anyway.
I hope she makes it home again safe and sound.
((hug))
Thank you all for your kind concern. I searched until midnight last night, and got up at 5:30 this morning to walk the neighborhood. If she is still alive, she’s hunkered down.
And, last night we had freezing rain.~skt
ah, hugs. That is terrible! I so hope you find her. I live in fear that our all black cat, who loves to dart out the door, will do it one time and we won’t see her. I hope she finds you!!
We lost a cat in Atlanta. I always wanted to think someone took her in but we, too, had coyotes. In the middle of the city! I hope yours turns up.
Shelly,
Keep the faith. I have seen many animals show back up on their owner’s doorstep even after months. Most indoor only cats hide for a few days because everything is so scary for them. When hunger takes over though, they almost always come home. With any luck her instincts will kick in and she will find a safe place to hide at night so no wild roaming critters can get her. Cats are very resourceful even when we don’t think they are.
Hopefully she is just hiding out in the house stuck somewhere and you will find her soon.
hugs and prayers headed your way for Houdini.
No doubt that animal will be back. No doubt. Sending you a hug.
Awwwww, Shelly! I’m so sorry about Houdini. I know how painful it is to lose a pet. They become so much a part of you. No need at all to be macha. I’m teary-eyed for ya!!
Hugs!
Jessica
Well, these are both heartbreaking events. Pets are just so precious. I have a similar tale, but don’t want to go into it. Big hug honey and I hope Houdini comes home.
No need to be macha or stoic. Someone you love is missing. Hope she comes home very soon, wagging her tail behind her.
Oh honey,
Forget being all stoic and stiff. Our pets are friends just as much as any human in our lives and even the shy ones give much more than they take. I hope your little magician comes home after doing her disappearing act, but it is never a bad thing to show that you love.
Oh Shelly, I am in tears. My pets are my whole world, and my heart is aching for you right now. I am saying prayers over and over again that you will find her. ((((((((((HUGS)))))))) I’m not macha, so I’m not afraid to tell you how upset I am for you right now.
I’m crying with you sweetie. Now is not the time for “macha”, just let yourself melt and know that we’re all there with you.
And if it gives you any hope, I once had a cat that disappeared for 2 days and after an exhaustive search of every possible place, I was sure she’d gotten out and been taken by something bigger than she was. Then a huge crash woke me up in the middle of the night – turns out she’d been hiding for 2 days in the ceiling. I have no idea how she got up there, but the crash was her falling out of the smallest access point I’ve ever seen straight into a vase of flowers. The vase did not survive…
I’m holding the vision that Houdini will find her way back to you.
I know how you feel. We have pets and it’s like worrying over a child. I hope you y’all find her.
I hope Houdini shows up. Cats can be tricky that way (at least I hear that). I know how hard it is to worry about your babies though. Hang in there, honey.
OH hon, I’m sorry! Has she turned up?
Oh, my Stanley is just like your Houdini when it comes to the outside. Like he’s curious but secretly terrified. And I have felt that macha-less feeling when my Stan got out for a few days. Ugh. I REALLY hope he makes his way home. Don’t give up. If he’s scared and hungry enough he just might come to your call. Thinking of you.
I am so sorry about your kitty. I hope houdini comes home soon too. Cats can sneak around for a long time when they want to. We live in the country and have had two inside/outside cats for 14 years. We have all kinds of wild animals and they manage to survive just fine. I think cats have a natural instinct to survive. One of our cats use to love to hide in closets/drawers etc. We had to go looking for her at times when she didn’t show up for her dinner. She would always hide. One time she was missing for a couple days. Someone had shut the drawer on her when she was asleep in a dresser. She was just fine when we found her. Check around the house in cupboards/drawers maybe your kitty got shut in. I am sending positive thoughts your way.
Oh Shelly, I am crying with you.
Now, on the hopeful side, our little red-eared slider turtle, TJ, jumped/fell out of his tank several times. One time, he was lost for days… We looked everywhere repeatedly, all three of us. One day, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. He was under/behind the refrigerator (though we had looked). He had to go to the vet because he was dehydrated, (they kept him overnight) but he made it.
And Jaws dug out, apparently, beneath the fence, (same type turtle, but a bit older) and a YEAR later, Leon was mowing the grass and saw movement, and there was Jaws. No kidding!
From this cat lover, I can only imagine howyou are feeling. I’m praying the Houdini wanders in and all will be well! Sending you positive vibes your way!
Oh Darling I’m so very sorry, I hope you find your Houdini soon. I had a cat for 18 years her name was Minou but we often called her Houdini, not because she would hide but because she was an escape artist. That cat could find her way out of anything. I lost her last May to kidney failure.
Funny, I also wanted a Great Dane as a child, I had my mother convinced until she said to me “Just how big do these dogs get anyway?” I said “Oh just as high as the kitchen counter”. Well I never did get that Great Dane; maybe some day. We have a Golden/Great Pyrenes she is a big lovable drooly dog.
I am really sorry that Houdini has disappeared. I am holding the light for you both. junemoon
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