the longest night

[TribalRats]

OK this is where I have been for the past 24 hours or so...what a day and night...By the way this is a little dog related but more cat/car related. Yes I said cat/car.
First our car decided to fill the INSIDE up with coolant...as we were attempting to sell it . So my husband and I were outside working on the car(I had to hold flashlights, tools and other very greasy items) when I got a phone call from some very good family friends of ours who had met Jasper (our blind foster) two weeks ago when he first got to our house. They fell in love and had me call their vet and so on just in case they decided they wanted to adopt him. I did it. Their vet raved on about them....any how they called last night and said they could not take it any more that they all missed Jasper (mind you they had only seen him twice ) and they wanted him BAD.
We went over the training I was doing (he is the blind dog) which she already new about and they came over...with books on training a blind dog. They are NEAT people. So Jasper has a new home, he lives about 10 min from us so we still get to see him and help with his training. This happened ALLOT faster then I had anticipated however when it is right it is right and let me tell you it is RIGHT!
So as Julie (the woman who adopted Jasper) is leaving we are crying (tears of joy) and hugging when I turn around to go back to the house and I see something. Something in the road. It was a kitty, our kitty.
He had shown up at out house a couple of years ago, he was a "teenager" when he adopted us and never really liked to come int he house however he loved to chat with us on the back porch, play with the dogs...litterally play with them....He is any amazing guy. A big guy too.
So I see this cat, I run out into he middle of the road and realizing I am too late I pick him up and bring him onto he lawn and bawl my head off. Jess (my husband) comes out and sees what is going on. He makes sure our oldest who is in love with Danger (the kitty) is safely in her room and not bearing witness.
He proceeds to prepare the side yard to receive our beloved friend and I am given he task of telling our daughter who drops to her knees in a burst of tears.
She cries herself to sleep. I sit by her side and cry for her heartache and for our friend.
Then my husband come in the house yelling "It's not DANGER!". In the darkness this large orange cat had looked just like Danger and I had never seen another orange Tabby in the neighbor hood however upon flashlight burial and goodbyes my husband noticed a large patch of white on this poor kitties side...Danger has NO white. Danger is currently MIA as we have not seen him since yesterday afternnon and we sure could use a cat conversation right now.
So while we still cried for the poor Kitty who now had a home in our side yard we are left with the decision about how to handle Danger. We do not want him to meet the same fate as his poor wayward look alike however the cat hates the indoors.
What a night....

[fluffypuppylover]

Really if you just put a cat in the house and don't let it out, it will get use d to it and enjoy it. It SEEMS hard because the cat will want to go out and have its own way but you've got to remember you are the dominant species and you decide when the cat goes in and out. My kitty Tara was a feral and when winter hit, I hauled her butt inside. Did she protest? Yes! Did she want out? Yes! She scratched at doors and whined for hours. Did I give in? No! I gave her lots of toys and love to occupy her time. Now she's a happy indoor kitty who wants nothing else to but to curl up in my bed with me and play with a catnip toy. There are very very few cats who won't adapt to indoor life. So you might want to give it a shot anyway.

[calgal]

Talk about a roller coaster ride.........WOW! I hope if Danger does come back and you try keeping him inside he doesn't make your days and nights miserable by yelling all the time to get out. I've seen this happen and they don't give up. Let us know how everything works out.

[Shadowkins]

Good grief! From elation to devastation and back in one night...you guys must be just exhausted. Well I am very glad for Jasper, that he now has a wonderful forever home and will be close enough for you to help. Blindness must present a whole bunch of different challenges but I do so wish them well.
I am also relieved that Danger is not in"danger" ( sorry couldn't resist the pun ). Try him out in the house and see what he thinks of it...you never know he may enjoy living in the lap of luxury...hope so.
Sure hope you and your family have a more quiet evening. Take care!!

[mrsgrubby]

Wow, what a story, but I am soooo happy about the blind dog, i have been thinking about him a ton and worrying about him a ton. What a great ending for him.

It was so wonderful that you took him in, and now he is going to have a great life!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!

[Barrett]

What a long night! I bet you were exhausted when you went to bed! I am happy that the poor cat wasn't Danger but I feel awful for him. I hope Danger comes home soon. Does he spend a few days away from home very often? I hope he can adjust to inside living. My cats stay indoors. I let one of them out in the backyard every now and then but only when I an out there to watch her. She has never gone over the fence and when I think she looks too comfortable out there I coax her in. I am happy for your foster to find such a wonderful home so quickly. Congratulations on helping the little guy find the best family.

[TribalRats]

We are going to try him indoors again. If he is totally unhappy next month I think we may take a trip (about 2 1/2 hrs) to visit some friends of ours who live on a farm. At least Danger would be away from roads and have fields upon fields of field mice.

[mrsgrubby]

Oh Tribal, you are so sweet!