In March 2016, the local Humane Society contacted me about a kitten who failed his initial test for acceptance into their adoption process. Their “test” consisted of several volunteers forming a circle and passing this 5 month old, scared to death kitten around like he was a Cracker Jack box. Well needless to say he didn’t like that idea. He bit one of the volunteers so he was put into quarantine which unfortunately is in an open area that’s also full of dogs and other cats. He was observed for two weeks. His sister, she also failed this test and she was put in the same situation as him. At the end of the 30 days that’s when we were called to come and get them. Both of them are deemed “feral” they have been here ever since Poe’s sister is Twist
Poe has been missing now for a week although not approachable by humans he has never gone astray. He and his sister hang out under the back porch, or under the back patio. I always see him in the mornings and at night when I go out to feed. Although he is now six years old he was the runt of the litter and he looks more like he’s six months old. The vet believes that early neglect has led to his stunted growth.
I noticed him a week ago, he was staggering a bit. He was walking alongside the house and when he turned the corner, he just vanished? They sealed up under my house so I don’t believe he’s under there but anything is possible when it comes to cats. Especially ones that have been wounded or injured or scared. I walk the line of the house yesterday with my flashlight in hand and a stick and I tried to find any sort of passageway where he could get under the house. The barrier is solid. The ground around it has not been disturbed so there’s no tunnels. He’s just gone?
I hate it when they disappear and you’re left wondering what happened to them? I know most times they go to ground and go to sleep. Either they wake up healthy or they don’t wake up at all. I will be on the lookout for predator activity out in the fields, crows, turkey buzzards, eagles and ospreys circling. That would be my first indication of where he might be. Otherwise I have to just sit here and wait and hope that when he does eventually emerge he will be healthy and okay
Simply vanishing is the worst they can do to you. And as for that ‘humane’ society, could they have thought of any worse way of getting a cat used to humans? Their quarantine zone sounds like a gladiatorial school. That anyone running an organisation like that doesn’t know the difference between a feral cat and a frightened cat is appalling.
I hope Poe shows himself to you, even if it’s to let you know that he is gone. You both need that rest.