It's a gloomy black Friday and Libby is home!
Thank you all so much. I nearly didn't go out this evening to look for Libs when I got home from the shelter, it was raining and getting dark and I thought what point was there going to the empty house and the Paua Shell Factory grounds again when I knew she wasn't there? But Susie's posts, and BC's, and the advice of this website, How to find a Missing Cat ( http://www.squidoo.com/lost-cat ) which is truly terrific as are all of its links -- yes, even now I can't resist listing a website -- all kept saying it was important to keep going out there and keep on looking and calling, and not to give up.
So I can't tell you how I felt when I stood in that garden and called and called and called and eventually I heard faint miaows. I followed them to the end of the large garden of the house next door, where there was a huge four-car garage. It was all closed up, as was the house, there was no one at home, though there was a car in the drive. But when I went to that garage and called Libby, she called back and I knew it was her. She came right to the wooden door to miaow through it at me, and when I left to get neighbour Lorraine's help, and came back, she climbed up to the only glass windows (unopening, unfortunately) and miaowed in my face through the glass at me! Like, You took your time, get me out of here!
We called the SPCA because they have authority to get a trapped animal out of a locked house (though to break and enter they also need to involve the police), but before the volunteer on call, Leslie, got there, I had discovered I could just move one of the wooden doors enough to leave space for a cat to get through. And did Libby come running out? Did she heck. She rushed right back into the back of the garage, miaowing at me, and there was no light switch and it was nearly pitch black in there and I could have killed her but she did let me catch her eventually (she never could resist a chasing game).
So then I came back and cancelled the SPCA and thought, ooh, now, she'll be so grateful to be home, maybe she'll even accept Millie. But no, the first thing she did was go to the door of the bathroom, where I'd put Millie, and growl and hiss through the door at her and then demand to go out of the house again. Once again, Libs, could cheerfully have throttled you! But then she did let me cuddle and cry over her and give her the most enormous plate of meat and large dish of water and THEN she made me let her out. Like, I've been locked up for five days, you really think I wanna be locked up again, lemme into that garden, I gotta check no other cats have been desecrating my turf!
But when I went out into the dark and sat on the verandah with a cuppa tea, she did let me comb her a bit, and chase her a bit, though she really just wanted to see who was going up and down the street, and watch the car lights go up and down, and find out what had been happening since she'd been gone.
It's not been the easiest of days. I am so thankful that Libs is found, but Jasper is deteriorating visibly and so I have made an appointment at the vet for Monday afternoon (in case he rallies over the weekend, but that doesn't seem likely) when I will probably have to help my darling boy to the bridge.
I got a lot of comfort at the shelter, cuddling Milo, who is so pretty and so mischievous, she is now out of Iso and is a darling kitten. And Maddie has got a furrever home! she has gone to the Wellington area, over the hill, so her new family came a long way to find her!
Anyway, sorry for the novel and thank you all so much, once again. Chicken livers were on special at the supermarket today and though I thought I might never see Libs again, I bought 4 pottles anyway. Now I have someone to give them to. :-)
And by the way, Leslie at the SPCA was going to alert the police because I am a little worried. The elderly woman who lives there has probably just gone away with her sister, as Lorraine says, but there was a pile of mail in the box and a car in the drive, so best to make sure.
