And Just Like That... She's Back!

I had mentioned last week that our cat, Ginger, mysteriously disappeared.  Tricia had called me at work to tell me that Ginger had been missing since the afternoon before.  She missed supper and breakfast and was no where to be found.  She had never done that before.  She is an outside cat that hunts, but she also comes inside from time to time and is never far from home.

After two days we were more than concerned.  She was a family pet, but mostly was Benjamin's cat.  We have the worst luck with pets!  I went to a feed store in Sulphur, LA to get my solar powered electric fence charger worked on and noticed a hand-written sign announcing "Free Kittens."  I made a mental note to go back to the feed store, call the number and have them text me photos of the kittens.  However, Tricia mentioned, "How can we ever replace Ginger?  She was the perfect cat."

Well....  I got a text at work from Tricia in all caps saying, "GINGER IS BACK."  She just mysteriously showed up like nothing was wrong two days later.

What in the devil happened?  Where did she go?  Well, we'll never know since cats can't talk.  We do know she has a large cut next to her left eye.  She is acting real quiet and mainly naps all day.  She was initially having a difficult time hopping up on anything, so we assume she's sore.  But by Sunday afternoon, she had jumped on top of my car and was napping.

If I had to guess, I'd say she got into a scuffle with a raccoon, a possum, a dog, or other wild animal.  She probably got beaten and climbed up into a tree to nurse her wounds and escape her adversary.  Once the coast was clear, she returned home.

So everyone is happy and all is right with the world.  Well, at least at Our Maker's Acres Family Farm.  I trust you all had a nice weekend.

Where Are You?

Ginger.  Has anybody seen her?

While at work today, I talked to Tricia and sensed some sadness in her voice.  "Ginger's missing," she said.  Ginger is our cat.  She's mainly an outside cat, but there are times that she spends time indoors, sleeping on her favorite chairs.  "The last time I saw her was yesterday afternoon," she told me.  "She was sleeping on the trampoline.  Then she didn't come in for supper, nor breakfast, and I haven't seen her all day."

I got home at around 6 pm and there was still no sign of her.  There was a heaviness in our home.  Finally, Benjamin drove in from work and we regretfully told him the news.  Ginger is primarily Benjamin's cat, but he loves all the animals.  He was very quiet - just sitting in silence on the stairs for a while.  We went out and picked blueberries together and talked.  I explained to him that loving someone or something makes you vulnerable.  You love them and then they are gone.  There is an emptiness.  It hurts.  A big part of you wants to wall yourself off to protect yourself and never wants to ever feel that loss again.  But you must.  Loss is a part of life.  You have great memories and there is great sadness, but you must go on.  Benjamin understands.

Have you ever lost an animal?  It's tough.  Pets can be a good companion.  Ginger hunted rats and has been known to catch the occasional squirrel or bird for a snack.  We've had a bad streak going with our pets.  First, Russ' cat disappeared and then both of our dogs died earlier this year to sickness within a month of each other.  Whew.  Time to lighten the mood with a little humor from "Dumb and Dumber." 

Ginger is wearing a pink collar with our phone number on it.  We have been hoping and praying that Ginger shows up soon.  Come on home, Ginger!