10 hours ago, samira_catlover said:

May the Gentle Lady of Eternal Mercy, Quan Yin, or Blessed Mother Mary, or Bastet  (or ANY other deity---pick your label!) send your wandering CatChild back to a nice safe homey place with lots of treats and goodies!

Uhhhh, pardon the bluntness: but are you OK with people of maybe some ODD spiritual orientations burning candles/incense, offering hopes/prayers, Whatever, or even Doing Weird Thingies to bring your kid safely home?---if that's too weird, improper, offensive, or too-loosely-defined within your belief system, please say so: no offense will be taken, and certainly none is meant.

*tries to figure out how to burn catnip in an offering fire* HEEEEERRE, kitty, kitty, kitty....

I am more than okay with any and all positive thoughts and blessings headed his way.  I'm all about intent and I'm kind of speechless at how sweet that is.  Thank you.

i need to sleep but I keep waiting 5 more minutes for a meow that's not coming.  I can't stop crying, but my getting fired won't help anyone so I should get some sleep.

56 minutes ago, Grimalkin said:

     If you have a FB account post on lost cats of Illinois, any community chat pages for your town, and local FB garage sale sights. There is a lost pets of Mchenry and Lake county page I am active on, maybe there is one for your area. The people on mine are incredibly helpful. I have seen many people go out of their way to help a stranger reunite with a beloved pet. 

.     Other recommendations are to put his litter box outside and walk around with a flashlight sweeping the light under nearby shrubs and any other possible hiding spots. The light from the flashlight will hopefully help you see his eyes glinting in the light.

      Oh Buffy, I am so sorry to hear this. 

I've been doing the flashlight looking for his eyes and the littler box is outside...but I didn't think about the Facebook thing!  Thank you!  

4 minutes ago, HerNameIsBuffy said:

I am more than okay with any and all positive thoughts and blessings headed his way.  I'm all about intent and I'm kind of speechless at how sweet that is.  Thank you.

i need to sleep but I keep waiting 5 more minutes for a meow that's not coming.  I can't stop crying, but my getting fired won't help anyone so I should get some sleep.

I've been doing the flashlight looking for his eyes and the littler box is outside...but I didn't think about the Facebook thing!  Thank you!  

      I have considered deleting my account but I really like my community page and look at the lost pet or pets in need of new home page almost daily. Mainly because it restores my faith in humanity to see some of the very kind people who go to great lengths to help a stranger who lost a pet. Lots of happy stories. Don't lose hope!

Also, there are many people who watch the lost cats of Illinois page and will repost (with your permission) to any pages that may be helpful to your specific area. Honestly, great people.

**sends up a STAT--right now!---page to all the dear loving Eternal Ones. Send that CatKid HOME: the mommie is wayyyy past frantic, and there IS a loving wonderful place handy.**

**sends up another message to the Gods of Peace and Calm and Serene Rest--uuuh, some blessed sleep would be very nice, in case you didn't notice.  BTW, there is a missing CatChild that needs to get back home. YOU GUYS ALL HEAR ME?**

*sends over nice cuddly sleepy things for Buffy The CatMom---relaxing rain sounds, a nice warm bed, and all wonderful thingies. *puts down chocolate and Insanely Awesome Great WET Yummy CatFood*  

8 hours ago, Grimalkin said:

      I have considered deleting my account but I really like my community page and look at the lost pet or pets in need of new home page almost daily. Mainly because it restores my faith in humanity to see some of the very kind people who go to great lengths to help a stranger who lost a pet. Lots of happy stories. Don't lose hope!

Also, there are many people who watch the lost cats of Illinois page and will repost (with your permission) to any pages that may be helpful to your specific area. Honestly, great people.

Such a great idea - I've posted on the FB page for lost cats and submitted requests to join lost pets of Illinois and lost pets of cook county.  Once we find him I'll keep checking those to see if we can help others - it's an amazing way to reach people.

Also posted on Craigs list and Reddit in the Chicago suburbs sub.  We aren't allowed to post flyers in the neighborhood but Mr. Me and one of the boys covered more neighbors yesterday and so every house within a couple of blocks has his pic.  

We're a couple of blocks from a small patch of forest preserve so I'm trying not to go worst case scenario as there are coyotes in there.  I'm hoping he's following the rule book for indoor cats and sticking close to home and just hidden somewhere locked into primal survival instinct to go invisible...because eventually hunger trumps that and if he's close enough he'll come home.  

8 hours ago, samira_catlover said:

**sends up a STAT--right now!---page to all the dear loving Eternal Ones. Send that CatKid HOME: the mommie is wayyyy past frantic, and there IS a loving wonderful place handy.**

**sends up another message to the Gods of Peace and Calm and Serene Rest--uuuh, some blessed sleep would be very nice, in case you didn't notice.  BTW, there is a missing CatChild that needs to get back home. YOU GUYS ALL HEAR ME?**

*sends over nice cuddly sleepy things for Buffy The CatMom---relaxing rain sounds, a nice warm bed, and all wonderful thingies. *puts down chocolate and Insanely Awesome Great WET Yummy CatFood*  

I love you guys - all of you.  Thank you for this.  

I don't work with a single cat person so I'm not even mentioning it here because I know no one will get it and will say something dismissive or worse talk about why they hate cats.  At home...we're all on edge.  One kid is alternating between searching and passing out flyers and saying shitty stuff in anger like it's his own fault anyway and if he loved us he'd come home...because he doesn't deal with frustration well and blaming the cat is helpful, I guess.  He's also very angry with God for this.  For someone who doesn't believe in God he sure starts fighting with him when he's scared about something he can't control.  

Wasn't a shot - I get it.  I just find it interesting that having someone to plead to for help and blame when life shits the bed is a psychological need for some people.  I've become much quieter about my angst over the years, but it breaks my heart when I see the less positive parts of myself in the kids...because I know certain mindsets and traits make life harder than it has to be and I want so much for them to have an easier road than mine.  I feel guilty for not being a better example of grace under pressure and for passing down some complicated emotional mapping.

My youngest is the most like me - he feels everything so deeply that he has to pick and choose what he cares about or it will crush him.  And sometimes the only way to get relief from the worry is to channel into anger where you try not to care at all.  He has so many amazing qualities and I know his depth is a good thing...but it can be hard for people like us to live in a head that always jumps to worst case scenario and the thoughts don't turn off.  Worry needs to be forced out by active distraction because someone coded a recursive loop in our brains.  

One has gone quiet and is helping look but is withdrawing from all the sadness - as he does.  

The third is out of her mind with worry so keeps vacillating between making it worse by upping my panic or picking unrelated fights with me as a fun distraction.  

You guys are the only ones who aren't making me want to jump out of a closed window.  

Some more of Sham-Wow when he was safe at home...just ...because...

And Griffy - who I am so thankful is okay...in happier times before he was so traumatized....

       I love how tuned into your kids you are! You also know yourself and express it so well. I admire that. Sounds silly to say, I recently started to realize I can't even name what I'm feeling and never have. I am sleep deprived and rambling. 

      I am sending positive thoughts and well wishes your way.

I keep popping over here to see if there has been any good news...... 

I'm sorry he's not home yet.

Your kitty babies are so precious and adorable. I'm sending positive thoughts your way and hoping Sham-Wow returns home soon. The thought of a lost kitty and their upset humans breaks my heart. 

Oh no, what an awful thing. I'm so sorry Buffy, I know you're all going through hell right now. I hope your boy gets himself home safe and sound, and quickly. 

A couple years ago we searched FRANTICALLY for my friend's lost cat (my friend is blind) for almost a week. Flyered the whole neighborhood, Craigslist, Petfinder, checked all the shelters/vets everyday, you name it. The little jerk sauntered back in the front door one day like nothing had happened, fatter than ever. Hopefully your kitty is just on vacation. Thoughts with you.

When my cats escape and don't come back by dark (which happens sometimes no matter how careful I am) I microwave tuna juice to make it stinkier and walk around the yard. They usually turn up quickly. Of course, so do half the neighbor's cats...

You did say weird was fine...

...Hopefully REALLY weird is fine too.

I grow buckets of 'nip for mine, so I cut some fresh for an offering. There was cat food on the plate but someone ate it before I found my phone. I choose to believe that's a good sign.

I just saw this.  I'm so sorry, Buffy.  Sending many good thoughts and hoping kitty is OK.

My heart is breaking for you, Buffy. Good thoughts to you, your family and little Sham Wow.

I apologize for being late to the thread and I do hope that Sham is OK, but I do have one suggestion that might help:

HAVE YOU CHECKED ANIMAL CONTROL?

Our Molly was picked up by animal control probably about 20 years ago now.  She was missing for almost a week when we thought to check.  We'd looked everywhere else.   (You'll need to look in the phone book to see where they take impounded animals.)    Anyway there was Molly sitting in a cage at Animal Control with an address on our street.  Animal Control had set out traps to catch cats in our neighborhood and they'd caught Molly.  Our county had a leash law for cats and she was across the road when she was trapped.  It's definitely a long shot, but that's what we thought when Molly was captured.

7 hours ago, PennySycamore said:

I apologize for being late to the thread and I do hope that Sham is OK, but I do have one suggestion that might help:

HAVE YOU CHECKED ANIMAL CONTROL?

Our Molly was picked up by animal control probably about 20 years ago now.  She was missing for almost a week when we thought to check.  We'd looked everywhere else.   (You'll need to look in the phone book to see where they take impounded animals.)    Anyway there was Molly sitting in a cage at Animal Control with an address on our street.  Animal Control had set out traps to catch cats in our neighborhood and they'd caught Molly.  Our county had a leash law for cats and she was across the road when she was trapped.  It's definitely a long shot, but that's what we thought when Molly was captured.

      This just reminded me that the people who mod the local lost pets page mentioned to actually go to animal control and look at the found cats because on occasion there is a glitch, or the people working the scanner do it wrong. Not sure if it helps or makes you more worried. 

Sham-wow found his way home this morning, much to @HerNameIsBuffy's relief. <3

*Does a happy dance for Shammy and the whole Buffy family*

19 hours ago, lawfulevil said:

You did say weird was fine...

...Hopefully REALLY weird is fine too.

     Looks like the cat gods were pleased with your offerings.

YAYYYY!!!!!!! The Prodigal CatChild is Back!  (Please to imagine the text is set into 120-point bold caps.)

I just heard from my neighbor across the street that her cat, Max, has been gone for a month.  I hope that Max comes back home.  He's a beautiful longhaired grey tuxedo. He likes to visit our yard.

On 6/9/2016 at 2:07 AM, lawfulevil said:

When my cats escape and don't come back by dark (which happens sometimes no matter how careful I am) I microwave tuna juice to make it stinkier and walk around the yard. They usually turn up quickly. Of course, so do half the neighbor's cats...

That's some hard (alba)core sacrifice! Tuna juice can really stink things up inside. 

So very glad that little kitty dust mop Sham-Wow made it back home.   

On June 9, 2016 at 3:28 AM, lawfulevil said:

You did say weird was fine...

...Hopefully REALLY weird is fine too.

I don't know how I missed some of the comments here...I'm crying again,..but happy this time.  This is amazing!  I'm saving this pic.  Seriously I'm just so touched.

I'm so glad he came home! He has very pretty markings. I'd love to hear the story behind his name.

     I would love to hear the story of his homecoming, and reuniting with Griffen his brother.