I lost my cat for a day yesterday. My giant, always hungry, way too fluffy, ‘I’m going to eat your scone dough’ orange cat wandered out of an open door here in New Orleans and, just like giant orange cats do…. he disappeared into thin air.
I was in the thick of preparing for the Kentucky Derby Party I’ve been talking about here for a week. Elbow deep in Mac and Cheese, two Derby Pies (that wouldn’t set in the oven because I eyeballed the addition of too much bourbon), baking biscuits, two hours away from guests arriving, and…. a missing cat. I’ll tell you now that I 100% freaked out, and then I 100% continued to make Mac and Cheese because I didn’t want to burn the dang béchamel. I also cried on a few of the biscuits.
A few friends diligently searched the neighborhood. Hearing them call for my giant orange boy cat in their dainty coaxing voices was calming. When I searched the neighborhood myself, with flour all over my shirt and my eyes starting to puff and fatigue, I think I was offered just about every cat consolation in the book.
‘Just go outside and call for him.’ Thank you, antique shop neighbor. I hadn’t thought of that.
‘He’ll find another good home.’ Um… I make cat treats from scratch. It doesn’t get better than my home!
‘I moved to a new neighborhood, lost my cat and it came back after four months. You’ll be fine.” Nope. Now I’m really not fine, but cool I’m happy for you.
‘I recently lost my cat in a tragic dryer accident so I know what you’re feeling.” And I run screaming away from this neighbor as fast as I can.
‘He’s wearing a collar, right?’ No… get away from me.
‘Calm down. Cats come back.’ Thank you but this doesn’t feel entirely helpful right now!
It turns out that, ok…. cats do come home. At least Tron-cat did come home. Early this morning, mud all over his belly, dirt crusted in his fancy tail, paws blackened with dust and dirt. He was HUNGRY. I mean… he missed AN ENTIRE MEAL. I also think he was scared and happy to see me. I told him about all the fried chicken and biscuits he missed and the Derby Party. He told me about all the flies he ate hiding in the bushes. I told him about the lady with the cat in the dryer and he made the sign of the cross with his paw. Not really… that last part only happened in my imagination.
So.
That happened.
• Also this week, I became re-obsessed with this James Blake song, Retrograde. It hypnotizes me. Some songs just dig deep inside your heart.
• I have a new coffee table book: Unfathomable City: New Orleans. It has the strangest maps and the coolest essays about my new city. The San Francisco edition also seems fantastic.
• Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere has a new capsule collection with Club Monaco, but you already knew that. I’m excited for the collection and I think it’s really cool to see bloggers do what they do! Totally inspiring.
• Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo! Let there be Breakfast Nachos. High priorities. A lunch time margarita might also treat us right! I like Gaby’s Strawberry Jalapeño margarita jimmyjam.
• Can someone come over and teach me to make crepes? I’ll provide the jam and Nutella.
• My goals for May include making some sort of falafel or veggie burger recipe. This Sweet Green Pea and Herb Falafel is super inspiring.
I’m off to strap on my hawk-holding gloves and give my cat a bath. The mud bath it appears he took late last night doesn’t sit well with either of us. It’s also the last day of Jazz Fest here in New Orleans. Find me swaying in the Blues Tent until sunset.
I love you. Happy Sunday!
100 Responses
Happy to know about your cat, I am really thankful to you for this amazing post.
Ugh – so scary to lose your cat! So glad he came home. And so glad you didn’t get details about the dryer incident… that’s just weird.
I hate it when that happens. We have three cats and it took us a year to decide if we would let them out. We did decide they should but if they’re gone for more than two hours and I haven’t seen them I freak out too. So glad he came back to you! But like you said; you make homemade cat treats…that would lure any cat!
Joy, when I saw on Instagram you lost Tron cat, I said Oh No out loud and said a quick little prayer. My own grey and white fella Monsieur Moustache went missing last week for only an hour, but it was the longest hour of my life. Turns out he was next door, socializing with the strays. That guy. Such happy news for both of us. Happy weekend!
I would lose my shit if my dog went missing. Ugh. No fun. Also, I definitely vote for felafel! I’ve only been able to manage it once. The other times half of it dissolves in the frying oil and they do not get crispy enough. I’m guessing this has something to do with using shortcut chickpeas and too much moisture, but I’m counting on you give me the truth, please!
So glad your “4 legged friend” is back. Probably just as hard on him…. I mean, he had to take a bath as punishment right?! Glad he is safe and sound.
I’m happy that Tron-cat came back home. You should scold him for making you worry too much.
Oh Joy I know how you feel! Telling you your cat will come back does not make you feel better at all so I’m not sure why people do that! But I don’t mind people telling me that their cat came back after being gone for however long. Those stories give me hope.
One of my cats literally got lost every time we moved, but she always found her way back home all dirty and gross and skinny. Poor baby.
I’m so glad your kitty came back! It’s such a relief when you hear them meow for you, isn’t it? HOORAY!
First, I’m going to say something lovely… I’m so very glad you got Big Boy back!! I am obsessed with my two kitties…best ever housemates…like.ever. If I wasn’t married with two busy kids I would totally be THAT lady with the cats. Love ’em. Next, I’m going to say something that is going to make you want to hit me, in that ‘you’ve got to say something nice and then get all negative on me’. But it comes from the heart. You may have to keep an extra eye on Big Boy for a bit, once they get out they sometimes go all Mission Impossible on you to try to get out again. So watch those doors and windows :)
P.S. Love your blog very much!
I’m so glad your cat made it home safe and sound! I have been thinking about you and him since you posted that he was missing on Instagram! What a relief!
I’m so glad your cat is home with you and safe. I had a cat when I was a teenager who took off through an open window. It was okay it was the first floor. I looked for him but could not find him. I left the window open and he came back in the morning. Like yours he was dirty and hungry. He never left home again which was perfect for me.
So glad your kitty returned safely! And good luck with the cat bath, I have done that…not pretty!
SO glad you found your cat! (along with the rest of the internet world) :)
So glad about your muddy cats return. Aren’t they amazing. About the crepes I can’t make them, so I am no help. My advice buy them !!
I am so glad that your baby came home! My cat has gotten out a few times and I had an absolute meltdown so I can certainly sympathize.
I am so happy to hear that he came back! I don’t even know what I would have done. I am always so paranoid about our cats getting out, so I always shut and lock the door behind me – and they have gotten out a couple of times over the last several years, but we’ve always caught them on time and have found them sitting on the front step. But a few weeks ago, I noticed a door was open and panicked. One cat was outside sniffing some plants at the back door, so I quickly did a sweep of the house and found our second cat sleeping, but the third cat was missing! I started freaking out – my husband ran outside and checked the back yard and I told him to go check the front and I would check the back again and start in the alley. He was under the BBQ! I picked him up and almost started crying because I was so relieved. I can just imagine what you went through with an entire day and over night!
Cute cat! Love the photo!
Tsui.
Fashion Ganache.
I haven’t read every comment (so many nice ones!) but in case no one else has mentioned it, consider getting your kitty micro-chipped. It’s a simple, minimally painful procedure that’s worth its weight in gold. Animal shelters and vet clinics are very proactive in scanning found pets for a chip. When I was a vet tech, we returned many a pet to its owner that way.
Tron-cat knows where his bread is buttered. Maybe he was looking for a girlfriend. So glad he’s home. Nothing worse than losing your baby. You are now living in a very exciting city with some of the best food around. Explore to your hearts content. Just don’t let the voodoo get you. HaHa!!
paw self crossing! hysterical! Thanks Joy for the laugh
I am so very happy for you that your cat came back home!! What an enormous stress!! I am thrilled that your story had a happy ending. Yay!!
Joy! I’m so happy to here that your cat came home. I was worried, because I know how it feels..not okay at all. Give him a hug from me! I’m waiting for the recipe of those chocolate cookies! :) Love.
So glad cat made it home; what a lovely fireplace in the photo!!! I remember when I was a little girl and my Dad (or we) lost our first dog since our first ever family dog, Duke, and my dad actually cried. Luckily he was found and lived with us to a very old age! Your blog is just the best.
im so glad hes back..it must be soo freaking scary and horrifying. on a side note, i saw a beautiful crepe cake at honestly yum and im dreaming about it too.
I am right there with you. I freak out if my cat gets out; especially when we first moved into our new place. I know, I know, “cats come back” they say. But I also had one cat that left then got hit by a car and another that just never came back. Luckily, my two cats now aren’t really big on adventuring so much in their old age. Consolations are not very consoling in the midst of a crisis (and yes, when your cat goes missing it IS a crisis).
Also, can I please come to New Orleans and teach you how to make crepes!? I’ve been dying to visit the city anyway.
xoxo
Taylor
I lost my cat once and I searched EVERYWHERE for her. I hung up signs all around my apartment building and two days later a man called “Is your name Yoda?” I replied, “no but my cat’s name is” and he said she had been hiding in the bushes outside his apartment crying for two days. He saw my sign and told me where to get her. I went to the bushes and she LEPT into my arms, purring and crying. And she never left the apartment again.
Hopefully your kitty knows how well he has it and won’t put you through that terrifying ordeal again. And if that doesn’t work, remind him of your neighbor with the dryer again. :)
HAWK-HOLDING GLOVES! Ohhhh that kills me. But, I mean, also that’s real life.
A couple of years ago, my oddly gigantic Siamese (who has never been outside a day in her life) went missing. She was gone for three days and on that last night I was just certain that she was a complete goner. But I decided to put a bowl of food on my (top floor apartment) steps. Before I went to bed, I decided to go sit on the steps and cry about it and who was sitting right there but my oddly gigantic Siamese? Like nothing ever happened.
We still joke about her little rumspringa where she must have learned so much from the alley cats but, still, decided to come back into the fold.
I am SO glad to hear that Tron came home. I was filled with worry and anxiety for you on Saturday and sent all the positive vibes I had your way. Thank you for the update. Hopefully the wanderlust is out of his system!
My sister’s cat up and jumped out the window of her second story apartment and was missing for four days. It was scary and there were flyers with rewards involved and right when we were most worried a neighbor who had seen one of the flyers found her and called. So I guess cats don’t always come back but if they don’t show up after a day stapling their little runaway cat faces to every post in a 2 mile radius might help :)
Oh I’m so happy your cat came back! What a cutie. And I can’t believe you make treats for your cat from scratch! What a great fur mom :) Speaking of falafel, I made one a while back – https://cleanwellness.ca/2/post/2014/02/classic-baked-falafel-gluten-free-vegan.html -it’s adapted from one of my new favourite vegan cookbooks. Happy Cinco de Mayo to you, Joy!
So, so, so glad Tron came home! I’ve witnessed/experienced losing big orange cats (and small black ones) before, and it’s the worst. I also love this post – you’re one of my favorite bloggers when it comes to writing style and tone. :)
what a terrible feeling joy.
i am SO happy your beloved cat came home.
I’m so glad to hear your cat is back home again!!! I came on here just to check! *phew!
So glad you found him! What a scary weekend! That stinker.
Joy! I’m so happy your cat came back! I was very worried for you!!
Oh my gosh, My heart sank when I read the first sentence of your post. A number of years ago, one of my cats, Boogady, ran out the front door when I was saying goodbye to a friend. I tried not to panic He jumped onto the front porch wall but as I moved to grab him, he jumped off and disappeared into the night. Long story short, he was gone for ten days…ten days of agony for me. I discovered, after about a week, that he was returning to the porch at night but would run when I open the door. I set up an trap with a large rabbit cage and food and finally caught him. When Igot him back into the house and held him, he was shaking in fear until he realized it was me and he was home. He finally settled in my arms and began to purr loudly. Anyway, after that incident, he would run in the opposite direction whenever I opened any door to the outside.
Hopefully, you boy has learned a “Joyfull” home is so much better than any street time.
I thinks it’s always so fantastic when you incorporate personal stories into your posts, Joy! Definitely makes the reader feel like we are getting to know you more. Would love to see more posts like this in the future!
Oh noo!!!! I’m so glad that you found him–I had a similarly terrifying moment when I took my cat to the vet and the carrier literally fell apart when I was outside (he went SPRINTING off). Luckily, we were able to corner him and get him. But it was so traumatizing.
All my life I kept telling myself I am not a cat person only a dog person. Will my cat looks just like your orange cat. Showing up on my doorstep. First I fought the urge to take her in then I did letting her sleep in the condo(garage). Then she made herself into the family room(nights garage). Now the little poop sleeps in my bed has taken over my husband as hers, has a chip in her (in case she runs off) a collar with a big heart on it with my number. Oh Yea I am not a cat person. So glad you got your cat back. Paulette
Joy, I’m so glad he came back quickly. I was beside myself last week when my fur child got into a tussle with a neighbourhood tom in OUR garden. The little buggers dig right into your heart
That must have been a harrowing experience! I’m so happy to hear that he returned and is now safe and sound (and clean). Lots of love to ye both!
SO glad Tron-cat came home safe and sound (if dirty) ~ I’m sorry that must really have put a damper on your party. Sounds like it was perfect timing to hang out in the Blues Tent.
Have a good week, Joy!
I love your cat so hard you’d think he was mine. Although mine is an equally monstrously huge black kitty who would be mighty jealous of that statement so I better retract it.
In non-cat related news, I’d like some of that derby pie:)
Oh no! I have a deep fear of losing my precious cat. I’m so glad your boy came back, now the week can only be a great one :)
Thank goodness you found him!! I can’t imagine the stress you went through when you lost him. I hope it never happens again ????
Crepes are easy!!! I may make some tomorrow and share them with y’all!
Oh man, I remember the feeling of sheer panic and terror when my orange fluff ball went missing. He was gone for TWO FREAKIN’ WEEKS before he came back. No matter how long they are gone for, it is terrifying! I am so glad your Monster is back home safe!
Have you checked out the falafel in the Jerusalem cookbook? I haven’t made it myself, but it looks mighty tasty, and maybe not too hard.
I hope your Derby party was a smash!
I’m so glad your boy is home! As a self-proclaimed cat lady, your post about cat treats and jars is what first brought me to your site. (The pie keeps me coming back.) I’ll admit to checking your blog/Twitter more than once at work today, hoping for a happy ending. (Perhaps I’ll make the kitty treats this week, in Tron’s honor!)
Please get Jules chipped and a collar. It was horrifying to read of his misadventures. The California relatives love to read about him but please keep him safe. Love from his birth mom and her human parents.
So glad you found him!! It’s the worst when pets get lost. And I totally agree there’s really nothing that can make you feel okay about it except them coming home. Hope you still were able to enjoy your Derby party since he ended up coming home.
When I saw your Instagram at first I was confused as to who this ‘Tron’ was, until I realized that this is what you call Jules. Sorry. So glad he came home Joy! I lost my kitty for a week before he finally came home- so your charismatic fluff ball must have missed your cooking. I guess he was just curious to explore his new neighborhood. :)
I’m so happy that your cat came back!!
So, so happy his is home. <3
You were so calm and cool- I would have left the door open and the guests could help themselves while I searched! So glad there’s a happy ending!
I’m so glad your cat made his way home. I was wondering about you. It stinks that happened in the middle of the party you’d been looking forward to, but at least he’s home. My parents’ dog got out of the yard once when I was house sitting, and it was such a frantic, horrible evening looking for her. Then I heard her barking during the night, and she had come home! It’s strange how that sometimes works out.
I am so happy he came back. What a crazy weekend.
Glad your baby came home! My big orange fluff monster got off of his harness when I took him outside to play and had a brief moment of “I’m free! Oh no, I’m so scared, Mom please come hold me” and I just about died from those few seconds of terror. I can’t imagine spending a whole night worrying!
thats the best news! yay for being reunited with your best furry friend.
I’m so glad to hear he’s back. That’s one of the worst feelings anyone can experience. Silly kitties.
I’m glad your kitty resurfaced! Our cat looks almost exactly like yours, and if your cat is anything like ours, I’m sure he was overjoyed to get back to your home cooking. Adventures are fun, but home is where it’s at!
Ooh I made falafels for the first time last week. So good and really not hard at all. In other not totally distracted by falafel news….I’m so glad he made it home safe! We lost our dog when we were away on vacation a million miles away and I almost died.
Goodness, Tron. I’d have had a nervous breakdown! Don’t do that again. Yes to James Blake. Yes to crepes. Here’s my favourite recipe (it’s Clotidle’s, so…) – it’s simple, incredibly delicious, uses rum & I make it often. Spread them with chestnut cream & be sure to have the pan hot enough! https://chocolateandzucchini.com/recipes/breakfast/french-crepes-recipe/ xx
I saw your post on Instagram about Tron being lost. I’m so relieved he came home. I was seriously anxious about a lost cat I’ve never met!
Oh so glad you baby is back home with his mom! I would have just crazed out too! I thought about your Derby Party yesterday! I know it was fun except for being without your Tron. They have our hearts and people just don’t understand unless they have pets of their own….they are family!
Glad Tron came back – they usually do. Cats are a smart lot and know where the good food and petting comes from. I lost my orange tabby, Tigger after Katrina hit NOLA, but he showed up a week later – pissed that the food was gone and we were not home to let him in. He moved to Austin with us and lived a happy life for many years after. He still disappeared sometimes, but always knew his way home. Tigger was 16 when he finally crossed that bridge, but I know he knew the way. His compass was perfect :)
Thank goodness your cat came back! I saw the Instagram photo last nIght and found myself worried for you. Been there! My cat came back after two weeks roaming. Glad you only had to suffer for a night.
So so happy for YOU that you have him back!!!!!!!
If you need derby recipes for next year -let me know- I’m from ky
We love Derby!!!!!!
Oh thank GOD you found that boy! My heart sank to the floor when I heard he was lost, and today I got so happy I squeezed my own fluffy cat-boy until his eyes bugged out. (We were both praying for Tron…)
Cats!
I would have freaked out big time if my boys (my cats) went missing! I freak out and go into protective mother mode when they yowl unhappily or hiss and scream at a stray tom cat prowling too close to our house windows. So I totally get you.
So glad he found his way home, he’s such a cutie. Give him a nice rub down for me!
(Btw I have orange tabby cats with green eyes. They are the handsomest cats in the world)
A few years ago I lost my cat inside the house. Literally inside the house. She squeezed into the bathroom pipe wall access in a closet and made her way inside the walls for 2 days – it’s an old house. We searched all over the neighborhood, made flyers, etc. She eventually squeezed herself back out and casually made her way over to the food bowl and demanded to be fed. We now make sure we know where she is when we leave the house or go to bed.
I’m glad your cat got home safe! My cat, Nike, is one of the adventurous types.. He is actually quite often away in the woods but he always comes home after a few days. A few years ago my cat then was away for several weeks but she also got home safe and sound :) it may sound a bit unlikely but I believe that cats always DO come home
Glorious news!! So glad Tron found his way back to his new home…hopefully, he’ll think twice about scooting out an open door next time.
Glad your little escapee found his way back home!
I’d gladly take you up on the crepe challenge if you were still in LA, but reaching across to New Orleans to flip that pancake is a bit of a stretch. Crepes are supposed to be thin, but…
Ruhlman’s Ratio recipe / procedure for crepes is quite well explained, I think. That would be my recommendation.
So happy that Tron found his way back home! He really does know how good he has it!
So glad he came back! That must have been so terrifying…I’ve learned that life likes to make something go wrong at the absolute WORSE time. Like in the middle of preparing for a dinner party! Have a great + relaxing Sunday, Joy.
Awww…sounds like a crazy day! I hope you get a nice long rest too! :) And you’re right, it doesn’t get better…sheesh what are these people thinking?
oh my goodness joy! i’m so happy he came back! my heart was hurting for you when i saw your instagram yesterday. i would have been a mess if it were one of my kitties… so so relieved for you!! enjoy your sunday with him safe at home!
So glad your cat found his way home!!
Happy to hear he found his way home. My big orange fluffy cat got out many years ago because my loser boyfriend left the door open to go smoke. I almost strangled him but after hours of crying yelling and driving around the apartment complex we finally found her. It is so dang stressful! My heart hurt for u bc I know how much my big orange cat meant to me and I know how u felt – helpless!!
So glad he made his way back! Years ago my cat got out and my boyfriend’s mother, now my mother in law, asked me if he was in good healthy. I told her he is fat but healthy, and she proceeds to tell me that sometimes pets run away to die…luckily he came home the next day.
Since you live here in the South now, I’mma hit you with our classic “well, bless your heart!”
Yay Tron! I did not give you any of the above advice that your neighbourly friends did. Lost my cat once and the friends who were home with her didn’t care to look for her. I was at work and forced to continue working. Worst feeling ever. She was hiding in a plant (probably eating flies too) and we lived across from a church so I’m sure she made many signs of the cross (sign of the crosses?).
ahhhhhh!!! i’m so happy your furry baby returned! I can only imagine how freaked out you must have been. I mean, homemade cat treats?! Please!
Thank goodness he came home. Hopefully James Blake will soothe any further wandering tendencies.
ohnoes! so glad your cat is back, i think i would go insaaaane.
xo, cheyenne
You really scared me, PHEW!! My oldest daughter was just in New Orleans, I told her all about you and how funny and amazing you are, oh and a great baker. So happy your world is at peace now. Want to make those Strawberry Jalapeno drinks and breakfast nachos sound amazing <3 Nettie
I’m so glad he came back home! And so sorry to hear that he got lost in the city. I haven’t had to deal with a missing cat yet, but I imagine it’s terrifying. Today must be such a happy day, though.
So glad the kitten is okay! One of my cats got out last summer and it was one of the most terrifying three days of my life. Turned out she is not good with directions and was literally two apartments over the whole time hiding under their bed.
I would have totally freaked. Every time we’ve moved we’ve thought we lost a cat only to find them sleeping in a closet inside the house. SO GLAD he came home safe and sound.
so glad you found him! and i totally hear you on all of the alleged words of encouragement. “get away from me” sums it up :) happy sunday!
I am very happy you found Tron-cat! I saw your post last night asking for help looking for him and I was very sad for you. I’m glad he came home to you!
Lived uptown on Broadway in the 80s and my Kim went out the 3rd floor window one afternoon and was missing for almost a week..we were hysterical …looking everywhere for her…then suddenly one afternoon I heard her crying in the front yard..thinner and matted but no worse for the wear..she never sat in that window again..and she lived to be almost 25….glad to hear your big kitty came home..
I’m so glad he came back home. had that happen to me a few weeks back but unfortunately my kitty never made it back.
I hope you told him to never do that again!
Glad to hear you got the T-ron :)
i’m sure you already know this, but there were probably a lot of people in internet-land feeling really sad about your lost cat yesterday. so glad to hear he came back!
I WAS WORRIED SICK. God. Thanks heavens. And thank you for telling us, I kept checking all your accounts. Ok sorry this is strange but I appreciate you both you know. Hugs, BIG! Love
OMG! I have a giant not so fluffy cat with an extra swingy pouch of belly fat who allows me to live with him. If he became lost I would promptly lose my shit. Now commence extra cuddles and for sure you’ve earned a third glass of wine (or whatever floats your boat) tonight. PHEW.