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!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
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!
Katie Faulkner
Thank goodness he came home. Hopefully James Blake will soothe any further wandering tendencies.
cheyenne
ohnoes! so glad your cat is back, i think i would go insaaaane.
xo, cheyenne
nettiemoore11
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
BR
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.
Emily D.
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.
Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen
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.
Alexis
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!
Sarah P.
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!
Marsha
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..
adam lowell
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.
Rachel
I hope you told him to never do that again!
Karishma (KB.eats)
Glad to hear you got the T-ron :)
katie
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!
Ludi_Build Bake Taste
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
JC
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.