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!
Ginger M.
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!
Emily Estes Rogers
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!
bakerkat
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.
Heather
So glad your kitty returned safely! And good luck with the cat bath, I have done that…not pretty!
Kristi
SO glad you found your cat! (along with the rest of the internet world) :)
Lynda Qunell
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 !!
Donna Butler
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.
Megan
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!
fashionganache
Cute cat! Love the photo!
Tsui.
Fashion Ganache.
Erin
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.
Sandra
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!!
jo
paw self crossing! hysterical! Thanks Joy for the laugh
Nicole
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!!
Karlijn
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.
birgerbird
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.