Siamese Cat Lost in Medlock Area After Owners Receive Anonymous Note
Decatur Metro | December 2, 2011 | 4:48 pm
Penelope sent in this note and info yesterday about…
LOST, Beautiful Siamese Cat. Seal Point, intense blue eyes, neutered male, has probably lost his collar. ‘Siam’ is very friendly and will come to you if invited.
Last seen Nov.20 at 2257 Vistamont rd. 30033 (Medlock)
We love him dearly and are offering a reward for his return.
Please contact: Penelope or Robert. 404-633-7709 (home) 404-808-9374 (cell)
The weird part about this story is that the owners received an anonymous letter about their cat just days before he disappeared. You can read it after the jump.
I guess handwriting DOESN’T matter.
Either one of the CAts or some CSD elementary kid wrote this, judging by the handprinting.
Would be funnier if it weren’t a bit troubling.
Not to mention the spelling–”seal” instead of “sill”, “threw” instead of “through”, and “controle”! And a computer spell check wouldn’t have solved any of those errors!
Really? This meanness has run off DTR and it turns me off too.
Good luck with the cat’s safe return, Penelope & Robert. Parker Cross’ idea sound like a very good one.
Sounds …
I actually write for a living …
I agree, the spelling errors and penmanship are comical but like you say troubling. I hope you find your cat soon and in good health, Penelope.
Oh no! I know this cat as I live in the area. He’s a sweet and gentle guy. I saw him crossing N. Superior on the north side of Desmond a few days ago. I’ll keep an eye out for him and I hope he turns up.
i think this looks like the handwriting of an elderly person, especially with the “have a blessed day” sign off. reminds me of my grandmother’s spelling phonetically as she only had an 8th grade education.
but honestly, if someone has a cat that is driving a neighbor and her indoor cats crazy, she has every right to call animal control. cats belong inside and there is a leash law that applies to cats as everyone should know. hopefully they checked with dekalb AC and nothing happened to the cat otherwise. maybe she’s holding the cat hostage to scare them into keeping him inside!
I grew up in metro Atlanta and have had many indoor/outdoor cats. I have never heard of a leash law for cats. And neither have my cats. And I agree that it is probably an older person who has too much time on their hands.
there most definitely is a leash law for cats as well as dogs (obviously) in dekalb county. has been since i was a kid in the 70′s. we used to walk our cat on a leash in the yard after he became an indoor cat. it’s just not as enforced as it is with dogs because cats aren’t really considered a threat to humans like dogs.
Yep, out of curiosity, I looked up relevant city and county ordinances. The citations appear to be DeKalb County, Section 5-4 (“Animals at Large”), and City of Decatur, Section 14-2 (“Running at Large”).
The website linked below has excellent tips for owners of missing pets of all kinds, and it describes how indoor vs. outdoor status plus personality traits will affect a cat’s behavior when missing.
http://www.missingpetpartnership.org/recovery-lostcat.php
Thanks so much for this link. The site is filled with insights and info that every pet owner should read. I hope Siam shows up soon.
My understanding is that all companion animals are to either be confined to a yard (without the use of a chain) or on a leash if they are outside you yard. There is no exception for cats. I also have lived in and around Atlanta/Decatur with indoor/outdoor cats before, but even then knew that I was in violation of the law. We have a cat now who is strictly indoor-only.
I imagine it’s not strenuously enforced because animal control does not have the time to chase down every roaming feline. But, if you have a roaming cat that becomes a nuisance (going through neighbors’ trash, irritating other pets, killing birds, etc.) and they have to repeatedly respond to complaints, the owner faces fines and the county can take the animal permanently.
This is leaving aside the issue that roaming cats run a high risk of getting seriously injured or killed by cars and other animals if you let them out.
So, has the owner called animal control to see if they picked it up?
Shame that in open minded Decatur the takeaway from this is to make fun of a neighbor’s poor spelling. That’s AJC-message-board-level bush league. And the note could well be totally unrelated, esp with the coyotes back in town …
+1,000. And it should go without saying that DAMN IT! IF PEOPLE REALLY GAVE A FLIP ABOUT THEIR CATS, THEY’D KEEP THEM INDOORS!!! PERIOD!!!!!. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PERMIT YOUR CATS TO ROAM ABOUT OUTSIDE, WHICH PUTS THEM IN DANGER AND IS INCONSIDERATE TO YOUR NEIGHBORS!!! (YES, I’M SHOUTING, BECAUSE I’VE HAD IT WITH PEOPLE WHO P&M ABOUT THEIR POOR MISSING KITTIES, BUT WON’T TROUBLE THEMSELVES TO DO THE SIMPLEST THING TO KEEP THEM SAFE!!!!!)
That is all.
+ 1,000
I have always been perplexed by people who obviously love their pets very much, just opening the door and letting them loose. It goes against what we know about keeping the pets we love, safe/alive. I’m sure there’s anecdotal evidence of outdoor cats that live long lives, but speaking as a pet owner, it hardly seems worth the risk.
Beautiful cat. Hope he comes home safe & sound.
+1,000,000,000!!! If you love your cat, keep it indoors. It’s that simple.
It is absolutely ridiculous and downright mean that you are telling these folks how to treat their animals when the cat they obviously love and adore is missing.
too right!
Permitting your cat to roam freely demonstrates a lack of love or care for the animal, disrespect of the law and contempt for your neighbors.
I am sorry such a lovely animal was endangered by constantly being left to fend for himself. My pity is for the cat, not the negligent owners.
Bo & HeartNellie above: Really now. The comments relate to points about handwriting from the previous posting – that’s all.
And I’m sorry, but at first glance and on the whole, this posting reminds me of those Far Side comics.
I could see how it comes across a bit mean toward the (probably) elderly writer, though. At the same time, I’m a bit surprised how a little off-color humor and certain challenging/critical viewpoints cause people to pull out the “AJC” card so quickly.
I completely agree with Rebeccab. No one would allow their small child to run unsupervised outside for hours. Yet, it appears that many Decatur pet owners have absolutely no problem giving their dogs and cats free reign to do so. I was morbidly amused by the East Lake Neighborhood Association’s efforts to memorialize “animals believed to have been lost to coyotes.” Note the use of the word “believe.” The unfortunate irony is that these pet owners can only speculate as to the fate of their animals because, of course, they were allowing the animals to remain outside unmonitored and unsupervised.
Decatur is supposed to be a bird sanctuary. Outdoor cats are a very real problem. Cats are better off inside for many reasons. Would you insist on letting your 5 year old out just because he wanted to?
http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/index.html
Penelope, I’d start with animal control, to see if your pet has been picked up.
Then I suggest you take the note and the photo door to door in your neighborhood, asking for clues. I have to suspect the letter-writer is the culprit, but maybe not. He could be keeping your pet or he has turned it in to animal control. I doubt a cat-lover would hurt him. Or the note and the disappearance could be coincidence.Try not to be emotional, just ask each neighbor if he knows anything. Chances are that the letter writer complained to someone else before he wrote the note to you. Good luck.
Call the damn cops. That’s creepy as hell.
Yes I agree with this. The letter is creppy as all get out, and the timing is just too strange. Don’t want anything to happen to that beautiful cat.
What is creepy about the note? It may not be as eloquently put or as correctly spelled as the critics would like, but this neighbor described the two problems, requested that the cat be kept inside (the law), and said she/he would be forced to call animal control if it wasn’t addressed. The person wished the owners a blessed day, presumably to show no ill will held, and seems to have waited a few days (if the neighbor is involved) to give the cat’s owners a fair opportunity to fix the situation.
I hope the cat is happily visiting with all the other cats at the Dekalb shelter. It’d also be nice once there’s a happy ending for the owners to seek to make amends with the neighbor for the distress they unknowingly caused.
I’m in 100% agreement with Deanne (and several others).
I will never understand people who allow their “beloved” pets to roam free. There are myriad ways for the sweetest cat to meet an untimely (and all too often, grisly) end if permitted to range around the neighborhood unchaperoned.
To those who think the note is “creepy,” the work of “an older person with too much time on their hands” and/or who advocated calling the police, I say this: if I had magic powers, I would grant you the opportunity to live for one week as an elderly person who, through no faulty of his/her own, indeed has “too much time on their hands.” Perhaps not able to drive any more and/or to afford to maintain an automobile; maybe suffering from some degree of physical and/or mental infirmity associated with advanced age; living alone with only the company of one or two pets who are even more deeply adored for being one’s only reliable companions. Children grown and moved away (or maybe none to start with), spouse even more decrepit or maybe deceased; longtime neighbors passed away or moved away, new neighbors not easy to get to know because you no longer have the energy and/or physical ability to stay active in the the community.
When your world has become small, it is easy to feel vulnerable and marginalized, and what might seem like trivial matters can cause much greater distress and frustration. I give the writer of the note full credit for being polite and to the point. (Full demerits for everybody whose first thought was to ridicule the spelling and penmanship.) Siam seems like a perfectly charming cat–as the note writer said, “sweet”–and I hope he soon gets home safe, and hope his family will stop letting him roam around and make a pest of himself.
Interesting how much agreement there is here among some of DM’s most thoughtful commenters. But I’m happy to play devil’s advocate.
Concentrating only on the prevailing disgust of those who both love their cats and let them roam the neighborhoods (and not on any laws or the general irritations of cat poop in pine straw, etc), I’m not so sure that it’s as black and white as any of you think it is. Many seem generally inclined to support free-range child efforts and generally allowing people and animals to do what is natural and makes them happy. But apparently when it comes to cats, that doesn’t apply? You don’t love your cat if you allow it to roam-free and up its chances of meeting an early demise? In a different light, that could come off as sort of selfish.
I understand the irritation if others are complaining about the urban environment being too dangerous for their cats, but I don’t quite understand giving someone grief just because they let their cat roam free and are upset when they go missing. Maybe they know and accept the odds, but still want to try and find their cat. Is that cause for ALL CAPS?
As for the “creepiness” of the note, I think it has more to do with the fact that it’s anonymous than anything else. We don’t know that it’s an older person so I’m not sure why we’re trading barbs about that. Seems like the more effective approach would be to go talk to the neighbor in person. Say all the same things in the note, and it wouldn’t come off as creepy at all.
Taking things in reverse order (and at the risk of being prolix — love that word and what it means and what it connotes!)…
As an unfailing, unflinching champion of anonymity, DM, you’re really choosing to take the note writer to task for not signing their name? I agree that face to face conversation usually represents the high road IN THEORY. However, it is impossible to predict how a neighbor will respond to a complaint, and all too often it’s a safe bet their first reaction will be negative if not downright combative. You never know. Most of us avoid difficult conversations when we can. In this particular instance, it is not be necessary for Siam’s owners to know exactly who he is tormenting–the salient point is that he’s being a nuisance, and allowing him to continue isn’t neighborly. (And as someone noted earlier, if he’s bothering one household, he may well be bothering others.)
Of course we dm bystanders don’t know the writer was an elderly person, although intuitively I feel it’s likely. But I don’t recall the anonymity was what anybody complained about. The specific remarks focused on spelling, grammar, penmanship….and to me, reflected people shying away from — and reflexively criticizing in order to minimize — someone different than themselves.
Regarding the broader discussion, I think you’re conflating a whole bunch of different–although partly overlapping–opinions and also conflating the opinions of people who support a particular policy but maybe for different individual reasons. Speaking only for myself…
I do think free-range child-rearing is a healthy approach (and support it with all the vociferousness of the childless parenting expert). I think keeping pet cats 100% indoors is the best option and also think it is more challenging with some individual cats than with others (especially if they’ve known freedom growing up) but still the most responsible thing to do. In general, I think people (and their pets) are entitled to roam free and pursue their own gratification only to the point just short of where they start infringing on somebody else. IMO that infringement includes teasing or pestering (or worse) neighbor cats, be-fouling neighbors’ lawns and flower beds, and killing songbirds which are a community resource (and apparently, legally protected here). You can let your child roam an increasingly broad territory because she’s able to learn more and more about how to behave and stay safe and be respectful of others. Your cat isn’t going to learn that, nor is your dog. Of course cats and dogs would rather come and go as they please — so would toddlers. They all should be restrained for their own good, however. If you don’t want the attendant responsibilities, don’t have one.
BTW, if anybody has earned the right to go ALL CAPS up in our faces when she thinks it’s called for, that person is Cuba.
I’m not taking anyone to task for not signing their name. I just said they would come off as less creepy and would probably be more effective if they did. Same goes for my anonymous self.
And all I was pointing out was that “for your own good” is a slippery slope in and of itself and I’m not entirely convinced anyone can really base their premise on “you don’t really care about your cat if you let it outside”. Seems a bit more complicated than that. Again, I’m intentionally ignoring the other reasons for keeping your cats indoors, precisely to stay focused on that point. I don’t have cats, but I don’t buy the “you don’t really love your cat if…” argument on its own, because it really doesn’t jive with my experience. Speaking of the elderly, one of my grandmothers dearly loved her cats, and let them roam free on their large, retired Christmas tree farm in a very rural area. Even when one of them disappeared, to say “she didn’t really care about her cats” because she let them roam free seems totally off-base. If fact, I’d say she let them roam because she loved them. And each one of these cats were some of the most self-assured and loving cats I ever encountered.
Based on your comment, I assume you may be a bit more forgiving about cats roaming free in the woods of VT than in suburban Decatur, so as you might expect, I have less issue with those reasons of justification.
Cuba has certainly has earned the right to go ALL CAPS, but I’m sure she’d be the first to complain about being immune to any retort.
All of my comments have been in the specific context of living here in Decatur or any other urban or suburban setting. Many of my opinions about the responsible care and feeding of cats, dogs, children, old people and neighbors in general, are completely different if we’re talking about some extremely rural environment!
No one is upset with this woman for trying to find her cat,. My frustration with outdoor cat owners is that they know the risks that face their animals, avoidable risks, and subject them to them anyhow.
“Maybe they know and accept the odds”
Well great for the owners, but I can tell you that animals feel pain. And it’s a no-brainer that getting slammed by a car, or torn to pieces by another animal, isn’t painless.
I will do whatever is in my power to keep my dog safe because I love her, and the thought of her being mauled, or hit by a car, literally sickens me. And I am completely mystified by someone making a conscious decision, to subject their pet to a painful and completely avoidable death, on a daily basis. It’s not fair to the animal.
Great. But cats don’t sit around anticipating pain like you and I.
And death is coming to all of us. Often there is pain involved. We all have to weigh our options and pit opportunity with risk. Therefore I still don’t agree with the oversimplified reasoning that you can only “love’ your cat by keeping them indoors. Unless “love” is defined purely from a protective standpoint. And I think we’d agree there’s a bit more to it than just that.
“And death is coming to all of us. Often there is pain involved.”
What I great thing to read first thing Sunday morning as I get ready to walk the dogs before heading to the Farmers Market!
Sorry. Hope I didn’t cause a breakdown in the meat section!
What are you, nuts? I don’t buy meat there since the “no returns” policy and one unfortunate chicken breast. Ditto for milk and cheese!
I don’t think these people don’t love their pets, I just have a hard time understanding how letting them out never knowing if they will return again, doesn’t appear to be given much consideration.
I’ve never even contemplated if I or my dog will live forever. But I also don’t plan on doing anything that will decrease the possibility that she will live to the end of her natural life span either. And if someone gave me an option that my dog could happily roam free for a couple of years but risk having her life cut short because of that, or live another 10 years or so to the end of her natural life, it would take me less than a fraction of a second to make that decision.
+1
I kept the cat love of my life indoors his entire life. Safe from everything!!!! And then at the ripe old age of 6 he got sick on a Friday and died on a Wednesday. Never found out the cause. His short life would have been much happier had he been able to play outside.
Free range children aren’t killing tens of millions of song-birds each year and pushing some species towards extinction.
You never hung out with some of the psycho kids growing up in my neighborhood…
Again, I’m only arguing the “you don’t love your cat if…”. Extinction of song birds is another argument that I’m intentionally not tackling.
I guess I just can’t too worked up about this because I hate cats almost as much as I hate most people. That said, the real *creepy* part of all this is that the folks who got this note about their beloved cat getting in someone’s car and constantly sitting on their neighbor’s window sill antagonizing her cats just blithely continued to let the little terror out to continue his harassment.
And if that note wasn’t written by an older or elderly woman, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. When I read it, my first thought was “Damn, sounds like my dear, departed grandmother”. She probably would have done the same exact thing, trying to avoid confrontation but hoping that her younger neighbors would have the same common decency and respect for their neighbors that she taught her own children.
With apologies to Forrest Gump, that’s all I have to say about that…
Well said! No one has a right to selfishly ignore the issue when it was brought to their attention and then have the nerve to complain about the next note! This neighbor has every right to be fearful (and anonymous) in this world about complaining when the neighbor obviously does not think she or he is going to be neighborly and bring the cat inside.
I don’t think the timing of the note is strange at all. The note-writer is simply telling Penelope that Siam has become a problem for her and her indoor cats. This leads me to believe that Siam may be a problem for many neighbors, and any of them could have called animal control. Also, an outdoor cat can disappear at any time with no explanation. It would have been smart for Penelope to take the note-writer’s advice (we ALL should be taking his/her advice instead of correcting the spelling) and kept her cat inside. Then poor Siam would not be missing.
I hope Siam comes home safe and sound – and stays INSIDE!
Folks – even tho there is a law against letting cats roam, DeKalb County will not do anything about it except lend you a trap to attempt to catch a cat on your property.
But I agree with some of you in that it’s cruel to allow a cat to roam freely. There is so much danger out there. Especially with the recent increase in coyote activity. If you truly are a “cat lover,” then you must keep them inside.
Has anyone considered the possibility that the note was purposefully written in that way to disguise the note writer’s identity? Perhaps the cat’s owners actually know the neighbor who left the note, but the neighbor didn’t want to bring it up in person maybe fearing that it would be a super awkward conversation or perhaps didn’t feel that he/she knew the cats owners well enough to bring it up? It’s probably unlikely, but just a thought I had because frankly the spelling is comically bad and it seems like a bit of effort went into it.
Anyways, creepy as the note may look (we can’t all have nice, pretty handwriting I suppose) calling the cops would be ridiculous. Nothing from their house / property was stolen (and you can’t prove at this moment that the cat was taken by a neighbor or anyone for that matter) and nothing was damaged so the police would be able to do absolutely nothing. Outdoor cats do wander off, even if they’ve never offered to in the past. It happens. There are coyotes coming back into the area and there are hawks that can carry off cats, not to mention cars and buses that could accidentally hit a wandering cat.
If I were the owners I would start by calling animal control to see if by chance a siamese cat was caught and brought in (I find that potentially unlikely though, because as Pete said, animal control in Dekalb County will just bring you a trap – they aren’t going to come catch it themselves). Then start calling animal shelters around and see if any cats have been brought in matching his description. I do hope this kitty was microchipped. I see in the picture he’s wearing a collar, but if he’s anything like my fiesty cats, he can slip that collar off easily.
As for whether or not all cats should be kept indoors, I’m undecided. I think as a pet owner you have a responsibility to make sure that your pets are happy and healthy. Prowling about outdoors makes some cats super happy and that’s fine – but the owners should keep tabs on their outdoor cats with fenced in yards or even invisible fences. You can even buy collars with GPS on them these days so you can track where exactly your pet is going, if you let them off your property. Frankly I think that if you are going to let your pet go off your property unattended, you have to understand the risks. The animal could get hurt, stolen or as it seems in the case of this little kitty, could go bothering neighbors. Honestly I think the note sender was right to say something (probably shouldn’t have been anonymously though), especially if the cat in question was getting into the persons car (I believe that’s what note A says).
I do hope this cat is found and returned safely home.
I love my cat and I let her out. I tried keeping her inside, but she was miserable. I am aware of the dangers of letting a cat out, but I don’t think that precludes me being sad or upset if she disappeared. If that were the case, then I guess I shouldn’t be upset if my child falls off his bike and hurts himself, because bikes can be dangerous. We all take calculated risks in life, and it doesn’t mean that we cannot feel emotional when things go badly.
I hope Siam comes back safe and sound. It’s terrible to not know what has happened to a pet.
She made you miserable maybe. Maybe you should buck up and be the “parent.
Wow. Harsh. I’ll reply at the risk of being troll-bait.
I’ll tell my story just as food for though for all of the “cat-lovers” out there. There are currently at least 3 cats pooping outside my front door. I doubt their owners know they are doing it or they would be quite mortified. I plan to clean out the area thoroughly and then spray repellent that I bought at our handy-dandy Intown Ace (three kinds to choose from!). I’m hopeful that will clear up the problem, but even if it doesn’t, I consider it a minor inconvenience and not the worst thing that has ever happened in my life.
If someone’s cat is truly bothering a person I think they absolutely have a right to speak up about it, and to call animal control if necessary. I do think the letter-writer would have been received better had they chosen to identify themselves and politely describe the problem, and I also don’t discount the possibility that the letter writer purposely disguised his/her handwriting.
I had two cats that I kept indoors for 6 years. One of them had major neurological problems, and despite MANY vet visits and every treatment and trick in the book, was completely unable to be litter box trained. Also, she cried out CONSTANTLY. Yes, we bought her toys, we stimulated her, etc, etc, etc. We had to lock her in a bathroom when we were out (or even when we were home but not 100% focused on her behavior) lest our house become that of a crazy cat-lady covered in urine and feces . SHE WAS MISERABLE. We finally let her go outside because this was simply no way for a cat to live. She had 3 very happy, although still crazy, years. She did meet an untimely demise which was very hard to take.
If I had it to do over, would I let her out again? Absolutely. It made no sense to keep her safe in order for her to lead a terrible confined life. Maybe this story is extreme, and maybe you don’t agree with my actions, but I think a little less judgement for everyone is in order.
Uncalled for, Anne. This blog is getting increasingly moody and mean and you are contributing. Sad that this blog is in no way, shape or form representative of the nice folks in Decatur.
I agree that the tone here has changed a bit and take full responsibility for that.
But this thread is a tough topic, and it’s almost expected things will get heated. As long as both sides are being represented well, I can tolerate a few know-it-alls.
If this post had been about a dog, no one would question why the dog was missing. Dogs get picked up by animal control if they are loose and a constant nuisance to neighbors. It’s irresponsible to own an off-leash dog in the city, yet cats have this “entitled” status to come and go as they please. Their owners are shocked when they’ve gone missing.
There are on average a dozen cats roaming around my home and I don’t own a single one. I have no bird feeders because they would only lure prey in from the neighbors’ cats. Nationwide house cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year.
Of course I want to see Siam come home safe and sound, but once he’s home, keep him inside!
i have been attacked by a stray and roaming dog. i have never been attacked (nor has anyone i know) by a stray cat. glared at, sure, but attacked? no. and THAT is why it is so important to pick up stray dogs. i have a friend who lives in india where they do not pick up stray dogs. there are actually rural areas near his home where it is unsafe to go outdoors alone because these dogs form packs and become very dangerous. i am decidedly unafraid of a pack of stray cats. they can poop in my lawn all they want.
This is a very interesting thread. I am a little surprised at how one-sided it is in favor of keeping cats indoors. Also, that mainly it seems the opinions are that cats are to be kept indoors not because you don’t want your neighbor’s cat pooping on your flowers (property rights argument), but more so out of a desire to protect them from danger. Back in the day (several hundred years ago), cats had a utilitarian purpose of keeping pests in check by roaming around. A few decades ago, they were more beloved, but if they met an untimely demise I feel the general consensus would have been that they are cats and that can happen. As of 2010, pet owners spent around 50 billion dollars on our beloved companions (I couldn’t find a statistic for just cats). Many are loved as children, they are bought clothes, get taken on trips, etc.
My point here is not to say which treatment of a cat is superior, but to note that our treatment of animals of the feline persuasion has shifted a great deal through time, and maybe we shouldn’t throw stones as to whether someone with a different opinion really loves their pet. That pretty quickly devolves as we all are champions of our own causes, whether they be ‘free-range’ kids, the environment, religion, vegetarianism, beerism, wine snobbery, bike/car, Walmart, etc.
As a great man once said, “Can’t we all just get along?”
I took the cat. There, I said it. End of debate.
Anne writes:
She made you miserable maybe. Maybe you should buck up and be the “parent.”
That is ridiculous, in my opinion. First, a cat owner is not a “parent” in the same sense that a person is the parent of a child. I am a huge animal lover, and I’ve always had dogs (and have one now). Maybe my feeling changed since I have had two kids, but pets aren’t kids. They shouldn’t be proxies for kids. It’s not fair to animals. (And that “buck up and be a parent line” is always used by the kind of parents with a “do it b/c I said so attitude,” which is not respectful toward children at all – so it rubs me the wrong way – but I realize this thread is about cats and not parenting.)
Second, as GlennwoodGirl explains, some cats truly are miserable inside. Which is better – a miserable indoor cat that lives inside for 15 years, or a really happy outside cat who lives for maybe seven years? I’d say the latter. It’s similar to why want my husband or kids “to pull the plug” when it’s time. When you are physically unable to do what you love (b/c you’re a cat who can’t go outside or b/c you are an dying person with no life left in you), that makes you miserable.
And yes, IMHO, the note writer should have shared his/her complaints in person. Are we in 7th grade??? Come on. I’d be so irritated by an anonymous note but so much happier to have info like that shared with me in person. It’s just common decency and respect.
It’s just common decent and respect to share such things in person? Maybe. But in today’s world, it can be pretty dangerous to assume that others will have the same decency and respect. There are many reasons why the note writer may have been fearful to broach the subject in person. Or maybe she’s just very shy and averse to confrontation. The fact that your first thought would be to “be so irritated by an anonymous note” rather than “jeez, I’d better rein in my precious little terror” is pretty, IMHO, ridiculous as well.
The folks advocating for allowing cats to roam outside are missing one critical point that I’d actually one of them to address. I understand that your kitty may be miserable indoors and you feel that you are doing right by him to let him out to hunt and frolic. In most cases, everyone wins. I’ll even agree that a cat may be happier to do this for several years and then meet an ugly death, as happens in the wild, rather than being cooped up inside all day. However, is not some line of decency and respect not crossed when that cat then makes a nuisance of itself to your neighbors? I don’t mean this to come off as crass or vulgar, though it certainly will to some of you, but if any cat does the things this cat is alleged to have done (i.e. getting in my car and sitting on my window sill harassing me and my pets), it’s not going to last seven days, let alone seven years.
From J_T: “But in today’s world, it can be pretty dangerous to assume that others will have the same decency and respect. There are many reasons why the note writer may have been fearful to broach the subject in person. Or maybe she’s just very shy and averse to confrontation.”
How right you are! In this world where too many folks think that what they want to do trumps all, you can pretty much predict that you’re going to either have no effect or a whole new headache if bring a complaint about something they’re doing to their attention. My sense is that if the note writer’s cats weren’t being tormented, she(he) would probably have kept suffering in silence for even longer. This was likely a brave act for this person to leave the note, but it was important to the note writer to meet the neighborly obligation of giving the owners a chance to fix the problem. Signed or unsigned, the note writer did.
…Or maybe the note writer’s intuition said the neighbor would put the note on blast if Siam were to go missing.
Forgive me for digressing even further, but I have to disagree. J.T. writes about “today’s world” and Deanne agrees. “Today’s world” has actually seen decreases in violent crime. According to a quick google search on violent crime trends, “Both violent and property crime declined significantly between 1990 and 2008 in the 100 largest metro areas, with the largest decreases occurring in cities. Violent crime rates dropped by almost 30 percent in cities, while property crime fell by 46 percent” (from the Brookings Institution).
I think it does harm to the social fabric of our community to suggest that “today’s world” is somehow a worse place than it used to be. It also, although unintentionally on the part of many, glorifies an image of apple-pie 1950s America where women stayed home and segregation was the rule. (I am absolutely NOT suggesting this was your intent – it’s hard for me to convey nuance and tone in a blog comment.)
I also don’t think you can predict the actions of another person; especially one you hardly know. I think most people, especially our neighbors, are worthy of an attempt at conversation.
Sorry for all my long-windedness on this thread. I am mostly a lurker around these parts and look forward to returning to that status.
Physical harm wasn’t what I was talking about, so please let me clear that up. (And J_T’s not gonna be doing nuthin’ to no cats!) However, there’s no denying that folks are quicker to take offense these days and slower to take responsibility for their actions. How you or I might try to handle an issue with a neighbor isn’t in the comfort zone of all folks, so it’s also good to leave room to meet folks where they are if they are well intended. The neighbor tried to make her(his) plea with a note to meet the neighbor-to-neighbor obligation.
Penelope seems like she’d be a good neighbor to the note writer if they were to get acquainted. (There’s still a chance that they are.) Penelope also seems to dearly love her cat, although it’s a kinda odd cat management strategy to send Siam out wearing a note. (Does the note describe his mood for the day? Why not a tag with a phone number?) I wish Penelope and Siam the best of luck for a happy and quick reunion, and I wish peace for the note writer and two indoor cats.
I see Siam wearing a tag in the pic above, so I was interpreting the handwritten note on Siam as an honest attempt by the cat owner to have a dialogue with the original note writer, and attempt to address any problems that might be occurring. I hope that owner and neighbor work it all out, and that Siam is home soon.
Glad you were right! (To me, red heart=5yr rabies tag.)
Penelope – I hope Siam comes home safe.
Me too. I’m kind of surprised at the lack of sympathy I’m seeing here… Doesn’t make Decatur look very good.
While clearly a pet is different from a child, if my child had gone missing a few days after receiving an anonymous note like that, I’d be freaking out… While I can understand writing a note instead of talking face to face for whatever reason, it didn’t need to sound so threatening—especially if it’s the first time they had brought the problem to the owner’s attention. Hopefully, Siam is simply stuck in a tree somewhere!
I AM SIAM’S ‘OWNER’. (Please excuse the caps!).
I would like respond in general to some of the comments:
I love Siam dearly and miss him terribly, I adopted him from the Humane Society in St. Thomas, USVI six years ago. To call him ‘sweet’ is sweet but not entirely accurate. He is (still, I hope) affectionate, difficult, smart, loving, extremely independent and willful. When I received the note, I did try to keep Siam inside, he does not take kindly to control of any kind, having spent his misguided youth running wild in the islands. I did put a note on his collar saying ” If Siam is annoying you, Please call me at 404 …….” If the writer had left a name or phone number, I would have done my very best to remedy the situation.
I know many of my neighbors are familiar with Siam and are very fond of him, I have never before received a complaint about him. I do understand that is my responsibility to keep my cats from causing annoyance to any one.
Re. The many thoughtful points concerning the ethics of keeping cats confined inside. I believe that while some cats will eventually adapt to a life of confinement, there are some, many, who suffer from depression and boredom, becoming sedentary, needy or neurotic. True, we do not let our children run wild and unattended but cats are not children. We do not keep children confined their entire lives to three or four small rooms because we fear for their safety in the dangerous world outside. I know the risks that indoor outdoor cats face, they are the risks that we all face to some degree. Not quite the same of course, cats may encounter coyotes if out at night. (mine were / are always inside at night) Young drivers die and are injured in huge numbers every year, yet how many of us buy cars for our teen age children? Below I have collected a few statistics to add weight to my view that ‘if you really love your’… children, you will not consider limiting their life experiences to a stimulation free world of protection and complete safety. I feel that I owe my cats some of the same rights. To live life is to face danger.
Approximately 3.5 million children and adolescents ages 14 and under get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities.
An estimated 5,000 children age 14 and under are hospitalized due to unintentional drowning-related incidents each year; 15 percent die in the hospital and as many as 20 percent suffer severe, permanent neurological disability. National Safety Council
3,466 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2009. Motor vehicle injury is the leading cause of death for people ages 5–34 in the United States.
Sports and recreational activities contribute to approximately 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children and adolescents. 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually.
The majority of head injuries sustained in sports or recreational activities occur during bicycling, skateboarding, or skating incidents.
More than 775,000 children and adolescents ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year. Most of the injuries occurred as a result of falls, being struck by an object, collisions, and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports activities.
To those of you who are proponents of keeping animals confined within the artificial environment of a human dwelling, I ask, what would be your choice if confronted with the option of a safe life with three meals a day and medical care in prison, or a rich life full of risks in the ‘outside world, the world of sun and wind and the smells and sound and senses of the natural world?
My two other cats are 15 and 16 years old respectively, and live full lives. My beautiful Siam lived and I dearly hope still lives, a full and rich life, the life of a creature who’s blood still feels the call of the wild, who walked with me on the beaches in St. Thomas who fearlessly confronted giant Land Crabs, climbed high in the trees and explored the thick jungle undergrowth.
Quote….The highest incidence of neurotic behaviors in cats is in the United States where keeping cats inside is the most prevalent style of ownership (greater than 50 percent keep cats inside)
I am aware of the ‘leash laws’ concerning cats, and understand that it is illegal to let them outside without a leash and in fact do attempt to keep my cats inside as much as possible. They have, and do use a litter box.
I have three bird feeders and two birdbaths, plus suet feeders. There are a number of squirrels and chipmunks and most unfortunately rats. My cats are not hunters.
I agree with the writers who point out that ‘companion’ animals should not be allowed to cause a nuisance. If the writer of the note should read this, I apologize for the fact that Siam was being so annoying to you and your cats. I wish that you had come to me directly so that I could have attempted to remedy the situation, (I am assuming here, that siam’s disappearance and this note, was a coincidence) to harm him without giving me the opportunity to do so would be pretty harsh, and I think cruel and cowardly. If you have had anything to do with my cat’s disappearance, I would so much like to know what has happened to him. Would you please let me know? Annomomusly would be fine, better than not knowing.
I have of course visited Dekalb Animal Control several times and have through Pet Rescue Amber Alert notified veterinarians, rescue organizations and individuals.
I truly appreciate the kind responses of many of the DM readers. Thank you so very much for your kind and encouraging words! I have received many wonderfully helpful e-mail and phone calls too. What a great neighborhood!
+1
I hope your beautiful cat comes back soon, and that he is only unintentionally closed up in someone’s basement or garage nearby. we have had many cats in our home the past 20 years, pure bred siamese and mixes of who knows what, but I totally understand the neighbor’s point. These beautiful animals can be the biggest, loudest bullies I have ever seen, sometimes chasing dogs. I had one neighborhood siamese tormenting my inside cats that would not even go away when I threw a bucket of water on him. Even as a cat lover, I was unnerved by him. Please be respectful of your neighbors even if they are unwilling to sign the note.
Oh yeah, check and see if any of your neighbors had work done recently involving a contractor’s van. we had one jump into a open van on a warm day to take a nap only to get wisked away to Duluth….what an adventure for us all. but we got him back a few days later.
Oh wow is this thread is depressing, and less because of the actual subject matter and more because of the holier-than-thou reactions. Those of you who were rolling your eyes and scoffing at the supposed pointlessness and pettiness of the last restaurant debate of the week should take a look at your own behavior here.
This might be my favorite thread ever. Who knew a lost cat would turn into animal psychology and child rearing philosophies.
Wow. Having just re-read some of these posts, just want to add ..
1) (Anne) There was only one note.
2) I didn’t ignore the note. I tried to keep Si inside, but he managed to shoot like a rocket out of the front door when a friend came by and just opened the door.
3) I put the attachment on his collar, just incase he got out, his collar of course had his name and my phone number on his tag. The note was aimed specifically to the anonymous writer, asking them to PLEASE call me in person.
4) Odd how many think that the note writer might be ‘fearful’… Vistamont is a very quiet sedate street, not at all the sort of neighborhood where I can’t imagine anyone, old or young, actually being fearful of picking up the phone to call a neighbor with a perfectly reasonable request. Neither is the outside of our at all house intimidating. There are bird feeders and flowers, not rebel flags or Nazi insignia. I think this behavior pretty odd, something I would never consider doing. In other words a cowardly act.
5)Trying to keep Siam inside was a nightmare! He howled ceaselessly, climbed the furniture knocking everything that he could, to the floor, before as a last resort, attacking and terrorizing my other rather polite cats. On one occasion he even turned on me. I know, very badly brought up!
Again lots of great advice, thank you, to some of you.
Miss my little guy.
Bo, your’e right.
I want first to apologize for being so harsh and troll like.
In the last many years I have hit a cat and had it die in my lap on the way to the vet. A terrible experience for me and the cat. The owner was never found and probably wonders where he went. I have seen a neighbors cat hit in front of my house and while the neighbor was sad I was the one who saw it and the cat did suffer. Twice this year a neighbors cat has gone into my garage and once was not discovered for four days. The cat ended up being fine after i got her hydrated and returned but did quite a lot of damage inside. My entire life I have been a bird watcher and a cat owner. In the last 3 years, with new neighbors and their outdoor cats I have had to take the feeders down and not one nest of birds has survived. No more march of robins in the spring or fall, not towhees or thrashers in the leaves – just carcasses and bird parts, a baby rabbit head. The outside cats torment my inside cats and one seems to think that my back door is a combination scratching post/urinal. I have cats. I love cats. My quality of life has been impacted by cat owners who just open the door and let theirs out. I guess this thread stirred me up. I do hope you beautiful animal show up soon. He may just be in someones garage waiting for them to get back into town.
As far as outdoor cats being a pain to neighbors – I have a 6ft chain link fence around my entire yard to keep my dogs safe and secure on my property. If the past 2 years I have had 2 not so bright cats jump into my yard. Neither made it out after being attacked by my dogs. Both incidents cost me $300+ in vet bills to repair the damage done to my dogs from the cats, antibiotics, etc. Neither cats had collars. If I would have been able to find the owners, I would have quickly passing on my dogs medical bills to them.
My cat goes outside and that is how she came to be my cat…she just showed up one day. It would make her destructive and unhappy to keep her inside all the time. As much as I know that she might get eaten by coyotes, I will not force her to be indoors all the time. Plus, I never have to scoop the litter box.
Anne, I understand your anger at irresponsible cat owners, sounds like you have had a lot to bear with!
Being not only from England, where there are no leash laws but having grown up had in the countryside, I suppose my perspective has always been a bit different. I had never thought that my cats when they were outside would be annoying anyone. There are a number of civil indoor / outdoor cats where I live, seen sitting outside their houses and occasionally crossing our quiet street. A couple of Feral cats come through my back yard fairly regularly, I have TNR’d one the other has already been neutered, I feed them both.
I too am a bird lover, and have many that come to the feeders, strangely the cats don’t seem interested. I do wish that they would consider catching a rat now and then. They don’t.
My apologies to any one who may have encountered Siam in a negative way.
One final commentary from me on this:
1) DM & STG, y’all are quite correct that I’d be the last person to think anything I say (or how I say it) should be immune from comment. That being said…
2) It’s disengenuous to compare urban kitty living with “farm” kitty living– if there’s a good quantity of space for them to roam, they’re much less likely to prove an annoyance to neighbors (especially neighbors with cats). It’s comparing apples to oranges, so it’s not really a fair (or apt) comparison. However, even if I had a spread the size of Southfork (fictional, I know), I’d still keep my cats inside because too many other things could happen to them (disease, other predators, etc.). You may love your cat, but if you truly care about what happens to it, you will put aside the inconvenience of its complaining at not being allowed to roam at will, and keep it indoors. That’s my opinion, YMMV. Similarly, it’s not apt to compare “free range” children with cats, for reasons that should be obvious. Even very young children have more cognitive wherewithal to dodge danger than cats or dogs do, and no responsible parent, even one of the “free range” persuasion, is going to allow their children to wander about making nuisances of themselves. If someone were to talk about allowing their dog to roam about freely, everyone would no doubt be tsk-tsking about how irresponsible that dog’s owner was, and wouldn’t be surprised (or as sympathetic) when his/her dog got lost. There are leash laws for both animals for very good reasons– both should be obeyed. Period.
3) Penelope, I’m sure you love your boy– I had a Siamese, and can attest to their willfulness (one of the things, frankly, that I love most about them). I’ve owned & loved cats for 35+ years, so I daresay I’ve learned a thing or two about them, primarily, they’re always going to want to do what they want to do, but as their custodian/caretaker, it’s our job to do what’s necessary not only to protect them, but protect others from them. It’s inconvenient to listen to a solid two hours of caterwauling, but I’d pick that over finding my cat dead any day of the week (as I’m sure you would). Forgive me if I seemed intractable above, but the photo of Si shows him lounging on a vehicle– outdoors– so it appears as if he is, in fact, an outdoor kitty. You admit that your being from the UK gives you a different perspective (and that it didn’t occur to you that Si might be out there being naughty), so understand that the perspective of many of us cat owners here in the US is that if you truly care about the welfare of your animal, you’ll keep it inside. Like Anne, I’ve seen too many sweet kitties meet an unfortunate end (including a couple of my own, whom I loved like they were my children); yours is only one of many recent tales of lost kitties where the cat in question was allowed to roam outdoors, so I just felt angry & frustrated to read of yet another outdoor cat who went “missing”. If you allow your cat out of doors, you do assume the risk that something nefarious will befall him. It’s that simple. But even though I stand by what I said above, I do hope your boy finds his way back home. It’s probably no consolation to you, but if he doesn’t, I prefer to believe that he hasn’t met an untimely end, but that someone (not your note-writing neighbor, either, because that person doesn’t strike me as someone who’d be cruel to a cat– quite the opposite) maybe took him for their pet, because he IS a gorgeous baby! That scenario, to me, is preferable to the alternative. I’m sorry you felt attacked, but people on this board wouldn’t get as riled up or impassioned in their responses if we didn’t care about your kitty, so keep that in mind when you’re reading what may seem like unsympathetic posts on this subject.
4) J_T, doncha be hurtin’ no kitty-cats, you hear?? We cat lovers will come lookin’ fer ya…and we won’t be bearing beer, either!
It wasn’t a comparison, they were just examples to demonstrate the shades of grey. As stated previously, I’m only taking issue with the “if you love your cats…” comment, nothing else. So if a rural cat CAN be let out and a city can’t CAN’T and you can still love them, then at what point in-between do you no longer love? Same with the free-range kids, it’s to point out the shades of grey in terms of the choices we make between danger and freedom. It’s not a matter of “love”, IMO.
I think you’re splitting hairs, but that’s OK. My stand was still the same, whether we’re talking country kitty or city kitty, but allowed that the chances of a country kitty’s nuisance factor would be lower by virtue of its location. My statements also don’t unequivocally state you can’t love your cat if you let it out, just that if you really want to keep it safe/know where it is, you have to keep it indoors– and if you’re not willing to do that (for whatever reasons), don’t be surprised when something happens. And if you’re someone who willingly assumes that risk, you also shouldn’t be surprised when others aren’t as sympathetic toward you as they might be toward someone whose kitty escaped the confines of its house. It’s that simple.
A quick ‘catch up’. Siam has not returned but I wanted to say a big THANK YOU to the editor of the DM’s pet section. You seem to be a non-judgmental and unbiased moderator.
Agree with excellent moderation. Many would abandon this blog without it.
Aw, c’mon now. I am an avowed cat hater but I’m still a big softy lover of all non-human life forms. I would never hurt a kitty cat. But I *would* find a way to keep the a-hole from terrorizing my indoor companions
The problem is that you can’t find a way without talking to the owners and having the cats stay inside or calling animal control.
No animal lover wants to call animal control!
Near my street there are 17 stray cats with feline leukemia that someone is feeding. They’re not fixed so who knows how many there are now; at the same time, at least two have died from their disease.
These cats come to my house to hide in the garage during the winter — I could plug how they get in but feel so bad for them. On the other hand, they hang out on my street, pee in the garden, mark their territory everywhere, drive the inside cats insane (including one of mine who now marks her territory inside).
So what is the answer to this situation? It’s a huge mess and one that really can’t be answered humanely. Plus, you can’t catch those cats to take them to the vet. They’re wild as can be!
Anyone here read Cannery Row?
I used to think all cats should be kept indoors and I kept mine indoors for years. Now I believe it’s better to give them a happy, quality life doing normal cat things like climbing trees and hunting chipmunks — even if it means they might meet with tragedy. In my experience, indoor/outdoor cats are MUCH HAPPIER than strictly indoor cats.
Quality of life. More important the quantity.
Hi Penelope. I’m still hoping you find Siam. I was at the Dekalb Shelter this weekend and saw you had posted something on their board. We found a puppy on Saturday but weren’t able to bring her home until this coming Wednesday since she hadn’t be spayed. When we pick her up this week, I’ll give the kitties a once-over to see if Siam has appeared. Good luck.
How awful. I hope the cat is found or returns home. It won’t be too hard to figure out who wrote the note, they have a couple of indoor cats. Go door to door and stop them.
“Go door to door and stop them”
You people never cease to amaze me. This logic is probably exactly why she chose to remain anonymous in the first place. Just damn.
+1.
Stop them from doing what, exactly? Writing friendly notes, kindly asking neighbors to be neighborly?
J-T… No need to get so bent out of shape about Tom’s post, I don’t think that he was recommending violence. There is no excuse for writing an anonymous note once you reach adulthood. By the way, I don’t believe that Siam was ‘terrorizing the neighborhood’, just this poor woman’s cats.
The request was perfectly reasonable, this is a civilized neighborhood.
Keith…Thanks so much! I would really appreciate that.
Swatkinns…Quality of life. More important the quantity’. Yes, I agree with you, it is interesting how there are two such disparate view points, and both so strongly held.
Cubalibre,…. ‘if you truly care about the welfare of your animal, you’ll keep it inside’. Please understand that my own theory a about life well lived, applies to the care my cats too. Please read (if you are interested) my earlier post on this subject and parenting and children.
I know my beloved Siam is a risk taker but he has so far had a really wonderful life. My other two cats who also go outside are both quite elderly, sixteen and seventeen. I had one cat live to twenty before dying of liver cancer.
Again, thank you to everyone who has replied with good wishes for Siam and for all the interesting viewpoints.
Penelope-
I bit my tongue the first time you commented about your neighbor, but it needs saying: Through your comments (your overview of your street and neighbors, your not intimidating yard, and your belief that Siam has only targeted this person’s two cats), it seems you’re still only interpreting this through your eyes. Many a neighbor opts not to bring up something unpleasant if they think it won’t likely get fixed anyway- roaming cats and barking dogs are two of the most common issues where folks just grit their teeth and endure it. In this case, the neighbor did want to let you know, but didn’t want to deal with an unpredictable reaction in person. Besides putting this neighbor’s note on blast, you’ve commented on her odd behavior (to you), called her cowardly and mocked her not acting like a grown up. I’m purely speculating (but I have a sinking feeling) that during your search, every neighbor’s door who you’ve knocked on has heard this same take, and this neighbor may well get a neighborhood shunning if ever identified. You’re probably fine with since it seems you feel like the person created the circumstance, but please know that your actions aren’t without fault. Knocking on doors when you learned of the issue with the goal of owning up to and resolving the problem, not strapping a note to your cat or making public criticisms of the neighbor in the aftermath of your cat taking off, would’ve been the neighborly and civilized way to go.
Again, hope you find Siam.
Is there nothing else to do on this Tuesday than criticize? Gee, whiz!
Two thoughts, Bulldog:
(1) Out of this whole multi-day, multifaceted, multi-dimensional discussion where many legitimate if conflicting viewpoints have been shared and aired, THAT’s the comment you decide to take a shot at?
(2) Your comment exemplifies one of the things that IMO acts to lower the level of discourse in this or any other public forum. If you have something to contribute to the conversation, then by all means, share. If all you can come up with is a potshot at someone who is engaging in civil, thoughtful exchange, then consider keeping it to yourself.
This. Also, that thing about glass houses, stones, etc., etc., etc.
Did you not see my previous posts? This message board has gone to hell in the last few months with all the bickering, whining and gossiping. And now people are criticizing a woman for letting her cat outside – and the cat is missing!
I’m really disappointed in this online community for where this thread went. It is not representative of Decatur, and if it is, then our city sure has changed.
I agree with you there are more mean-spirited comments here (on this blog, not just this thread) than there used to be. I just don’t agree with you about which ones they are.
Then we shall agree to disagree.
+1 for content
+1 for style
Amen, Deanne. With apologies, Penelope’s “life well lived” attitude is a bit cavalier, since it clearly does not contemplate the consequences of Si’s well-lived life on her neighbors. It’s this that makes me less sympathetic toward her than I might otherwise be.
+1 for Deanne.
Penelope, You may feel that you are completely approachable and that your yard is welcoming to any neighbor, but as Deanne points out, you appear to be looking at this through your own filters. I would guess that you have at least one neighbor who finds you unapproachable; perhaps they are shy or you are aloof. Who knows.
We all hope that you find your cat, unharmed, and that the neighbor did not cause the disappearance.
This larger debate about keeping cats inside and potentially miserable or letting them out to wander onto other people’s property in an urban environment reminds me of the debates about zoo animals, the limitations of habitat, and whether it is cruel to keep them at all if one cannot provide a large and safe environment.
Deanne, Renfoemom and Cubalibre…… Well yes, I suppose that I am interpreting this through my own eyes, though I very much doubt if anyone finds me unapproachable. I was not mocking the note writer, but I was expressing my opinion that it is not an admirable thing to write anonymously to your neighbors. I wonder how you would feel if you were to receive an anonymous note in your mailbox,
complaining about your kids, yard, music, parking, whatever?
I have not knocked on any doors, I have discussed this with only two of my neighbors, I put up flyers. A neighbor who saw the flyers came to my door and, I did tell her and she told me that she too, had received an almost identical note in her mailbox, and that an elderly person on our street had too. ( Have not found out who this is) Isn’t it somewhat strange to accuse me of not being neighborly and civilized in this matter?(the note)
Believe me, pleasa Once I found out that Si was harassing someone’s cats and causing a nuisance, I most certainly did contemplate the consequences of his behavior on my neighbors. I did try to keep him inside, I added the note to his collar in case he escaped (which knowing Siam was more than probable). I really hoped that who ever he was bothering would contact me directly, so that I could take care of the situation.
I know you wish the best for Si, and thank you for that.
Penelope-
If I got an unsigned note from a neighbor, my immediate reaction would be to get ticked off and stomp around my house venting about it. Once I had it mostly out of my system, I’d get to figuring out how to fix the issue. Knowing me, I’d also go knocking to try to clear it up.
Your neighbors will be your best detectives for finding Siam, so while I’m glad to know my concern over the neighbor being talked about can be put to rest, I’d still suggest you involve them to see when they last spotted Siam and to get them to be on the lookout. Folks keep up with pets’ comings and goings, and as you said, many of your neighbors speak fondly of him. My time’s very tight right now, but I can give you two hours of going door to door over the weekend if you need the help. DM can give you my email address.
Deanne…I really appreciate your offer! I know that the flyers on telephone poles work, as I have received quite a few commiserations from neighbors about Si, but I probably should go door to door as you suggest.
I will ask DM for your e-mail but rather doubt if they will give it to me. If you would like to contact me, my phone number is at the top of this page on the flyer. I don’t want to ask you to give up your free time over the weekend, but I will go out myself.
Again thank you so much for your generous offer! Really nice of you.
Here’s what I learned yesterday:
Penelope ROCKS!!! (Robert does too from the brief time spent chatting with him.) We make a good Cagney & Lacey duo. (Late 80s tv show for you youngsters.)
Siam is a very popular cat, apparently with an established route that includes indoor visiting and a favorite dog to drive nuts .(His people think Siam’s a cool cat, and the guy said he’d spotted Siam since 11/20).
There are some very nice and caring folks over on Vistamont, Desmond, and Willivee. On Penelope’s street which we canvassed together, there’s also one very odd (and to us, very hinky) neighbor and one @^#! neighbor (who is also a “Hmmmm…”).
Penelope received an “I’ve got your cat” phone call Friday night from a male ( sounded older than college age). The phone would coincidentally break up every time Penelope (then Robert) asked the what’s and how’s of getting Siam back. The caller laughed and hung up. Private caller.
Siam has the rockin’est door slips ever, and there are a bunch left to take door to door. If you can give Penelope some time, I know she’d greatly appreciate it. It’s very helpful in getting info on Siam’s patterns, finding out when folks saw him last, and for re-upping awareness.
( “HI!” to the Decatur Metro readers I met while out! :0)
Strange about the call. Unfortunately there are jerks in the world get their kicks out of doing things like that.
It was incredibly kind of you to help a stranger like that Deanne. You’re a real gem and I have no doubt that countless others in the community share that opinion.
Keeping my fingers crossed that Siam will be reunited with Penelope in the very near future.
Siam (whether he agrees) needed some help that I could give, so I did, and was glad to do it. Penelope’s now one of the wonderful folks like you who’ve been woven into my life by the magic of this site! Your sweet words are much appreciated and truly touch my heart.
Deanne IS a gem!
Just saw your post, Deanne. YOU rock! SO wonderful of you to spend three hours of your busy weekend sleuthing with me.
My bad boy is still not home. Miss him!
So since we are all split down the middle regarding indoor vs. outdoor cats, I’m curious what’s everyone’s take on indoor vs outdoor Peacocks?
No. Seriously. Saw one on the front porch of a house in Oakhurst. Completely threw me for a loop once I realized it was the real deal and not a figment of my imagination.
Well…. I was attacked by a Peacock in a public park in Cape Town. This opinionated bird followed me for about a hundred yards, all the time eyeing my sandals which were highly decorated, he then came around to face me and launched himself at me feet (talons?) first, aiming at my face.
Not sure if he was jealous of a perceived rival with fancier feet, or just disapproved in general of my footwear.
The same thing happened to me and my siamese cat, he loved my neighbors bushes and would lay in them for hours. Then my cat disappeared one day and me and my mother confronted him and he said he called animal control. We were lucky to find out were are cat was taken and had to drive 2 hours to go pick him up, we got there in time they were going to put him down.