Did The Cat Really Walk to California?

Subject: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Peter T.
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 06:10 PM

I see that a cat called Cheyenne who was lost in Florida seven years ago has just turned up in San Francisco, California (this is on CNN). "Animal officials" (are these animals themselves, or animal officials?) say that the cat was probably picked up by a neighbour who moved to California. I say the cat decided to go to San Fran to get some night life (or perhaps even to get married), and walked there. We are (a) talking about a cat here, and cats can do anything, once they set their minds to it; (b) 7 years. More than enough time to stroll across the U.S. Go west, young feline!!

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 06:19 PM

It could have. Strangerthings have happened.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Amos
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 06:28 PM

"animal officials" should not be confused with official animals or even officious animals. The former are humans who pretend to have authority and expertiser about other animals. Every family has an official animal, such as Angus; whereas some have animals who act officious.


A

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 06:57 PM

This thread belongs in the BaSement!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 09:54 PM

I had a cat that walked about 3 miles to get back to his old home, so who knows? (He had one ride in the car to the new home for orientation) Animules am funny....

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 11:22 PM

We had a cat once who walked about 10 miles, across the Colorado River, on the onlybridge available to it, to return home.

My grandfather gave a family dog to a ranch when townies teased it too much. It came back. Mom used to say over 100 miles away, but I think it might not have been that far. Anyway, they sent it back to the ranch, keeping it on the floorboard of the car, at night, so it couldn't see where they were going. A year later, Granddad was outside when up walked the dog, a lot thinner and hungry. They didn't send him away after that.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: open mike
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 11:33 PM

ahh-shades of Milo and Otis...or no, what was that Disney flick
the incredible journey. (or was that the one where you take a trip
thru the human body in miniature? I would like to see if there is a proof-positive identifier such as imbedded computer chip to back up
the question. there is no link given to this story--does anyone have one?

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 11:46 PM

No, but the chicken crossed the road.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: GUEST,freda
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 04:14 AM

Last year in January my oldest daughter and her partner moved to their new home, a week before they were to marry. Their house was about 7 miles from their previous home. Everything went well except for one thing - their cat Tricky didn't like the new house and disappeared at the end of the first day.

My daughter was devastated and she and her husband and friends spent every evening walking round the streets of their new home, calling out for Tricky. A week went by and they were racing through all the wedding plans, but feeling lousy about the cat.

The morning of the big day came and I got a phone call from my daughter, in tears, but very happy. That morning, they received a phone call from their old neighbours - Tricky had walked the 7 miles back to his old home, and had just turned up, looking bedraggled and hungry. The neighbours said they'd look after him for the day, and the wedding was puurrfect, as the bride could relax knowing that Tricky had come home.

Tricky has now been settled comfortably into the new home for a year and a half with no further adventures.


fred

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: JenEllen
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 11:44 AM

People can't even recognize each other after 7 years, how do they know it's the same cat? It does all the same tricks but now meows "I've Been Everywhere"?

Offical Angus pities the poor family dog. You know after that cat went across the States, it's not going to stop there. Somewhere there's a dog who isn't on CNN for losing his favourite bed and food dish to a cat. Woof.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 02:18 PM

When you move with a cat, don't let the cat outdoors for at least 2 weeks. Cats need time to develop a sense that the new place is "home." If it gets outside, it will try to find its old home, and it won't always succeed.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: jeffp
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 02:59 PM

The cat was identified by a computer chip which had been implanted.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 03:20 PM

It's more likely than that California came to the cat.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 03:37 PM

A change from the Lassie Come Home scenario - Cheyenne was clearly trying to get as far away from her old home as possible. Probably waiting to stow away to Hawaii when they caught up with her.

Here's a link with a picture.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 06:47 AM

As a child....we has an elegant, white, long-haired pursian. He vanished on Halloween night.

Five months last he returned in the middle of a horrific April storm....dedraggled, paws bloody, white tail dragging forever more on the ground....looking more a specter than spectacular.

We had him for 6 more glorius years - He did quickly in his cat-basket one morning, when a loose running mastiff broke his neck while he was sleeping. He is buried under the apple truee. And he IS tatasty.

Sincerely,br> Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: GUEST,Melani
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 02:27 PM

I saw an article in the SF Chronicle this morning, saying they didn't think the cat walked to SF because his feet were in good shape. Ellen DeGeneres has offered to fly the lady out here from Florida to pick up her cat.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 02:40 PM

Our dog did the opposite. We took it to California and it stayed right there under the wheels of the trolly bus when we came back.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:53 AM

Maybe the cat just couldn't stand the governor of Florida any longer so it took off to California only to discover that, by the time it got there, California's governor was worse.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: rich-joy
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 04:50 AM

I've just finished a VERY interesting novel called BLITZCAT by Robert Westall (1989, Scholastic Inc, NY),
about a black cat named LORD GORT who travelled around wartime Britain searching for his human person.

I seems it was based on a true story.

Apparently, a Professor J.B. Rhine of Duke University had (at the time of this book's publication) studied over 300 cases of "psi-trailing" and authenticated more than 50 ...

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 08:27 AM

I see the separated family has been reunited.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Nerd
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 02:16 PM

Man, that is one ugly cat!

I would recognize my own cat after seven years. Her markings are quite distinctive. Anyway, it's only in broken token ballads that people become unrecognizable after seven years...

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 02:27 PM

That's an idea - a broken token ballad about a cat...

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 02:55 PM

In all likelihood, someone found this cat who was "lost" and picked it up. When they moved to California, the cat didn't like their new house and wandered until someone else picked it up - and took it to the shelter. The microchip is the only link between the original owners and the cat. The intermediate owners probably won't show up, now that it's all over the news - and now that they know they "kidnapped" someones kitty.

No matter how "personal" an attachment to an animal is, identification at the local shelter can be "iffy." Any animal that's been out on its own is likely to look no more like "itself" than half a dozen others there. I have known at least three or four (there's some uncertainty) instances where people "found their animal" at the shelter and took it back home, only to have another "their animal" show up at the back door a few days later. In one case they never did figure out which one was the "original." In a couple of other cases, they claimed they knew, but I'm not really convinced.

A friend who moved from Leavenworth KS to Wichita some years ago had a half-Lab mutt who went back to Leavenworth twice before they managed to convince him he lived in Wichita. Apparently, he walked the 197 miles (Rand McNally mileage table) each trip. Of course, this "puppy" was about 165 pounds of "bear," and could pretty much go wherever he wanted to without being bothered. He apparently made each of the two trips in about a day and a half.

Based on the experience of friends, and on my own, I've become a believer in identification marking of pets that you intend to keep. The chips weren't around when I got my present pup, but he has a nice tatoo - just to be certain. Most, but not all, shelters will look for a chip, but a distinctive visible marking makes it a lot easier to ask if your pet has been picked up if they don't. In my area, dogs at least are supposed to wear a tag to show that they've had their rabies vaccine, and the tags all have the vet's phone number, so if they don't lose the collar you have a good chance of getting a call when one is found.

John

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Nerd
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 02:59 PM

A fair maid walking all in her garden
A healthy tomcat she chanced to see
He stepped up to her, thinking to mew to her,
Said, now fair maiden would you fancy me?

Oh no, fair kitty, for I have a tomcat
Though he has strayed so far away
I've waited for him for seven years now,
But for seven more, right here I'll stay

Oh if he is seven years a-straying
Perhaps his nine lives all are spent
Perhaps he's been hit by a passing lorry
Or gotten stuck in some wet cement

And if he's been seven years a straying
With another young girl he might be
Perhaps she tickles his furry belly
And dangles string for him by her knee

Oh if he's playing I wish him happy
And if he's roadkill I wish him rest
But I will wait for him in this garden
For he's the tomcat I love best

Well, then this lomcat has started purring
Saying, loyal mistress, look, it's me!
Here's the collar I chewed in half love,
Leaving the other half with thee!

He's leapt up into her waiting arums
Clawing gently up her blouse
And she has tickled his furry ears
And carried him home to her empty house.

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: Amos
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 03:07 PM

Awww, nicely done, Nerd!


A

Subject: RE: Did The Cat Really Walk to California?
From: annamill
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 06:31 PM

You know, I know

EXACTLY

how that cat cat felt! I've been trying to get to California for longer than 7 years! Maybe I'll walk cross country! Good for him!

Love, Annamill