Sad

A week ago today, Squeak the kitty went missing. She's called Squeak, because that's what she does. She can't meow - the vet said that's just the way she's made. Besides, she'd decided she was my cat, and I'm rather unimaginative with names - ask my kids - their names begin with the same letter too......

The reason we know she's mine, is because I was the one she got up a 05:30 to be let out using the unusual but effective habit of sitting on my face. Rather disconcerting waking up with a face full of cat bum. I'm also the one she takes delight in running up one leg and down the other and tripping me up.

Still, she and Smudge adopted us when they were 6 months old. They were inseparable. Slept together, play-fought together, ate together. He spent all night out, she was a most-of-the-night-in. But since since she's gone, both he and the old girl, Sniff (see, no imagination..) are in most of the day and night. He's become really fussy and chatty with The Bear, and even Sniff will sit at my feet. That IS unusual.

I've reassured the family that I'm sure the worst that has happened is that she's gone back to where she came from. Still, we've checked the house top to bottom, the shed, under the shed, hedges, got the neighbours to check theirs, asked the RSPCA, PDSA and Cats rescue, and their web sites, searched nearby fields.

I'D LIKE TO put posters on lamp posts, or a notice in the local pet shop window, but he won't have it (a) because he gets too many, and (b) he thinks I'd be a 'bit of a nutter' putting my phone number on public display. He's probably right. I've had a word with the local PCSO (around here we call them 'Plastic Policemen' ) and she's says that putting posters up would cost an £80 fine per poster for littering from "the wally wardens", and see (b) above. So I'm at a loss.

Done some reasearch, and discovered they are no laws governing the ownership of cats in the uk. Whatsoever. For instance, a cat walks in, it's yours. A dog....oof, complicated. Hit a dog with a car, you have to report it. A cat? Naw.

So I'm a bit upset. Not fooling the family either. Heard Eldest telling his American mate how upset about it, and Bear keeps talking to the other cats about it.

Truth is, we have a local Urban Fox. Whom I, as an early riser, tend to get on with. I fear he may have the solution :(

Darn it.