DAY 16 -- SAVANNAH CAME HOME

Dear friends: Thank you so much for your prayers, your well-wishes, your tips, your thoughts, your love, and your support. SavannahCat came home last night around 9:40. I am so immensely grateful that I don't even know how to start thanking everyone.

I was sitting on the bed when Parker began meowing in the kitchen--I went to see what he was meowing at and found Savannah crying quietly on the kitchen porch. Her cries got louder as I turned on the porch lights, and she sped into the house as soon as I opened the door. She spent the first five minutes or so rubbing on me, purring, and crying a little piteously. Then she made a beeline for the food bowl, ate a little bit, then ran back to me for more pets. 

She has lost quite a bit of weight, and her hips look quite gaunt on her already petite frame. She's eating and drinking regularly, though, and doesn't seem to be hurt. She spent a few hours yesterday hissing at Parker--she's never been fond of other cats, and I don't think she really recognized him at first. I am happy to say that things are more copacetic now. I tried to keep her quarantined in the bathroom and relented when she cried her little head off. I gave both Savannah and Parker a dose of Revolution (an anti-flea, tick, and worm medication) to try and prevent any flea issues. She already had last month's dose of Revolution on her before her departure, though, so I am hoping she got back with a minimum of parasites on her. Of course, a vet appointment was scheduled post haste.

Last night, she woke me every few hours with meows for more pets. Savannah is definitely back, tossing her queenly little head around and lording it over the couch and piano bench. Her intelligent, independent demeanor is the same, though she's been a LOT more affectionate and vocal since her return.

I don't know where she went during her little journey. I do know that she's come back to me, and, from the way she's acting, she apparently missed me too. 

I love her so much. It's a little ridiculous.

REWARD OFFERED: $300

$300 >$250, and I feel that it's more appropriate. 

It's silly, but I wrote a song about her. Witness my embarrassment below:

That's her brother Parker on the cat tree. He likes to sit by me and has been moping an awful lot since Savannah left. He didn't eat for a few days...then I cajoled him into eating a few treats. 

Here are Savannah and Parker, together:

Savannah is the cat in the foreground. She and her brother Parker were my 'failed fosters' from the Animal Rescue League of Pittsburgh.* My roommate and I got them as litter mates at 6 weeks old. Back then, they were small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. They grow quickly, though, and Savannah surpassed the other kittens as the fearless climber of stairs, legs, tables, and curtains. 

*Note: If you're reading this, and want to foster adorable kittens or adult cats from the Animal Rescue League, contact them at the link above. The shelters are full to the brim of cats needing temporary foster homes. And permanent homes, of course.

Day 12: REWARD OFFERED

I skipped posting yesterday, not having had news to report.

There are no updates today, either, but I think I shall revise the posters and information to include a $250 reward for the return of SavannahCat. 

Please call me at 412-716-3649.

Savannah likes to sit on paper. She isn't particularly obnoxious, like other cats are, about needing to sit on your computer or book, but she does enjoy sitting on paper. She'll find junk mail and supermarket periodicals on the floor and plunk herself down on them. She also enjoys sitting down on plastic supermarket bags. I'm not sure whether it's the crinkly sound or the texture--probably a combination of both.

This is Savannah giving me a study break a few months back.

Day 10: My Little Clawed Artemis.

Day 10. I comfort myself that if an indoor cat could ever survive outside, it would be Savannah. She is, after all, my little clawed Artemis. She also has really good taste in bedding: that's an alpaca blanket from Peru brought back by my best friend from a trip, and a nice wool shawl that she's appropriated for her nap in this picture.

A note: No collar. Savannah was an indoor cat, so I never made her wear a collar. She found collars, harnesses, and leashes fairly unacceptable, so I thought "Why make her miserable with a collar?" The other indoor/outdoor tabby cats in the neighborhood all wear collars, though, so this may be an easy way to distinguish her from afar.

I got another call early this morning, but unfortunately missed it--by the time I received the voicemail, I'm sure she would have moved on. I checked anyway, under cars and under porches in the area. This sighting was very close: the intersection of Euclid and Hampton. That said, there IS another neighborhood cat who looks very much like Savannah but without the white feet (I believe he also wears a collar), so it's not a sure sighting. Though Savannah's got a singular personality, she isn't a cat with a uniquely patterned coat. Thank you, Erin, for calling.

Maintaining a positive outlook has been somewhat difficult. Posting posters, receiving calls, leaving laundry outside--it all feels somewhat futile, sometimes. For the past week, I've been taking ever-expanding walks around the neighborhood to call for her, though I know it's unlikely that she'll just come up to me.


Vital stats: Call Juvy at 412.716.3649 if you have information, or otherwise comment on this blog.

Day 9. I've gotten two calls from really caring people who may have seen SavannahCat. One sighting was on  Monday, July 7th, at N. Sheridan Street. Savannah was seen lazing underneath a shrub and came up for rubs and pets before taking off. She appeared to be happy and independent.

Another call came last night from Mellon St., where a gentleman saw a tabby cat with four white feet darting between buildings.

I want to thank both Jill and Brian for calling me, if you're reading this. I'll run to anywhere she's spotted!

It's been eight days now since SavannahCat went missing. At first, everyone said she'd come back. "Hold tight," everyone said, "lost cats always find their way home."

But I still wandered around the neighborhood calling her name. I still do. If you're reading this, and you've seen a random person walking around saying "Savannah!" on the street, that was probably me. Internet sources say that a lost indoor cat rarely comes out or answers a call. I figured looking out for her wouldn't hurt, though.

It's not the greatest picture, but I rarely have time to catch her like this. Usually I'm giving her chin rubs instead.

I started my flyer campaign today. More will go up tomorrow, but I ran out of tape and will have to either borrow a staple gun or get more. It feels as if Savannah's completely vanished. 

Thank you to the local Bryant St. businesses for letting me post Savannah's Lost Cat poster, especially Teppanyaki Kyoto, Park Brugges, E2, and Park Place Pub. 

And thanks to the neighbors I met today, who took a flyer and gave me well wishes. Now, on to the Highland Park Listserv!