Dear Pauline:

My 9 year old indoor-only cat Newton disappeared a couple of days ago when my husband opened the door to go to work at 4:00 in the morning. It was storming and it continued all day... He couldn't skip work, he left. Under the rain I started searching, calling. That went on for hours. I came home and made up some fliers, asked around, no one had seen him. I searched by myself all day long and then after my husband came home, we searched some more. During this time, the sliding door was opened enough for him to get in if he came back. At night I searched until 3:00 AM. On and off and looking out the windows when I was in... My eyes were almost swollen shut from crying... so worried about him. I didn't know where else to look.

I started searching the internet. I wanted to know how easy or difficult it would be for him to find his way home. I was trying to find information on cats' sense of direction. That's when I saw your article Psychology and the Missing Cat. It made all the sense in the world to me. I had done some things right, but I also was doing some things wrong. With renewed hope after reading your article I decided to get some rest and try your searching tips when it was clear out. (I hadn't slept in over 24 hrs.)

Pauline, I found him within 10 minutes only a few feet away from our home, where I had "looked" and CALLED his name out loud 20-30 times before. (I did call his name this time but only once in a while and with a very soothing and low voice and very faintly he did respond.)

I want to thank you so much for helping me find Newton. Psychology and the Missing Cat is so well written and informative that in my mind you get all the credit...When I set foot out the door that last time to look for him, I just knew I was going to find him. Thank you, thank you, thank you! May God bless you and your loved ones always.

An eternally grateful reader,

Marta V.,
Missouri, USA