Last night, Sunday, one of my neighbors rang the doorbell, and as I rushed to the door she pulled back the leash on her dog Apple, asking: “Have you seen Bruce?” Visibly anguished, she explained that the cat disappeared on Friday night. She, as I suddenly recalled, had gone away for Memorial Day weekend, trusting his care—and that of housemates Guido and Little—to friends.
Bruce is quite independent, and he is known in the neighborhood for his lion trim and for walking with his owner when she takes out Apple. Seems like everyone knows Bruce, which must explain the outpouring of support to find him. Neighbors are out searching and calling his name. Another made and posted lost cat signs. This handsome tabby has quite the following, and he really should have his own Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.
Some street-wise felines knock off their nine lives, and Bruce is among them. In March 2020, someone tried to steal him. In August 2022, a dog grabbed Bruce but someone saved him. My hope is that Bruce’s fate is the same as John Adams, another tiger tabby. He also vanished, but was found five days later trapped inside the abandoned floral shop. Bruce easily could have wandered into a house or garage and got inadvertently locked in while the residents traveled for the holiday weekend.
Will he be found? Be sure that I will let you know if there is closure to this drama. For now, let’s focus on the Featured Image, which I captured with Leica Q on Nov. 30, 2017. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/4, ISO 100, 1/640 sec, 28mm; 12:18 p.m. PST.
Update, June 7, 2023: Yesterday, I had an opportunity to talk to Bruce’s owner. Wow, are animals sensitive to one another and mournful. Neither of the two cats nor Apple will eat. Little is camped out on the luggage that the woman brought back from her trip. Not coincidentally, Bruce sat on the same spot (“Don’t go, Mommy”)
Bruce is unlikely to be accidentally trapped inside somewhere; surely by now someone would have returned construction site, garage, or residence and let him loose. Best-case scenario: Bruce was catnapped. Day will come when he will escape and either find his way home or be found wandering and taken by a do-gooder to someplace that can scan his microchip. For now, I prefer not to think about, or discuss, worst-case scenario.
Update July 1, 2023: Today, I chatted with the neighbor who runs a day care not far from Bruce’s home. I have often seen him go over to the property; it’s one of his territorial haunts. Around 12:30 a.m. on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, she heard a ruckus outside in her yard, where she saw three coyotes and heard one cat in distress. What am I to think? Oh, Bruce…