“Hey Lloyd, I’m ready to be heartbroken….

Cause I can’t see further than my own nose at this moment.” ~ Camera Obscura, Lloyd I’m ready to be Heartbroken


He is my cat. You know, the one that is running around South Austin?
The one causing me so much heartbreak?
Yeah, the one causing the worry to gnaw away at me.

He’s not come home and we have not seen him in 2.5 weeks. I’ve tried it all:

Flyers

Searching the neighborhood on foot

Searching the neighborhood by vehicle

Talking on my cell phone at night in the area

Feral cat traps

Leaving food out

Checking the pound

Leaving lost cat information anywhere I can: the pound, vets offices, around the neighborhood and local restaurants

He’s microchipped and had a collar on when he escaped. I have been a responsible pet owner.

They say that so many animals are found thanks to the microchips, but knowing the former feral lifestyle of my cat, I’m not entirely sure that he will ever be caught. He’s shy in that jumpy sort of way.

I also learned a little something that is alarming: Austin Animal Control does not exist. They make it out to appear like it does, but really, they just connect you to a private trapper that deals with wild animals like possum and raccoons. They will not trap cats.

Instead, they have Austinites bring strays and ferals into the shelter.

I’m not sure about you, but I would probably not take a cat into the shelter, especially since it’s not readily known that nothing is done about strays and ferals. My thinking is that someone may have seen him but either doesn’t know, or isn’t crazy enough to touch a strange and frightened animal to bring it in.

At the risk of being overly dramatic:
I’m not sure he will ever be returned and don’t think I could get another cat and risk the heartbreak of losing another animal prematurely.