Here Be Dragons

The Death of Max Part I

Max went missing around Friday night, although Glen thought he had seen him on Sat afternoon. By Sunday afternoon Sara was concerned as he hadn't checked in for food. Although he sometimes wanders off for a few days at a time when we don't see him, we know he is around because his food gets eaten. This time no eating. We called him, as we do, but no Max, and so we started thinking about where he might be.

Max was a very curious cat, and also a car lover. This meant we were inclined to believe he was locked in somewhere, he had been locked in the neighbours garage for two days last time when he went missing, but he was heard from the deck, and thus rescued. This time, he could not be found. Sara was worried, but I was confident he would "be around," and or, if he was locked in somewhere he would hopefully be released Monday morning when whoever they might be came home from a weekend away... or somesuch. We wandered over the Kell's sprawling fields looking around, and talked to Richard. He hadn't seen him for a few days, but suggested he might be at one of 1000 or so houses bordering their empire. Checked it out, but noone was home, and no Max to be spotted, nor heard. We were also a bit worried that he had just jumped in a car, as he was want to do. If the driver didn't notice (which has happened a couple of times) then Max could be anywhere. Also, there was that nagging concern that somone could have nicked him, as this apperently happens with pure breds.

Decided that on Monday Sara would make up some leaflets and we would canvas the neighbours. Monday morning still no Max, still no eating.

After work we set out with papers in hand. Firstly checked with the neighbours down the long drive. Although they all new Max they had not seen him, except for the people directly behind us, whom we know best of all our neighbours (which still isn't much) They have a dog, know Max, and small dog. Max and their dog also know each other, while their dog rightly sees small dog as a light smack.

We talked to the lady, and she said she had seen Max on Saturday afternoon, and that he had sat right in front of the car and refused to move. She had slowly edged forward, and eventually Max had moved out of the way.

I went down towards Blighs while Sara headed the other way. I went to each of the neighbours houses, most of which were occupied, and talked to them, and handed out little flyer thingy. None of them had seen Max. Discovered one of our neighbours is apprently a Welsh Alchoholic. Also discovered that many many dogs live on our street. Many. Also discovered that Max is the name of power. There was a dog, another cat, a neighbour, and our Max. Did not however find Max, although most people seemed nice and were hopeful we would find him.

When Sara got to the house behind the Kell's she found that the lady had bought cat food for Max, as he was around so much she was worried he was a stray (although he had a collar, with our phone number on it) and that she loved him.

Sara also found the people at one house that have some kids, knew Max really well. He was there all the time (as well) and the kids loved him, and carried him around and talked to him. One of the kids was so worred about Max being missing that he jumped on his bike and road around the block a few times looking for him.

However no Max.

The next morning Sara got the call from one of the neighbours. As Sara was at work, I went over to the house (two down on the otherside of the road) and found Max. He was lying stretched out under a bush in their front yard. The lady of the house said she had only noticed him there because she had been sitting in her car making some phone calls before going off to work. She also said that he wasn't there on Sunday afternoon, as she and her kids had been in that area of the garden.

So this sucked. I took Max back home, and laid him down. He didn't seem injured, at least not in a visible way. No big scratches or tell tale signs of car. But nonetheless dead. Suck.

I called the vet regarding an autopsy, but the nurse suggested it had probably been too long for this to be worthwhile. Although I'm not really sure how long it had been.

Sara arrived home, with a little azalia(?), a little shrub, with brick red flowers. No wussy pastels for Max. We wrapped him up in a big fluffy towel and buried him in the garden under the azalia.

Max was two and half years old, in fine shape, and excellent. We had noticed a couple of times that he appeared to be getting stoned (really, someone was dealing backyard catnip) as he would sometimes come home with massive eyes, and annoy Sara, but catnip always did this to him. (I guess it does it to all cats, that's the point) But it isn't fatal.

Our neighbour said he was acting a bit weird on Saturday, but he was still OK till after Sunday night, so that doesn't tell us anything, and it didn't seem like he was hit by a car. Although, what do I know about that, no expert I. Also, why didn't he come home? On any of the nights from Friday through Sunday.

I guess we'll never know. Which sucks.

But it doesn't suck as much as his death.

Thanks for the comments.

Posted by luther at March 25, 2004 10:24 PM | TrackBack