Perhaps there is something to your theory. Mr.Clark, my senior cat and
Ding's mentor, was originally found wandering a country road, as an
intact, full-grown tomcat.  He delights in being a house cat of
exceptionally great affection.

Frequently, he follows me around. One day, he slipped out the front door
when I was getting the paper, and jumped off to find himself under a
bush.  Immediately, he began wailing -- it was a very thick bush and his
way forward was blocked, and the branches had closed behind him.

I wasn't sure what his reaction would be when I touched him, hut he
whirled and head-slammed into my chest, wanting to be held.  After I
removed him from the bush and he saw the door opening, he LEAPED back
into the hallway, clearly muttering "I am a house cat."

I'll admit that the adoption contract called for early spaying. Her vet
did want to wait until she gained more weight, but I'll make no argument
-- it should have been done a while ago. It's now practical with
contracts starting again and a working car.

My concern is that this is the head of the adoption group, who has been
reported to be very emphatic about the contracts. I saw reports of one
split in the organization, where she confiscated a cat that was declawed
in violation of the contract provisions. Declawing certainly was
appropriate, but I can't judge the situation -- were the cat and human
otherwise bonded?

I don't want to be paranoid, but I also don't want to antagonize this
person and possibly bring up the contractual issues, especially while
Ding is missing. The reason for the week's delay is that she won't be
back in the local area until next Saturday. She said I could get Rhonda
earlier if I went to her location, which, I'm guessing, is about a 90
minute drive -- a drive to which I'd rather not subject Rhonda in the
first place.

It doesn't help to be tired and frustrated, after spending two hours or
so calling for Ding in a rough patch of woods.