Hi all:

We've got a few more details now that Fred and the kids went over to visit
the family that found Otis.

Otis got into their house shortly after I saw him at 5:00 PM Wednesday
night.  For the next twenty-four hours, the home owners thought they were
imagining things.  Every once and a while, they'd hear a sound like a herd
of elephants and see a dark grey flash of fur running downstairs.  Once down
there, he hid very effectively.

I guess that the window was pushed in a little bit by them and Otis dropped
in the room that way.  The problem was that it was a small window, right
near the ceiling, and it had no ledge.  Once in, Otis couldn't leap back out
the same way.  You can just imagine him as the realization sunk in.  You can
imagine it when the people upstairs came home and he heard all these strange
people upstairs.  He did what any cat would do - got really really small and
made himself invisible ... and he must have drunk from the toilet since he
did that as soon as he came home.  Ewwwwwwwwww!

When they went out, he'd come out and explore the house to find a way out
... then they'd come home, surprise him, and down into the basement he'd go
again.

We were very concerned about the fact that he had pulled their front window
curtains down and Fred went over to make amends.  They said that there was
no lasting damage to the curtains and that he'd just had "a neat little
crap" in the corner "no muss no fuss".  The husband said - "that's why you
have cats - they're so athletic and graceful".  Wow - Otis sure picked the
right house.

Anyway, I can't believe that he was in their house for 24 hours.  He's soooo
skittish now too and any sudden movement gets him down on the floor in a
hyper-alert crouch.  He'll relax soon enough but, for now, he's happy just
to hang with us and stay in the backyard again.

We had a dinner party on Saturday night and we all sat outside to eat and
visit.  Otis was making me jealous lavishing affection on all the people.
He kept jumping up on the lap of a man I know from the BOD of Jane's
school - he's a burly police officer who was obviously very flattered by the
attention :-)  AND, I accidentally had too much wine (forgot to alternate
with water) so I apologize for my Saturday night posts.  I was out of line
and should have kept my mouth shut on anything controversial - which, until
then, I had done for seven years on this group.  Two notes to self - always
alternate with water and *never* go to the computer if I've forgotten to do
that.

AND, I never mentioned that the boys had their annual physicals and shots a
couple of weeks ago.  Otis has gone from 14.5 lbs to 13.4 pounds - the vet
thinks that he's be in top fighting shape at 12 lbs but he looks and feels
pretty good to me at this weight.  It's amazing how noticeable a one pound
drop is in a cat.  Chester responded well again this year to the prednisone
along with his shots - he didn't have a fever or mope around for days like
he does without the prednisone.  Chester needs a full dental.  IT IS SO
EXPENSIVE.  He's to get blood tests and such and then have the dental right
after.  I know that I shouldn't delay or it'll be worse for Chester's teeth
but I haven't yet got my head around having him go under *and* the $400
surgery tag - and this is from someone who would do anything for her owners.

Susan M
Otis and Chester