One night during a storm I got a phone call.  I wasn't going to answer
it, but it just kept ringing, so I did.  My best female friend was on
the other end, crying.  "I can't find Smokey!"  She couldn't find her
new husband's cat and she was afraid it had gone outside when she
walked her dog just before the storm hit.  She had never had a cat in
her life and now she had lost her husband's and he was going to be
really mad when he got home.  She was truly terrified for the cat's
welfare.  Someone had declawed Smokey long before her husband had
gotten him and all she could think was Smokey was out there in the
pouring rain, thunder and lightening all around, and probably some
wild animal was eating him 'cause he had no way to defend himself.
She wailed, "I've looked under all the furniture, and in the basement,
and everywhere else I think he could wedge his fat self into."  I
reminded her that Smokey still had his back claws and all his very
sharp teeth so he could bite an attacker or climb a tree if he needed
to.  

Well I didn't know much about Smokey but I did know crabby old cats
pretty much take care of themselves, and Smokey is just such a cat.  I
got her calmed down and promised to come help look as soon as the
storm was passed, but I was relatively sure he was just in hiding.
Smokey is a huge cat, but cats can go in places that we humans just
don't think about.  

As the storm seemed to lighten up I started to get ready to go out on
the cat hunt so I was about to step out the door as soon as the rain
stopped.  Just as I opened my door I got another call.  It was her
again.  She was all happy and wanted me to know I didn't have to come
over.  Smokey had crawled out from under the couch.   She saw him do
it, and was amazed.  She had looked under the couch earlier even
though she was sure the couch was too low for him to get under.  She
was positive he wasn't there when she looked, but he must have been.

I told her cats take care of themselves.
Debra in VA