The other day I was sitting on the front porch and it was pouring rain. I was calling Barney over and over, more of a crying lament. I didn't expect him to show up but I was missing him. Somehow it's harder to take not knowing how he met his end.
Two days later a lone male coyote was on our deck just before dawn under our window, howling and yipping. We figured he was looking for another easy meal. I'm resigned this same wily coyote is the one who got Barney. We always hear the family group down in the valley yipping but it's the alpha male who silently creeps up and snags the meal for his family. The coyote here in the East are much larger than they are in the West. They are almost the size of small wolves. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
My heart aches with and for you.
ReplyDeleteHI Sue, thanks, I don't know why it's so hard to take his being gone, perhaps because he was our last cat left.
ReplyDeleteBarney could still show up. Grey Lady was gone for two months. She finally came home in a snowstorm. Toes crossed that he is on an adventure somewhere.
ReplyDeleteCoyotes are one of the many reasons our cats are all indoors now.
Hi Suzi, thanks, I don't think there is any hope because he would never be gone this long, he's been in this neighborhood for years and never wandered off for more than half a day. I would have kept him indoors but since he was already an outdoor cat he would go crazy if he wasn't let out, best not to ever let them out so they don't see what it is like outside otherwise they are always wanting out.
ReplyDeleteThe coyotes in our neighborhood are tall and thin... and a bit mangy looking. They do go after the feral cats as well as smaller critters... and is "one" of the reasons our cats haven't ever been outside... although their mothers were feral. But I still wouldn't be surprised if against all odds, Barney did show up one day. You just never know.
ReplyDeleteHi Rian, thanks, we actually looked around for his bones but no luck an no neighbors have seen him either.
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