The Cat Hunt

Earlier this week my friend Alex was given a house and eight cats to take care of. The family that lives in the house has no control of their pets and did not let them inside before the blizzard.

So, there was a blizzard.

Day 0: We take roll call of the cats. There are three cats missing.

Day 1: The hunt begins. Alex and I launch into a perimeter search of the house. There are cat prints moving towards the backyard. The prints lead us in circles. There is snow in our shoes and we are becoming tired. The basement windows have screens in front of them. We notice some of the windows in the back were ripped open. Alex sticks his hand into one of the screens. Nothing. He dips his hand in another and pulls out the most skittish, shifty, grey and white cat of them all, Ridley. Ridley tries to escape from Alex's hands; it'd rather die than go back in the house. He throws the cat inside.

ONE CAT DOWN. TWO CATS TO GO.

Day 2: We arrive at the house in snow pants and boots. We are ready. Alex goes to open the door so we can plan our search when I hear a soft meow behind me. I motion to Alex to pause. Behind me, nothing. To the right, nothing. The left, nothing. The sound gets louder yet we see no cat. Suddenly, Alex points up and I see the kind-hearted, grey cat Lilith looking at us the roof. We get a chair, Alex grabs Lilith from the face and throws her inside the house.

TWO CATS DOWN. ONE CAT TO GO.

Later That Day: We arrive back at the house from our search and there stands the long-haired, orange and black Sweet Potatoe. The cat is grabbed with equal violence and tossed in the house. Here is the kicker: Sweet Potatoe wasn't missing. When doing roll call a cat was identified to be Sweet Potatoe. This cat is short-haired, orange and black. This is not Sweet Potatoe. We ask the family if they have any knowledge of owning a cat with these features. They do not.

Explaination, a stray cat has been living in the house without the family knowing.

TWO CATS DOWN. ADDITIONAL CAT FOUND. ONE CAT TO GO.

Day 3: We suit-up extra rough today. Snow pants on, snow jacket, tracking materials, we are ready. Alex and I have also added another member to the search party, David. We arrive at the house. Before we get to the door we see the loving, long-haired, grey Desdemona. We gently take the cat inside. David pulls out a joint.

THREE CATS DOWN. ADDITIONAL CAT FOUND.

CAT HUNT SUCCESS!