The Wanderer Returns

We have this cat named Ziggy. He is the latest in a long line of cats we have owned in our 11 years in Washington. There's the original - Tiger - which we inherited from Andy's childhood. He is definitely the best and the longest lasting. But then there is Ziggy. Undoubtedly the next best cat we've ever had. Ziggy is almost one and a half years old. And he's still very frisky.


A couple of weeks ago we happened upon some bad luck. Ziggy went out at night, as he always does. (Trying to keep him in is a little bit like suicide.) But, he never came back. we waited an extra hour for him, called him, looked for him... and still no Ziggy. He'd done this before, so we decided to go to bed. (We were really tired.) Always before, he has been at the door in the morning when I wake up. The next morning I woke up at 4am. No Ziggy. And for two weeks and one day - no Ziggy. He is microchipped and we'd heard nothing, so we gave up hope after about a week.


Last night, Charlie and I were headed downstairs so that I could start making stir fry. About halfway down the stairs, I heard this really long and familiar meow. It sounded exactly like Ziggy. I'm lucky that I maintained my balance as I ran down the rest of the stairs and to the back door. There he was. Happy as a clam, but hungry. Not as hungry as he should be after two weeks - which tells me that someone else was caring for my little cat. Not a scratch or dent was on his body, although he was a bit dirty!


Charlie and I did a happy dance and called Andy, who was on his way home from work. We were so happy to have our wanderer back. Now hopefully we can continue to survive the incessant begging he is already doing to go back out. Not for a few days Ziggy, at least!