Jace’s Journey – The Life of a Rescued Maine Coon

Dive into the world of Jace, a unique Maine Coon mix, once a street dweller, now a rescued feline.

His quiet life took a turn when his new owner, swayed by a vet's advice, had him neutered and declawed. Life had more surprises for Jace.

His peaceful abode morphed into a lively household filled with unfamiliar faces – two cats and three energetic dogs, the pets of his owner's boyfriend.

This drastic change didn't sit well with Jace. It was apparent, and quickly so, that this new living situation wasn't exactly his idea of 'the purrfect life'.

Intrigued? Well, stick around to unravel the detailed journey of Jace. There's more to his tale than meets the eye.

Jace's Great Escape: A Tale Of Freedom

One day, Jace found his escape out of a window. One of the dogs had pried up a screen in the window leaving a huge hole. Jace was able to wiggle out of the hole. He was free!

His owner, realizing what had happened, rushed outside and found him. Scooping him up, she began to take him back inside, when the dogs inside the house began to bark.

Jace struggled against her grip and suddenly he was able to break free. Scooting across the street, he slid under a parked van. By the time his owner made it across the street, Jace had vanished!

Feeling that Jace would surely return by dinnertime, his owner returned to her home where she repaired the window screen.

*Any time a cat escapes his home, you should always try leaving that escape hatch open, so the cat can return the same way.*

It is one way of getting your cat back. But now, Jace’s home was cut off from him; and so his story begins…

The Quest To Locate Jace

As dusk rapidly approached with no sight of the Maine Coon mix, the boyfriend decided to call out a search party.

Family members were contacted and came over to the home. Strange cars and people that Jace didn't really know were now filling up his yard beating the bushes and calling for him.

This activity only added to the confusion of the cat and is it likely that he went farther away to a calmer place.

At no sign of the cat in the following days, fliers soon went up, distributed throughout the neighborhood.

A website was found and through surfing the website Shannon (the mom to Jace’s owner) stumbled on a link to a website run by a pet detective by the name of Carl Washington.

Shannon decided to call Mr. Washington to see if he could help.

Pro Tips from an Expert Pet Detective

When Mr. Washington is contacted about a missing pet, the first thing he does is obtain information from the person about the pet.

Then he drafts out a profile. Looking at various maps of the area, both aerial and geographical he sends out this profile along with the following tips:

1. Sprinkle Dry Dog Food Up & Down The Block Close To The Curb Line

This will bring the cat out of hiding and into the street lights where he can easily be seen by other people.

The odor of dry dog food carries farther than dry cat food does and cats will generally come out and investigate.

Don't throw down a lot of food, just a little, and spread it out, so the cat has to work to get enough to eat. Put fliers up near the trial of the food so people know what your cat looks like and will be on the lookout.

*Always keep current photos of your cats in the event that they do get outside. If you can, show full-body shots and not just headshots.*

2. Take Canned Cat Food (Commonly Called Wet Food) & Open A Few Cans

While walking the dog food trail, take the canned food and fling it down near the fences and lawns, so it spreads out on the ground. Make sure it is widely spread out.

The cat needs to be out long enough to hunt for it and be "spotted" by someone. Don't fling the food in the street or near the street, otherwise, the cat is in danger of getting hit by a car.

Spread about three cans every block this way, work only at night, when the cats typically come out to hunt and eat.

3. Make Up Extra-Large Posters With Photos Of Your Cat

Put them on the sides of your car. Use the plastic strapping tape to attach the photos/posters to your car (any residual adhesive leftover can be taken off by using rubbing alcohol).

Park your car at a busy corner during rush hour. Bring a container of coffee to keep you alert. Have a pen, pencil, and paper handy, and put your emergency flashers on.

Sit there for about an hour and a half during the morning, noon, and evening rush hour. Early morning commuters will now be on the alert for your cat.

Unsuccessful Attempts to Locate Jace

Mr. Washington's initial profile cost $60.00 His statistics show that these profiles where he has marked the most likely spots your cat is hiding are quite accurate.

If your cat is not found quickly after following all his detailed instructions to the letter, Mr. Washington will be available by appointment only for hire.

Shannon followed Carl Washington's advice on the profile, but Jace stayed well hidden. So Shannon placed a phone call and hired Carl to come and aid in the search.

This would not be Carl’s last trip in this quest to find Jace, but when he arrived initially, he immediately began to take charge of the process.

He placed two large posters of Jace on the sides of his truck, and using special floodlights, he lit the panels of the truck up to call more attention to the cat.

Along with his dogs, he and Shannon began to knock on neighbors’ doors, showing the photos and asking if they had seen Jace.

In the first 24 hours with only three hours of sleep, Carl and his team began a relentless hunt for this cat.

Carl’s team consists of his two top tracking dogs: CoCo a brown miniature Poodle (highly trained in scent detection) and Rocky, a Jack Russell Terrier (trained to listen to even the slightest of sounds).

With Shannon to accompany the team, the group set out, knocking on people’s doors, trying to gain permission for the team to get into the properties and look for Jace.

One property that was gated off (Carl told me later in a phone interview) held his interest. The woman who owned the property also had dogs and she would not allow the group to enter.

The Elusive Feline: Unraveling Jace's Secret Hiding Place

Carl believed that Jace, the missing cat, was hiding nearby, intimidated by a woman's dogs. The community was supportive, offering refreshments to the search team.

Despite reported sightings, the first three-day search was unsuccessful.

Not willing to give up, Shannon continued her efforts, distributing laminated flyers and questioning locals.

Three people claimed to have seen Jace, describing his unique markings and sightings near the railroad tracks. Shannon relayed this information to Carl, triggering a second search.

Despite baiting the streets, knocking on doors, and a confirmed sighting, Jace remained elusive, especially after a rainfall disrupted the scent. Carl's team returned home, leaving Shannon still resolved to find Jace.

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A Surprising Turn Of Events: The Return Of Jace

Shannon reached out to a local animal communicator to understand why Jace, the cat, had fled his previous home.

The communicator conveyed that Jace had found his former residence too chaotic and had chosen to hide.

Over several sessions, they convinced Jace to return by assuring him of a serene home with Shannon and her six cats.

Shannon personally made a promise to Jace that he would never have to return to his old chaotic home again. In a surprising turn of events, Jace appeared in one of the traps set out for him just three days later.

Jace was immediately rushed to a vet clinic given his frail condition. The vet diagnosed him as underweight and dehydrated, with physical signs of fights he had been involved in while on his own.

His fur was matted and his coat dull, reflecting the struggles he had faced. He had lost a significant amount of weight, shrinking from a healthy 17.6 pounds to a mere 11.6 pounds.

The Beginning Of Jace's New Life: Overcoming Challenges

After extensive care, including tests, fluids, food, and grooming, Jace was ready to start his new life with Shannon and her family.

Over the next three months, Shannon showered Jace with care and affection, striving to make up for his past hardships.

However, during a routine vet visit at the end of this period, Jace tested positive for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV).

The test returned a strong positive result within just four minutes. A retest confirmed this diagnosis.

Faced with this heart-wrenching news, and upon the vet's gentle recommendation, Shannon had to make the difficult decision to euthanize Jace.

On June 10, 2004, ninety days after being found, Jace peacefully passed away in the loving arms of Shannon, the person who had fulfilled her promise and given him a second chance at life.

The Lasting Impact of Jace's Story: Inspiring Change

The story we've narrated has been a challenging one to recount, fraught with a mix of emotions and revelations.

When we initially grappled with the circumstances surrounding Jace, the lost cat, we were struck by the seeming absence of his true owner from the recovery efforts.

In the process of portraying this tale, our aim was to maintain an impartial perspective, refrain from passing judgment, and prevent any predispositions among the readers.

The aftermath of this incident has left a profound impact on Jace's original owner. Today, she actively channels her time and energy into volunteering at the local humane society.

A testament to her transformation, she has since adopted five cats and provides them with a loving and responsible home.

The enduring affection Shannon has for Jace is truly heartwarming. Despite having six cats of her own, she felt a deep connection and a sense of responsibility towards her daughter's cat, Jace.

Her unwavering commitment to bringing Jace home resonates with the power of unconditional love. Although she misses him every day, she takes solace in knowing that her love and efforts were not in vain.

And someday, in the silent language, only animals can speak, we are confident that Jace will express his gratitude for her boundless love.

Want more CATtivating stories? Purruse our articles below for more meowvelous tales!

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