This is about our female cat, Flash. We lost our house Nov 8th in the Camp Fire. There were flames across the street when we hooked up our travel trailer, grabbed a few pictures, and fled. My wife was able to lure Flash into the house by rattling her food bowl and miraculously we were able to get her into her carrier. We were gridlocked in evacuation traffic for hours and hours, Flash gently mewing from her carrier. Didn't dare let her out.
We reached safety at our kids place in the Sierra's that evening, Taylorsville, CA, to be exact, about 80 miles from the fire and at 3600' elevation. Our house was at 2500'. Kept Flash in our travel trailer but she inevitably escaped. Didn't see her for a few days and were worried about her. There are mountain lions, coyotes, and wolves around. There are also a lot of outbuildings with hay and such. She made herself right at home. Finally showed up long enough to eat and then right back out each day. She wanted nothing to do with our travel trailer. We started seeing dead mice in the yard outside the trailer.
After a few weeks a mobile home rental became available up at Lake Almanor, 4600' elevation. Amazingly, we were able to catch her again before we moved up there. We were sure she would wind up being a barn cat in Taylorsville. So, now we're up here at Lake Almanor. Flash seems to be very happy but is still skittish about being in the house. She looks healthier than we've ever seen her. She quit shedding and her coat is full. Comes in, eats, and demands to be let outside again in the 20 degree weather. Sometimes we can forcibly keep her in the house at night, but if she wants out she can make life miserable until we let her out. There are outbuildings here, too, so she must have a hidey-hole somewhere.
Anyway, we are totally amazed we still have her. She is a true survivor, as are we.
We reached safety at our kids place in the Sierra's that evening, Taylorsville, CA, to be exact, about 80 miles from the fire and at 3600' elevation. Our house was at 2500'. Kept Flash in our travel trailer but she inevitably escaped. Didn't see her for a few days and were worried about her. There are mountain lions, coyotes, and wolves around. There are also a lot of outbuildings with hay and such. She made herself right at home. Finally showed up long enough to eat and then right back out each day. She wanted nothing to do with our travel trailer. We started seeing dead mice in the yard outside the trailer.
After a few weeks a mobile home rental became available up at Lake Almanor, 4600' elevation. Amazingly, we were able to catch her again before we moved up there. We were sure she would wind up being a barn cat in Taylorsville. So, now we're up here at Lake Almanor. Flash seems to be very happy but is still skittish about being in the house. She looks healthier than we've ever seen her. She quit shedding and her coat is full. Comes in, eats, and demands to be let outside again in the 20 degree weather. Sometimes we can forcibly keep her in the house at night, but if she wants out she can make life miserable until we let her out. There are outbuildings here, too, so she must have a hidey-hole somewhere.
Anyway, we are totally amazed we still have her. She is a true survivor, as are we.
