Farewell, my little one; Kîa: 2012-10-21…2015-04-21

[magister]

Another picture, from the 4th of April (amongst the last I have). She was rather camera-shy, as it was taken by a friend of mine she'd never before met. As he said, it was like trying to film a wild-life documentary; she kept trying to escape the camera.

Hopefully this works; for some reason, I'm not seeing any images at all from the site: probably blocked something I shouldn't, as I tend to keep security settings very high for Win (main Linux machine doesn't have a working monitor at the moment).


Anyway, let's give it a try.

2015-04-04 16.25.09.P1050971.Kîa Laying on her Fr

• magister
• May 2, 2015

 

[magister]

I really hope your little love returns. I'm sat here crying! My cats are indoors but have been going out recently and got stuck in a yard where a dog resided. I had to climb in to get her out.

That happened to Kîa only about two weeks after I got them. She got in under next door's fence, where there was a dog, and couldn't find her way back. Luckily, the dog is friendly and had grown up with a cat. Although he was curious, he made no attempt to hurt her.


Of course, not satisfied, she did exactly the same thing again about a week later.


After that, both of them visited next door regularly; old Fluffy-Noggin (as I call their big, fluffy, ginger cat) is very placid and never minded their visits. And the dog just wanted to play.

Then another nearly impaled herself on some spikes that circles a scrap yard. Almost had an heart attack as I watched afar from my top window! Safe to say they won't be out again without a harness.

Fortunately, Australia is a far safer environment (generally speaking) it seems than much of the U.S. No Rabies or predators. some extremely poisonous Snakes are the only real danger, far more so in rural areas. And this street is very quiet, with very few cars.

Cats have been known to disappear for a few weeks then return. We had a 'tom' cat called Muffin which disappeared for 6 years then turned up on the doorstep. Looks like he had been stolen and kept in all those years, then released due to failing illness which they didn't want to pay for. Had a rubber jaw and kidney failure. We where so glad we got to be with him one last time. Please don't give up hope, I'm sure Kia is out there somewhere thinking of home with you and Nimrod.

Oh, I won't be giving up, now that I'm fairly sure she wasn't hit, as initially I was so certain.


BTW, Nimrod has just come inside, rubbing and purring. I've not seen him so happy since she disappeared; certainly, he does seem better this morning.

 

[leopordnose1]

OMG im so sorry i remember when my cat BabyKates died...

 

[nansiludie]

Any updates? Was she ever found?

 

[magister]

Any updates? Was she ever found?

Unfortunately, there's no good news. No sightings, despite the adverts in the local paper and the listings on various sites; no news of any kind. Either somebody has stolen her and is lying low, or (as now I must believe) she did indeed come to harm on that first night. Never would Kîa have run away; she was such a happy, confident little girl. For her, the world was all play, sun and kindness. The only reason she would not come home is if she could not.


I held a little, private memorial for her last night and said a last goodbye. Of course, I'll not give up in trying to find out what happened, and always there will be a place for her here. But still, Nimrod is desperately lonely and pining, and becoming more frightened of everything and everybody else as each day passes.


It's time to move on, as much as can be. I've talked to the friend from whom I got Kîa and Nimrod, and she'll let me know when she has two new rescue girls: bonded sisters, if possible. One will be a tortoiseshell (there's something very special about torties ); the other doesn't matter, so long as she's a gentle kitten. There's no rush; I'm going to take a little time (a month or so if necessary), and choose the best possible companions for Nimrod.


I've chosen names for them, from the same origin as Kîa. Rîna (pronounced “Reena”) and Tällia (first part pronounced as in “tally”) will never replace my little, lost girl, but new life will bring new happiness, and two warm, little rescues will have their forever home, a new big brother, and can play, and purr.


And perhaps, one day, there will be a call: a plaintive meow at the window. And with us, they can welcome a lost big sister home.

 

[pharber-murphy]

Oh, this is very sad news. I'm sorry that Kia hasn't returned home. We were all hoping for the best.

Nimrod will probably appreciate having other cats around to play with, chase and worry about. I hope that your friend finds you a pair of sisters soon to get NImrod back into the swing of things.

Best regards.

 

[nansiludie]

I'm very sorry she didn't come home. Its never easy when a cat is missing. Especially an indoor cat. I am glad to hear that in time, Nimrod will have a couple of kitty friends and if Kia would ever come home, she would still have a home. I do like the names you picked out for the girls.  

 

[magister]

Oh, this is very sad news. I'm sorry that Kia hasn't returned home. We were all hoping for the best.

Unfortunately, I was never very optimistic, simply because this is such a quiet area and her disappearance was so sudden, and so utterly out of character for her. But (of course) I was determined to do all I could, even though I had little hope.

Nimrod will probably appreciate having other cats around to play with, chase and worry about. I hope that your friend finds you a pair of sisters soon to get NImrod back into the swing of things.

Luckily, at only thirty-one months, he is, I hope, young and playful enough still to accept new kittens without too many problems. Also, he's so lonely now that, barring some appalling mistake on my part, he should be glad of the company.


I'm buying a very large soft-crate for the initial introductions, just in case. But he's not aggressive (except to that little sod of a cat down the road who used to try to attack him), and I do think he'll be fine, perhaps after a hiss or two.

 

[magister]

I'm very sorry she didn't come home. Its never easy when a cat is missing. Especially an indoor cat.

,P>She was about 80% indoor; moreso as she grew up. Nimrod seemed just as happy in or out, but Kîa loved sitting in the window in the top of the huge cat tree in the sitting-room, watching the world go by.

I am glad to hear that in time, Nimrod will have a couple of kitty friends and if Kia would ever come home, she would still have a home. I do like the names you picked out for the girls.

They (as is Kîa) are derived from an invented language: part of a fantasy epic I've been working on (on and off) for many years, with the intention one day to publish (if, of course, ever I get around to finishing it). They're not just sounds; heach has a meaning, and a detailed internal etymology.

 

[kstonya]

Is there any places that could have caused a trap? Maybe she has gotten trapped somewhere? I hope not with out any food. I have read stories where animals have gotten trapped like in a car or trailer and then had to find their way home. Maybe this happened with Kia. I'm praying that some way you will know what happened. Might check to see if any neighbors have gone on vacations or moved and maybe we can find your Kia.

 

[magister]

Is there any places that could have caused a trap? Maybe she has gotten trapped somewhere? I hope not with out any food.

Unfortunately, anything is possible, depending on how far she may have strayed. I printed flyers and put an advert in the local paper (which is delivered free to all households). Also, Pet Finders have contacted nearly a hundred and seventy organisations and affiliates, together with posting her details all over various social media. But of course, in the end, one is relying ultimately on the care and decency of strangers to check their sheds, gardens etc.. She does have a tremendously good pair of lungs, and most definitely would have set up a racket if she could. Also, unlike her brother (who has to explore every new nook and cranny), she has never been an explorer. I'd have said it would be tremendously unlikely that she would go investigating whilst she had a garden in wihch to roll around in the sun. But one can never be absolutely certain as to what a little pussy-cat might decide to do; in the end, they're a law unto themselves. The fact that nobody has seen anything after all this time doesn't bode well.

I have read stories where animals have gotten trapped like in a car or trailer and then had to find their way home. Maybe this happened with Kia. I'm praying that some way you will know what happened.

Really, that would be the only other reasonable possibility, assuming she didn't come to harm. But I just can't see her doing something like that, especially not on a warm, sunny afternoon. Her own garden was just too much her home.

 

[Columbine]

I'm so sorry there's been no news. You may find that Bach's Flower remedies help Nimrod adjust to life without Kia. I've had great success with using them on animals in the past. I'd suggest Star of Bethlehem (trauma/shock), Honeysuckle (loss), Walnut (change) and Olive (emotional exhaustion). Put 2 drops of each remedy into a 30ml bottle and top up with water. Give 4 drops of this mix 4 times a day in food/treats.

I know it's getting less likely, but I still hope for a happy reunion for you all.

Kittens sound like a lovely idea when the time is right, and the names you've chosen are beautiful.

 

[magister]

I'm so sorry there's been no news. You may find that Bach's Flower remedies help Nimrod adjust to life without Kia. I've had great success with using them on animals in the past. I'd suggest Star of Bethlehem (trauma/shock), Honeysuckle (loss), Walnut (change) and Olive (emotional exhaustion). Put 2 drops of each remedy into a 30ml bottle and top up with water. Give 4 drops of this mix 4 times a day in food/treats.

I did think of trying those, but pet flower remedies are proving here extremely difficult to get (even the major local pet shop franchises appear not to carry them). The human equivalents are everywhere, but only the pet versions ar guaranteed not to contain alcohol. I have foud a health-food place that stocks them, but their selection is somewhat limited.


Unfortunately, Nimrod reacts barely at all to Feliway; in fact, I'm not convinced really it's doing anything for him.

I know it's getting less likely, but I still hope for a happy reunion for you all.

Nothing is impossible, but it is looking very grim. He's just gone out again, into the cold. He's stopped his perpetual searching. But he finds it very difficult to settle in the evenings (their usual mad play-time of chasing one another all over the place). And still, he's very clingy with me and increasingly terrified of anybody else; not good.

Kittens sound like a lovely idea when the time is right, and the names you've chosen are beautiful.

Thank you. Names are something into which I do try to put a great deal of care: not always easy using a created language, still somewhat in its infancy. Nimrod was named for the mythical hunter, as none of the created names I tried seemed to suit.


But the girls' names are from original characters.

 

[Columbine]

I've always used the regular human remedies - by the time you've made up the blend there's virtually no alcohol content anyway. The Bach Centre says it's fine to use the human essences too - as does a friend of mine who's trained in the use of them. I've never had an issue, anyway.

I hope Nimrod is able to adjust soon. I know it's highly unlikely that Kia will be found now, and that you both have to move on. Like I said, though, I can still hope

to you both.

 

[magister]

I've always used the regular human remedies - by the time you've made up the blend there's virtually no alcohol content anyway. The Bach Centre says it's fine to use the human essences too - as does a friend of mine who's trained in the use of them. I've never had an issue, anyway.

Certainly the human equivalents are a great deal easier to get, not to mention a good bit less expensive. I might just give thos a try.

I hope Nimrod is able to adjust soon. I know it's highly unlikely that Kia will be found now, and that you both have to move on. Like I said, though, I can still hope

to you both.

It's taking time. He's crying again now: just after eleven in the evening. The night seems to be the worst for him; I assume he tries to sleep, then keeps realising she's not there. I'm going to have to let him out again for a while. I'm not too keen on doing that late at night, but he wont play (or at least, only very little), and running around outside is the only way to get him tired enough to sleep. Poor little thing.

 

[my4llma]

SorryForYourLoss1

• my4llma
• Apr 9, 2015

Beautiful Kia 

 

[magister]

Just a last update.

It's been now three months, and, unfortunately, there have been no sightings, reports or news of any kind. Of course, I'll not give up, but after so long, I must assume poor little Kîa is lost and will never be coming home. Nimrod seems at last to understand his sister has taken her last journey, and is becoming more his old self. So, it's time to move on.


Barring anything unexpected, Rîna and Tällia will be arriving tomorrow (Sunday) in the early afternoon. They are about eleven weeks old: two little tortoiseshell sisters, and very friendly and social. Their mother is a Turkish Van; their father an unknown moggie. The mother and her litter of five kittens (four girls and a boy) were surrendered to a pound (shelter) when the kittens were about five or six weeks old, but, it appears, very well cared for before that, as all already were very friendly and well socialised.


Obviously, this thread is not the place, but I'll try to get pictures (still don't myself have a decent working camera), and post in a forum more appropriate.


Of course, I've no idea how Nimrod will take to them, but perhaps something good can come from all that's happened. Let's hope it will.

 

[Columbine]

I am so, so sorry. I kept hoping that little Kia would find her way home. I hope she's been taken in by someone and is happy in a new hope - far better than the alternative.

I'm glad that Nimrod is coping better now. The kittens sound like a great idea. I hope the introductions go smoothly. These articles have some good pointers  [article="32680"]How To Successfully Introduce Cats The Ultimate Guide​[/article],  [article="29726"]Introducing Cats To Cats​[/article]. Pictures would be wonderful 

 

[magister]

I am so, so sorry. I kept hoping that little Kia would find her way home.

Unfortunately, it seems it was not to be.


As for the links: thanks; I'll check to be certain I've read them, although I suspect I've read every cat introduction link on the site. With Nimrod's tendency towards timidity, I want to be as certain as I can that the introductions will go as smoothly as possible.


I've bought an x-large soft-crate (Animates Dog Soft Crate), hopefully which will help ensure Nimrod can see but not touch until I'm certain he won't become aggressive. Of course, for the most part, they'll be kept at first in their own room, but I've set up the crate in the sitting-room, with an extra bed, a slender but sturdy scratching post, some toys and a small litter pan. There's not a lot of room, even with it being the largest I could get. But they can spend a little time on-and-off in there so Nimrod can watch.


Hopefully, things will go well, and later, I can set up the crate out the back and under cover, as an additional shelter should they want it when outside.

 

[magister]

A year! It's hard to believe so much time has past. Even with Rîna and Tällia bringing so much new life and kitten chaos to the house, still, there is an emptiness: a strange quiet. In the stillness of the night, even now, sometimes I'll wake, almost certain I've heard Kîa's insistent, familiar cry at the window, telling me she's cold, and it's time to come in.


It's then most that I remember her; then, and when Nimrod cries suddenly, seemingly out of the blue. Is he remembering her: his little, lost sister? Does he grieve too still sometimes in his own, quiet way?


Unfortunately, although I have some audio recordings of the two of them, made a day after they arrived, I've almost no video; and almost all her pictures were lost. I've no hope now to create the memorial I'd have wished. Had it been a kinder world, the Youtube link to the song below would have been the soundtrack I'd have used for the memorial my little, wild huntress deserved. It could not be more appropriate to express all that she was, and all she might have wished, had only she been able to speak.


Farewell, Kîa; little lady. Run wild and free. forever shall you be close, and forever remembered.


Agnetha Fältskog - Past Forever