Tales of the Ranchette: Lousia May Alcat, the prodigal cat, returns to the ranchette

By Myra Dean

My little calico, Louisa May Alcat, was here playing in the yard one recent day, but she didn’t come when I called her. She usually stays in or near the backyard and uses the doggie door to come in…when she’s good and ready.

Myra Dean

She doesn’t like to be far from “her dog” HoneyBunch so she’s usually not gone long. They even eat breakfast together out of the same bowl.

But when she didn’t come in and I couldn’t find her, I started praying she had just gone on a short walkabout, although that’s really not her nature. I began to fight off the “what ifs” that worry me whenever one of my companions is not where they’re supposed to be.

That night, I fell asleep sitting in my recliner because I hadn’t slept much since Louisa May left. I woke up about midnight and was sitting and thinking “I need to get up and go to bed ‘proper’!” as the Brits would say. Suddenly, the doggie door slammed open and in ran Louisa May!

She slid about half way across the bedroom, then stopped and casually walked over to the rug by my bed and laid down as if she hadn’t been gone at all.

Louisa was gone two days and two nights and had a cut on her back left paw. It was a bit swollen, but otherwise, she seemed fine.

Both dogs, Chip and HoneyBunch, her Mama and her two brothers, Mousey and Charlie, have checked on her. With their sense of smell, I’m sure they were finding out (with every sniff) where she’d been on her grand adventure.

After HoneyBunch had given Louisa the once over, she laid down right beside her and stayed right next to her best friend. They’re lying on the rug next to my bed as I write this, and they can stay there. I’ll leave them there for the night and try to remember not to step on them.

She’s exhausted, but she’s home! All is well again at the Ranchette.