Basement Basement Basement

Lynn Byrd, May 16, 2023

Cats are the witchy shape-shifting bosses of the Universe. When they come whispering in my ear or knocking on the caverns in my head, you bet I’ll listen. There was one message this time, but they kept on saying it. In unison, like a Greek Chorus, and there was no ignoring them.

Today’s featured Chorus, spirit cats Shiki Coco Pop and Jimmie Rae Swicegood, are superior communicators. Here’s how it went down.

TEXT: Friday, 9:16am: cat rescuer Lisa (CR) and me (ME)

CR: Hey my friend…do you have any thoughts or ideas about this kitty (sends photo of beautiful Siamese). Owner senses he is outside and far from home

ME: Well, my first thought is that he is trying to rehome himself. And the second thought is that he needs help finding his way back to safety. What are you thinking? Have you reached out to his person? Are you there now?

CR: Yes I messaged her. She feels he’s not near her. Asked me about an animal communicator. I’m going later to look. Wondering if kitty is near the church

ME: Please give her my number. I work with an exquisite communicator

CR: I knew you would know someone (weirdo heh heh)

ME: Yep, one of my mentors. For decades. Ask her to call ASAP, I’m heading out to water the garden soon and won’t have my phone with me

A few general scenarios to consider. Indoor cats rarely leave the yard and are often found very quickly. Indoor/outdoor cats rarely leave the immediate area of home unless they are chased or otherwise misplaced and are in unfamiliar territory, and it may take hours, days, weeks, or even months to locate them. Longest for me? 48 days. Outdoor cats and former ferals are wild cards and most often are the ones who require trapping. And any number of service cats rehome themselves because their work at your house is done. Shifty cats can be heartbreaking and weird that way.

CALL: 10:26am, with missing cat person (MCP):

MCP: I’m sure he’s outside because he can open the screen door… there’s a feral cat colony about two blocks away…ten years ago one of my cats disappeared and then…I’ve looked in my yard, the neighbor’s bushes, everywhere, he’s not there. He may be across the street…he may have taken a ride in a hearse…he’s not anywhere I’ve looked…yes, I’ve looked there more than once. He’s definitely outside. I’m sure of it. He is not anywhere in the house, I’m sure…yes, absolutely sure.  If he heard my voice calling, he’d meow, I’m sure.

The missing cat known as Wookie is about four years old and has a permanent head tilt due to an early illness that caused neurological issues. He tends to walk in circles when he’s stressed.   Apparently, this indoor-only cat has mad escape skills. Sometime between Noon and 6pm on Tuesday, approximately 72 hours before I get a call, he is thought to have opened the door and gone on a walkabout.

MCP: He’s done it twice before, but he was gone only a few hours each time and was found in my yard the first time and in my next door neighbor’s yard the second time.

Wookie’s person has decades of experience volunteering for a cat rescue operation and has fostered over 400 cats in her house, so of course she knows what to do. But she’s run out of options, and she’s assuming some things about her cat that in Tracker World may not hold true.  

CHORUS: basement basement basement

It was impossible to miss the message. It wasn’t loud, but it was solid. Knock, knock. First thought: how silly of me to think I am energetically open enough to receive this kind of instruction. Second thought: how silly of me to think that I am not. It blows my mind every single time. I step through the veil, giving thanks to my trusty envoys.

Me: Would you mind checking your basement?

MCP: I’ve checked my basement. I’m in and out of the basement several times a day. He’s not there.

Me: Okay, but would you mind checking again?

MCP: He’s not down there. I know he’s not. I’m 100% sure.

CHORUS: She’s sure, she’s sure, she’s sure, surely, oh yes! she’s sure. Suuuuure.

TEXT: 2:22pm to CR

ME: basement basement basement. My envoys continue to send me this message. They are adamant. I had to stop watering the garden and come in to share it. This is the third time. Wookie’s person gets frustrated when I suggest the basement

TEXT: 2:57pm

CR: Interesting…I cannot get her to line up with the basement thing. I told her you have a gift…I hope she listens to you…does she even have a basement

ME: She does and there’s a crawl space but she hasn’t heard him and doesn’t think he’s there. She may be right. But he could be in someone’s basement

CR: She needs to be in that crawl space looking

ME: I’m not there so I don’t know what she’s doing, but she’s resistant to my suggestions

CR: She’s convinced if he hears her voice he’ll meow…but that’s not necessarily true. If he’s scared or hurt he won’t meow

ME: You’re right, I mentioned that as well. Everyone is convinced that their pet will behave differently than all the others

CR: Well you’ve told her, she needs to forget how he acts inside, etc…this is DAY 3…she needs to understand that this is what you do

ME: I can’t make them listen. I can only go so far. Anything beyond that doesn’t serve. It’s so flippin hard to back away, but I cannot push. It creates too much stress and tension…but this cat seems to be showing up for me in her basement in a very strong way

Yeah. Dang. Here’s the thing. “Flight Mode” is an almost feral psychology most animals get into when they’re misplaced. By the time I’m asked to track, most pets are already there, long past the point of familiarity and completely numb to their names and their people. Calling and chasing serves only to shut them down, drive them further from home, and place them in greater danger. The most commonly repeated phrase I hear is, “S/he’s never acted like this before,” followed by, “But s/he always comes to me.” Strap yourself in, folks. Locating your missing pet is hard work.

I used to get really short with people who don’t listen when they’ve asked for my help. But lately, I wish them luck and step away and it’s on them to figure it out. But dagnabbit. Just slow down and listen, willya? Please? Because the last thing in the world I want to do is step out of a track. I really want to help you and your beloved reunite. Why? Because it’s the best thing in the world when that happens!

TEXT: 4:20p

ME: Your cat seems to be showing up for me in a basement in a very strong way…look for a cool dark space…he’s not moving, he’s hunkered

MCP: Thank you headed home in about a half hour thanks

CHORUS: she says no to the basement, no cat in the basement she says no no no no, she don’t go there no more

Well hell. She just blew me off. Okay. The garden still needs attention. I may have time to paint. My dogs and cats are looking pretty hungry. Plenty to do. Plenty to do.

CHORUS: basement basement basement

Dag.

CHORUS: let it gooooooah na na hey hey buh bye

TEXT: 6:43p

MCP: Well, now feeling really stupid

Just fed the crew and went into the basement to get something from the freezer and he was at the bottom of the steps in motion and ran and hid from me. Not sure where he is, but the door is open, lights on, 3 cats down eating the treats I scattered for him.

Glad he is safe, but now I have to reflect why he wouldn’t meow to me. I guess a new place and he went into processing overload.

Thank you!!!

ME: You’re welcome! That’s great!

TEXT 7:26pm

ME: Cat’s in her basement, did she call you? So, you don’t have to go looking tomorrow.  He’s right there

CR: What

Are u serious

ME: Yes

CR: For 3 days

ME: Yep

CR: What made her look

ME: Says she went down to get something and saw him run by the bottom of the steps. All good. Wookie is safe!

CHORUS: a triple scoop is better than one, and morals are stylish and usually fun, so here are three to take for free. Never presume to know your pet’s mind and always follow the message’s line and the third one you sing annnn’ a one, an’ a three when things don’t go your way but you’re grateful today, that’s a moral.

ME: Wrapping it up, putting a bow on it.

Grateful for chorus members Jimmie Rae Swicegood and Shiki Coco Pop: then, now, and forevermore.