It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Supercat!

Back in our lives without missing a beat -- even as his 14-hour missing-in-action episode yesterday threw the rest of our lives into disarray* -- Baby almost literally flies in through the window at Goomp's.  A difficult moment to catch on "film." The flying cat is quicker than the eye, let alone the digital camera's flash mechanism.  In fact, we've been trying for months to capture such a moment. Both Tiny and Baby are partial to this method of entering the house, as the window is right beside Goomp's computer and therefore a better than average way for them to catch our eye.

Note rear right paw (center in detail photo) making contact with the window sill at the same moment front left paw is making contact (right in full-puddy photo above). It's a Muybridge moment -- as blogged here -- summarizing the pioneering photographer's fast-motion studies where serial photography revealed that the traditional artists' portrayal of running horses with legs extended front and back and all hooves off the ground at once was incorrect. As Muybridge discovered, opposite hooves -- as well as paws (he also did motion studies of a running cat) -- work together.  Same thing with hands and feet.  When we walk or run, our swinging arm and moving leg of opposite sides work together.  It's a Darwinian thing

*Thank you, dear family and friends, for gathering close to comfort us when we were so worried about Baby's whereabouts yesterday, and thank you for sharing our joy when the little rascal suddenly appeared at the door last night as if nothing had happened.  All he wanted to know was "Where's my supper?" Also, re the 14 hours, it was actually more like 24+ hours, as he had gone out the night before just after supper -- probably around 5 or 6 -- and was never seen again till 8 p.m. the following night. Long time no see, pussycat.  So glad you're back in our lovin' arms.

Comments

[Barry Johnson]

My wife and I felt your pain - Our own cat, Frank, went missing for a week last February and we thought he was lost forever. Glad to hear Baby made it back in 14 hours. Whew!

[Sissy Willis]

Thanks so much for your note, Barry. Cats never fail to amaze.

[The Proprietor]

Feline felicitations. If you are getting the nor' easter that we are today, he made it back just in time.

[acjgoomp]

Just a bit of wind and overcast here so far. Lots of crashing surf on the far shore. Rain predicted later on this afternoon.

[CoolBlue]

That's terrific!

And for the record, I've never gone missing for a week....

recently.

[Laurence Simon]

I keep threatening our cats that I'm going to get one of those keyfinder units. I'd latch the keyfinder tags to their collars (and force Nardo and Piper to wear theirs 24/7, which they hate) and then BUZZ them to find them outside.

Luckily, Nardo never strays far, and he always comes when called.

[Sissy Willis]

You always make me LOL, Frank. Thanks so much, everyone who left a note or two, for your empathy and -- in the Prop's aptly and affably alliterative arrangement -- feline felicitations.

[acjgoomp]

I hate making them wear collars, but one is tempted, as you note, Larry. They are outdoor cats only when we visit my father Down East. At home they are tethered, which carries its own set of dangers, including the time Tiny was grabbed by the neck and shaken by a nervous raccoon. Untethered, she would have easily gotten away. Fortunately, Tuck heard the ruckus, and we intervened in time, although Tiny lost one of her fangs (a proud battle scar).

[Popeye]

Your wayward Baby reminded me of the late 2Kitty, an indoor cat whose wanderlust was strong, causing me no end of fretting when he would disappear or 24 hours or more, only to reappear, often the worse for wear. I have composed a short verse in Baby's honor, about these mysterious adventures that cats obviously enjoy. I suspect they serve a higher cat purpose.

Wayward Cats

So where do cats go, when they just go away,
By darkest of night or by bright light of day?
Attending their business with no "by-your-leave,"
Condemning their "owners" to worry and grieve—
They saunter back home with not even a hint
Of what they have done save a mischievous glint,
Perhaps with some scratches, but home with the dawn,
Protecting the secret of where they have gone.
We'd like to forget, but cats do what they do
And patiently teach us what yet remains true:
For all of their wanderings demonstrate that
The simple truth is that no man owns a cat.

Jeffrey Hull, Copyright 2004
By permission

[Deborah]

The Babe came home! ::dancing the dance of joy::

[Sissy Willis]

How sweet it is.