August 18, 2011

Pets On Quilts Entry

This post has a second title and that is:
Sunny's Bad Day
FYI, Sunny is safe and as sound as he ever is now.  The morning of August 11th I was sleeping in, happily curled up under a quilt of my own making I pepped open one eye when my 6 year old daughter came running in.  "Daddy Lost Sunny and now he's outside!"

Say what?  Most of that went right into and out of my sleep fogged brain.  But I heard the words; lost, Sunny, outside and that was more than enough to have me pushing myself up from the bed. I tried to think clearly while convincing DD to explain it to me.

Eventually I got the whole story.  It was pouring down rain that morning and as our yard had just been mowed my DH went to check the neighborhood drains to make sure the rainwater was draining away instead of clogging up.  He came in and closed the door behind him.  As DH went into the kitchen to make another cup of coffee he heard our infamous Sunny digging in the litter box.  After a bit of early morning putzing DH went to the mud room and was alarmed to find the front door wide open.    Seems the door hadn't quite latched.  DH went outside and looked around - no sign of anything.  So he closed the door (for real this time) and started a systematical search of the entire house.


Some of you already know Sunny is a special needs cat.  He had two operations before he was a month old due to an upper respiratory infection that went to his eye, which sadly is somewhat common in feral neonatal kittens.  Sunny is not all there at least part of the time.  He has spent at least part of his past 7 years trying to get back under our house where we found him.  Back to his mother (who was hit by a car and died a handful of years ago) and his mute brother (who died while Sunny himself was undergoing medical treatment for his eye).


I adore my Sunny, he lights up my days and makes me laugh so I was quick to become the crazy woman standing at the door in my pj's yelling "Sunny, Sunny!" out the back door.  I spent the day looking out the windows for my red fur ball, and DH was out searching whenever the rain would let up.  

Thankfully he was found around 3 that very afternoon, rolling around in my neighbor's driveway.  DH brought him to me and placed him in my arms.  He is a Maine Coon Mix so he was completely dry except for some very dirty wet feet.  But Sunny seemed inclined to stay in my arms and I'm not the type to wash a cat that has only just found his way home.

You'd think that would be the end of the story.  Cat returns home, everyone's happy.  But instead the tale goes on.  Sunny seemed to be more sort circuited than ever and would leave me only to get a drink or a snack out of his food bowl.  He seemed to get lost trying to come back to me and would call out crying.  I would call back to him and unlike his normal laid back personality that only comes when called sometimes, the new Sunny would come running and sit with me for hours.  Maine Coon cats don't often speak and when they do they have a low rip your heart out sort of voice.  That's what my Sunny sounds like.  This behavior went on for about four days, he even took to sleeping with us.  Let me tell you I love him but it wore a little thin.  Especially as he would sit on the floor in the kitchen while we were eating dinner look up at one of us and cry.  When he would jump down from my lap I began to wonder how long it would be before he would start crying again.  And crying it was - long and low and sad.  Thankfully after the 3rd day it started to lessen and now he's returned to his normal self.  I can't tell you how glad I am that everything is back to normal.

My friend Vicki told me about GPS and radio pet collars that allow you to track your pets.  I think Sunny needs one.
The Quilt Sunny is laying on is Patisserie Waltz and it's my daughter's quilt which I finished this spring.  The Quilt is traditionally called a Tennessee Waltz, as it uses both snowball blocks and the fight star block.  All I know is that when I saw that pretty Patisserie fabric I knew it had to be a quilt for DD.  Then I saw Eleanor Burns making this particular quilt on her show and I knew it was the perfect answer for this fabric.  My DH is a whiz with acrylic and made the triangle templates I needed and everything went together lickity split, of course until I tried to use fusible batting but that's a different story which you can read here.

That's my entry to SewCalGal's Pet's on Quilts Show.  So often we read sad stories online and never find out how the ending resolved.  Well let me tell you what this white pawed boy is staying inside with me!

35 comments:

Nanbon44 said...

Poor little sonny, he must have had a terrible adventure in the outside world... glad he is safe and sound again

QuiltSue said...

Sunny is absolutely beautiful. I'm so glad to know that his traumatic escapade had a happy ending. You already know that I love your Patisserie Waltz.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Sunny is so cute, thank goodness you got him back. The GPS radio collar might be just the thing you need. I'm always afraid of our cats getting outside....so far they haven't shown any interest. We had a special needs cat about 15 years ago...went to the shelter to get a kitten and saw this mangy female adult crouched back in a cage. We looked at her and was told "You don't want that cat, she has been beaten and abused". We took her home and it was over a month before she came to me. She didn't have good balance and would fall. I am thankful we made her last years better.

Staci said...

Sunny's a lucky little fella! I hope the rest of his life is safe and healthy! Thanks for sharing his story, and that lovely quilt.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I;m glad there was a happy ending for Sunny who has gone thru enough alread in his young life. A GPS sounds like a good plan. My sister has those on her 2 kitties also the implanted info chip .

Brita said...

What a lovely story, poor baby got home safe and sound, and I doubt he'll wander afar again! Little critters don't understand life and their circumstances, and we have to guard them as best we can. I'm glad Sunny's home and well. Thanks for sharing his story!

stitchinpenny said...

Feral cats are susch a mixed bag. They want to be loved, yet they still want to be free. I'm so glad you got him back safely. I hope his picture wins.

Becky said...

Thanks for sharing Sunny's story with us! Beautiful quilt!

Gladys said...

Sunny is so beatiful! And he have an Angel: you and your family! I hope he are well very soon! A hug!

Lynette said...

Awww Sunny's so lucky to have you. Poor guy! Wonder what traumatized him so much. And I'm so jealous that your hubby can just make you a template any time you want one! ;D

Joanna said...

Lunny looks so loveable. I can understand why you love having him around.

Wacky Woman said...

Thanks for sharing your story. I too had a Maine Coon cat that had been a feral cat. He came to us as an adult from the vet's office. He had been broought in after being hit by a car. I was his only human friend. And, that was on his terms. Miss that guy.

Thearica said...

Something out there in that wide wicked world scared the beejeebers out of Sunny... probably a dog! I bet he won't do that again anytime soon.

I am so glad you found him!

Heather Landry said...

I am so glad that Sunny came home safely. I think the GPS collar would be a great idea. I wouldn't say so for a "normal" cat but Sunny is so special in very many ways!!! Keep him close Liz. Huge hugs to both of you.

hetty said...

Glad Sunny came home. One of my cats is a rescue cat and won't leave me alone, esecially at night or when it is raining.

Dana Gaffney said...

Thank goodness. I was worried through most of the story. I'm glad Sunny has such a loving home. I wonder if the crying was a result of being scared, I'm not sure he'll want to go back out. I'm glad it's a happy ending, thank you.

Snoodles said...

Aww, sweet lil guy....I'm so glad he's OK. He's precious!

Vicki said...

I love those pictures of Sunny, very cute indeed.

Miss Hillbilly said...

So glad that Sunny has you to care for him!

Lesly said...

Oh my goodness what a story! So glad it had a happy ending! And I love your beautiful quilt, as well!

Kelli Fannin Quilts said...

Wow, Sunny's story is melting my heart! So glad it turned out well. That is a really beautiful quilt, too!

Belinda said...

Oh Sunny. I know you were so scared. Glad your Mama could hold you and pet you until you felt better.

Pat V. said...

I'm sure Sunny feels very loved. Thanks for sharing his story!

Jocelyn said...

Thanks for sharing Sunny's story.

andsewon said...

Awwhh bless his sweet lil heart! Glad he is safe and sound again.
Pretty quilt too!

paulette said...

Sonny is adorable...and so blessed to have you!!
Paulette

Melissa ;-) said...

Sunny obviously loves you very much! Lucky kitty!

The Vegetarian Hunter said...

Sunny must have been really worried about not making it home. No wonder he stuck to you like glue for four days! Mine thankfully do not cling to me, but they do follow me from room to room. Funny little babies aren't they?

Janet said...

Sonny is a special cat for sure. And such a sweetie when he was a kitten. Thanks for being kind to him.

Jane said...

Sunny is precious! I'm glad he has you & you love him so much.

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hello! Thank you for sharing Sunny's story! She is special and so beautiful cat who is also very lucky to have so loving family!
Just today one kitten flyed to Finland with his mom! My friend was visiting me and we rescued this tiny kitten!
Your quilt is really wonderful!
Have a lovely time with your sweet cats!
Teje & Nero

LethargicLass said...

Thanks for sharing Sunny with us :)

QueenB said...

Looks like Sunny has a wonderful home. He looks in great condition now.

Gretchen said...

Very touching story about Sunny. It sounds like he was just so scared that it took him several days to get over it. My cat Morpheus does a similar thing where he will be in another room and just cry and cry at the top of his lungs until you find him or keep calling his name. We call it his "getting lost" game. Mind you he has been doing this for 17 years. But that's just what he does. So happy your sweet kitty found such a loving family.

Karen M said...

What a special guy you have there. He's very lucky to have such a loving family.