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Post by Peach on Dec 16, 2009 21:45:28 GMT -5
And.... the only way to get her out was via the junk room (aka my Room of Doom  ) First, allow me to  . My two bathrooms are being renovated. Today the shower walls went up in bath #1. The two baths are on opposite sides of one wall. When the wall for bath #1 was removed down to the studs, the space underneath the tub in bath #2 was exposed. The contractor and one man worked until 7pm to get the new walls nailed to the studs and the new shower surround glued to the wall. It looked beautiful. The men departed. This is DH's night to play pool, so he was not home. The cats had been confined to their room all day so I immediately let them out into the house. I then proceeded back to bath #1 to look at the day's progress. Then I hear a a very low "meow". Looked around -- no cats in sight. The meow got a little louder. Then, I realized -- my little Indy Cat was inside the wall  Indy is the smallest and the others sometimes pick on her so she is allowed to remain in the house during the day. Since she was born feral, she always hides whenever strangers are in the house. So, I didn't think anything of not seeing her all day, except for once earlier in the morning. The LR is where she usually hangs out. Bath #1 is in the back of the house and the center of the activity with the workers today since 8:30 a.m. Drills, saws, glue, hammering, etc. She was probably petrified all day. Being in the wall only inches from the men and their tools. Once I did a head count and confirmed that it was Indy that was missing and the meows were getting louder, there was no doubt that I had a cat sealed up in the wall. First I pulled the glued surround back only to see the newly nailed drywall. I tried prying it off the stud but it only broke apart. But, it did allow Indy to see me and to put her paw partially out. I called the contractor back. He returned with his shower installer and they were incredulous that a cat had been there all day but had not made a sound. They didn't want to tear up the new wall so they went around to bath #2 and tried to break through the ceramic tile around the tub. That is coming out next week anyway. They ran into a stud. The other end of the tub backed up to a wall with the room of doom on the other side. Actually, a packed closet was there. So, into the room of doom we all went. Moved stuff away from the closet. Thankfully, the closet contents are neatly packed in large plastic bins so it was easy to pull them out. A small square hole was cut in the wall and the contractor confirmed that there was a clear path along side the tub for Indy to get out. Then the contractor went into the bathroom and banged on the tub, thinking he was being helpful. Of course not! Once a feral always a feral. She hunkered down. My poor little girl  The men left and I thanked them profusely. Then I got out the tuna and sat down in the closet with a flashlight and Indy's cat family to entice her out. It took 45 minutes and during that time she did not utter one single sound. I was afraid maybe she died of fright. Finally, Her Highness emerged very slowly, jumped over me and strolled away. It was 8:50 p.m. Who would have thought that people would be taking apart my room of doom. Who would have thought that a cat would get trapped in the wall?  After this experience, nothing about my house can embarrass me. Thank you, Lord, for guiding the contractor, his installer and me to get Indy out safely.  Now it's major cuddle time. And, some more tuna. |
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Post by iprocrastinate on Dec 16, 2009 21:48:59 GMT -5
 Wow Peach, that is quite a story and quite an adventure for the kitten to share with her family. So glad there was a happy ending. 
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Dec 16, 2009 22:02:25 GMT -5
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hopehope
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,815 
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Post by hopehope on Dec 16, 2009 22:13:19 GMT -5
wow.
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Post by bluefrog on Dec 16, 2009 23:36:14 GMT -5
What is it with cats? They really must have nine lives. I'm so glad she's OK, and out of the wall.
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Post by yearning4order on Dec 16, 2009 23:37:11 GMT -5
Goodness! Glad it all worked out ok.
My favorite part is that the contractors took this seriously and came back. Good peeps.
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Dec 16, 2009 23:59:07 GMT -5
This is the most amazing story ever! Thank goodness you got her out!
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Post by moggyfan on Dec 17, 2009 0:13:51 GMT -5
OMG! Like a Poe story with a happy ending.
I have a scaredy-cat feral too, but he hasn't managed to get inside any walls yet!
SO relieved Indy cat is back with her little family :-)
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Dec 17, 2009 5:49:04 GMT -5
peach peach peach.....you have a way with the kitties don't you? hehehe this was way too funny to read but probably not too funny to live thru.....glad the kitty is safe again....hugs btt  |
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Post by midlife on Dec 17, 2009 9:33:02 GMT -5
Cats and their crazy hiding skills! We owners needs nine lives just to survive all the worry over their hijinks!
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Post by Peach on Dec 17, 2009 9:47:49 GMT -5
Indy and I just love all your nice replies  . I told her she's now a celebrity cat She appears to be okay. She's prancing around the house like the Queen of Sheba. But, keeping close to me. She is more vocal than usual today. Last night she was growling a lot -- too bad she didn't do that while in the wall yesterday before she got sealed up  . Contractor isn't here yet. I've taken an Excedrin and praying that today is not as "exciting" as last night. That kind of thrill I don't need. Yes, Y4O, the contractor is great. He was back here within 15 minutes. I don't think it would have occurred to me to open the wall in the junk room . It was interesting to see how quickly they moved from one solution to another by talking about the 'unseen' part of the house (underneath the tub). As for embarrassment, my concern for Indy and what was going through her mind, overtook that emotion. But it was there. Oh well... thankfully we had a quick and happy ending. Lioness -- I just love your emoticons. BTT -- Funny? Yes. In retrospect....   but I hope NEVER to have a repeat performance. Her Highness is now up on top of the kitchen cabinets. Let's hope she stays there. This reminds me of another story with Indy's brother Squirt, wherein he refused to come out from under a bookcase. I'll have to write that up on our Pet Problems thread in Byways (private area of the board). |
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Post by phoenixcat on Dec 17, 2009 9:52:34 GMT -5
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Post by AnnieOkie on Dec 17, 2009 10:11:30 GMT -5
This happened to me about 25 years ago when maintenence came in to blow insulation into the walls!! I, too, thought it reminded me of something out of an Edgar Alan Poe story!! Glad all worked out well!
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Post by DJ on Dec 17, 2009 11:55:24 GMT -5
oh wow yeay for indy getting out of the wall !!!!!
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Post by gettingsomewhere on Dec 17, 2009 12:00:51 GMT -5
big bravo to you for discovering this so quickly and also for your helpful and resourceful contractors. woohooo. xx
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