Ginger Disappeared for 19 Hours
Last Friday, 09 Oct, was a terrible day for me 😭. I lost Ginger for 19 hours — the longest 19 hours I’ve ever lived. Once again, I couldn’t function when either of them disappeared on me. Even though I will be away from them for many days soon, it is still unbearably hard not knowing where they are or whether they’re hurt 🩹.
That morning I did the usual routine — filled their food bowls, refreshed the water inside the house, then went outside to change the water there as well. Normally, Ginger would come back inside while I washed the outdoor bowl. But not that day. She was nowhere to be seen. I called for her many times, but she didn’t appear.
I thought she was just being sleepy, so I continued my routine: watered the plants, prepared my day drink and breakfast drink. After everything was done, I called for her again from her usual sleeping spot. Still nothing. So I went with Cross to look for her. We checked different neighboring areas — all the usual places where Ginger and Cross hang out. No response, no sign of her. I returned home, but my mind couldn’t stop racing. What happened to Ginger? Would I ever see her again? So many questions and so much worry. Half an hour later, I went out again. This time Cross didn’t join me; I let him sleep upstairs. I searched another area where Ginger rarely goes because stray dogs hang around there. Cross isn’t afraid of them, but Ginger always growls when they’re near. Again, I came home empty-handed.
Two hours later, I went out again. I don’t know if it was just in my head or if I truly heard Ginger crying. The sound was faint and far away. I even trespassed into my neighbor’s yard and checked the same place where they were stuck last time. But no — Ginger wasn’t there.
I kept calling for her, hoping she would respond. But the birds were singing, the neighbors’ dogs were barking, and the traffic noise drowned everything. I couldn’t hear anything from a cat. I was desperate. Before heading home, I saw Christophe returning from work. I asked him for help — to confirm whether the voice I heard was real or just my imagination. He listened and heard a faint cat cry too, but neither of us could tell where it came from. We split up to search, but still no Ginger. Before we parted, he told me to prepare myself for the possibility that Ginger might not come back, since anything could have happened. I didn’t know how to think or whether I could accept that.
After 18:00, Cross must have been starving. I fed him and didn’t want him to go out at all. I was scared I might lose Cross too. I held him tightly, crying from the heartache of losing Ginger. And then — I heard Ginger’s voice crying outside. I ran to the door and hugged her so tightly, not wanting to let her go anywhere ever again. She was starving. As soon as I let her down, she ran to the food bowl, but there was only one sardine bowl for Cross. I rushed to the kitchen and opened her favorite tin — tuna. She ate so much in her first round. I checked her for injuries, but she seemed fine. I don’t know where she went or what happened during those 19 hours. I’m just grateful she came back to me.
But now I don’t know if I’ll cry on the plane. Not seeing her for 19 hours already broke me. Today Christophe and I are testing how they react when they don’t see me for a whole day. I’m hiding inside the house without stepping out even once. Christophe is feeding them for me. So far, so good. I’ve been talking to Cross and Ginger through the CCTV mic. I’m not sure if they understand what I’m doing. I just hope they will still be here when I’m away 🙏 🙏 🤞 🤞.
#GingerIsBack#Longest19Hours#FelineFamily#WorriedSick#GingerAndCross#MyPreciousCats#CatMomLife#EmotionalRollercoaster#BlessedSheReturned