[Twinkie]

Our cat’s name is BRUTUS! We first tried her on “Zip”, but
she would not come when we called her by that name. Then I
tried “Zippy” - same result. Then I tried calling her
“Lambchop”. She absolutely HATED that name! Even the
neighbor kids just broke down and guffawed when I called
her “Lambchop”! When I did see her again, she looked at me
like, “The name , “Lambchop”, is WEAK and the kids are even
making fun of me!” - I said, “OK. I’ll make it a tough name,
like BRUTUS!” - Well, she answered to that one with bells on. I thought all kids knew who “Lambchop” was; but then I
realized that Shari Lewis had been deceased for over 16
years, so the kids had never heard of “Lambchop”. (So, it
*could* be that “Squeek” wants a more macho name.)

Also, something may be hanging around that is scaring
“Squeek”. Brutus is not afraid of ANYTHING. We have all
sorts of wild stuff out here on the river, and I feel
sorry for anything that tangles with her! She eats
Purina Hippie Cat Food with real meat in it and also
“Wildcat Food” from TSC with real wild game in it. (I
called her “Cattbutt” the other day and she did “meow”
in response; but I think “Brutus” is a better name than
“Cattbutt” would be.) Brutus is a “she”, too, which
makes it even worse!

[Hot Tabasco]

I can let Squeek come in and out from the back deck but she doesn’t really spend much time out there. It’s when she is out there and I decide to step outside, she’ll come running back into the house......

[Hot Tabasco]

As a side note, several years ago I had a cleaning company come in to clean my air ducts. While the guy was going thru the house and blowing out my air vents, Squeek was hiding under the bed until the guy went in there to do his work.

All I saw was a dash of fur and she disappeared. Well, I looked high and low throughout the house for her after the guy left and I couldn't find her. So I automatically assumed she had escaped the house through the door to the garage which was open due to his hose.

I was frantic since she had never left the house and I thought she had run away. So I took her can of treats and spent a half hour walking around the area looking for her but never found her.

Once I returned home, I went out on the back deck and continued to rattle the treat can and call her name. Finally, I gave up and turned to go back into the house and there she was, standing in doorway looking at me.....LOL!

She obviously had found a safe hiding space somewhere in the house where I couldn't find her.