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Texas cat missing five months in Florida reunites with Fort Worth boys
Associated Press | 12/15/2001

Posted on 12/15/2001 5:16:47 PM PST by sinkspur

ELLISVILLE, Fla. - A cat who survived in the Florida wilds for nearly five months after a traffic accident has been reunited with her Texas family.

Flirt, a 3-year-old orange tabby, disappeared following the July 22 accident near Lake City. Owners Ray Juarez, 13, and his brother, Brian Lambert, 16, of Fort Worth, Texas, were reunited Dec. 8 with the cat.

During the accident, Flirt's cat-carrier was ejected from the vehicle, its door sprang open and the terrified cat ran off. The boys were severely injured and spent several weeks recovering in a Jacksonville hospital.

Their mother and sister suffered minor injuries. The family had been traveling back to Texas after staying for several months in Boca Raton.

A bony and bedraggled, 5-pound Flirt was found Nov. 18 at the Ellisville home of Betty Reader. The cat's front leg was caught up in her collar, which probably hampered its ability to get food in the wild, an area veterinarian said. Flirt had shed some 12 pounds.

Reader remembered seeing fliers posted about a missing cat and was able to track down the injured boys' aunt, Terri Rayne of Rehoboth Beach, Del. Rayne drove down to pick up Flirt.

Rayne later flew to Fort Worth with the cat to reunite her with the boys.

"I'm really happy to have her back," Ray said. "She still remembers me. She slept with me Saturday night, just like she always did. I told her I missed her."

For education and discussion purposes only.


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To: sinkspur
The cat's front leg was caught up in her collar,

All my kitties wear "breakaway" collars, even their flea collars. Thanks for the harrowing but happy-ending story. :-)

21 posted on 12/15/2001 8:05:43 PM PST by DJ MacWoW
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To: sinkspur
Thanks for posting this. I love happy ending animal stories. We have 5 kitties who run this house...
22 posted on 12/15/2001 10:06:25 PM PST by janetgreen
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To: sinkspur
Not with the company. :) Early '98 I was in the same spot so many other FReepers were in, fingers on the keyboard searching my brain for a screen name. I glanced around the room and a screen name was born. It's good that it happened back then or my name would be Bench&Field. Also I saw the double entendre with political leanings in it as in "Diet \Di"et\, n. Specifically: Any of various national or local assemblies" could be scientific.   :)
23 posted on 12/16/2001 11:46:01 AM PST by Lady Jag
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To: WHATNEXT?; lady In Blue; Sinkspur
Thanks, it does remind me of Mad Max's adventures.
He was only missing for two weeks and hadn't lost much weight.
Maybe Max had better luck hunting than the cat in this story...we don't have collars on any of cats because than can get caught on things...

PS Thanks for posting this, Sinkspur; great story !!

24 posted on 12/16/2001 12:13:00 PM PST by blackie
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To: blackie
Here's a pic of Max:

Max

25 posted on 12/16/2001 12:16:18 PM PST by blackie
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To: sinkspur
Hmmm. Almost a whole day and we haven't heard from Tabitha Soren on this thread. She must be slipping.
26 posted on 12/16/2001 12:16:59 PM PST by LJLucido
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To: sinkspur
Thanks for posting this... I like some lighter fare on Sunday!!

My current Kitty, affectionately named "Kitty #8" disapeared for two and a half months not too long after I got him. I obviously assumed he had disappeared for good, much like Seven did.

But #8 came home, interestingly enough... just in the nick of time. (close your eyes if you are easily grossed out) He was in serious trouble. He was a rack of bones, and had six big infected abcesses from fighting his way out of some battle he did not win. By the time the vet had shaved and lanced and stitched him back together, he looked even worse with no hair. He looked like he had been digested by something and thrown back up. The vet said that with the infection and malnutrition he had he would have died within a few days had he not come home.

(OK open your eyes) He now rarely leaves the house! (Of course neutering helped with that) Not the roamer he once was. He doesnt even really work very hard at his job as a mouser any more... What amazes me is that after two and a half months of being on his own, he had to have consciously made the effort to come home, probably knowing that he was in serious trouble?

Here he is now.

Kitty number 8 - His favorite place... in my way


27 posted on 12/16/2001 12:46:06 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: LJLucido;Flyer
I am "cocked and locked" if she comes though... ;~)

Flyer.... critter ping!

28 posted on 12/16/2001 12:48:48 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: sinkspur;HairOfTheDog
Flirt had shed some 12 pounds.

Uh. . . 12 pounds is enough for 1 1/2 cats. How much did Flirt weigh to begin with?

HOTD - #8 is a lucky guy. Gilligan and I need another kitty. He misses having a cuddle partner and I can only live so long without the 'keyboard ballet' cats perform so well.

29 posted on 12/16/2001 1:12:07 PM PST by Flyer
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To: HairOfTheDog
That is one fine looking cat, especially after all he's been through!
30 posted on 12/16/2001 1:22:09 PM PST by sinkspur
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To: Flyer
Happiness is like a cat. If you chase it, it will run away but if you sit quietly and wait, it will steal up on you and sit at your side.
31 posted on 12/16/2001 1:23:07 PM PST by Mercat
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To: sinkspur;Flyer
Thanks!... He is a pretty good lookin' cat. Getting fatter every day though.... hhmmmm.
32 posted on 12/16/2001 2:08:08 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: sinkspur
Thanks,sinkspur! I loved reading about "Flirt." The Lord takes care of all of His creatures, both large and small!
33 posted on 12/16/2001 2:55:34 PM PST by Lady In Blue
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To: blackie
Thanks,blackie for the bump! I immediately thought about your cat! If cats could talk,I bet "Flirt" and "Max" would weave quite a cat's tale!lol!
34 posted on 12/16/2001 3:01:19 PM PST by Lady In Blue
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To: Lady In Blue
Max nodded knowing as he read Sinkspur's posting of the article over my shoulder...
Under his breath he muttered "I wonder if they'll put a collar on her again?" :o)
35 posted on 12/16/2001 4:06:56 PM PST by blackie
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