Houdini cat in chains

Yesterday Raj, also known as Houdini Cat and Psycho Cat - escaped from the house at 11AM. He is a house cat only and is terrified of the big outside world. Due to my jetlag, I dropped my guard for a moment, not properly latching a door, and he had it open in a flash and was gone.

Paladian and I spent a lot of time looking for him across the street, in the properties next door, and in our own backyard. All to no avail for the first 5 hours, as he was no doubt hiding in the tall bushes. Not making a sound in reply to our calls.

Finally Paladian saw him crossing the street, and we started to encourage him to come towards us, but he was growling and spitting and backing off into bushes if we moved towards him. He was quite wild, frightened and in his attack mode, so we backed off. No point in trying to get any closer for the time being.

When this same thing happened a year ago, Paladian had her arm shredded when approaching him in his terrified state and bending down to pick him up. This time we could not get any closer than 2 metres or so.

As it grew dark, we knew we had to give up on any further encouragement, and wait him out till he got hungry. At 10PM he came slinking into the family room upstairs. We had left the back door unlocked so that he could come in when he was ready to give up on his freedom. He went straight for his food bowl as expected. I am sure he was starving hungry after his exciting adventure, and no doubt frightening 11 hours on the run.

After eating, although still jumpy, very edgy and anxious, he went to bed - exhausted. Too bad he could not tell us what he had been up to!

This morning as his punishment we put him in chains!