The cat in the cupboard

I woke up this morning and could not find Ursula. My beautiful cat hadn’t been well, and now she was hiding in a cupboard or some other secret place. Ursula, Ursula, where art thou? She hadn’t knocked on my door politely at 5 am or rudely at 6:15am, as is her wont. She didn’t even come when I loudly opened the fridge door, clicked her plate and put out her food, sending me into a lather of anxiety. Because though unwell, she has been eating with her usual enthusiasm.
First I checked her favourite places. Inside her bed-in-a-box, on top of her bed-in-a-box. On my new rocking chair, on my very old creaking crackling rocking chair that I can’t bear to dump. In the cupboard under the stairs with all my coats, boots, bags, buckets, and recycling.
Baffled, I checked bedrooms, bathrooms, study. Outside on the walkway, outside on the deck. Inside wardrobes and kitchen cupboards. Behind curtains.
Then I started again. Cleared out the remotest corners of the under-stair cupboard, vacuumed in there, and reduced and rationalised the contents. Had that been her plan all along?
Half an hour later she turned up bright as a button — but from where? I’m none the wiser. Wednesday we will see the vet, but for now she seems very pleased with herself. Maybe she just wanted to sleep in.
Just kidding. I know she is not well, and sick cats like to hide in cupboards and other small warm safe and secret places.
PS Beyond a cat in a cupboard
Some bloggers pause when they run out of ideas. Some when real life is belting along almost too fast. I’ve just met a deadline so shortly I’ll blurt out a few things instead of mulling them over first. Meantime you are up to date with my cat’s experimental absence in a cupboard—? a jug? a bed? a curtain? Who knows. Maybe she spotted that I suddenly have time for her and exploited what was to be a “free” morning.
I hope that Ursula will be well soon!
I believe she will.
I guess, you assume, that Ursula was hiding in the cupboard. Can you explain, why you could not see her there? Is she getting better now?
She wasn’t there when I was hunting for her 🙄 I’m sure the vet will help her.
I think that all cats have a secret ability to shape shift. She was probably there as a bucket!
Right! Thank goodness you spotted that!
Awww … wish I could pop round with a special cat-treat but will have to content myself with long-distance Get Well wishes. Glad Ursula has a nice, secluded dark place suitable for an ailing cat. Warmest greetings to both of you.
Thank you Alison! I will pass your kind wishes on to Ursula, who is pretty perky today.
That’s a relief!
Oh cats do have a marvellous ability to hide. My neighbour has a new kitten and thought she’d lost her despite blocking off any nooks & crannies she could think of. He was curled up in the domed (closed) door of her washing machine (on the outside). A nice & cool place to sleep on a hot night.
All the best for Ursula’s vet visit & her recovery.
So young and yet so smart!
I hope she is fine. She must have decided to take a little break from the action!
This is Elizabeth Slaughter who is not anonymous as far as I know!
I am definitely never anonymous despite what WordPress has decided!
Oh look: this time you have an identity. I’ve never figured out why this happens. It’s random.
The cats I have known in the past always found a place to hide and say “bugger off, I need my peace and quiet, to be well”. Here’s too Ursula’s good health sooner than later.
Right, that makes sense.