Mittens

I've never really BEEN a cat person. When I was a kid I wanted a cat. But later I became allergic to them and then I had a series of bad experiences with them, and decided that I was indeed NOT a cat person.
Then last fall someone dropped a six week little starved and scabbed up kitten on our doorstep. The children all begged for us to keep her, most especially Joy begged the most. As I thought about all the mice in our garage and sheds, and knowing I had a young adult in the basement that often took food down there, I relented and gave in after a vet check. We adopted Mittens and gave her a good home. After we brought her home from the vet and released her into the house with the dogs, she strutted very bravely into the room as the two dogs clamored away, and did whatever they could to get as far away from her as possible. They'd been sprayed by a skunk recently and probably did not know what to expect from this little fur ball that walked right up to them like she owned the place.

She's been a wonderful cat, very patient with the hugging, kissing, funny poses, pulling and squishing that Joy has put her through.  Every morning she greeted Joel at the door and talked to him, rubbing on his leg until he gave her food. Then when I'd wake up she'd repeat the ceremony until I gave her a couple of chicken flavored treats.

Yesterday she went missing. We called for her all day, put food and water out for her, and waited. We had to leave the house for several hours in the evening, and when we came home Jaeden went up the back steps to the porch and saw a cat that she thought was Mittens. But this cat ran away from her and into the woods. Never coming back. We haven't seen her since. Last night we had a terrible storm with winds and pouring rain and hail. I have been sick with worry about her. She doesn't have front claws to defend herself. I really thought she'd be back home by now. :( I'm worried we won't be seeing her again, and I will be going back to not being a cat person. </3