It is now the third day since we last saw Eartha Kitty. She's always spent the night on one of the household's beds up 'till now. Although allowed outside (she's a good hunter), Eartha always was a bit of a homebody. Loyal to her food bowl, at least. A vocal, friendly, fearless cat. She's never been gone this long before. We fear she has not returned because she can't.
We searched the immediate neighborhood yesterday. But though we found no roadkill, neither did we find Eartha. The longer she stays gone, the less likelihood she's still alive.
I hate not knowing. Best case scenario, a crazy cat lady adopted her, ignoring the tags on her collar. But alas, it is far more likely that a coyote ate her. She is (was?) in her late teens, not as fast as she used to be.
I'll hang onto her litterbox and suchlike for a week or two. But my hopes are not high that she'll ever have a use for them again. Dammit!