by Qristee Terry
"Pagan, a dainty grey cat was lost to me years ago. It happened one day that I had the urge to go to the Humane Society, and there she was. I couldn't believe it. We had been two years apart, and she still remembered tricks that I had taught her.
I spoiled Pagan as much as I could. Everytime I went shopping, I would always bring her back a toy. Eventually, she had accumulated a basket of toys and a huge supply of Fancy Feast.
Sunday, November 2, 2003 she didn't come home. My neighbor had been talking about taking the cats off and we let him know that we felt he was the cause of Pagan's disappearance. Another neighbor (I'll call her Velma) told us that she saw our neighbor take Pagan off and told us where he took her. When I went to that area, a young girl told me that she had seen a grey cat that fit Pagan's description.
The accused neighbor eventually told us that Pagan had somehow gotten under the house Sunday, November 2 and had eaten rat poison. He said she died that day and he buried her somewhere, but he won't tell me where.
You know, I would much prefer to believe that she is still out there somewhere with a nice family who will see the fliers I've put out and bring her back to me.
I am so sad! I've been crying, and my room reminds me of her so much. Her favorite toys. Her favorite sleeping spots. How she would come sit on my notebook when I was trying to write. The way she would sit on my bed and reach for me with her tiny paw. This is truly heartbreaking.
My advice is to never teach your cats to go outside, especially if they are young enough to not really know about it. I feel like this has all been my fault. But I still hope that what my neighbor said was just a lie to discourage our searching for Pagan. I really do hope!!"