This weekend was a good one. Bonus went missing again two whole weeks ago and on Friday I finally found him with some help from the new owners of our old house, Emma. I had been out looking for him every night after work the whole week prior but he was nowhere to be found. I took Friday off so I could run a bunch of errands (after not having been able to do a single one because I was busy looking for the little dude all week) and go to IKEA. I went looking for him in the morning before I left for IKEA but he wasn’t there in the area around the old house. After I got back I started painting and for some reason didn’t have my cell phone signal on and didn’t hear Emma’s call and text so more than an hour after she called at about 7 pm I saw it, dropped everything (dinner) and sped to our old neighborhood on my bike, shrimps in tow. Then I spent about an hour searching for him in the dark with my flash light, streets up and down and through the woods and when I was about to give up I heard him meowing. Awww! So skinny and bony! He has eaten for sure during the 14 days away but not nearly enough. So far this weekend he hasn’t shown any interest in going out, he’s been in bed with me at night and has been eating and lounging around in the house the rest of the time. My baby!
Apart from Bonus finally being back (and Mini being happy about that too, she was getting lonely) the rest of the weekend was good too. I got quite a lot done; painted the stairwell railings and prepped and started painting the hall doors leading to the WC and basement.
I also removed the mid century desk and instead of it I’m having a temporary simple desktop and legs from IKEA until I find “the one”. Despite wanting to love that desk it didn’t happen. So, if you want it, are in the Stockholm area and can pick it up soon, it’s yours for free. E-mail me if you’re interested; benita@chezlarsson.com.
Welcome home Bonus! Wish I lived in your area, I would be there in a flash!
Cheers
Jane
Posted by: Jane | October 10, 2011 at 07:17 AM
Well Bonus is definitely persistent. Glad to hear that he is back again. Hopefully this was his last "Hurrah!"
Posted by: Monica | October 10, 2011 at 08:02 AM
Hello Bonus! Amazing that he finds his way back to the old neighbourhood, but daft he can't find his way back - is that because he always comes home in a box?
OK I will have to move to Stockholm, if it means getting your hand-me-downs, drastic but cool!
Posted by: Hxx | October 10, 2011 at 08:08 AM
Bonus!!! The other Bompe! Stay put now, will you? I don't want your mom to have a heart attack because of your wandering soul.
Posted by: Anne | October 10, 2011 at 08:13 AM
Hopefully Bonus is now home to stay. Our cat used to do the same: be away for a week or so, come back with worn down claws and looking very thin.
Hopefully Bonus is now home for good in his new neighbourhood.
I don't think I can drive to Stockholm from Edinburgh, but I'm tempted to. Love the desk, but I agree with you that it is probably not clean lined enough for your style.
Very best wishes,
Primrose.
Posted by: Primrose Beresford | October 10, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Welcome back, Mr. Handsome!
Poor Benita I would have been freaked out when one of my cats would have been missing for such a long time. Hope the Mister now stays in...
Posted by: nicolezh | October 10, 2011 at 08:50 AM
Cats are wonderful and obstinate. Hope he stays this time. I am so glad you found him at last, you are a treasure!
Posted by: Golla | October 10, 2011 at 08:59 AM
Little rascal! :-) Maybe now, when it's getting colder outside, he will appreciate comforts of home.
Posted by: Zosia | October 10, 2011 at 09:10 AM
What a story for both of you, Bonus and you. I am amazed by your love and effort to find him, you are a great cat mamma. :-)
Sorry fot the desk, if I would live in your city I would pick it ap asap.
Hva ea nice week :-)
Posted by: jja | October 10, 2011 at 09:16 AM
Wow, it sure would be good if Bonus could come to terms with the fact that he´s not living there anymore - must be awful when he goes missing!
Posted by: tinajo | October 10, 2011 at 09:28 AM
Firstly, I'm so glad Bonus is back!
Secondly, I think that's the right decision regarding the mid-century desk ! I must confess I didn't like it at all (might have worked if you'd painted it white), but honestly, IKEA is just so good at this kind of thing that I'm sure you'll love whatever you find there. I have the Vika Amon/Vika Alex as my home office desk, and I *LOVE* it.
Posted by: MacLeod House | October 10, 2011 at 09:36 AM
I really like the mid-century desk and wanted you to like it, but when I saw it in place in your living room a few posts ago, I understood why you were uncertain about it. It just did not fit in your living room. I believe it would look nice in my home but I'm in the US. Too bad for me!
Posted by: Peggy | October 10, 2011 at 01:18 PM
Silly Bonus! It's getting cold now and you should stay home--the nice, warm home with all the good cat food. Silly cat!
Posted by: Cammy | October 10, 2011 at 02:54 PM
oh! How I understand your concerns... When we were in holidays in Algarve, Naná decided to go away and was missing for 2 nights! I was so worried, I was afraid that she wouldn't back home till the day we will back to our home!
Posted by: Filipa | October 10, 2011 at 03:15 PM
I keep my fingers crossed Bonus will stay put when winter arrives!!! X
Posted by: Valeria | October 10, 2011 at 04:45 PM
I love that desk and so wished I lived near you! I hope Bonus stays put this time. Wow, he was really attached to your other home!
Posted by: Catherine | October 10, 2011 at 04:49 PM
Cute picture of Bonus content and home. Glad he's back! Kudos for another productive weekend!
Posted by: Lisa Flaherty | October 10, 2011 at 05:12 PM
I'm so glad you got that little guy back! What will keep him home? maybe the cold will do it. For my cats, it would be the food incentive. They love their treats!
I like the desk, but I agree with you that it doesn't really fit.
Posted by: Jill | October 10, 2011 at 05:15 PM
As much as I loved the desk, I wasn't feeling it in your space either. Oh well.
Glad the boy is back!! Take care.
Posted by: norma | October 10, 2011 at 07:06 PM
Hooray! Welcome back, Bonus!
Posted by: Lori in OR | October 10, 2011 at 08:53 PM
Bonus! Little Rascal. I'm betting that a long winter will keep him close and maybe the months indoors will reboot his memory? He's crazy to keep running away when there are shrimp on offer! I hope, for your sanity, that he can relax and enjoy the comforts of home now.
Posted by: Maureen@ Notes on a Visual Life | October 10, 2011 at 09:25 PM
So happy Bonus is home and safe! I wonder if Mr.Studly has a secret lady friend in the old neighborhood? ;)
Posted by: Alice | October 10, 2011 at 10:42 PM
Cute!!
Posted by: Purple Area | October 10, 2011 at 10:45 PM
How lucky are you, there in Stockholm! ; I'm dying for that Mid Century Desk... but I live in France.
Bisous bisous Benita
Posted by: Gladys | October 10, 2011 at 11:52 PM
How our furry family keeps us on our toes! Sounds like at some point he got locked in a garage or basement of someone who was on holiday. We have had cats who stayed away for up to 2 weeks and came home weak and skinny. Maybe this time he will learn! Happy for you and Willie that he is home, maybe you can relax a bit! Have a great week-Karen from CT
Posted by: Karen | October 11, 2011 at 12:52 AM
Hi Benita
A cat lady I knew recommended rubbing butter on the paws and tummy of cats when you move house. They will lick off the butter and the smells of the old house/neighbourhood. I haven't had to try it but she had a lot of cats so I think she knew what she was talking about.
Posted by: Dolores | October 11, 2011 at 12:53 AM
Good to hear Bonus was alright! I would have been worried to death if one of my puppies went on a stroll for two weeks... But they seem to lack the street sense cats have, so I doubt they'd even last that long. You definitely have a survivalist cat on your hands! Hope he's getting plenty of rest and food.
I agree that the desk just wasn't 100% made for that room. Can't wait to see what ends up replacing it!
Posted by: Marjorie | October 11, 2011 at 06:30 AM
I tried that (and verything else...) after some other readers mentioned it. Didn't work, just gave me a greasy floor :).
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | October 11, 2011 at 08:02 AM
That's what my mom keeps saying :).
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | October 11, 2011 at 08:03 AM
I think that Bonus must be a very happy cat. When he goes out for a shorter or longer period, he gets the oportunity to use all his sences, all his instincts.
Coming back to you, he gets the cuddling, easy food, company and and easy life.
I understand that it´s worrying for you, but from Bonus point of view, he gets the best of both worlds.
Have nice week!
Posted by: Betti | October 11, 2011 at 01:29 PM
I read your stories about Bonus with my heart in my throat. My husband and I have an indoor cat and she's only ever gotten out once and we were terrified until we found her (under our porch - the poor thing doesn't bolt when she's scared, she hides as well as she can and then goes silent). I don't think I could have an outdoor cat, or I'd develop some sort of stress-induced heart condition. I love to see the happy stories where you find Bonus again.
Posted by: Randi | October 12, 2011 at 02:23 AM
Cats are such weird pets... You own a dog, but you can only feed a cat. ;)
Our Otis used up a life recently when he boogered off for a while and returned scrawny and looking like he'd been dragged through briars.
Posted by: Kristianna | October 12, 2011 at 02:31 AM
Bonus does not need to make the trip back himself, he knows that if he waits, his mum will fetch him and he will get a quick ride home! He leads a more elaborate life than he did before, for sure.
Posted by: Jane | October 12, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Oh Bonus. A man on the run! I probably am not the first person to suggest this, but have you looked into a GPS collar? My uncles use them for hunting dogs...they can be big and expensive, but worth it if you are losing sleep over the thought of them being in danger. Until last month I lived in the city and kitty was strictly indoors --now we have some space and I am building up the courage to take her out on walks. She isn't going to take to a harness to kindly!
Posted by: Peaches | October 18, 2011 at 09:43 PM
I have looked into them but they're so big! Also Bonus isn't fond of wearing anything and usually is able to rid himself of it so I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to find him anyway... I'm hoping for a GPS chip!
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | October 19, 2011 at 07:50 AM