Hey, y’all! It’s London James, and I’m back. First and foremost, I would like to thank the lovely ladies at Petticoats and Pistols for allowing me to guest blog and spend some time with you today! Now, for all of you who have crossed paths with me before, you’ll remember me as the lady with the missing pony and the monkey sanctuary behind my house.
(For those who have never read the story yet, CLICK HERE
So, what sort of a story do I have for you today? Did I lose my pony again? Did I have another run-in with the monkeys? Thankfully, no. I haven’t. But I still do have a tale to tell about how, two days after Christmas, I found a whiskered intruder in my barn who ended up taking a 3,586-mile trek back home.
Now, before I delve into the tale any further, let me step back for a moment here to tell you that I don’t have barn cats. It’s not because I don’t like cats. I have five indoor-only cats in my house right now—much to my husband’s displeasure. It’s also not because I don’t think cats belong in a barn. I understand why people have them, and I know their worth for keeping pests in check. With that said, however, I still don’t have them because I’m scared to. I grew up where our cats were allowed to go outside, and while I would never say it’s bad, having to face the numerous losses to coyotes and knowing that a coyote den lurks just across the street from my house fills me with just enough fear that I just can’t bring myself to have barn cats.
Now that I’ve said that let’s dive right back into the tale . . .
So, here I was, two days after Christmas, in my barn with a cat that wasn’t mine, watching it as it meowed and rubbed on my legs. I was utterly perplexed about who she was and where she came from, and while, yes, I know we have neighbors who probably have cats, this is the first cat to appear in my barn since we moved here 15 years ago! And I didn’t recognize her.
She was a cute little thing, and so stinking friendly. She instantly jumped into my arms, purring like the motor from a 67’ GTO, and from the sheer roundness of her belly (No, it wasn’t kittens, she had a blue dot tattoo on her belly, indicating she had been spayed), it was evident that she was a pampered pet. So, what was I to do? Well, there wasn’t anything for me to do, then put her down and hope she would return home.
She didn’t.
Deciding to take matters into my own hands, I whisked her to my veterinarian, praying she had a microchip, and as luck would have it, she did. Yes! Finally. I would be able to find out where she lived and take her home! After making a few calls to the microchip maker and then the shelter where the chip was registered, I was given the name and number of the owner, and I left a message on her voicemail, not only hoping she’d call me back but expecting her to live close enough to me that I could just take the cat home.
Well, God managed to answer one of those hopes.
And this is when the story took a turn I hadn’t seen coming.
As it turns out, the owner of the cat used to reside a whopping 140 miles away from my home in another town. How this cat traveled through Oklahoma remains a mystery, but as we dug more into the details, the 140-mile trek was just the tip of the iceberg.
Did you notice how I said, “used to live”? Yeah, the owner didn’t live in that town anymore. In fact, the owner didn’t even live in Oklahoma anymore.
She lived in (and was calling me from) Alaska!
The story she gave me, which coincided with the details the shelter gave me when I called them, was that she adopted the cat in June of 2022, and a few weeks after she brought her home, the cat got out. She spent months looking for the cat but couldn’t find her, and when her military husband got orders that they had to leave, they had no other choice than to pack their bags and leave without the cat.
To say that the owner and I weren’t shocked would be an understatement—5 ½ months on the road, 140 miles from where she got out. How did she find her way to my barn? I asked the owner what she wanted to do about the whole thing, and she said, “I want my cat.” So, I said. “Then let’s make it happen.”
I spent the next several days contacting the news, different airlines, and a couple of rescues to see how and what we could do to get this military family reunited with their pet. And boy, did people step up. Alaska Airlines discounted the ticket and footed the bill for her overnight stay in Seattle. A local rescue woman and my friend chipped in for the crate, and I paid for her paperwork and physical exam. It was a huge undertaking and an exhausting week with a few setbacks that almost made me cry. Ultimately, we got her on the plane, and on January 5th, Athena, the cat, finally made it home.
If you want to check out the NEWS9 STORY that aired, here’s the link: News Story on Barn Cat
And you can bet this story will end up in a book!!!
Maybe not in any of my historicals, but definitely in my contemporaries.
Speaking of Historicals, I have a new series this year! It’s Oregon Trail Brides.
Books One and Two are out in the world! Book One is only $.99!
Four orphans and their headmistress set out for Oregon in search of men looking for mail-order brides. Will they find what they are looking for? Or will fate have other plans?
Plucked from a life of uncertainty at a bordello, Lark Brockwood finds herself at the mercy of fate. A ward of the Kensington Orphanage since she was little and scarred by her past experiences with men, she dreads the prospect of being forced to join a wagon train bound for Oregon in search of eligible husbands.
A man haunted by the loss of his family, Dr. Carter Evans travels west to start anew and leave the memories of his past behind. After he sets his sights on the guarded and alluring Lark, he finds himself drawn to her despite her attempts to keep him at bay.
When an outbreak of measles threatens the lives of everyone on the wagon train, including Lark, the journey west takes a dangerous turn. With Lark’s health rapidly deteriorating, Carter must do everything in his power to save her, even if it means laying bare his own vulnerabilities to prove to her that she is deserving of love and that she’s worth fighting for.
Will they be able to overcome their pasts and forge a future together, or will their love be lost to the peril of their journey? This is a timeless tale of love, redemption, and the power of second chances, set against the backdrop of the American West and a time when anything was possible, and the future was unwritten.
Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Her-Oregon-Trail-Doctor-Historical-ebook/dp/B0BPMLSZ48?tag=pettpist-20
Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Her-Oregon-Trail-Doctor-Historical/dp/1960443135?tag=pettpist-20
Long Valley Press Shop Paperback: https://longvalleypress.shop/products/her-oregon-trail-doctor-paperback
What a wonderful story! Amazing.
Thank you Denise!
Welcome! I enjoyed this story on the barn cat. Pics of this cat reminds me of one my mother-in-law had, Ittie(like in little bit). He seemed to latch on to me for some reason. Followed me as I worked in the yard or almost anytime I was around. My mother-in-law said she feeds him and he seems to think I’m his owner. We had a few laughs on that.
Your book sounds good! I like the Oregon Trail stories. I plan to read them! Thanks for stopping by!
Awe! I love his name! And yes, there is a thing, I can’t remember what it’s called, but it’s when cats just find the people they are supposed to find no matter the circumstance. Even if it’s someplace you would never think you would find each other. Thank you for stopping by, too!
Amazing story! Your books sound good too!
Thank you, Rhonda!! And thanks for stopping by!
Your story of the cat reminds me of the book and movie of the incredible journey. Your book sounds real interesting.
I both hated and loved that movie. LOL. It was happy and sad all at the same time. I guess the ending was happy, so it doesn’t matter too much. But still. The sad parts always get me. I know they redid it in the late 90s, too, and I’ve seen them both. I don’t know which version I liked better, though. Than you for stopping by!
I love a cat story; especially one with such a happy ending.
Hi Connie! If we hadn’t found her, she’d still be with us. Much to my husband’s displeasure. LOL. But I’m glad that I was able to get her home. Thank you for stopping by!
What a great story! I’m so glad the Athena made it home. Thank you for stopping by today.
Thank you, Kari!! And thank you to you too for stopping by!
What a fantastic story and I am so glad Athena has made it back to her owner. I have one indoor cat that goes out sometimes but there are a lot of cats outside that come from somewhere. I feed lots of cats everyday. Two of these cats where feral kittens that I took and had fixed so I guess they are my outdoor cats now because they tamed right down after they were fixed.
Yes, I think they have claimed you. LOL. My indoor cats would love to go outside. But I just fear for what could happen if they do. Not only with the coyotes, but we are out in the country and there are always dogs running around and people drive by our house way too fast. I just know something would happen. If we lived someplace else it might be different. Thank you for stopping by!
What an amazing story about the cat! That is excellent material for a book! Your new books also sound intriguing… I’ll have to check them out!
Thank you, Ami!! If you take a chance on them, I hope you enjoy them. Thank you for joining me today!
These animals are so fortunate to have someone who cares to be involved in their rescue/retrievals. I responded on your monkey story back in 2022. I find this one about the cat very interesting and heart warming. There are lots of animal lovers who will rush in to help animals in need, even in this situation with the military. You are so fortunate. Your book, Her Oregon Trail Doctor, sounds like a book I would love to read. Many blessings to you in your endeavors.
Yes, I believe she was sent to my barn for a reason. Lol. Still crazy, though. I was very proud of my daughters throughout the whole thing. Of course, they fell in love with Athena and wanted to keep her. But they also knew the right thing to do was find her owner and help get her home. They learned a lot with this lesson. And, yes, oh, those monkeys. Ugh. LOL. Sadly, we lost Thomas, the pony, about a year ago due to old age. But the monkeys are all still there and I can still hear them screaming when it’s feeding time. *sigh Thank you for stopping by, Judy!
What a beautiful story about Athena the cat being reunited with her owners. My granddaughters name is Athena. Your book sounds like a great read. Thank you for sharing I enjoyed this post. Have a Great weekend.
Hi Alicia! It makes me smile that they share the same name. It’s such a pretty name. My youngest is in love with it. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a lovely weekend, too!!
That’s a great story! So happy the cat could be reunited with her owner.
Thank you, Megan! And thank you for stopping by!
Thank you so much for sharing the wonderful story. God bless you.
Thank you for stopping by, Debra!! I hope you have a blessed weekend!
Late coming to this post, but didn’t want to miss it. The cat was lucky you were the one to find it. We were a military family for 24 years and made many moves with our pets in tow. It isn’t always easy. Our dog had to go into a kennel on one move until housing was available. She had never been away from the family. Poor thing was moved across the country, then left in a strange and frightening environment. To top it off, she got kennel cough and never did shake it completely. The love and compassion of animal lovers certainly came through for this kitty. Thank you for trying so hard to reunite her with her family.
Rose (the owner) said it was so hard leaving Oklahoma without finding her. I couldn’t imagine how it must have felt. I love all five of ours, but one of them is definitely “my” cat, and I just kept thinking how I would feel if someone just claimed him and didn’t try to find me. I’m sorry your dog had to go through that. 🙁 Kennel cough is no joke and there are always so much sickness that goes through places. My mom’s cat got distemper when she had to stay at the vets after getting spayed. It’s scary. But I guess normal if you think about all the germs that are in hospitals. Yikes! Thank you for joining me today and thank you to you and your family for your service. My dad was army, so I’m a huge military family supporter. 🙂