On September 20, 2024, my house flooded due to a plumbing issue. The cleanup crew brought in dehumidifiers and industrial fans to dry the water from the flooring before continuing the restoration process. The Country Club Cats weren’t feeling very special during the entire process.

We were able to continue living in the home during the drying process. A week later, on September 27, 2024, we were forced to leave the home so that the cleanup crew could move on to the next phase of the restoration process: removing my furniture and other possessions. In preparations for this, I had already temporarily placed three of my cats with friends or relatives. My initial plan was to leave Apollo, Cosmo and Tess in the home for the weekend until I could get them to the vet for boarding. When I returned to the home on Saturday, September 28, 2024, I discovered Apollo was missing. Cosmo and Tess were sleeping as comfortably as they could without living room furniture. I deduced the cleanup crew had left my front door completely open to remove my sofa, therefore allowing Apollo to rush by them, unnoticed.

I searched the neighborhood, posted on social media, asking people to keep a look out for Apollo. I was unable to leave a litter box for him since I, myself, wasn’t living in the home. I even borrowed a live trap in an attempt to catch him. I caught everyone else’s cat except mine.

After six months away from the home, we were able to move back in without Apollo. Each day that passed without him caused faith to fade that I would find him. Apollo has been gone for more than a year. I can only hope and pray someone else has found him and is giving him the best life he could possibly have. Apollo was two and a half years old, neutered and vaccinated when he ran away.