Callie's Close Call

Callie used up one of her nine lives last night!

She slipped out an open door about 5PM. When this happens she plays this little game where if you go to get her she runs away. After chasing around for a while she is ready to come in.

Last night we couldn't get her in and then she just disappeared. She wasn't in any of the usual spots out in the back yard and would not answer when called. I walked down in our grove of eucalyptus trees and this huge hawk flew out of one of the tallest trees. Then I heard Callie crying! She was way up high in the trees and she was jumping from tree to tree... like a monkey! She was calling to me but would not come down, just jumped from one tree to the other. I think the hawk had been trying to catch her and she was trying to avoid it. She was so scared.

Then she fell... down, down, down she went. It was like slow motion... I saw all her colors turning in the air...orange, white, black... orange, white black. She landed in the crook of two big branches on her back about ten feet off the ground. So much for the theory that cats always land on their feet.

After a few seconds, she turned herself over but she would not come on down the tree. I ran back to the house to get hubby and we got our tall ladder. Then, the two dogs from next door ran out to see what was going on.  We were sure all the barking would scare Callie even more and she would go back up high in the trees. When the dogs stopped barking, I went up the ladder. The chance that Callie was injured and would not want to be held was going through my mind, but as I got close she wanted to come to me but was afraid to let go of the tree. Finally, I convinced her it was OK and she clung to me. She willingly went into the carrier I had grabbed when we got the ladder from the garage.

Once we had her back in the house we checked her over and watched her closely. She got a drink, ate some food and went and sat by the door looking out!!

Now what was she thinking???

Callie, all the jumping and climbing skills you practice in the house saved your little butt.

Holy smokes... what a night!