A Christmas Miracle Story: The Fire We Had The True Hero's: My Cats Dusty and Gingin

A Christmas Miracle Story:
The Fire We Had The True Hero’s



This story is very sad for me to tell but I will share it. It’s about my two pet cats being alone for over a month after I had a fire and how they survived and ran for safety. This is a true story it happened over a year ago. This still brings tears to my eyes every time I tell it.

I’m a fire victim and it’s not easy to tell about the night of the fire and about what happened. But we had a bad trash fire over a year ago and it destroyed one bedroom everything in it along with the hallway and the rugs and walls. I was very lucky the firemen were able to contain it before it spread. I remember that night clearly how I heard the alarm going off and how I looked over my shoulder and saw the thickness of the smoke in my hall way. I looked around horrified and startled at the sound of the alarm. Wondering where it was coming from. It was coming from the bedroom. So I quickly ran over to the door felt the door it was hot I opened the door unsure and saw flames climbing the walls horrified and shocked I saw nothing but red flames climbing the walls. Climbing the ceiling and everywhere. Just then I remember seeing my fifteen-year-old son screaming and running out the back door. I ran out the front door along with my two cats and the phone. I quickly dialed 911 and in a few seconds later the whole fire department was there. I was standing in the field opposite my trailer watching the heavy smoke filtering out of my son’s room. I was in total shock and panic. I was all by myself trying to comfort my son. I started looking around to see if the cats were near by. But I already had a feeling that they ran for safety over at the old trailer where it was empty and basically safe. There was a porch there and under cover that was where Gingin my male usually hangs out. It is close by so I didn’t really think much of it and just watched as the firemen spray water into the trailer to contain the fire. I watched the smoke slowly disappear. But yet still lingered in the air until morning in an hour the fire was finally out. I forgotten my shoes while running for safety one of the firemen went back inside to get the stuff we needed for the night. That night we stayed with my mother’s over night. The rest of that month we were on our own again but we had to stay in a hotel.
The next morning I woke up and the first thing I thought about were my two cats. My tabby was a rough and tough male and could basically take care of himself. But it was my little female I was worried about. She was older than my male she is twelve and my male only 2 years old. She hated being out in cold weather. She hated being alone. She was the cuddler of the two. Gingin basically liked to roam around outside and be the king of the neighborhood. Which was his favorite past time. Dusty on the other hand will have nothing to do with roaming the neighborhood. But instead she will curl up by my feet wherever I’m sitting and sleep all day. But she loved to be near me no matter what. She also loves to share my pillow at night. That causes a problem for me in the morning when she is practically sleeping on my head. Gingin wasn’t too much into the hugs and cuddles. A gentle pet would do him just fine. He loves kids and he loves playing in boxes. It was the simple things in life he enjoyed the most.

I already knew where to go look for them so I headed over to the old trailer after I got my son to school. As soon as I pulled into the driveway I saw my Dusty sitting on the steps meowing as she noticed the car and me. I knew they needed food and water. So I got them a dish and went to the store bought them a box of cat food and a tin of cat food for Dusty to fill her up. I went back and feed them. They both came running as soon as they heard the tin being open they knew food was being served.
I did this every day. Everyday I would stop at the trailer feed the cats and explain to them what happened and set with them for a while. I petted and cuddled each of them.
I also kept going to the new trailer to see the progress the workers were making. Everyday I kept hoping it was getting closer to the day that we could go home. I kept telling Dusty and Gingin that I would pick them up the day we came home. I also kept telling them to stay there for now and that they were safe there for time being. They would listen to my voice and I truly was hoping they could understand me. But talking to them also comforted me.
Finally one day we were able to move back home. After we picked out the wallpaper to go in the hallways and living room and my sons room. After we picked out the rugs and after the supplies finally all arrived including the drywall for the walls. The workers were able to get the job done. It only took them a week after they supplies arrived. We so happy to be heading home. That day I knew we would be busy with moving vans and trucks and moving everything back in and organizing. I was going to bring the cats back home as soon as the movers were gone. I was happy when everything was done and simie organized. That night my son and me walked over to the old trailer and picked up Dusty and Gingin and brought them back home. I was going to be keeping them inside for a while. So they would not run back there. I carried Dusty home and my Son carried Gingin home. It seemed like they knew they were going home.
That first night was a very loud experience. I put Dusty on the sofa with her favorite blanket. She would not stop crying. Gingin would not stop howling he howled all night long that night and just wanted outside in the worst way. But I didn’t give in because I did not want them to runaway. They must have been in shock themselves and I felt sorry for them because they did not understand. Slowly after a lot of petting and hugs for Dusty she calmed down and started to adjust. Gingin did not he kept howling through the nights. My son gave him attention I gave attention that was not what he wanted. He just wanted to go outside and roam the neighborhood and be the king once more.
The next couple of days were my usual routine. Work then home then chores and such. I didn’t notice that one day there was a window open. Gingin escaped through the window. I did notice Gingin gone and started looking for him. I looked everywhere. Our neighborhood knew him pretty good and I asked all our neighbors if they saw him and they did not. I put up sings at the mailbox and if anyone saw Gingin to let us know. I looked every day for a month. There no sing of him anywhere. I even looked back at the old trailer there was no sing of him over there either. I started to think the worst has happened to him. Three months went four months went finally one day I received a phone call from the Espca saying Gingin has been found. I was so happy we drove right up there and he looked ok for being gone for so long. I asked the lady at the front desk what happened and who brought hi in so I can thank them. She told me that he must have jumped into a back of a pickup truck and went for a ride into town and jumped back out when the truck came to a stop and ended up at a ladies place where he hung around outside and she ended up feeding him but she was not allowed cats where she lived so she looked for his tattoo and brought him in. I took Gingin back home again. Glade he was home a little dirty and rough looking but other than that he looked fine. That night his howling started again I wonder if maybe I shouldn’t take him to the vets and get him checked out I thought he was hurt or something from being gone so long. My son gave him a lot of attention and tender love and care that night. The next day the window was open again. He escaped. I thought oh no. I went back out looking for him. I did the same thing I asked around the neighbors I hung up sings I looked everywhere for a month or more. I gave up hope. There was no sing of Gingin anywhere. Me and my son both miss him terribly. I always hoped that he would be safe and sound and also happy some where.

Well now today December fourteenth Gingin was spotted up in the woods near us running wild. He always did like to strut his stuff and be king of the neighborhood. Now he is king of the wild. That was the last report we gotten on him. That report was last week from a friend who spotted him. I hope that was him. I hope he is fine and out there strutting his stuff. Don’t know for sure if that was him or a different orange and white tabby. I hate to think the worst. We are still looking for him. We are still praying he will come home.

The latest update on Gingin my son thought he seen him just the other day in behind his friends trailer. Wondering around in the dark woods. My son said he called his name the only response Gingin made was perking up his ears to the sound of my son’s voice. But he did not come any closer. So my son couldn’t pet him and try to bring him home again. My son said he looked fine. A little on the dirty side. But happy to be outside.
I just pray that god will keep him safe.
Gingin is neutered and has a tattoo in his ear. So I hoping someone will phone him again so we can pick him up and bring him where he belongs.
Gingin come home!
Laura Grabinsky.

Awww, little one I loved your story, maybe one of these days, Gingin will decide to come home again, I am hoping he does, I know that would make you very happy.

I loved your story so that means, more, more and more!!!

And don't forget to get some of those pics we talked about.

Willie

I am so sorry to hear about Gingin, and I too will pray that he comes home and is at least safe.

Thank you for the story.:)

Hi Thank you so much for reading my story. It still brings tears to eyes everytime I tell it. I love Gingin and I will be sharing his pic and Dusty my female very soon. Thank you for the kind words. Yes Gingin is always in our prayers. Thanks Laura

Have you tried a trap? The lure should be something fishy, maybe even sardines tied to the cage so he has to pull on it and set off the trap easier without escaping. You may end up catching a few other creatures, but keep trying. While he may seem happy out there strutting his stuff, he could get into fights with other cats and end up with FIV or FeLeuk. If that happens, his chances of surviving become even slimmer.

I hope you are reunited with Gingin once again. Remember to keep the window closed.

Hi thankyou for the great idea and the kind words we will try that. I have a pic of Ginger nick name Gingin and one of Dusty my female, they are posted. My friends are always keeping us posted if they spot Ginger and yes I will try that. Thank you. Laura:)

Since he is still around, your best bet is to put catnip out where he's been seen, and watch for him to slow down for that (in your car).
Once he's spotted and slowed down by catnip, set a trap and don't leave it! (And use your call for him-whatever it is, to keep him around). Use tasty macarel like previous advise, or cooked warm chicken (I use the chicken legs, precooked at the grocery store for difficult catches) tied to the back of the trap with wire like bread ties so he can't pull the bone of meat down but just pull meat off of it, (and with this, he is more likely to step on trigger). Don't use a small Tomahawk! (sp?) Big cats trigger them accidently with their backs, freak out, back out, and are forever trap shy. Use a big trap for a big boy! Always stay with your trap, you don't want to waste time on skunks etc because if he sees them trapped, he will be trap shy, and you may have to clean out a stinky trap (no cat will go in a stinky trap unless it's stinky from food). You don't want males peeing on it etc. So watch it so you can jump out of you car when the wrong creature is going in (use flashlight)
I worry that if and when you do get him back, it will be the same howling problem, assuming he's nuetered, he may never "get over" this part of his personality but you could at least get him tested and keep him in or in an enclosure if he positive fiv or luek.
What you went through was horrendous and i am glad that neither of your cats died or were lost! (and of course you!).
I wonder if someone is feeding him and if so, you could tell them not to for a day and put a trap on whatever they are feeding him on (porch etc), otherwise, what the heck is he eating? If he's eating mice and birds, he's probably full of worms and could use a few doses of strongid. Tom cats benefit from deworming for obvious reasons!
Anyway keep us posted, are there animals that eat cats in your area? We have fisher cats that eat cats and I get so angry at people that let their cats out and then wonder where they could be (food for fishers - "hello?!!!!!!!!"

Thankyou for the advice and we are trying everything a trap sounds like a great idea and we will try and as soon as we get him home he will be going to the vets for a check up. Thanks





Thankyou Willie for the signature I love it.