My cat Bijoux went missing on March 3, 2007. At first, we thought that she was lost in the house (she loves to investigate the nooks and crannies in the basement), but there was no sound of meowing. Sunday afternoon, we came to the conclusion that she must have run out the door Saturday evening as we were observing the lunar eclipse. This realization was devastating for many reasons: Bijoux had never been outside before (luckily, she is not declawed) and frigid temperatures were expected for the next few days.

I adopted Bijoux in November 2001, from the local Bide-a-Wee. She was approximately 1 years old and had spent most of her life to that point in a cage at the shelter. I watched her grow and learn about "cat things" – it took her a long time to realize that windowsills are a perfect place for catching some sun and watching the world.

We spent hours looking for her in neighboring back yards and calling her name – no sight or sound of Bijoux.

Monday morning I searched the Internet for help. Luckily, I came across the Feline Finders. I called the toll-free number, and Lisa instantly reassured me and gave me an action plan to follow based on Bijoux's personality. Lisa explained that displaced indoor cats become catatonic when they are outside and that she would not meow in order to protect herself. She told me that Bijoux was most likely somewhere in a three- to five-house radius from home, and even if I saw her she may not readily come to me. Lisa encouraged me to inform my neighbors and to put up posters.

A week had gone by with no Bijoux – my heart was broken. Bijoux was "always there" for me. During my husband's battle with cancer and after his death, it was Bijoux who greeted me each night and brought to me what I refer to as "toys of joy."

Sunday morning my neighbor saw Bijoux in the back yard and I saw her that afternoon sitting on a patio chair in my back yard. When I went to open the window, she looked right at me and bolted over the fence. I was thrilled that she was alive, albeit disappointed that she took off as she did. But Lisa told me this would happen and that I probably would have to get a humane trap to get Bijoux safely home. Sunday afternoon and Monday there were more sightings of Bijoux sitting atop a covered hot tub in my neighbor's back yard, but upon calling her name or approaching her she bolted under the deck.

Tuesday evening we set the humane trap in my neighbor's back yard. We set the cage up exactly as Lisa explained – her favorite cat food in it, a towel that she slept on was placed inside it, and a towel that had her scent and mine was placed over it. It worked like a charm – within half an hour Bijoux was safely caught in the cage and back home.

The successful outcome of Bijoux's story is due to a few things. One being her natural instinct to hide – luckily, she found shelter under the deck where there was warmth from the hot tub. Another being the kindness and awareness of my neighbors – they took the time to notice the posters, be on the lookout, put food and water out, and called me when they saw her. Most of all, Bijoux's story had a happy ending due to Lisa of the Feline Finders. Her kindness, empathy, knowledge and reassurance helped me through this ordeal. In matters of life and death (a possible result), one needs accurate information and realistic expectations – Lisa and the Feline Finders delivered both.

Bijoux continues to bring me toys of joy amid a song of meows.

Kerri Lungarelli
West Hempstead, NY