Stories of the Moose

Air Duct Diver Moose

Frantic cat parent thinks the worst. Moose reappears covered in dust bunnies. 

I came home from work one day and could not find the Moose anywhere. I could normally find her in one of several places, but today she was nowhere to be found. I looked in every cabinet, closet, drawer, every little hiding place I could think of. I was starting to panic. Moose's health was declining and I was convinced that she had found a secluded place to finally pass away. This was my greatest fear, that Moose would die alone and that I would have missed the chance to say good bye.

I frantically tore the house apart, lifted all the furniture, even went outside to search the neighborhood thinking she had escaped somehow. I was fully expecting to see her lying on the side of the road. But no trace of the Moose anywhere.

I called Aisly after 30 minutes of searching. She and I had since stopped living together, but she still had a key to my place (and an open invitation to come by whenever she liked). She had (only half-jokingly, I think) threatened that if I ever neglected Moose, she would come snatch her away from me. I was beginning to think she had made good on her promise.

I called her up and asked if she had the Moose at her place. Looking back, perhaps I should have started with "Did you come over today?" But I was panicked. "No, why?" she queried. "I can't find her anywhere." She told me to stay put and she would have a friend drive her over immediately.

I searched the house again for another 30 minutes and gave up. I went out onto the porch to await Aisly's arrival. I was really starting to worry now. I paced back and forth, and then I hear a faint mew from the dining room. I turn around, and it's Moose covered head to toe in dust bunnies and lint. Just then Aisly pulled up. I wandered onto the porch and triumphantly held Moose aloft like baby Simba on Pride Rock. Aisly rolled her eyes and came upstairs.

Moose had sauntered out from the downstairs bathroom. But I checked the bathroom several times. Then I noticed the heating vent grille in the floor had been removed. That grille had never been installed properly and I was trying to fix the duct opening and left it uncovered. I can't say for sure, but Moose had apparently gotten down inside the duct (she could definitely fit down there) to do a little exploring. We brushed Moose off, brushing the lint off of her fur and wiping the dust from her face. She wondered what all the ruckus was about. She just went for a little adventure.