When Roland’s father was no longer able to care for his cat, Jarhead, Roland drove from his southern Californian home to his father’s home, near the Canadian border, to “adopt” Jarhead. Jarhead is a tough-short-haired-black cat named in honor of the U.S. Marines’ short
haircut.
Their trip to California was a journey of a life time! Shortly before midnight, driving south on Interstate 5, four miles north of Cottage Grove at the Gettings Creek Rest Area, Roland stopped so they could stretch their legs. Jarhead was on a leash but something scared him and he slipped out of his collar. It is a nightmare losing a black cat, at night, alongside a freeway - and Roland just had!
Roland’s devastation was
apparent in his Monday craigslist post: “I lost my friendly-black-male kitty at the rest stop north of Cottage Grove. I last saw him about 4 am. I looked for him until I couldn’t feel my feet, changed my wet socks, and continued looking until after 8 am when I had to leave. If you see him/catch him, please let me know. I am offering a reward. I don’t have a lot but will give - your help is greatly appreciated.”
The craigslist post was noticed by
Ed in Eugene. "On Friday night, I drove down to look for the cat," said Ed. "I walked around the Rest Area and along the long fence calling him. I used my flashlight searching for the reflection of a cat's eyes.
A man sitting on a picnic table asked, "Did you lose something - too?"
It turned out to be Roland! He had flown back to look for his cat!
We chatted, then we walked in different directions
calling 'Jarhead'.
I caught the reflection of a cat's eyes - then it spooked and ran.
The fields around the Rest Area are swampy, water to our ankles, so luckily they were confining the cat to the Rest Area. We set up a live animal trap with the hopes of catching Jarhead!"
“Saturday night a black cat came out of the woods” said Roland, “But It rolled around on the grass just out of my reach before running
back into the woods.”
A Humane Society of Cottage Grove volunteer became aware of Jarhead’s plight. She promised that volunteers would check the trap in the morning and afternoon. A pet communicator was contacted to tell Jarhead that the trap was there for his benefit.
“Each day, volunteers ran the emotional roller coaster of hoping Jarhead was in the trap,” said a Humane Society’s This ‘n’ That Shop volunteer, “to the disappointment
of finding it empty. Roland returned to California on Sunday and we continued baiting the trap with the food he left, along with hot roasted chicken and everything else we could think of.”
Sunday and Monday night Ed returned to the Rest Area calling for Jarhead. "I didn't see him," said Ed, "and the trap remained empty."
"Tuesday night I readjusted the trap, added more food, and wandered around calling for Jarhead. About 8 pm I took a
second look in the trap and 'Voila!' Jarhead! It was so thrilling that I wanted to do a little happy dance right there next to the busy freeway, but I refrained and instead phoned the volunteers and Roland with the good news.
But was this the ‘right’ black cat? We knew that the 'real" Jarhead’s left eye has a distinguishable spot in it - so once we realized that we were looking at Jarhead there were hugs and tears all around when the volunteers arrived!
He was driven to a volunteer’s home where he received some Pet Rescue Remedy, clean bedding, food, water, and a litter pan. Being overweight purr-oved to be a blessing for Jarhead because he had lost three pounds.”
Until Roland could fly up to pick up Jarhead, the terrorized cat growled at his foster parent. But when Roland arrived, 13 days after Jarhead’s escape,
the cat recognized Roland’s voice and responded with friendly mews.
To prepare Jarhead for the airplane trip, Roland put a calming pheromone collar on him, sprayed the pheromone into the “under the airline seat” pet carrier, and gave the cat a squirt of Pet Rescue Remedy.
They flew uneventfully home to begin their new lives together. What a tale they have to share! It starts with Roland explaining how a “free” cat cost him a road trip,
two round-trip airline tickets to Oregon and an extra hundred dollars for Jarhead’s one way ticket!”
