Homie D. Cat "Hornung"

The testimony of Homie D. Cat as I knew him, by Homie's loving care giver, Daniel. While I was working at Inner City Ministry, a place where homeless and low income people could get food and clothing I noticed the many homeless, stray and feral cats that abounded the place. One came to my attention above the others. This cat came to me without calling for him. He looked like he could use a meal like so many of the people that received mercy there. Some of the cats were so hungry they would eat bread. Some of the homeless folks would share their food with the cats. Anyway I gave this cat a hotdog of course without the bun and mustard. He ate the whole thing, I gave him another one. I told Diane, the resident cat lady who provided food and water for the cats when she could, If this cat is still here in a couple weeks I am taking him home but he will have to stay outside, because my present indoor cat didn't like company. Diane said, he's outside now.

I took the cat home with me decided to name him Homie D. Cat. I made a weather proof shelter from plastic storage tubs and then prayed to God, Father in heaven, I brought Homie here for a chance at a better life, it is up to you to keep him here, in Jesus name amen. Almost immediately the neighbor's cat Toasty, came over the fence and greeted Homie. The beginning of a life long friendship for Toasty, my family and myself. He had a heated shelter box and water bowl for winter, made current in all medical shots and was seen by the vet on a regular basis. He did not wander more than 3 houses away, he had a small territory that he traveled about. I found that Homie would respond and come to me when I clapped my hands. Usually upon arrival when happy to see my family or me he would come up to us put his back feet on someone's shoes and make his feet go up and down, we called that Homie's happy dance. Usually when my family or myself would drive onto the driveway there would be Homie waiting for us to come home and then do the happy dance. We would always pray for God's protection to be over Homie. We found this to be so important in August of 2013. One day we called for Homie with no response. We had not seen him in the last 12 hours, I knew something was wrong. Our family did all the things for a lost pet. We posted online, made flyers, went to various shelters and door to door, no clue. Our extended family and friends continued to pray for Homies return. My daughter said to me, if we are praying for Homie then why isn't he here? I prayed about that concern, what was revealed by God to me was, I AM STILL WATCHING OVER HIM. What also revealed to me by God early in the search, go to the Greater Area Humane Society every couple of days and be there when they open at 2pm. So this went on for 28 days, now I had to go out of town. I told my daughter to go in my place at the shelter be there at 2pm. I was on my way out of town when I received a phone call from her saying, I got here at 2 pm as you said to do, I went in, there was someone being waited on and a man waiting to drop off a stray cat. My daughter said to the man, I think that's my cat. It was Homie, the man lives in Upper Arlington and said the neighbors had been caring for the cat and decided it was time to drop him off at the humane society. Homie was found in place where he would have had to swim across the Scioto river or cross over a highly trafficked bridge, not very likely. We thought someone had relocated him there. I met them back at the house, yes it was Homie, I threw myself prostrate on the ground giving God praise and glory. My daughter kept saying I can't believe it's him.

Now a couple years have passed we had seen a couple transient cats come and go, Homie was still with us. Our family was trying to bring Homie indoors at night, in bad weather and when we might be away all day. Homie had a nice setup in the basement. He had some association with the inside cat, Grabo through basement stairs doorway, there is a vent in the door. Now it was Christmas night 2014, our family was gone all day visiting, got home about 9:30 pm. Homie wanted out for little bit while I briefly visited a next door neighbor. Homie waited outside while visited, I came home and he was siting in the yard, he walked with me to our back door. He wasn't ready to come in. I told him he could stay out for another hour, only pet people know pet talk. When I went to clap for him, no response. All night off and on I called for him, I prayed. Morning came, I clapped, called and looked for him, he was gone again I thought. Since he had not responded we thought Homie had again been relocated by someone to another neighborhood. We did most of the same things as when he previously became missing. Now it was winter a different season, it had been cold, warm, rained and snowed. Our hope was that someone had taken him in. A neighbor, four doors down had recently seen one of the missing cat posters, approached me after 32 days into the search had found a dead cat in her yard by her tree 2 days ago. I identified Homie, it was him. The neighbor was going to bury him in her yard but then seen the poster. My family and I believe Homie met with a fatal event that first hour he was missing or he would have responded to our calling then. Homie was with us only 6 years. In the Holy scripture, Romans 8:27-28 might be of comfort to us for I can find no other reason for his departure.

Homie's adopted family will miss his presence and happy dance!