I came home last night and Fil was gone. I was looking everywhere, all her usual hiding places, if you can call them usual since I've only been in the new place two weeks, but she was nowhere to be found. Mak was following me around in my search as if he was trying tell me something. I think he was trying to tell me that Fil flew the coup. I was freaking out.

For the first time, I had left the sliding glass door on the balcony open so the cats could come and go as they pleased and Fil came and went. I live on the third floor and there's no simple way off the balcony. It's either a 25 foot drop to the hedges below or a leap of faith to the branches of the large tree in front of my place. I can't imagine that Fil did either, but she got down somehow.

I went down to search for her totally expecting to find a dead or severely damaged kitten in the area just beneath my apartment. I started hearing muted meows within a few minutes of walking around and whistling for her. Within about 15 minutes I found her down on the ground looking as if nothing was wrong. She just sailed past me with her tail vibrating as usual.

I have no idea how she got down. Maybe the tree, but who knows. One thing I do know is that outside privileges have been revoked indefinitely.