Cutchogue Couple Searching For Lost Cat, Max

CUTCHOGUE, NY — A heartbroken Cutchogue couple is praying that their lost cat Max finds his way home safely.

According to Joanna and Dennis Lane, Max is a 5-year old, neutered male, 13 lbs., "a gentle giant" who is microchipped.

He was last seen on Wagon Wheel Lane Tuesday afternoon in Cutchogue near Rt. 25 and Trimble's Nursery — and his disappearance is unusual, as he's an indoor/outdoor cat who usually stays close to home and never misses a meal.

"We have no idea where he is and we are heartbroken," Joanna Lane said.

She added that he didn’t come in when called around 10 p.m. "Not that unusual, if mild, which it was, he would occasionally stay out and be snuggled on the outside couch cushion in the morning, but he wasn’t there Wednesday morning. I don’t like if they stay out overnight so it doesn’t happen very often, but if they do, then they sleep most of the day next day," Lane said.

All day Wednesday, Lane said she thought it was unusual that he wasn't home, but thought maybe he was just asleep under the house.

"When he didn’t come for his afternoon snack treat I knew something was wrong and that’s when I raised the alarm. So although it feels like forever, I realize that time is standing still for me, it’s still only 48 to 72 hours and so many people have told me this happened to them and their cats came back. I have hope."

The Lanes adopted two cats together from the North Fork Animal Welfare League in Peconic on August 11.

Max's birthday is July 21, 2012, she sad.

But while the black and white cat Waldo, still a kitten at 11 months, had been in the shelter his whole life — not so Max, who had only been in the shelter for a short time since his elderly owner had passed away.

The Lanes wonder if Max has tried to find his way home to his original owner.

"He’s as close to being a dog as a cat can be, very friendly and mainly a couch potato, but enjoys the outdoors, staying close to home, hanging out with Waldo and our free range chickens, and earning his keep by guarding our trees, one in particular."

Anyone with information should call 631-252-5653.

Photo courtesy Virginia Scudder / The North Fork Country Kids Rescue.