'He Is My Soul Mate': Cat, Whisper, Missing In Hampton Bays

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A woman is desperately searching for her missing cat, Whisper, who is lost in Hampton Bays.

According to his owner Lois Beekman, who lives in Southampton, Whisper went missing on July 26 near the Shinnecock Animal Hospital on Montauk Highway and Gravel Hill Road when the bottom of the carrier he was in broke. Far from home in Southampton, she is terrified he will never be able to find his way home.

"I adopted Whisper about 14 years ago," Beekman said. "He was a tiny fluffy beige and white abandoned kitten in a cage in the waiting room of a local veterinarian. He had very long white whiskers and a knowing look."

Whisper is declawed, and Beekman said while he may be hiding in the community of homes near the vet, she is worried he may not be able to protect himself or eat. "He is not familiar with the area," she said.

Although he is a large cat, he likes to hide under things, she said.

Anyone who sees Whisper is asked not to chase him but to call 631-276-7798 with sightings or his direction of travel. Beekman asked that neighbors in the area also check their surveillance cameras and then, report any sightings.

Through the years, Whisper has proven to be very alert, smart, and clever, Beekman said. "He has been an inside cat and the 'wise' one. He can 'ask' me to turn on or off the ceiling fan. He knows all normal night sounds in our house and neighborhood and will nudge — and blow in my face, rather than meow, and look at me until we both acknowledge without a sound that all is clear."

Whisper is a " big brother" to Ghost, an all-white and "exceedingly gentle" cat, and Blu, an "elegant cat" with blue and gray fur and bright green eyes, she said.

"We are family," Beekman said.

Whisper is also very intuitive and anticipates if she or the other cats need help, Beekman said. "He is an old and wise soul and an intimate member of our family. He purrs and nudges and pats my hands and his brothers' paws when he senses any of us are feeling a bit off. He is an old soul."

She added: "He has been watching over me and my 'people' family and his furry siblings with care and a sense of humor and compassion for a long time. We miss him and are sending him positive love and hope it helps him find a path home."

While the circumstances of how he became lost are upsetting and disturbing, Beekman said the most important thing is to send him empowering energy to "let us find him and enable him to continue to be the wise, witty and wonderful family member we all miss so much."

The community is opening its arms to help Beekman, who has one Have A Heart trap set up and is planning to put out another; some are helping with social media, and others are searching and putting out their own feline-friendly traps to help. She also has a camera on her phone that can track activity but so far, Whisper hasn't been seen near the trap.

Beekman is heartbroken about her missing feline family member. "He's the smartest cat I have had. I have had 23 cats in my life over 76 years, but this is the smartest. He is wise. He is affectionate. He knows what I'm thinking. If I'm down, he will rub against me."

Normally, if she is trying to find him, Beekman said she will call his name, saying, "Whisper, Whisper, meow, meow," and he will come running.

But so far, although she has traversed the area again and again, hopefully calling out his name, he has not returned. And while she said she believes he is smart enough not to go near the highway, she is afraid he is lost and unable to find his way back to her.

Her voice breaking, she added, "He's my soul mate."