New Hope As Desperate Search Continues For Whisper, Missing Cat

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — After days of despair, a woman desperate to find her missing cat, Whisper, who is lost in Hampton Bays, was given new hope: A tracker's dog found a scent — and, armed with new information, the search has intensified.

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

Teddy Henn of Missing Angels Long Island, an animal tracker who has led many search-and-rescue efforts, came out to meet with Beekman this weekend, and his dog, after being introduced to Whisper's carrier, picked up a scent.

The development gave birth to renewed hope.

"There is a plan," Beekman said.

Henn told Beekman that the dog helped to establish a likely direction of travel that Whisper may have taken, heading east from behind the Shinnecock Animal Hospital, where he fell out of the carrier by the front door, through the woods and bushes, to the area where the gas station, fish markets, and fish restaurants are located by the shore on Canoe Place Road or moving along the bay shore, heading east in Hampton Bays, she said.

The plan involves setting up food and day/night surveillance cameras in two areas near the water, market, and restaurants — and keeping one at the spot he ran through by the vet and Gravel Hill Road, Beekman said.

As soon as she got the news, Beekman headed straight out to stock up on treats to tempt her beloved pet to return.

On Sunday, Henn, along with a cat specialist, Charmagne, worked from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; volunteers also hung up scores of new flyers, with additional flyers ordered.

"Teddy is so kind and a true gentleman," Beekman said. "His dogs are great and the scent tracer is petite and beautiful. I feel like I am on a unique mission with special ops or the folks who really live 'mission impossible' every day."

Henn, Beekman said, set up four spots with cameras and food.

At 9 p.m. Sunday, Beekman got a call about a sighting — "right near a sign with his picture in some woods off Montauk Highway."

Beekman headed right out and left food in several spots after "calling him gently, just like we were at home, but no response."

Following Henn's advice, Beekman marked and photographed the spots where food was placed then, she headed home to wait anxiously.

"The plan is to see if the food is eaten. If it is him, and we get him there, it will be quite something that he went right behind his picture!"

She added: "What a privilege to get help from Teddy and Charmagne. It feels like an adventure movie!"

The team, she added, is not only smart, but also "kind and empowering," Beekman said.

Beekman also thanked Tracy from the Southampton Animal Foundation, neighbors Bonnie Stephans and her daughters, and all the many who have reached out to help.

"Here is an example of 'the kindness of strangers' at its best," Beekman said. "Whispers is at high risk, but he is very smart — and deserves the best effort to help him."

Beekman also implored residents in the area to check their surveillance cameras. "A minute of time could save this loved pet," she said. "I pray people will identify with my lost, indoor pet and do this simple surveillance check to help."

If the are any sightings, Beekman asked people to call or text 631-276-7798 and send images.

The days without her beloved pet have been long.

"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.

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."