OK, so it's just another little cat. No big deal. The world is full of unwanted felines, just get another. But she's my cat, dammit, and she's been gone for 48 hours.

One thing you can say for cats, they're creatures of habit. Every morning at 5 a.m. I'm awakened by a gray furry alarmist cat who thinks she's starving to death and why don't I feed her NOW.

Every evening when I get home from work I'm greeted by a starving gray feline why don't you feed me NOW cat.

And in between, if I'm home, I'm to provide a lap or at the very least a warm monitor, platforms for lounging and places for general commentary upon the vagaries of the world.

Without her, it's awfully quiet. I wish I knew what has happened to her.