Thanks, Sandi. I suspect he is in another home somewhere. He was too streetwise and intrepid to simply get lost, and it's very rural where we are, with relatively few cars coming and going, so it's unlikely he got run over.
@Octoberon - Cats will commonly piss off to what they see as greener pasture, especially if there's other pets present that they compete with. "L" has determined her favorite perch, which happens to have been Katty's favorite spot too.
Hopefully that is the case, @Octoberon, and that he's in another good home with people who love him. In the desert where I live, most people aren't able to safely let their cats outdoors because of the coyotes. Perhaps one day Jasper will reappear like those dogs in the movies that travel hundreds of miles back to their owners.
Maybe he’s with people who took him, or perhaps he was sold on. I prefer to think that’s he’s safe and sound somewhere, anyway. But if I get my hands on who stole him…
It's no consolation but I would suggest that it's most likely that the cat has been stolen for sale - it is, clearly, a beautiful cat and would be VERY easy to sell. The only potential consolation would be that, in that scenario, it would almost certainly be sold to a person who would love and care for the cat ... probably not as much as you did, do and would .... but enough to be re-assured, perhaps, about the cat's future. None of that would gainsay my agreement with the idea of kneecapping (and more) any bar steward involved in stealing the cat!
Orientals are a somewhat sought after breed. Very possible some greedy selfish prick scarfed it up. More likely considering its unique look it cozied up to some kid and they brought it home, convinced the parents to let them keep it, and the rest is history. FWIW the cat I grew up with fucked off after I left home for the military and was MIA for 8 months. Just showed up one day out of nowhere. Got her from a shelter when I was like 11 or 12. Old girl lived to be 23. I was in my mid 30’s.
I live about 100 yards from the Trans Penning Trail. There’s a car park and it’s a popular place for cyclists and walkers. We used to walk the dog there and Jasper would come along as well. My theory is that he wandered down on his own one day and someone nabbed him. It’ll be a miracle if he turns up but you never know.