Cats are pretty resilient creatures, so in most weather circumstances they can get by, but dehydration and hunger can be the scariest when a cat is lost outside. Elsa, our 6-year-old cat below, escaped during her pawrent's move to a new house. Her hooman came back and searched for her for days, but couldn't find her. Weeks later, she got a call from the new tenant asking if she lost a cat - Elsa was hiding there, not making a sound, for 3 weeks! With only the toilet for access to water, she was able to survive, but Elsa didn't eat for 3 weeks.
Luckily, Elsa was a bit chonky before she got lost, and that probably saved her life. Upon her safe return home, her pawrent took her to the vet, where he said something surprising: she was still a little overweight! We like to think Elsa just forced herself onto a crash diet or a water fast for 3 weeks.
The impurrtant thing is that Elsa was found, is now safely snuggling with her pawrent in their new house, and Elsa is healthy. She will also be going on a real diet, with the vet's help, soon. Until then, we're thankful that Elsa was chonky, and if she can be a little chonky, then maybe we can too and not judge ourselves too harshly for it.