Lenny, I'm not sure how to say this, but here it goes: I lost your cat this morning.
What?!
I'm sorry. I don't know how it happened. She was in her usual place under the bed. When I opened the front door to get the morning paper, I saw her run past me really quickly. I tried to close the door in time, but she must have gotten out.
Diane, she's a house cat. She's not supposed to go outside, ever! She could get lost and never find her way back. Or worse, she could get hit by a car!
I feel like a terrible roommate, Lenny. I wish there were something I could do to fix this.
Wait... You've looked everywhere for her?
Yes... under the sofa, in the dirty clothes, behind the bookcase...
Did you check back under the bed where she was?
Hmm, I guess I didn't think to look there. I just assumed that she had...
Look who I found!
Oh, my! I can't believe it! I thought she had gone out of the front door, but I guess I didn't actually see her make it outside.
Sometimes she starts to head out there, but she changes her mind at the last second. Then she just goes back to her safe place! The outside world can be a scary place for her!