Pooty, found

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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BILOXI (AP) – A celebrity Tabby cat was pulled from a flood-ravaged Biloxi neighborhood Tuesday, a cat made hairless after enduring Hurricane Katrina’s 100 mph sustained winds during its strike on the Gulf Coast.

Pooty the Cat, reported missing more than a week ago by dashing young television news reader Scott “Scottie2Hottie” Wickersham in Asheville, N.C., cowered hungry but safe in the arms of a member of an animal rescue organization, according to a group spokeswoman.

Ellie Hugmeyer said a member of her group spotted the cat during a sweep of a neighborhood aboard a johnboat in eastern Biloxi. The group had rounded up three dogs, a boa constrictor and two parakeets Tuesday afternoon when someone spotted an unusual gray mass afloat in debris.

“It was just laying there, on top of a yoga mat, it’s claws dug in as far as they could go,” Hugmeyer said. “There wasn’t a single hair on it’s body,” she said. “Poor little boo-boo.”

The group identified the cat by its collar and tag, which stated “Pooty, property of Scottie2Hottie. If found, call me.” After several calls, and tracking an identification number on the tag, Hugmeyer said she reached

Hugmeyer said Wickersham was overwhelmed with news of the rescue. “Oh, my, god. He probaby went down there purposely to kill himself. I feel so guilty. Tell Pooty I love him and will be there to pick him up as soon just as soon as I get my Wednesday pedicure,” Scottie told the rescuers.

Wickersham’s pageant beauty wife, Candice Little, answered a reporter’s knock at the door to the couple’s south Asheville residence Tuesday night. When told of the rescue, Little cursed, threw a hair curler at the reporter and slammed the door.

Pooty had reportedly been distraught over the severe lack of attention paid him by Wickersham, attention he had been lavishing on his new wife. The cat had been corresponding through an internet site with his owner, but Wickersham reported him missing more than a week ago.