How to find your missing cat
82
Anyone who has ever had a missing cat knows how worrying it is not knowing what has happened to them, or if they are alive or dead. Unfortunately cats do have a bad habit of getting to a certain age and deciding they now want to go exploring their new territory. For a cat their territory can be anything up to a two mile radius of your home, and naturally this makes them very hard for you to find if they get lost or injured whilst they are out hunting. It is important to remember however, that once your cat does start to venture out into the surrounding areas it may well be gone for days at a time, and it is not necessarily a lost cat in the true sense of the word 'lost'. The fact your cat has been missing this long does not automatically mean that something awful has happened to them either, and it frequently means they are just doing what comes naturally to them and patrolling their territory to make sure no other felines are attempting to take it over, (and of course spending plenty of time catching the rodents that reside within it for themselves).
Some time back I wrote an article called Where do your cats go when they leave your home? and I quickly realised there were a huge amount of cat owners out there who found that article when their own kitty had gone missing. Clearly these worried owners were desperate for ideas as to what they could do to find their cats again, and for reassurance that their cats were going to either come back on their own, or at least be okay. Now whilst I know that sadly there are many occasions when something has happened to the missing cat, e.g. a car accident or an attack by a larger predator, this is not always the case. I decided to write this follow up article to help the owners of lost kitties to find them again, whether the news was good or bad. We all need closure, and not knowing what has happened to our missing pet is usually worse than finding out they have died, even though the news is painful. In the best case scenarios however, we find out our missing cat is alive and well, and we are reunited with them.
 | Amazon Price: $38.95 List Price: $65.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $19.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $39.99 List Price: $59.99 |
Prevention is Better than Cure!
Before I launch into the ways to find your missing cat I would like to emphasise the fact that prevention is better than cure. If you take the right steps from the moment you take on your pet cat you can most likely avoid the worry that goes with a missing cat. By 'the right steps' I mean the following:
Making sure your cat is microchipped and/or wearing a suitable safety collar with your phone number on it (avoid putting cat names on the collars because it makes it easier for a thief to 'adopt' your cat and gain its trust).
If necessary having an invisible fence fitted to keep your cat within the boundaries of your garden or yard.
Before introducing new pets to the household that might stress out your existing cat and cause it to run away, read my article on how to introduce a new cat or kitten to your existing cats.
Make sure they are in good health and well cared for with no reason to want to stray for long by reading my article on how to care for your cat or kitten.
Get your cats neutered (spayed or castrated) as soon as they hit six months old. In the case of male cats this will reduce their desire to travel long distances in search of females in season to mate with. This will also prevent them getting into fights over females or getting knocked down by vehicles during their quest to find a mate. Likewise with the females it will stop them searching for males to mate with as they normally would when they were in season.
 | Amazon Price: $12.27 List Price: $19.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $20.74 List Price: $34.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $9.64 List Price: $24.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $7.75 List Price: $22.00 |
How to Find your Missing Cat.
Now assuming your cat is missing right now there are a number of basic steps you can take to help maximise your chances of finding your lost pet. If your cat is already microchipped or wearing a collar there is a good chance you will be called by either a vet or a rescue centre if the cat is brought in injured or deceased. The only times this is unlikely to happen is if the microchip has 'migrated' to another part of the cat's body, (which does occasionally happen), or if he or she has lost their collar whilst out roaming. It is worth periodically getting your vet to check the microchip is still in the correct position around the back of the cat's neck, and if it has migrated to an awkward location (or even made its way out of the body altogether (which also happens very occasionally), you might want to get another microchip injected instead.
If your kitty didn't have either a tagged collar or a microchip you now need to use other methods to reunite you with your lost pet:
- Call around all the vets surgeries and rescue centres within a 2 mile radius and ask if a cat fitting the description of yours has been brought in injured.
- Use your home computer to create fliers with a description and a photo of your lost cat on them. Post these fliers in as many public places as possible within a 2 mile radius, e.g. trees, shop windows, vets surgeries reception areas, telegraph poles, car windscreens, in the rear window of your own car and friends cars etc.
- Knock on doors in your neighbourhood and ask if people have seen your cat. Keep a photo of your kitty with you to show the homeowners and give them a phone number to contact you if they see your cat in the days to come.
- Leave out your cat's favourite food each night, preferably a strong smelling type of food in order to help attract him or her to come home again. If you are worried about this attracting rats, then place it on a raised platform that a cat can jump up to, but a rat would struggle to.
- Check local sheds and outhouses to make sure your pet has not been locked in by accident. Ask your neighbours and local businesses to do the same if they have garages, sheds or outhouses of their own.
- Might sound obvious, but look up trees. Even cats experienced at climbing sometimes go too high, (perhaps when running from a dog), and then get frozen in place, too scared to attempt to come down without assistance from a person on a ladder or a member of the fire brigade.
- Not a pleasant thought, but check local woodland for signs that your cat might have fallen prey to a larger predator such as a coyote, Great Horned Owl, Eagle Owl, mountain lion or snake. Signs might include the remains of the fur, a skeleton, the collar or even just signs of a struggle like broken undergrowth with tufts of hair stuck to the bushes.
- Visit your local schools and ask the Head Teachers to speak to the pupils in assembly and ask them to look out for your lost cat, and to notify you if they think they have seen him or her. Again a photo helps here, and a small reward can do wonders to motivate children to search the local neighbourhood on your behalf. Let's face it, children get everywhere so if anyone is likely to find your cat in an unusual location it could well be a child or teenager.
- Contact your local radio station and ask them to put out an announcement about your missing cat. They may or may not charge for this service, but it will ensure you hit a large target audience all at once either way.
- Place a 'Lost' or 'Missing' advert in your local newspaper, preferably with a photo if you can afford it, or at least with a good description of your cat if a text advert is all you can stretch to financially.
- Get T-shirts or badges printed with a picture of your cat on saying 'Have You Seen This Cat' followed by a telephone number. Wear these whenever you can and pass them out to your friends and relatives.
I hope these ideas help you to find your missing pet cat, and that when you do your cat is alive and well. Remember though, don't panic if your cat has only been missing for a few days. Sometimes cats go missing for weeks at a time and then stroll in as if they have never been gone. It is in their nature to want to hunt, explore and enjoy the great outdoors. We just have to accept that this is something we need to get used to if we are to have cats in our homes.
Below are some links to other articles I have written with pet cats in mind. I hope you will find them useful and will take the time to read them in order to ensure you have a healthy, happy and well cared for pet cat.
Other Relevant Articles by Mistyhorizon2003
- Where Do Your Cats Go When They Leave Your Home?
I can't help wondering where on earth cats go when they head "through the cat flap". Quite often they are gone for days at a time, and when they do return they are frequently not hungry and seem pretty content with life. So where do your cats go..... - How to Care for your Cat or Kitten
It is always exciting when you first make the decision to get your own kitten or cat, but before you commit to your new pet and bring him or her home there are serious considerations you need to make. The first important decision is can you..... - How to Introduce a New Cat or Kitten to your Existing Cats
Introducing a new kitten to your existing cats can be far more stressful than you ever imagined. This article explains how best to go about this process and avoid any potential problems with the new arrival. - Lilies can kill your cat within hours!
It probably will come as a surprise to many cat owners that something as beautiful as a lily could potentially kill their beloved pet cat within hours, but this article explains how..... - Why Should I Buy Pet Insurance?
If you have ever wondered why you should buy pet insurance then you seriously need to read this article. I honestly defy anyone to argue against a need for pet insurance once they have read this.... - A-Z of Houseplants that are Poisonous to your Cats.
In this article I hope to list most of the more common houseplants that are dangerous to cats so that you can either ensure you don't bring them into your home or at least you can keep them out of the reach of your pets. - How to get your cat or dog to swallow / take tablets or pills.
Want to know how to easily get your dogs or cats to swallow tablets or pills? This article explains how and is written by a former Veterinary assistant...
CommentsLoading...
Some times they are lost in the house!
These are great suggestions to help someone who has lost a cat. It's wonderful for someone to have a definite plan of action to help them find their cat, or at least find out what has happened to the pet. I have three indoor cats and would be very upset if they got out. I do take them outside to the back garden and for walks on a leash and harness, but I don't let them roam free. We live near roads with traffic and I would be terrified that they would be hit by a car if they were allowed to wander. Hopefully I will never lose any of them, but if I do I will remember your suggestions.
Useful article as usual Missy. I have lost cats. One stayed gone for two months and was found by luck living in a hollow mattress in a yard with a huge Ridgeback, a known cat killer! Was she pleased to se me and she stayed on the bed all night. A vet told me that cats actually get disorientated and lost quite easily, not like dogs who are better at back tracking. So many get lost, poor things. Hard to keep cats if you have to worry about them. Bob
Poor cat Pcunix, I am glad you got him back again okay.
Hi Lela, yes, sometimes they are, I just wish it was more often, as too often they are not in the house, just missing!
I hope your cats remain well Alicia. I have a good friend in the same situation as you, and her three cats need to live indoors. I think this is a shame, but I do understand this is better than being run over cars or general traffic.
Wow Bob, that was one lucky cat, but so glad he survived. At least he had a good home to come back to :)
Nice tips.I have used RF located earlier, nice to see other tips.voted up!
Thanks Maxravi :)
Thanks for this hub. I linked it to mine about my missing cat. One thing they do in the US is spay/neuter at 8 weeks old now.
Thanks LG, I have heard they neuter really early in the US now, but not totally sure I agree with it. The cats are so young and at a far higher risk from going through surgery, having an anesthetic etc. It takes a far smaller loss of blood to kill a kitten of that age, plus of course the surgery is a load more fiddly for the vet. I suspect that is why in the UK they recommend 6 months old, unless the kitten is big for its age, in which case they sometimes do it a few weeks earlier. The cat is unlikely to become sexually mature before 6 months old anyway, so there is little to lose by waiting until they are 6 months before having them neutered.
Thanks for linking to this hub in yours. I hope your cat is feeling better now and eating again.
She's like nothing ever happened.
That's excellent news LG. I am really pleased to hear it :)
My cat has been missing for 3 days now.My father let her out around noon 3 days ago and it was suppose to snow really hard and get really cold out.It has been very rainy the past few days before.She loves water and im starting to think maybe she jumped down the sewer and got drowned,or maybe a hawk got ahold of her sense i looked out my back window the next day to see one posted in my neighbors tree just sitting there.I am really worried and hope she comes home soon.She is only about a year old and still acts just like a kitten,she is not to fond or smart to my liking to be outside as it is,but i could not help it if my dad was the one to let her out :(
Hi Chuckie, I hope your cat comes home safe. Don't panic yet, she is about the age where they start to wander off properly for the first time, and it is not unusual for them to be gone for a good few days at a time when they do. Sooner or later she was going to have to be allowed out if she was to have a healthy, happy life, where she would be able to follow her natural instincts, get fit, develop a good immune system etc. Don't blame your Dad, whatever the outcome, you can't keep them indoors forever as it isn't fair unless you live by a major main road where they are likely to quickly get run over, (in which case I recommend smaller indoor pets like rabbits instead of cats). Give it time and she will probably come home on her own, unscathed and unphased. If you had her microchipped you may well hear if anything happened to her you didn't want, e.g. car accidents or other injuries.
Good Luck
Sorry I had to delete your comment Haniajoy, but you had included an eternal link in it which is considered Spamming if placed without permission, and is against Hubpages TOS. If you want to post the comment minus the link I will allow it, (after all, you get a link back to your profile automatically by simply posting a comment).
My cat has been gone for about two months or more now and we got some tips on where she had been seen but after a while they stopped coming and we have four large streets near us and she wouldn't pass those but she is shy so if anyone went near her she would run but do you think that she ( a four year old cat) could survive in the snow an what do you think the coldest it could get for a cat to not be able to survive in ??
Hi Molly,
Cats are amazing at surviving, and they are excellent at both hunting and finding shelter. There will always be places a cat can scavenge, not to mention rodents out there also looking for food, which will quickly become food themselves.
Someone may have been feeding her and gained her trust over time, after all, she trusted you, and you fed her.
Any creature will die if it gets cold enough, but like I said, cats are excellent at hiding out in sheds, barns, garages, under cars, etc etc.
Hopefully she will come home when you least expect it, and in the meantime try some of the suggestions on my list, as they may generate new information.
Good Luck
My cat has been missing three days. I'm really worried because he doesn't usually disappear for this long. Occasionally he'll be gone all night but he'll be waiting outside for us the next morning. But I haven't seen him anywhere since Saturday. He has only done this once before. About 2 years ago. He was gone about 4 days. And I got the feeling he had been locked in somewhere accidentally or something. He seemed quiet upset when he finally got home. It hasn't happened since then. He's 4 years old. I'm so worried. I love him so much. I've had him since he was born.
I hope he comes back soon Sarah, and although this is rare for him, sometimes cats do wander off like this. One of our cats used to vanish for a week or so, but most of the time we see him every day. Try some of the ideas I have suggested, they frequently work when looking for a lost cat. Let me know if he comes back home okay.
Good Luck.
Thanks, we checked the RSPCA today. He wasn't there. He's still not home. I'm really hoping he's just gone on a long walk and will be back safe soon. I just feel so sad and wrong. Like I'm walking around missing a huge piece of myself. I won't feel better until I have him home safe.
I know what you are feeling, I have worried myself sick over my cats when they are missing. My Hubby has even woken me up to let me know they have turned up at home, (normally he never wakes me as I don't sleep well in terms of quality, and worrying makes it worse). Sounds like you are in Britain, (I am in the Channel Islands), so at least top predators other than dogs and people are not an issue where you are.
Please let me know when you get any news, hopefully good news to say he has come home happy and healthy.
Australia actually. But thanks for the kind words. I really hope I can post good news too. Really soon!
Sorry, I didn't know it was still called the RSPCA anywhere outside of mainland UK as even where we are the 'R' is replaced with a 'G' for Guernsey. I suppose I thought your would be an 'A' for Australia or something lol.
Anyway, I do hope your next post here is good news and your cat has turned up at home safe and well.
Wonderful suggestions - thoroughly covered and well-written. I can attest that posting signs works. My two kitties wandered off a few years ago while the house was being remodeled (doors open here and there). I was grief stricken, and posted signs all around our area. After 2-3 weeks, I did hear from a neighbor about one kitty and got him back - skinny but otherwise healthy. His litter mate did not show up, though. I try to believe she was taken in by a loving family . . .
Thanks for the compliments Marcy, I am glad you got one of your kitties back, and I hope too that your other one is now languishing in a comfortable home, and being thoroughly spoilt :)
Thanks, Misty - I comfort myself with that hope, believe me. I feel your great advice here has probably helped many people. There's nothing quite as dear as a kitty.
I hope so, and I agree Marcy :)
Good news he came back! After 5 days missing.
Bad news he has hurt his leg. And has some cuts etc. He's at the vet right now. He has to have x-rays to see what's wrong. I thought it was broken but the vet thinks it's more like a dislocated elbow. And that a cast won't work and he could need surgery which will cost thousands. And I'm pretty freaked out. Because we don't have spare thousands at all. People jeep giving me all this conflicting advise. That surgery isn't worth it. That I should have left him a few days before taking him to the vet to see if it healed on his own. He can barely walk. I couldn't watch him like that it broke my heart. Sorry for babling so much here. I'm just really upset and confused.
Firstly you did the right thing taking him to a vet. Honestly, anyone saying to leave it a day or two before taking an animal in pain to a vet needs to try going a day or two with their own leg dislocated or even broken!! Of course surgery is worth it, would these people consider letting their child go without surgery or worse die, because of a bill!! I know what I am talking about as I am a former vets assistant and I am always horrified when people take such a bad attitude to animal welfare and the responsibility that goes with being a pet owner.
Firstly do NOT panic. Speak to your vet about your circumstances and see if they will agree to either give you a payment plan option, or if they can arrange for your cat to be transferred to a subsidised animal hopsital/charity. You can also try calling your local rescue centre (RSPCA or SPCA etc) and ask them for advice on how you can solve the problem of the high bill that you can't afford.
Right now you don't know what the extent of the problem is, and it may not be as bad as you think. Worse case scenario they can always amputate a limb, and the cat will cope fantastically with 3 legs (I know loads of 3 legged cats). This isn't cheap, but it is cheaper than pinning and other more expensive long term surgical options.
The main thing you need to do right now is wait for the vets to give you the results of the x-rays and a quote. Then look at the options I have suggested. Most vets will agree to a payment plan if you talk to them, but likewise there are charities that will heavily subsidise bills so the owners can afford to pay them. Speak to your family and see if between a number of you you can have a collection, or even organise a small fundraiser to pay the bill.
Assuming all goes well and your cat gets better, please please do what I always recommend and pay to get your cat insured. In the first year I owned my two kittens I had to claim over £1200 on my pet insurance, the premiums in that time had cost me under £150.
Let me know how you get on and good luck.
Ok he doesn't need surgery! Yay. His elbow was completely dislocated. Both bones completely apart. But they got them back together and put a cast on it. So I have to keep him in a small area to stop him hurting himself worse (which will be a chalenge) he is a very active energenic loud cat normally. But I'm so releived that he will be ok.
Thanks for all your help. And comments because it really did help me feel a little better, when I was very worried and sad. Thanks so much :)
I am really pleased for you Sarah. You could try keeping him in a pet cage for a while until he heals (the vet may be able to lend or hire you one).
Don't forget what I said about getting pet insurance though. You have been lucky this time (and you have been proven correct in going to the vet). Next time you might not be so fortunate. Try reading my article on pet insurance and why you should take it out. It is a real eye opener I promise. The link is: http://mistyhorizon2003.hubpages.com/hub/Why-Shoul
Hope all goes well for you and your kitty from now on.
Thanks. I will look into the pet insurance. We have a cage for him already, luckily. He goes in there at night (most of the time). He just protests very loudly about it most times. Thanks again :)
Sounds good Sarah, I know it is going to cost a small amount per month, but if you had seen some of the tragic cases I have seen where a perfectly curable, much loved cat or dog has had to be put down because owners can't afford the bill (even in installments) you would know why I feel so strongly about this. It only costs about £9 a month per cat, and is worth every penny. I list all sorts of unusual things you end up claiming for in my Pet Insurance article, including diabetes, kidney problems, amputations, advertising costs for missing pets, legal fees etc etc. Well worth reading if any further convincing is needed :)
Hope your baby is on the mend soon, even if he has a few weeks of confinement ahead of him.
My story starts some time ago, we moved from one side of the uk to the other taking our 2 cats (brothers) Isaac & Jc, it took several weeks but they settled in well. Though both cats are friendly, Jc was overly friendly... docile even, to the extent that we had neighbors knocking asking me if I could kindly stop him climbing in their windows! He would also let anybody handle him, my children cradled him alot.
One day there was a knock on the door and a lady asked if I had a long haired black cat, to which I replied yes & that he was 1 of 2. She said that she has lots of local strays coming in her house and that Jc has been one of them! She went on to say that she had been to the vet about him & that the vet had advised her to see where he was from, and she had then found us. She told me she lives 3 streets down from us,she asked me if it would be alright if she had him, to which I replied NO! That he is a well looked after and loved family pet!! so I recovered him in his basket from her house.We didn`t see her again.
That should of been the end of it but it wasn`t! Last august my family went on holiday & my oldest son stayed back for work & to look after our pets, On the third day my son phoned to say that Jc had`nt come home that night, I said not to worry as both cats have had wonderings in the past, though we were worried by the end of our hol when he still hadn`t shown up,.
After printing posters and phoning local cats trusts and vets, there was no sign, so sadly we assumed the worst =( life carried on like this for until the 8th of December when my girls came running in after school all excited, saying that they had seen him and that he had rubbed their legs.. but then run off.. I caught the tail end of him disappearing round one of the gardens down the road! He had a different collar on, but was obviously being looked after, though he was very nervous & did`nt want to be stroked. Then we saw nothing of him until 2 weeks ago, when the same thing happened.. this time hardly acknowledging any of us, he is like a different cat, but following him.. he went straight to the strange woman's house... it was then everything became clear! (daft I know, but it didn`t dawn on me that it could be anything to do with her!) I reported her, but there is nothing they can do! Apparently because he chose to stay there.. though I really believe this not to be the case, I think she has kept him in as a house cat & the couple of times he has been back was when he has "got out" He must be so confused & I am so angry, I feel like my hearts been ripped out & like Im mourning for him when he`s still here,but there`s nothing I can do about it, once or twice I have come across this woman in the street, for her to duck and dive when she sees me, obviously she knows she has done wrong, Its just so frustrating that the police are on the side of the thief and not me.. even though I have shown him to be mine with photo`s, vets bills etc, I just hope this never happens to anybody else as its so heartbreaking for all involved.
Isaac on the other hand is doing well and is spoilt rotten, its just sad to think that him and his brother got separated in such a way!
What a terribly sad story Gemma, did he have a microchip by the way, as this is definitive proof he is yours? In your situation I would see if by having a microchip you can demand your cat back legally. I know something like you describe happened when I worked for a Vets, and when the 'thief' owner brought the cat in for treatment, the microchip scan proved the cat was on our missing list, and the correct owner had him registered with us. We confiscated the cat and returned him to his correct owner. Speak to the RSPCA and see where you stand when a microchip has been implanted if this is the case.
If not, then have you tried confronting the owner and saying you have 'come to pick up your cat', surely she won't have the front to deny having him or to refuse to return him to you!
Another option, keep your eye out for him and try to coax him back into your home and you keep him indoors for a while until he settles down again (use a Feliway plug-in to help this process, they are wonderful).
Last option is to not only coax him back, but also move house, albeit a little extreme I know, but it could remove this woman as a problem from your lives.
One way or another I hope you get him back into your home.
Good Luck.
Thankyou, unfortunately neither cats were chipped, as kittens they started off as house-cats because the area we lived in was`nt very nice, when we moved to where we are now, it was a lot safer, with more greenery for them to roam, so slowly they went out... it did`nt cross my mind about chipping at that point =(
Moving is`nt an option, so for now we will work on the coaxing, its such a shame that he`s distant now, but i think that he must be confused, maybe because he has a new name? Or feels that we abandoned him?
Will let you know what happens with time, Im hoping that its not another 4 or 5 months until we see him again!
I do hope you manage to coax him back okay, and I would still be tempted to go to her doorstep and demand your cat back as you know he is yours and she can't just deny that when you have photos. If you do get him back get him chipped immediately so there is no way in the future she can claim he is her cat.
Good Luck and let me know if you make any progress :)
my male cat orange has been missing for two weeks, he is an indoor outdoor cat, was born on a farm and came to live with us as a kitten, he never stayed out all night, one night i called him he didnt come, i fell asleep on the couch, he was not on the porch when i woke the next morning, he hasnt been in sight anywhere, i have other cats, one of which he grew up with, side by side. since he has been gone there has been another male cat in the neighborhood. im worried sick about him. I have talked to neighbors, no sign of him. I call for him at least three times or more a day, nothing. I am sooooo worried.
Hi Tracy, this must be totally stressful for you right now, but don't give up hope Ginger (orange) cats are very tough cookies, and they are good survivors in general. He may just have gone off on a jaunt, especially if he is only a youngish cat, (often their first major jaunts happen around the age of a year or so). I don't know how old your one is, but it is possible he is off adventuring. You don't say if he is neutered, microchipped etc, but if he is not neutered he is even more likely to go off wandering, and a cat's territory can be as large as 2 miles. If he is microchipped and you have heard nothing then hopefully that is a good sign nothing has happened to him, (no news is good news).
In the wild cats form into colonies, and having more than one male in an area should not be a major problem. Yes they might fight, but usually all is okay once the pecking order is established.
Do try the ideas on this article if he is not back soon, as it may speed up the process of finding him or what has happened to him.
Good Luck, I hope he comes home soon.
Dear all.
I have a 11mth young cat/kitten that has never been out in my garden due to being semi ferel we was trying to introduce her to he garden with her tip toeing out then straight back in.For some reason when busy late at night shegot out and we had not realised busy putting up wardrobes and a bed fell into bed late.next day we found her outside but she got frightened as we tryed to get her and run into the gardens behind.Has been out for 4 days.I am so upset keep crying worrying about her Molly is my ray of sunshine.I have looked everywhere out flyers out looked in neighbours gardensup early hours looking calling.I have a neighbour who has 3 cats that have marked there territory and am scared she is to scared to come back.Any ideas will be gratelly recieved.Tammy Basildon essex England.
Hi Tammy, I got your email before I saw this comment. I have emailed you back to reassure you. Do let us know when she comes home, and don't worry yet, four days is not all that long at the age she is. I have had cats go missing for a week or more before now and they still stroll in happy as can be at the end of it.
Dear all,
I have a 9 month old female kitten and she has gone missing. She went missing on the 14th of March, so not long ago, however she disappeared rather suddenly that day. I've been calling her for the past 24 hours and there is no sign of her. I have walked around the local area and driven within 2 miles.
Is there a point (number of days) where one should assume the worst? I have listed her on the RSPCA, my VET, and Lost My Cat as missing. I am putting up posters tomorrow.
The sad thing is she has a brother waiting for her at home who's seriously depressed over her disappearance :(.
Hi Jack,
You don't say if she is spayed or not, as if she isn't she may be in season and will most likely return home in a few days, (at which point get her spayed asap before any pregnancy will have advanced.)
Assuming she is spayed then she is at an age she is likely to begin wandering further afield, and my own cats were not much older than this when they began vanishing for many days at a time (frequently over a week). Be patient, she is very likely to turn up on her own if you wait it out. In the meantime focus on the tips I list here to find her :)
Let me know how it goes.
Hi,
She came back! I was awoken at 6am (I'm in the UK) by her cooing outside and now she's sleeping, obviously catching up on the sleep she lost whilst gone for a day and a half.
To answer your question; yes she is spayed. She has no dirt on her claws, but came home incredibly hungry, which leads me to presume she was locked in a garage or shed before escaping. Either way, I'm happy to have my little bundle of joy back.
Thank you.
That is great news Jack, I am so pleased she is home and well. These are the kind of stories that give other people hope when they read them because their own cats have gone missing.
Thanks for the update :)
Hi..
My almost one year old kitty boy got away 4 days ago. He's an orange tabby, he's been fixed and he's an indoor only cat. The front door wasn't shut all the way and the wind blew it open and I haven't seen him since. I've followed all the advice but I'm going crazy with worry. A neighbor said she heard meowing around my door 2 nights ago so I spent almost all night last night watching and listening for him. There are a few strays in my area so it may not have been him but I'm trying to stay positive.. Will cats come back every couple nights meowing or did miss my chance to bring him back?
Hi Jordan, be patient, even though he has been kept as an indoor cat, he knows where his home is and is most likely enjoying his adventure right now. Just wait for another week or more before panicking too much. It is very likely he will come home on his own, but you could also borrow a cat trap from your local rescue charity and bait it up overnight as an alternative. One year old is the age they WANT to start adventuring, (fixed or not) so expect him to be gone a good few days. My male cats were both fixed, and the one I still have (sadly the other got killed) often goes missing for a week or more. Worrying, but he does come home happy as can be :)
Good luck and let me know how you get on :)
Thank you so much, i won't lose hope!
Good luck, do let me know when he turns up again :)
No luck yet, Ive seen three strays but none were him. I live in an area with a bunch of condos and people and cars. There's so many places he could've gone or hidden. It's just so hard worrying and not knowing. This was my first cat (I thought I was only a dog person having had them my whole life) but this cat quickly changed my mind and stole my heart.
Still keeping faith...
Don't fret Jordan, it is still early days and there is every chance he will come back in a matter of days. I was always a dog person too, but cats are equally great once they get into your hearts :)
Still no kitty..
It's rained the last couple days nonstop and I can't help but think the worst. My family isn't supportive or understanding of how devastated and worried I am. Itd be nice to have someone around to reassure me of the positive things. I tend to focus on the negative. But I know there's a reason for everything.
I will never stop hoping he will find his way back home.
Try not to worry too much yet Jordan. Cats are very good at finding shelter in the rain, whether it is under parked cars or in shrubs and bushes. There is still an excellent chance he will return any day now. Some cats are gone for two weeks or more and still turn up unscathed.
Thank you so much. I can't express my gratitude for you helping me and advising me to stay positive. Thank you again!!
You are very welcome Jordan. If only they knew how much we worry about them eh! He is no doubt off out there having a ball, completely oblivious to how much you are worrying. :)
I lost my cat 4 days ago. She got out through our back door into an alleyway. She's gotten out before but always came back when we called her. We've even intentionally let her out keeping a close eye and then called her back in...
But now she slipped out without anyone knowing and has been gone 4 days. She's a beautiful pure-bread Tonkinese and is extremely friendly and adventurous. That's what worries me. Did she get stuck somewhere? Did someone take her? How could nobody not notice such a cat?
I've been searching day and night and have put up posters everywhere. I'm just devastated by her disappearance. I just love this cat so much.
I do hope she comes back Andrew, four days is not long in a cats world and they can be gone for weeks at a time. My main concern in your case would be that she would be a popular target for thieves, especially as she is friendly. I do hope this is not the case though and that she soon returns home alive and well.
Thanks Misty. It's been now 6 days and still no sign. I think you're probably right that someone stole her. Or someone took her in and is turning a blind eye.
It's really been a difficult time but I've started to accept that she's probably not coming back. Life must go on and I can only hope that she's safe and not suffering.
Thanks for having this site. It made me feel better to read other peoples comments and see how that they're just as attached to their animals as I am. I will definitely come back and give an update if my cat returns.
I hope she does still come back Andrew. It would be great if you can post here and say you got her back again.
Misty, we found our cat! After almost exactly 7 days, Jinxi is back home. She's skinny and filthy but otherwise just perfect :) She's just purring and eating.
She was found about 4 blocks away. Someone saw my poster outside their door and also heard a cat moewing nonstop outside their window. They made the connection, brought her in and gave me a call. I can't even express how happy I am!
There was a not a lamp post in a 6 blocks radius that didn't have a poster of my cat. In the end, that's what helped bring her home.
For anyone else who's going through this struggle, keep your hope alive. If this little cat can make it, so can yours.
Hi Andrew, that is brilliant news I am so pleased for you and really appreciate you coming back here to post the update :)
My two kittens are now 7 months old we got them at 4 months old and we recently let them out on thursday night onoe of them went out for hours in till friday and came back crumpy and un approcachable and now the other one has gone in the space of four hours and I've searched everywhere for her it is strange and i've been beind the house, in the garden looking and no sign of her. got no idea where she has gone and is worried
Just be patient, they have to go out sooner or later, and often when they do it is for two or three days. Relax, she will no doubt be back soon (I hope you have them spayed though as at 6 months old they are mature and could be out looking for a mate).
Pcunix Level 7 Commenter 4 months ago
One of our cats once climbed up a ladder to the loft of a neighbors barn. The neighbor, not knowing our cat had gone up, removed the ladder. It was several days before anyone heard the poor thing crying.. Boy, was he hungry and happy to be home!