Post by spunkarella on Aug 17, 2014 12:05:01 GMT -5
UPDATE 9/9: He is home! See new thread!
Please send all your positive thoughts this way.
We last saw him before we left to go out of town yesterday morning. We think he slipped out as we were loading the car. He is strictly indoor-only and this has never happened before. He is the best, sweetest, cuddliest, grumpiest, laziest cat ever and I'm about to lose it.
He is 9 years old and I rescued him from a shelter when he was about 6 weeks old. My now-husband got him for me as a high school graduation present (I now know better!) and he saw me through some really rough and really happy times. He sleeps stretched out next to me with his head on my pillow almost every night.
We have been all over the neighborhood, posted on Facebook and Craigslist, and DH is on the computer making signs to put up.
I really need to hear happy stories of cats who went missing and made it back home safely.
Post by crashgizmo on Aug 17, 2014 12:07:52 GMT -5
Oh no! Does he have a microchip or collar with tags? I know a lot of indoor cats don't have those since they never go out.
We had our mostly indoor cat go missing when I was a kid, and she came back a few days later. Really muddy but otherwise no worse for wear. We still have no idea what she was doing.
Post by spunkarella on Aug 17, 2014 12:11:55 GMT -5
crashgizmo no tags because they drive him crazy and he never goes outside. No microchip because I've been lazy and procrastinating about it. I feel awful because I should have taken care of it by now.
ETA: he was wearing a breakaway type collar but I'm afraid it may have fallen off.
Someone on ML lost her cat a week before she moved to another state and then a stranger found it a month later and there was a massive cross country drive to get her cat to her. (Does anyone remember who that was? Abby - something?)
Our female kitty got out of an open window (accidentally left open) a couple years ago. We combed the neighborhood for hours, called local vets and shelters, called her microchip company, planned to out up flyers the next day, and finally went to bed distraught ... then I heard our male cat crying at the window so I looked outside ... she was sitting outside, so I ran out and scooped her up.
Put out a can of smelly food that he likes - we put out tuna but you could also try sardines or wet cat food. Also put out a pan with some used litter in it. We also put out a few pieces of clothing from the hamper since I read online that they're drawn to the smell of you. And we also scattered some cat treats and some catnip around our property.
Indoor-only cats don't want to be outside. His life is too cushy inside with you and you provide his food. And they hide right away and won't come out because they're scared and don't want to reveal their position to predators, and they won't stray too far because they're not used to the outdoors, so I'll bet anything that he is hiding somewhere close by and he will come out when he's hungry. Our neighbor posted flyers for her missing kitty and they were all removed the next day so he must have come home.
It's also worth mentioning that a few months ago we couldn't find the same cat and we thought she got out again - turns out that, somehow, she got into a wall in the basement. WTF??? And our male cat has gotten locked in closets several times when he slipped in for a nap when we had the doors open and weren't paying attention. My cousin's cat clawed a hole under her bed and would sleep in the bed spring, and I've heard of cats getting stuck inside of couches. Maybe he has a new hiding spot?
Good luck, I hope he turns up soon. Please update when he does!
Mine did this and turned out to be hiding under a bush very close by. Three people checked that spot too and didn't see her. Good luck. Maybe put some strong smelling wet food outside to lure kitty back?
I had a cat that fell off my second floor balcony, fell out the window and slipped out of a door I hadn't fully closed. Each time, I managed to find him....I got best results putting up flyers all over the complex. He was gone between 24-48 hours each time.
OTOH, his brother who slipped out hid under the doormat until I opened the door and saw him.
Have you checked all your closets? I can't begin o count the number of times he went missing and I had closed the closet foot.
Oh......and I had another thought. All of my cats that I have gotten from the shelter the last 15 years have been chipped. You might want to check the paperwork, or maybe your vet. Many times, they will have your chip info on file, even if you not know he has one.
My male cat has slipped out a couple of times. The first time it happened someone gave me the tip that strictly indoor cats won't go far. Usually they freak out and hide somewhere close. I found him under the next door neighbor's front deck. Now I know to look there every time he gets out.
Make sure you search thoroughly around your house and your neighbors' houses. Your kitty is likely still close and may not respond to your calls right away.
Our friends thought their cat had runaway. He got caught in the hallway coat closet they rarely use. I also agree with pp about setting out items such as smelly wet cat food to lure it back home.
Post by spunkarella on Aug 17, 2014 12:58:41 GMT -5
Thank you guys! I put out his regular dry food already, but I will pick up some wet food and put it outside too.
Originally, I thought he must be hiding inside because we had houseguests this weekend. We searched the house up and down. Now I really think he is outside. We found some poop and what looks like grass vomit in the backyard. I have a theory that he is hiding in one of the backyards that adjoins us.
The mostly likely neighbor won't answer their damn door!! There is a big gap under our/their fence near where we found the poop. Their backyard has some tempting-looking bushes and a play set that would make great hiding spots. The first time we went by, they weren't home and we left a note on the door. We went by again and they are definitely home, note is gone, garage door up and car in the garage, but they didn't come to the door. I know my cat isn't their problem and some people just aren't neighborly, but it is really pissing me off.
I'm so sorry! My BFF's indoor cat got out a few years ago and she ended up finding her a few days later hiding in a barn behind her house. They usually don't go very far.
Post by spunkarella on Aug 17, 2014 14:12:45 GMT -5
The backyard neighbors answered the door and were super sweet and apologized for not answering earlier (elderly non-English-speaking grandmother was the only one home at that time). They helped us poke through their shrubs, no kitty cat.
Post by perkyderky on Aug 17, 2014 14:37:48 GMT -5
Once your kitty starts getting hungry enough he/she will likely find the way home to you if it is outside. Their hunting instinct supposedly doesn't fully go away, but if it's a choice between a feathery bird and some delicious wet food, the wet food wins.
I would highly suggest re-checking the house, looking behind bookcases, under beds, inside closets, etc and be sure to give yourself enough quiet after calling his/her name, that if you hear anything unusual (scratching, muffled meowing, etc), you give yourselves the chance to hear it. Like others have said, kitties can be wylie creatures and think it's "neat" they are hiding from Mom and Dad, even though you guys are freaking out.
One of my neighbors cats was missing for several days--he is an inside/outside cat. We think he got caught somewhere (a shed, most likely) because he showed up a few days later, very skinny and dehydrated, but very much alive.
Post by cricketwife on Aug 17, 2014 14:39:32 GMT -5
When I was in high school, our indoor only cat got out and he reappeared 2 weeks later. They were the longest two weeks and we have no idea where he was -- he did come back skinnier, but he came back!
Look at night - they are nocturnal. Put fresh wet food/tuna out at night. Call him at night, etc.
Also, don't completely rule out the indoors, they can be very sneaky! Leave all the closet doors, bedroom doors, pantry doors, etc. open so that if he's stuck somewhere he can get out.
Poor Spunky kitty. I hope he comes home hungry and needing his cat mommy soon.
We lost Pom kitty once. We had evacuated for Hurricane Rita and went to a hotel near my sister. So we told the hotel staff and owner NOT to clean our room. We come back and the FUCKING.DOOR.IS.OPEN and the maid was in there. OMG, my heart was racing and I was sobbing. No sign of the cat. Mr. Pom who is the nicest person ever, goes down and screams his ass off at the hotel owner. I am wondering around in the weedy cemetery directly across from the hotel, it's 100+ degrees and I am losing my shit and calling to kitty P. Finally, no cat anywhere and we return to our hotel room, panicked and devastated. Suddenly, she comes strolling out from under the bed, all WTF is your problem? We'd looked there 100 times, but she had crawled her ass up in the box springs and had been hiding there the WHOLE TIME. We laugh about this often. We also lost her on Thursday before we left town for a fishing tournament for Mr. P. She hides when we get out the suitcase and we were both tearing the house apart looking for her before we left. We looked in the same spot 4 times before we found her. She enjoys our fear, I swear.
Post by shellbear09 on Aug 17, 2014 18:37:10 GMT -5
My cat was just gone for a week recently and then just showed back up. We thought he was gone and have no idea where he was. Hope your kitty returns soon,
Post by spunkarella on Aug 17, 2014 19:23:49 GMT -5
We put signs up everywhere and have canvassed the neighborhood I don't even know how many times. I'm sure a few neighbors think we are crazy cakes, but most were incredibly kind and went out of their way to help us look.
I'm feeling lots of feels. I'm absolutely heartbroken that he hasn't come home yet, hopeful that he will find his way home soon, and touched by our little neighborhood community.
We even got invited to come in and look at some itty bitty baby bunnies at one house. I have never seen them so tiny!
Post by spunkarella on Aug 17, 2014 19:29:10 GMT -5
justemily thanks for the advice about the litter box. I will definitely do that.
I read about the humane trap but I wondered if the local rescue would think I'm crazy if I asked to borrow a trap. I can definitely try calling tomorrow though.
Post by spunkarella on Aug 18, 2014 8:45:46 GMT -5
He is still gone.
I tried going to work, but I just left. DH and I are going to visit all animal shelters - I already called but I want to walk through to double check. And we are passing out flyers at vet offices and groomers. And buying/setting a humane trap. None of the shelters have any available to borrow, so we will donate ours after spunky cat comes home.
I slept in my backyard last night in case he tried to come home. DH walked the neighborhood calling him at 2:30am, and I went out at 4:30am.
I don't know what else to do. I feel so helpless and DH and I are both hot emotional messes.