Post by spunkarella on Aug 18, 2014 12:44:04 GMT -5
We visited animal control this morning and he wasn't there, but omigosh at all the sweet kitties. The workers were very nice and encouraged us to come back every single day if we want to, which DH will do since it's very near his work.
We also hung flyers at vet offices and groomers, and just set out two humane traps. One is in the backyard and one is in the garage with the garage door up a little. Our kitchen and yard REEK of sardines mixed with tuna.
I'm taking a little break, then heading out to call his name and specifically listen for him in the storm drains. cherry1111 I really hope he's not down there, but thanks for sharing your story and prompting me to try that.
Thankfully, work was understanding about me leaving today but I really think I should go back tomorrow. I really hope he comes home today.
Do you have a neighborhood listserve or FB page? Try alerting them if so.
I'm so sad for you and hope he comes back! IME, kitties can find their way home. If not, he was probably picked up by someone and is safe and will find you soon.
Post by spunkarella on Aug 18, 2014 15:42:26 GMT -5
We moved the throw from his sleeping spot on the sofa to our patio chair.
We don't have a neighborhood listserv or Facebook.
In addition to the signs around our neighborhood, I just made letters that we are going to put on the front doors of close neighbors. It explains that he is an indoor cat and is likey scared and hiding very close by, and begs them to spend a few minutes carefully searching in likely hiding spots in their shrubbery, backyards, and garages. I am certain that we are starting to annoy some people and/or come across as nutso, but I just don't care anymore. I want him home.
Post by notasafeplace on Aug 18, 2014 16:31:29 GMT -5
Our indoor cat got out a few months ago. I read the same thing many are telling you, that he was likely nearby and scared. We put up signs, and talked to all the neighbors. Every night I would go outside and call his name, since I read that many times the cat won't break cover until nightfall. He was gone for 4 days and I was a mess. The fourth night my husband and I went in the backyard and called and his head popped up over the back fence, but then he fell back down. I had to climb over the fence into the neighbors yard and rescue him from under a bush. I burst into tears as soon as we got him back inside.
He ate a bunch of food and then snuggled up with me on the couch and fell into the deepest sleep ever. Poor guy was exhausted.
A few things to remember: many times it will take a few days before the cat is hungry enough to break cover. Sometimes they will even hear you calling and looking for them but They are literally paralyzed by fear and won't even meow. But, eventually, they do meow or return home, if they aren't trapped somewhere. Focus your search close to your house. Most indoor cats will be in a 3 home radius. And I'm not sure if you have other pets but it did take a few days for them to all get back to normal with each other, which I wasn't prepared for.
Post by jennysmitten on Aug 18, 2014 16:49:08 GMT -5
One of our cats got out when we used to live in an apartment. He was gone for a few days and I was certain I would never see him again. Thankfully I had told our next door neighbors. Their friends lived a few buildings up from us, on the second floor, closest to the stairs. Right where our apt was in our building. My cat had tried to find his way home but all the apts were confusing to him. Luckily he found the apt of our neighbors friends and he was returned home.
I also had another cat that got out at night and we were searched everywhere, he was no where to be found. The next morning he was at the door, meowing to get in.
Cats are pretty good at finding their way home. I know it is awful waiting but have faith he will come back.
Over the years I've had three indoor/outdoor cats disappear, two of which had a happy ending.
One cat was trapped in the neighbor's garage for a week. I went around and talked to the neighbors, and the people across the street wasn't home, so I just stuck a flyer in their door. He saw the flyer and realized the "ghost" he'd had in his garage was probably our cat. He left his garage door open for several hours, and then came over later asking if she'd come home. She had! We had gone out papering the neighborhood in flyers and when we got home she was kind of dirty/oily and hoarse from meowing so much, but was back.
The other cat was gone for one week exactly, and showed up at the door asking to come in just as clean, fat, and happy as she had been when she disappeared. She had to have been somewhere were she was getting food and water, but we never figured out where.
Post by notasafeplace on Aug 19, 2014 0:30:38 GMT -5
spunkarella I'm glad my story brought you some comfort. I'm a lurker and just had to make a name and share because I remember how devastated I was and I had found so much comfort in other peoples stories as well. To be honest, my husband had pretty much given up and actually kind of have me a hard time about making him go outside and call for the cat because he thought it was a lost cause AND it was raining that night. I made him come with me because I had it in my head that his deep voice would travel farther.
So now I can always so "I told you so" about that one and have definitely used it to my advantage in other situations. Like, "oh, you don't think we should get another quote for car insurance? Remember when you also didn't think we should go outside and try to find the cat?" LOL!
This website is where I got a lot of information and I found it really encouraging:
Post by spunkarella on Aug 19, 2014 9:14:19 GMT -5
@fivedogs I will check into a wildlife camera! I think if he was coming around, he would eat some food (in 4 different places), but you never know. The bacon/keeping the house smelling good is also a great idea.
My neighbors have been pretty awesome. One a few houses down has a very lush backyard with tons of trees, shrubs, and a koi pond. It's basically cat paradise. The neighbor gave us free reign to go back there and look for him anytime we want.
Here's a happy story to contribute: One of my indoor cats once escaped from our house a few years ago. He was missing for six weeks before being found. He was picked up by a stranger who found him under her deck, only one block from our house. Once the cat gets hungry enough, they will start approaching other people more.
Post by spunkarella on Aug 19, 2014 13:09:57 GMT -5
Thank you all so much.
I just bought an e-book about finding lost cats and I'm about to hire the author for a custom consultation via email. The e-book was actually very helpful with tips for setting up the traps, and different approaches based on personality type. Even if the private consult ends up being a waste of money, it helps my sanity to feel like I am doing everything possible under the sun to find him and bring him home.
Please feel free to add me to the list of legit crazy cat ladies.
I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. Every time I see that you posted, I hope that it's because he's been found.
Aww, I'm sorry to keep disappointing. If he is found, I will either start a new thread or change the thread title so you don't have to keep clicking in.
We had a roller coaster moment last night while searching when we thought we saw him jump over a fence. Turns out our neighbor's cat looks almost identical to ours. That really high/really low moment seriously sucked.
All of us crazy cat ladies are here for you! I keep clicking in for Kitty Spunky Search Updates. I truly would be a cat mom who hires a physic, a voodoo priestess, a mercenary or whatever it took to find my kitty too.
I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. Every time I see that you posted, I hope that it's because he's been found.
Aww, I'm sorry to keep disappointing. If he is found, I will either start a new thread or change the thread title so you don't have to keep clicking in.
We had a roller coaster moment last night while searching when we thought we saw him jump over a fence. Turns out our neighbor's cat looks almost identical to ours. That really high/really low moment seriously sucked.
I can't even imagine how I'd feel if I was in that situation. Sending find the kitty vibes your way!
Post by spunkarella on Aug 19, 2014 20:55:21 GMT -5
Thank you for checking! Nothing yet. This evening we followed the book's tips for setting the traps better, and have also cracked our bedroom window for him tonight. I don't know why I didn't think of that before. Our entire house now smells like tuna. Our neighbors also set out two humane traps of their own.
Post by mrsw101109 on Aug 19, 2014 20:58:47 GMT -5
My friends cat sneaks out of the house often. He was missing for 3 days one time. They searched for days, hung posters, posted to craigslist, and then at 1am he came home meowing at the door.
Post by spunkarella on Aug 19, 2014 20:59:04 GMT -5
Our other two babies are crying at the bedroom door - can't let them sleep in here with the window open. Maybe he will hear them and recognize this as home.
Post by mrsw101109 on Aug 19, 2014 20:59:48 GMT -5
Hit post too soon. I hope you find him. Cats are very resilient creatures. I hope he is having a blast out the the wild and will get bored and come home quick.