Dudley is missing

[timtam23]

My lovely kitten-under-the-bonnet hasn't come home since yesterday evening I know there is always a first time for an all-nighter but it is really unlike him to be out so long & I can't help worrying. He's 8 months old now, a very large and very outdoorsy cat, and bashes the catflap to bits if he has an early curfew, but I always set it to "in only" in the evening so that he spends the night inside. There's been the odd occasion when he's stayed out until the early hours but he has always always come home before, even if it's raining (which it is!). I didn't sleep that well and came downstairs this morning hoping to see him asleep in his armchair - but no. I've even been out for a stroll around the local area - on the bright side, there are no signs he's been run over, but he is certainly nowhere nearby as he would have heard me and come out. The weather is rotten here today but I guess DH will go out later into the woods, which is the logical place for him to have headed for. Trying not to think about putting missing cat posters up - will give him 24 hours first, and hope he comes home in that time

[Sparklingbrook]

Oh no. Dudley come home now!

Why do cats do this to us?

[BigArea]

I remember Dudley - hope he turns up soon xx

[bishboschone]

Oh no .. Come home Dudley !

[timtam23]

Thank you so much for replying, I' feeling quite tearful about it but trying to downplay it at home because the DCs are devoted to Dudley & will be inconsolable if I start making a big thing about him being missing - there is still a good chance he is hiding out somewhere until the rain stops.
Got loads to do today so have to pull myself together and think positive thoughts.
Off for a now

[Sparklingbrook]

YY think positive. x

[Fluffycloudland77]

Oh god, keep strolling & calling. Have you phoned the vets around you to alert them he's missing?

[patienceisvirtuous]

Fingers X he is just sheltering from the rain and is home real soon!

[cadidog]

Oh no, he's probably just trying to prove he's a big boy now. I hope he comes home soon.

[timtam23]

Fluffy I was going to give our vet a ring this morning, they opened at 8, will look up others locally & ring them too, there is the RSPCA and an independent rescue too

He is microchipped and he has a quick-release collar with name tag/phone numbers - unless he has managed to slip it off - also he is neutered so hopefully would not take off after some rogue girlcat

I don't want to go too OTT on the first day but I think if he is maybe lost or injured we do need to make some attempt to find him

The problem is, there are so many directions he could have gone and if I take DS2 with me on a search he will only get upset, he's still little.

fingers crossed he will be back later today

[cozietoesie]

Oh No. Fingers crossed for the boy and keep us posted throughout the day, timtam.

If anyone can survive out there it will be Dudley.

[Sparklingbrook]

Come on Dudley-come home now.

[ChickyEgg]

Come home Dudley!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Have you rung the chip company? Last time I did that the very nice lady explained 12h wasn't very long & to ring back the next day. I looked out the window & he was wandering up the street pausing to sniff the flowers

If he's found a nest of mice he'll be picking them off one by one.

[timtam23]

Right I had another walk round after dropping DS1 at school - no sign of any cat hit-and-runs in any of the local roads - so am thinking that's a positive thing, unless he happened to go up to the very busy main road which I only glanced at, but that's quite a walk from where we are and I think he would have stayed around the quieter roads/back alleys/woods nearby

Also came home through the woods/common, called and whistled for him but no obvious sign - it's too big an area to do a proper search but either he can't hear me for whatever reason, or he's keeping dry somewhere & won't surface until the rain stops

I've spoken to a few nighbours, some of them walk their dogs in the woods so will keep an eye out for a lost cat - also spoke to our vet surgery who will put him in their "lost" book - will ring other vets/rescues at some point but I think not so urgent, as he is chipped so they would identify him on scanning anyway

I've got an emergency dentist appointment later [ouch] which should keep my mind off missing cats

[timtam23]

Fluffy I will ring the chip company but was thinking probably tomorrow, as I'm sure they would say the same about missing overnight not being long, especially if it's raining

[Sparklingbrook]

Wonder if he is shut in somewhere? Someone's garage perhaps? Or shed?

[sashh]

If it's any consolation mine has done this a couple of times. She reappears as if nothing has happened.

I hope Dudley is somewhere safe and warm and will be home today.

[maybeIwillmaybeIwont]

Ok Dudley, that's quite enough, get home now!!! He will, I'm sure, they are SUCH a worry, but so worth it!

[Sparklingbrook]

My neighbour has 4 cats. they take it in turns to do this. The last one came back after 2 days ravenous and filthy. I am surprised my neighbour has any nerves left.

[cozietoesie]

Fluffy is right about the mice by the way - all normal sensibilities go out of the window when they're faced with prey: their eyes glaze over and they'll sit there for hours if they're hunters.

And you've always got the 'garages and sheds being opened to 'look' at the gardening tools with the arrival of spring' (and then closed again as the rain started.) If he's got himself shut in somewhere, he'll be hungry and fed up but won't come to immediate harm.

[boofted]

I hope Dudley comes home safe and well soon. My beloved first cat was called Dudley. :)

[timtam23]

Thanks this thread is a good distraction!

I'm trying to remain rational about this as my other, now ancient, cat did similar when young & foolish - he disappeared for about a week and a half. I was so worried but it was long before social media or even decent mobile phones (he's nearly 18 now) so there wasn't much I could do except wait. Cat came back as I was losing all hope, filthy, starving & stinking of bitumen so had probably been stuck down a roadworks hole somewhere.

I went to dentist's along the busy main road - no sign of any dead/injured cats there either, so am still thinking he's out on the prowl somewhere. He's been VERY interested in the starlings on next door's roof. Not that many sheds/garages around here as we're in an area of mostly terraces with on-street parking. The builder down the road just told me his mum's cat went missing for 6 months - not sure I can keep this level of stress for 6 months! DH & I both quite glum today, and it's still raining

I need and now!

[Fluffycloudland77]

We lost one of ours once & drove around late at night looking for her. Cried.

When we got home she was asleep in my knicker drawer.

[cozietoesie]

How is the tooth?

And any sign of the miscreant?

[timtam23]

cozie the tooth is ok thanks

sadly still no sign of Dudley, it's still raining & cold here and I really can't see that he would have stayed out in this. Not sure what to do really as he hasn't been missing 24 hours yet. DH is pretty pessimistic about the point of putting up posters etc although we are still looking for him. I will ring the microchip company tomorrow if he's not back by then. Today has gone very slowly, people have been kind and tried to help which has almost made it worse!

Any happy stories of cats who disappeared in foul weather and eventually came back?