Tell me your happy endings

[Reow]

I'm struggling to stay positive here. My gorgeous 4 year old ginger boy is missing.

We live in a village, fairly rural, with acres and acres of fields behind us and the village in the other direction. He rarely goes out of earshot and has never missed meals before. He is neutered and chipped, but no collar - we tried and tried but he kept ripping them off.

My partner is very optimistic, saying he is probably on a nice hunting trip or eating someone's ham on their sofa. But he's never been gone for long and he is not that friendly with humans, so I doubt he would go in someone's house.

I am less optimistic. I picture him in a ditch hit by a car, or trapped in a shed or garage.

I have put out leaflets and posters and asked the vet to let us know if he gets handed in but....i'm struggling to stay positive.

What are your stories of cats returning home after being missing? How long were they gone and how did you find them?

[Vinorosso74]

I can't copy the link but the post entitled "cat has been missing since Tuesday" has a happy ending. Hope your boy is home soon.

[Mrsemcgregor]

It was a while ago now but my 16 year old moggy disappeared for 14 days. I was sure he had gone off to die and stopped looking after a few days. Two weeks later in a terrible rain storm a soggy cat wondered into the kitchen crying (I am sure he was blaming us for whatever he went through!). We had him for another 3 years after that. Nearly 20 when he died peacefully in my arms in the vets waiting room.

[Trustyourself2]

My lovely cat, who has now gone after a very long life, went missing a couple of times for a day or two. He was also wary of people, not unfriendly, but cautious. I was bereft the first time it happened, he was the most gorgeous boy. The first time he went missing was for 2 days, not that long after he'd come to live with me. He came crashing through his cat flap with a very smelly ginger lad in tow, promptly scoffed some grub, then they both flew back out of the cat flap. He returned, on his own, the following day. So,.he was gone for 3 nights.

The 2nd time he disappeared was for 24 hours, when he was much older and I really thought that was the end of him. I cried my eyes out, but once again, he came back,.as bold as brass, with no indication of where he'd been.

You'd be surprised at how often cats can just get caught up with what they're doing and don't realise the how long they've been gone. They really are a law unto themselves.

I really feel for you.

[hollinhurst84]

Mine went missing for 8 days and he's an incredibly bonded cat. Came back skinny and with a dislocated hip and no voice, think he was stuck somewhere

[Allergictoironing]

Here's mine - sick cat gone a full month, home now ruling his owners house.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/2810587-Cat-sittng-one-cat-missing

[claraschu]

2 of mine have recently gone missing for 9 and 12 days respectively, and one of those is a huge ginger Tom. They came back pretty unconcerned. They hunt a lot though, unfortunately, so are quite self sufficient. I went around our village showing each neighbour a picture, and no one knew our shy one, but everyone knew the ginger one. I found the shy one eventually through a neighbour whom I had chatted with. He noticed her hiding in the bushes near his house and came to get me. It might help to talk to people; I have found that to be more effective than putting up posters.

I am sorry you are going through this. It is so worrying and heart-breaking. I really hope he is back soon.

[darumafan]

My then nine month old boy cat went missing last year. He hadn't been going outside for very long so I was frantic, we leafleted the street. I posted all over Facebook, phoned every vet in our town.

He was found 8 weeks later by someone on the opposite side of town. She posted on Facebook that a young stray had shown up and she wanted to reunite him with his family. I almost didn't respond due to the distance and time scale. I only really did so I could say that I had exhausted every possible lead.

We got our boy back, he was hungry and filthy dirty. When he was released from the carrier, his brother was beside himself with joy.

Hold on to your hope.

[Wolfiefan]

As a child we had one go for two or three weeks before returning.
One of ours got shut in a vacant property and one in a garage.
Wishing you well.

[MockTurtleSoup]

One of mine was missing for 12 days, turned up skinny and traumatised and very nervous. He was fine after a few days of being pampered and feasting on smoked salmon and sardines. I think we took longer to recover than him

[Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername]

A year. We were distraught. Turned up exactly one year later, in perfect health. and hoping for your happy ending xx

[Reow]

Thanks all. He's still missing - 7 days now. We've flyered/knocked on doors, posted on facebook, contacted the vets, petlog, rspca etc etc.

We're going to go banging on doors tonight asking if everyone has checked their sheds and garages.

He's an amazing mouser so if he is just on walkabout he should be ok, but I hate to think he is trapped or injured. I miss my boy so much.

[Ilovecaindingle]

My cat went missing some years ago for 10 nights. . We shouted and searched every night. He came back with his back leg literally hanging off but alive. . Vet said our shouts prob kept him going and the cold weather slowed the bleeding. He lived many years quite a star where we lived. . In his eyes (and tummy) he had a few homes!! Don't give up!!

[Allergictoironing]

It was a full month for Oscar-cat before he was found, and bear in mind that he's epileptic & had no meds yet was safe and well (though very skinny).

[Reow]

HE'S BEEN FOUND!

BUT HE'S STUCK IN A FUCKING TREE!

RSPCA is here, waiting for fire brigade to turn up. He's about 10 metres high and clinging on for dear life. He's a bag of bones. Tried to coax him down with food, dreamies, fresh fish, a ladder, a bucket on a rope. He's not budging, just clinging on howling.

ARRRRGGGHHHHHHHHH.

[ATailofTwoKitties]

Oh wow! Hope you have him down safely soon. He could well be too cold to move of his own accord.

How did you find him?

[M0stlyBowlingHedgehog]

Good news!

On a lighter note, you need to buy yourself the spoof Ladybird book "How it works: The Cat". There is a whole page with illustration devoted to your cat.

[Ilovecaindingle]

Cat found and fire fighters!! Sounds like a good day!!
Pics of 'The Wanderer' when is is home and dry please!!

[PleasantPhesant]

Yay!!

I was just about to say ours went out for 8 days but you have him!!

Brilliant!

Cuddles and chicken for him today I guess

[Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername]

Ahh, bless his heart. Yes - pics of the wanderer, and the firemen....!!!!!

[Trustyourself2]

Poor thing. So glad he's been found. He's a very strong boy. Hope you get him down soon.

Loads a luvin and lots of treats for both of you.

[Reow]

He's home!

I've been walking around our village for the last week like a deranged lunatic shouting his name, putting posters up and demanding access to people's sheds.

During one of my wanders last night I was calling his name, and heard a howling sound in the distance. I kept calling his name and he kept replying.

I followed the sound across a park, through a field and into some woods, and phoned OH to run out with torches. We kept calling and following the sound but couldn't see him anywhere, and looked up and he was miles up a huge tree. He would not move. We climbed ladders, had a basket up the tree on a rope, threw food up to him, but he was frozen still and howling.

RSPCA came out last night but said fire brigade wouldnt come out in the pitch dark and haul all their shit across a field, so they would come back out in the morning with the fire brigade.

(I went home, drank a whole bottle of wine and didnt sleep)

Fire brigade got him down this morning and he's looking knackered and thin and grizzled, but alive and hungry!

[Reow]

Here he is looking knackered and wild and thin

[Purplebluebird]

Yay! :D Poor thing, glad he's home!

My friend's cat was missing for 4 months before they found her a few minutes drive away from their house (they have just moved).

My cat went missing from my dad's house for 3 months, before my friend saw a poster with his picture on and gave me (I don't live in that country anymore). I phoned them, it was the RSPCA and he was put in a fosterhome after reports of him being outside all the time (he had got lost). My dad went and picked him up the same night ^^

[Wolfiefan]

Oh love him. I'm so glad he's home. House arrest for now. Any ideas how long he's been up there? Worth a vet check?