He's gone *worried*

[maamalady]

We've had Jupiter (one year old neutered male) for three weeks now, and today is the first day we've let him outside. He looked around the garden with us all this morning, then when we went out at around 10am he was inside. Cat flap was open - when we came back at lunchtime he was gone, and he still has not returned.

We are trying not to worry, but eeek. Cat flap is obviously still open, the back door is ajar while we're still up, food is in his bowl... We back on to woods so I imagine the outside world is very interesting for a cat who's been cooped up for weeks, but arrrrgh we want him home! Assuming he thinks it's home here :(

He's a very confident boy, so maybe that's why he's not back. Our last cats were ancient homebody females, so this is very strange to us.

Any advice?

[DavetheCat2001]

Aww OP I feel your pain. Letting a new cat out for the first time is such a stressful business.

Maybe put his litter tray just outside your back door..apparently the smell is meant to help them recognise home.

When did he last eat? Maybe just pop out every so often and call for him as he's bound to get hungry and hopefully can follow the sound of your voice.

Hopefully he's just having a really good nose about and will be home soon. I let our rescue cat out for the first time yesterday and she disappeared from view for a while. She did come back, but I was panicking the whole time.

Hope he turns up soon.

[maamalady]

Thanks all, will try those. He's not had anything to eat since breakfast, but I can just see him brazenly walking into a neighbour's house and helping himself, so who knows?!

He's such a friendly cat, I hope he's not making my himself a new home down the road :(

[LivingInMidnight]

My boy was gone for 12 hours when he first went out! Thought we'd lost him. He still disappears for hours now but it's less scary.

[maamalady]

He's tabby and white, and unusually pretty (if I do say so myself). Our last cat was a ginger girl, she was so stupid and so completely brilliant - a hard act to follow.

Litter tray is now outside, still no sign of him.

At least we have CCTV in the garage (where the cat flap is) so if he comes and goes overnight we might have a chance of noticing!

[DavetheCat2001]

Maybe if he hasn't returned by morning you could knock on your neighbours doors and just ask them to keep an eye out and check any out-buildings/sheds etc?

You could also make a flyer with a picture of humanoid post that through letterboxes. We did that when our lovely Daisy cat went missing a few years ago and it was so heartening to get so many people contacting me with sightings/offering to look out for her etc.

People are normally very kind when it comes to missing pets.

[DavetheCat2001]

..a picture of him not a humanoid!

[maamalady]

Will do. We have quite an active village Facebook page too, so will stick a photo on there if there's no sign of him in the morning.

Thanks for all your support, it's very reassuring to know that other cats are similarly stress-inducing!

[maamalady]

Here he is. Isn't he beautiful?

[OurMiracle1106]

Our girl would go off for 3-4 days periodically then waltz back in like nothing had happened, longest she was gone was 3 weeks little terror i had almost given up if i was honest

[DavetheCat2001]

aww what a handsome fellow!

OP I won't tell you not to worry as I know how upsetting it is when they disappear, but I'm sure he'll be back. Just keep going out and calling for him, and keep us posted.

[maamalady]

Toilet rolls, feathers, cat tree, fishing rod toys, laser pointer, scratch pad - it's totally unnatural, we've never had a cat who actually USED stuff we've given them before!

Still no sign of the little bugger. He's got half an hour before we go to bed...

[DavetheCat2001]

Aww another gorgeous boy

[maamalady]

Oh, he's beautiful! I do love a rich deep ginger like that.

Jupiter has just come back! He looks very pleased with himself, and is tucking into his dinner. Litter tray is now back in the garage. Everyone very relieved! I just hope he doesn't go out too early tomorrow morning, our children were anxious about him being missing. They'll be sad if he's gone out again when they get up!

Thank you all for talking me through it :)

[DavetheCat2001]

Whoop! What a relief! So happy OP..ruddy cats keep us on our toes don't they! Love 'em though

x

[PosiePootlePerkins]

That's great. Have you considered keeping him in overnight? It is recommended for safety reasons, I like to know mine are in safely by around 9pm. They get let out again at 6am when I get up.