Cat gone missing :-(

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Please can anyone advise me if there's something I've missed in desperately trying to find my cat? She failed to come home today - sounds silly I know, but she absolutely ALWAYS comes when called and certainly returns home for meals (!!) so I'm incredibly worried about her

I've looked on the local roads with no result, doorknocked around all the places I know she goes and have put her on our local community page and Facebook. I'm also waiting on a "permission code" to put her on a national cat finder site, though of course she's microchipped so if found could be traced back to me. Unfortunately she won't wear a collar, so the only thing she's missing is a name barrel

Have I forgotten anything? I'm really desperate to get her back - or even to know what's happened to her - and am trying to think of anything else I can do

[Fluffycloudland77]

What time does she normally come in? It’s a warm night, that could be why she’s out.

[Weedsnseeds1]

Try not to panic. It's the first warm day of the year, the nights are getting lighter.
Put her litter tray outside.
Walk around calling her

Fingers crossed for you.

[user1467976192]

Put something outside that smells familiar.... litter tray didn’t work for me but dirty washing did.
Try not to panic I have a neutered boy who regularly wanders he once went for 11 days

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Fluffy I know it sounds silly but she always, literally always comes when called, and certainly she'd be back to eat by now; though fortunately she works it off she's extremely fond of her food and never misses a meal

I'm hoarse from shouting her name and don't want to upset the neighbours by being noisy now it's dark ... have put her litter tray outside though. I'd normally have closed the catflap by now to keep my other cat in, but she's in the huge shed for the (fortunately warm) night so it can be left open in case she comes back

I just don't know what to think - whether she really is stuck in somewhere, or whether someone's run over and dumped her rather than bothering to get her microchip checked

[isadorable]

The contents of the vacuum cleaner bag outside worked for me. Oh and put some of her favourite food out too. Don't lose hope. Leaflets/posters really seem to work too if she's not back in the morning.

[KittyLover91]

How awful for you! Try not to worry yourself too much as hard as it is! One of mine used to do this and I'm sure it was always just to mess with me. Have you tried walking around tapping the food bowl? This works for both of mine?

Hope kitty comes back soon 💜

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Yes, there's food outside, though no doubt our local tom will scoff it!! Have rattled her food bowl too and shaken her food container just in case ... I'll also "poster" the area first thing tomorrow morning (there's no point at this time and in the dark)

It's just so awful not knowing and thinking she could be lying injured or dead somewhere and I can't get to her

[KittyLover91]

Oh bless you puzzle as hard as it is try not to think the worst! I know I'd be worried absolutely sick if I was you right now though😞

I wish they could make their microchips traceable like find my iPhone would make life so much easier!

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

I've often thought the same about the microchips, Kitty. Trouble is she won't even wear a collar so it's not as if I could use one of those GPS things either ...

[Rudgie47]

Hi, I've had one go missing for 10 days and another for a year so I wouldnt worry too much if I were you. Tomorrow I'd get 100 or so small leaflets printed off and post them though letterboxes near you and put some posters up.
Also ask the postman to keep an eye out.She will be around, cats are terrible for this.

[Rudgie47]

Also call her name outside local sheds and garages she will meow back when she hears you if she trapped.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Really appreciate all of your advice ... I've done most of this except for the posters and calling the local vets, both of which will be done first thing (wouldn't the vets have checked her chip and called me if she'd been taken in though?)

I'm going out now to have a last, quiet call around and then will turn in. It's going to be a sleepless night, especially as she used to cuddle up with me and she just isn't here now but there's not much else I can do for now

[AnneElliott]

Oh poor you op. Does your cat reply if you call her name? I found my one by walking out at midnight and calling her - and as it was quiet I heard her reply. She was under a car a few streets away and wasn't sure how to get home.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

A really late update, but I couldn't not do it after all your kindness ... I just got in from some quiet calling, heard a noise at the catflap and the little so-and-so strolled in as if there was all the time in the world!!!!!!

She's very warm, and while it's a nice night it's not that warm, so it looks like she's been shut in someone's house and was chucked out when found. After all the doorknocking I've done I'll probably get an angry visit if she's pee'd on someone's rug, but I'm just so utterly thankful she's back (except that I'm even more hoarse now, from shouting at her for worrying me!!)

Again, warmest thanks everyone for holding my hand through this ... why do we DO it to ourselves for the sake of their furry faces??

[BruceyBaby]

Excellent news 😊

[Crispbutty]

Great news!

[isadorable]

Wonderful news! Cheeky cat, stressing you out like that.

[Myfwyn]

So glad this had a happy ending!

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Thanks very much again, everyone ... as if she hadn't done enough, she's purred, licked and headbutted me half the night and is now shut in for the day in a doomed attempt to show her who's boss

Anybody wanna cat??!!!

[TimeIhadaNameChange]

She knows she's the boss, so why do you need to show her???

So glad she's home. She was obviously pleased to be back!

[Want2beme]

Delighted for you. So glad she's home. They can be absolute monters