DCat didn't come home today

[violetbunny]

My one-year-old male cat left at 5am, it's now almost 10pm where I am and he hasn't been home.

His usual routine is to pop out early in the morning then back for breakfast and a nap, in and out all day, then dinner and curling up in my lap for a snooze. I knew by the time he hadn't been back for breakfast that something was wrong, he's never even missed a meal let alone not come home for the evening.

I've been out for hours and hours today calling for him, I'm absolutely beside myself with worry. I know he's just a cat, but he's my absolute best friend in the whole world, he's like my little shadow and always wants to be close to me. He hasn't even been gone 24 hours but I just know something terrible has happened, otherwise he'd have come in by now 😭

Not sure why I'm posting really other than to try and reassure myself that I'm not crazy for being an absolute wreck.

[Fluffycloudland77]

No I’d be the same. Put the vacuum cleaner bag contents Outside, they can smell it and it helps get them home.

[violetbunny]

Thanks Fluffy. I've left the laundry hamper outside, it's full of all sorts of sweaty gym gear which I am hoping will help.

I just feel completely at a loss and now need to go to sleep. Normally he'd be curled up on top of me. Just can't shake the knowledge that he's very likely hungry, cold and scared 😭

[onalongsabbatical]

Hope he comes home violetbunny and hope you get some sleep, too. Laundry basket sounds very cat-inviting.

[grandmasterstitch]

Hope he comes home soon. Ours was missing for two days, turns out he was in the neighbours house with their kitten 🤦🏼‍♀️ are there any sheds or garages he could be stuck in?

[violetbunny]

Thanks @grandmasterstitch

We have started doorknocking along our street, I also had 650 flyers printed this morning so DP is out delivering these to the neighbouring streets asking people to check garages and garden sheds. Fingers crossed.

I can't help but think that if Dcat had a way to come home then he would... it's totally out of character to just wander off because he feels like it 🙁

[grandmasterstitch]

It's so hard not to think the worse, I'm a terrible worrier. One of our other cats went missing for 10 days and I was convinced something had happened but he showed up in the village 2 miles away skinny and tired but ok. Is your cat chipped?

[Xmasfairy86]

Mine was missing earlier in the month for 4 days. Was awful. Convinced he was shut in somewhere as he always comes home, literally pops in and out all day, doors always open as I’m always here at the moment. He turned up meowing at the front door at midnight!

Keep the laundry out where you can, I had clothes And his litter tray in the back garden and his blanket hanging out the front window. Leaflet, ask anyone you see locally, go out early/late (when it’s quieter) and shake treats/call him. Post on Facebook if you have it. Someone suggested hot tuna in the evening outside as it smells stronger?
Good luck. I know how you are feeling.

[BovaryX]

Hi OP,
I understand how upsetting this is and the best advice I can give is keep actively looking. Early morning is a good time, he might be very close and if something has scared him, too timid to come out. Has an aggressive cat appeared recently? Could he have been displaced? He could be trapped somewhere in a shed perhaps? Can you post his picture online in your local area if you have a neighbour group? Contact local vets and send his picture to them? Try everything. Good luck and hope you find him soon

[BovaryX]

I can't help but think that if Dcat had a way to come home then he would... it's totally out of character to just wander off because he feels like it

This is exactly how I felt when ours was missing for three weeks. He had got into and got completely lost. I would never have found him because he was so far from home, but posters helped me and I got a call which was how I located him. A friend gave me some great advice which sounds obvious but helped. He must be somewhere It's just finding where that is and doing everything you can think of doing.

[BovaryX]

got into a park

[violetbunny]

Thanks so much for all your kind words. He's still not home, DP and I have been emotional wrecks. DP even said he doesn't want to go to work today in case he cries in the office (but he will go) 🙁

We have distributed 500 flyers in the neighbourhood, been door knocking, spent hours and hours calling for him. I will go out again tonight to call for him. Can't help but feel that he just isn't coming back.

He was my baby, we have no children and I was the only person he really 100% trusted. We got hi, at 15 weeks and he was the most pitiful thing, was scared of everything except me. He would constantly want to sit on me or near me, and literally every time I would touch him he would purr. Just loved having me nearby, and the feeling was mutual. So just feeling really lost without him 😭

[Fluffycloudland77]

Have you got a Facebook spotted page?. I’m so sorry he’s not home, keep calling him even though it feels sad doing it.

[Oldestchild90s]

Don't give up op. There's plenty of positive stories on here and on facebook to keep your hopes up! I've known cats to disappear for months on end, then return like nothing has happened!

Keep us updated 🤞🏻

[Papergirl1968]

Been watching the thread and hoping he’d be home by now.
Good idea to go out at night when it’s quiet.
Thinking of you and keeping fingers crossed.

[violetbunny]

Awww thanks. Still no sign of him.

I'm torn between patrolling the streets in a wider area calling for him (in case he is just lost) vs spending more time searching around houses close to me in case he is scared/hiding/injured/trapped. There are only so many hours in the day and it takes so long.

So far I've spent hours doing both, it's taking all my spare time. He only responds to me, so other people can't really help with this part. I'm feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, and just not sure what to do next.

Have done flyers, Facebook, posters up in the street, stopping neighbours in the street and doorknocking. I would walk over hot coals to get him if I knew where he was 🙁

[NoMoreFlowers]

Any news OP?

[violetbunny]

Still not come home. 😥

I had a call from the lost pet register here, a cat matching my cat's description was found nearby and dropped to my local vet. I've been in touch and sent them photos but they said it's not him.

We also had a call from a lady a couple of streets away who said a random cat matching his description had been hanging around her house. We sped over there but it also wasn't him. (Good to know people are reading our flyers though).

I was out until 10pm last night calling him in the surrounding blocks. Tonight's plan is to cover a much wider area.

It's been 4 days now so I'm starting to lose hope 😭

[Greenbks]

@violetbunny I’m so sorry, do you know where he usually hangs about during the day? Do you have roads near you or more green areas?

Sounds like you are doing everything you can and I don’t blame your husband for not wanting to go into work. I would feel the same. I’m hoping he returns very soon so you can give him all the cuddles he deserves

[bebarkered]

So so sorry for you and your beautiful cat. I know it's not long ago since you were online, but,, is there any news yet?

[QueenCT]

My clingy boy was missing for 8 days, and I was a wreck so I really feel for you. Keep posting on FB, register him on doglost (it's for cats too)

[Papergirl1968]

Is vet sure it’s not him? Could you ask them to send a photo?

[BovaryX]

Hi OP,
Like a previous poster said, are you absolutely sure that the cat at the vet isn't him? Have you seen a picture or can you verify? Mine was missing for three weeks. It's hard, but the best plan is to think about what you know for sure. If he could return, he would. So the fact he hasn't, means he can't. I was certain mine hadn't got lost, but he had, probably chased by another cat and he ended up miles away. Please don't give up. Keep actively looking. Maybe expand the search. Use every online resource you can think of, good luck

[Oldestchild90s]

I don't think thats true, i've known cats to be missing for weeks and just turn up like nothing has happened. Normally on our local facebook forums and stuff you'd see someone post a missing cat then hours after hear about an unfortunate incident of one being hit or something, so i know it's out of the blue for this to happen but i think if there's nothing negative to go on then please remain positive 🤞🏻

[BovaryX]

Yes OP, I didn't mean don't be positive, but he may well be lost if he has been chased by another cat. This was what happened to ours and I was convinced he couldn't be lost. He was. Please don't give up, keep actively looking and the fact people are reading the posters is great. That's how I found mine.

[Oldestchild90s]

Wasn't being rude btw @BovaryX 🙂 it's such a rubbish time for everyone and this on top makes it 10 times worse. Give us updates if/when you get them op 🤞🏻🤞🏻