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My cats keep running away!

10 replies

KindergartenKop · 11/09/2020 19:16

We have 2 cats, brother and sister aged nearly two. We've had them nearly a year. They're lovely and very bouncy. They have access to the outside and throughout the winter they came back every night for tea and most mornings for breakfast. As the summer came they started to wander more, sometimes disappearing for several days in a row. Often we would find them in the street behind our house or in the cemetery behind that street (about 40m away as the cat walks). Since the heatwave in August though they've rarely been back. They are chipped and did wear collars but last time we saw them, Cat 1 had lost his. We have heard from various neighbours that they are in their gardens and we've collected them and brought them home. They've just run away again and again. Things we have tried:

-Keeping them in for several days (they got very upset and had several poo accidents despite there being a clean litter tray).

-Feeding them lots of their favourite foods.

-Putting up signs in the road behind us asking people not to feed them.

I don't know what to do any more. We hunt for them every day and if we find one then bring it home. We can't knock on people's doors every day! Should I just accept that they hate us?

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Paranoidmarvin · 12/09/2020 10:44

My cat stays out more in the summer. And spends more time at home in the winter. I would see what happens when the weather changes. ?

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bythehairsonmychinichinchin · 12/09/2020 10:54

Some cats like to stay outside when it’s warm. I also suspect the neighbours will be feeding them...

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NaughtipussMaximus · 12/09/2020 11:02

One of our cats disappears for weeks at a time in summer, though she’s always gone back once it gets colder. There’s not a lot you can do about it! Just make sure they have a nice home to come back to.

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ivfbeenbusy · 12/09/2020 11:10

When ours were young we rarely saw them during the day especially in summer - they would come when called though and knew that they didn't go out at night (we don't have cat flaps)

I'd say in the last year or two - they are all around 7 years old now - they don't wander anywhere near as far and two have settled in to much more of a house cat routine and will only disappear for a few hours at a time

Presumably they are neutered? If they aren't this will also cause them to roam further

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NaughtipussMaximus · 12/09/2020 11:11

Always come back, I mean

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KindergartenKop · 12/09/2020 16:03

I've put up signs to ask people not to feed them but I suspect that's what's been going on with at least the more friendly one.
They are both neutered.
I also put a thread on chat. They suggested cat proofing the garden but I'm not convinced this is realistic or fair to them as we have a tiny garden full of little boys.
They are chipped. But that's only helpful if someone takes them to a vet!

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viccat · 12/09/2020 17:15

Do you have a catflap so they have access home whenever they want?

Unfortunately some cats are not too keen on small children or busy homes and will seek a more suitable home elsewhere, especially if someone in the neighbourhood is feeding them regularly.

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KindergartenKop · 12/09/2020 19:05

They do have a catflap.
I would agree that some cats don't like noise and kids but it confuses me that we've had them a year and they've not run away earlier and one cat seeks out my younger son for cuddles sometimes. We have to shut DSs door at night or the cat sits on his bed and takes up all the space! But cats don't follow logic I suppose!

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stayathomer · 12/09/2020 19:11

I was never a cat person before we moved to our house which has four cats next door and two across the road. The cats from next door have taken up residence at different times of the day in each of the 5 houses around. The people next door said they were originally indoor cats but once let out they were never able to keep them in. They've had cats all their lives and they said some were thrilled to be indoor cats others liked to roam. The had two cats that came back years after leaving and one cat they gave away that travelled miles and miles to come home. They're lovely people and treat their cats like kings but I think it's just ideas that cats have! By the way I also have a friend who, when I spoke to her about it said when they had cats they had some that loved noise others that loved quiet and they'd stay or go according to their own wishes. So she had a quiet house and the cat would go to the neighbours crazy house, wheras a local cat would come to theirs and the owner said she seemed to have the comings and goings of the house she was in! (In my long winded way I'm saying it's not you, it's them!)

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KindergartenKop · 12/09/2020 21:11

I know it's them. Our old cat never left our garden and didn't cause us all this worry Sad

Cat 1 has been found and brought home tonight. He's knackered. I gave him chicken left over from a roast earlier Shock

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