Page 2 | AIBU to think cats are difficult pets if you hate uncertainty?

dancinginthedaylight · 2026-09-16T12:22:22+00:00

Our beloved family cat has gone missing again. He's terrible for this- in summer he disappeared for 3 whole days, it's only 2 this time but we've been out shaking treat bags, calling him, posted on FB local group etc. It's the not knowing that makes me so nervous every time. At the same time, I don't believe in locking a cat in the house just so it's safe as it's a bit unnatural. We all love having a cat so much, but AIBU to think that if you handle uncertainty not well they're a difficult pet to have?

MaryMayMiss · 16/09/2026 14:33

Get a GPS tracking collar, we have tried many of them and have found Tractive to be the most reliable. Gives you peace of mind.

NeverLookInTheMirror · 16/09/2026 14:09

Agreed.

TBH I think it’s generally a case of when something is going to happen to them rather than if.

Obviously there are cats which live into old age, and my last two both did, but when you consider that the average age of a cat is something like 8 years it’s evident that more come to harm young than don’t.

Original poster

dancinginthedaylight · 16/09/2026 14:03

largeprintagathachristie · 16/09/2026 13:44

A strong agree from me.
I adopted a stray (he’d been apparently living on his wits for a year - when the owners were traced via his chip they didn’t want him back (!).

So now I have this lovely tabby boy, who clearly loves being “home” but is often out for long periods of time doing god knows what. Overall I spent £67 on collars and bar code “find your cat” schemes for the collars. The cat currently has zero collars - he just comes back without them. The longest one lasted a week. So a tracking device doesn’t seem sensible.

The cat is loving his life. My nerves are often shredded, though. I just tell myself he’s better off than completely unloved and on his own.

He lived by himself on the streets for a year?! Gosh cats are resilient aren't they!

Wow a week, so glad he came home in the end. I'm hoping ours will too!

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BurntBroccoli · 16/09/2026 14:00

dancinginthedaylight · 16/09/2026 13:34

Yes exactly!! And I feel it's so controlling. Our cat has now been missing since Monday at 9am and it's been raining really hard, so I am getting really nervous.

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I wouldn’t worry about the rain, cats have their go to places in bad weather.

Hope he’s back soon.

largeprintagathachristie · 16/09/2026 13:44

A strong agree from me.
I adopted a stray (he’d been apparently living on his wits for a year - when the owners were traced via his chip they didn’t want him back (!).

So now I have this lovely tabby boy, who clearly loves being “home” but is often out for long periods of time doing god knows what. Overall I spent £67 on collars and bar code “find your cat” schemes for the collars. The cat currently has zero collars - he just comes back without them. The longest one lasted a week. So a tracking device doesn’t seem sensible.

The cat is loving his life. My nerves are often shredded, though. I just tell myself he’s better off than completely unloved and on his own.

Lilyhatesjaz · 16/09/2026 13:44

We did once accidentally shut next doors cat in our garage. Fortunately only over night but I would happily check my garage and shed if a local cat went missing.

pinneddownbytabbies · 16/09/2026 13:39

I'm not a fan of collars on cats. One of our fosters still has an issue with a nasty injury he got from a collar three years ago. He'd somehow managed to get his front leg through the collar, and rubbed a part of his leg absolutely raw down to the flesh. It was horribly infected, and is still iffy three years later. The fur has never grown back. He had gone awol and if he hadn't been found in time, the infection would have killed him.

Original poster

dancinginthedaylight · 16/09/2026 13:34

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 16/09/2026 13:33

It is hard, ours is a bit of a wanderer and I always hate it when he doesn’t come in at his normal times.

If you do use a tracker please be careful as collars are a strangulation risk 😩

Yes exactly!! And I feel it's so controlling. Our cat has now been missing since Monday at 9am and it's been raining really hard, so I am getting really nervous.

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beaglescurleduplikebagels · 16/09/2026 13:33

It is hard, ours is a bit of a wanderer and I always hate it when he doesn’t come in at his normal times.

If you do use a tracker please be careful as collars are a strangulation risk 😩

Original poster

dancinginthedaylight · 16/09/2026 13:33

AmIReallyTheGrownup · 16/09/2026 13:30

Our village WhatsApp group is one long “Socks has gone missing, can you check your sheds and garages” then Socks reappears 48 hours later.

Apart from finding it irritating to have owners constantly beseeching others to go out of their way to locate their lost cats, I can’t recall a single cat actually going missing including one who decided to relocate himself to their old home in the next town & was found 6 weeks later.

Well, I don't think it's too much to ask to check sheds and garages! I would be happy to do so, it's the neighbourly thing to do

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AmIReallyTheGrownup · 16/09/2026 13:30

Our village WhatsApp group is one long “Socks has gone missing, can you check your sheds and garages” then Socks reappears 48 hours later.

Apart from finding it irritating to have owners constantly beseeching others to go out of their way to locate their lost cats, I can’t recall a single cat actually going missing including one who decided to relocate himself to their old home in the next town & was found 6 weeks later.

Original poster

dancinginthedaylight · 16/09/2026 13:27

wiredandtired · 16/09/2026 13:25

Can't you get trackers etc these days?

But yes I agree, it's tough when they go missing for days.

Yes absolutely, and I do wish I bought one! It's hard though as our cat hates having a collar etc, I tried a simple collar with his name on and he scratched it off within a few days.

If he does return, and I so so hope so, then I think I might have to get a tracker.

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wiredandtired · 16/09/2026 13:25

Can't you get trackers etc these days?

But yes I agree, it's tough when they go missing for days.