Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

My cat’s not coming back is he?

35 replies

missingmoggy · 19/09/2020 19:16

I’ve one cat, quite senior ish at age 10 or 11 . He disappeared on Monday night, put him out as usual (he’s a very outdoor cat) . He’s not been back since . He’s never done this before . He’s normally in perfect health, he’s very affectionate, he’s athletic and happy to clamber all over the place . He’s always, always come back in the evenings and then again in the early mornings .

I’m devastated . Posted on FB groups, walked miles calling for him, searched the roads and asked neighbours . Rang local vet surgeries. Left food out for him, sat up at night waiting . There’s no sign of him at all, it’s as if he’s just vanished .

We back onto a massive building site with lorries all day long and whilst he’s normally fine and seems sensible enough I can’t bear to think that he’s probably been knocked down . I’ve lost another cat that way and don’t want to imagine that it’s happened again .

How long do you keep searching and waiting? I suppose after a few weeks you have to give up don’t you? His bed is still waiting on him and I’ve two boxes of his favourite food ☹️

OP posts:
bananacustard01 · 19/09/2020 19:20

This has happened to us twice with two different cats - both reappeared after a full week - one we think was locked in garage or shed when the neighbours went on holiday and the other one we still have no idea where she was, someone had actually posted they saw a cat matching her description hit by a car on the side of the road but when we went there it was gone... she appeared at the door as if she'd never been away 2 days later, 6 days after we had last seen her. So still some hope xx

MrsPerfect12 · 19/09/2020 19:21

Flowers I'm so sorry, must be awful worrying like that and not knowing. I hope you're okay.

FlatShite · 19/09/2020 19:22

It's best to go out later at night or early morning when it's quiet - he is more likely to come out of hiding at quieter times and it will be easier to hear him/for him to hear you. Try taking some of his favourite food warmed up and hang his bed outside in the wind to carry his scent and help him find his way home. Use your normal voice when calling him or go out with someone else from your house and chat whilst you walk. The familiarity of your voice might coax him out.

My cat went missing for five days, we thought we'd lost him for good but he eventually appeared back on his own.

It's a horrible feeling, I hope he shows up soon Flowers

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cats
SunbathingDragon · 19/09/2020 19:24

Based on my experience, I’d say the likelihood of him coming home is still very high. I hope he is back before long.

purpleme12 · 19/09/2020 19:25

I would say there's definitely still hope

I'm really sorry he's gone missing I can't imagine what you're going through. Don't give up he could still be out there. I really hope he comes back soon x

Original poster
missingmoggy · 19/09/2020 20:03

Thank you - it is definitely the not knowing, I think that hurts more than anything . The last time I lost a cat, I found him on the roadside and I desperately don’t want to walk back down that way lest the same thing happens again . Hopefully he turns up next couple of days, I’ve left his supper out just in case .

OP posts:
Ilovesausages · 19/09/2020 20:06

I’ve got everything crossed OP. Have you posted on local FB groups for people to check their garages etc?

Meandyouandyouandme · 19/09/2020 20:07

Does he have a litter tray? I’ve heard that it’s a good idea to put that out to attract them back, and some of your clothes as well on the washing line. I hope he turns up soon.

Meandyouandyouandme · 19/09/2020 20:08

Worn clothes that is!

Shouldbedoing · 19/09/2020 20:10

And scatter some hoover bag fluff in the garden

MikeUniformMike · 19/09/2020 20:10

Don't give up.
Cat went missing for several weeks and came back. He was older than yours. He's not gone missing since.

MikeUniformMike · 19/09/2020 20:12

There are missing pets sites and you can ask on NextDoor.
There was a missing cat found story on mine yesterday, I think.

TweetUsOnFacebook · 19/09/2020 20:24

I'm keeping everything crossed for you missingmoggy.

Original poster
missingmoggy · 19/09/2020 20:28

Thank you so much, have posted on nextdoor and sent a message to bigger local FB groups asking if they can share his photo . Fingers crossed we hear something soon . Several vets have taken our phone number too, and have checked his microchip details are all up to date, so if he ends up at a vet they should be able to get back to us thankfully .

Will scatter litter tonight and his bedding’s all up on the line too .

Thank you Flowers

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 19/09/2020 20:41

I think the stats are that about 66% come back or are found.
I was heartbroken when CharlieAlphaTango went missing, then out of the blue, a neighbour hammered on my door late one evening demanding that I remove my cat from theirs. I don't think he had the energy to cross the street. He was so thin.

SomewhereEast · 19/09/2020 20:41

No useful advice, but fingers crossed for you!

TooManyDogsandChildren · 19/09/2020 20:58

I had a cat go missing for twelve weeks(!). someone eventually saw a poster I had up in the vets and said he had been turning up at her house asking for food along with her cat for the past week. She lived a good couple of miles away.

He was as fat as butter so had clearly been leading the high life whilst he was away from us.

He has never wandered against but I suspect he still puts his foraging skills to good use as he is a bit fat and I ration his food so he is being fed somewhere else too!

Rina66 · 19/09/2020 21:07

Our neighbours cat went missing for over 20 days during lockdown, so don’t give up. Somebody on Nextdoor spotted him and let her know, she went to where he was seen and kept calling his name until he eventually appeared - he was frightened, skinny and a bit disorientated but he was alive, he just couldn’t find his way home. I hope that story gives you hope.

SlopesOff · 19/09/2020 21:21

I am in several missing cat groups on FB. If you would like to PM his photo and details I will post for you. They cover all areas.

Capetownmothercity · 19/09/2020 21:24

My cat (now 16 going on 17) disappeared during a house move 7 years ago. For three weeks we searched, did the cat litter bedding and clothing thing, posters, vets and cats protection website etc. Finally i placed some tesco rotisserie chicken when we had last seen her. The next morning she came out of the bushes and sang to me for 15 minutes. So pleased to see me.

BarbaraofSeville · 19/09/2020 21:33

We had one disappear for 3 weeks during the Beast from the east a few years ago before he just appeared back through the cat flap.

Fingers crossed for you, there's still hope for him.

Fifthtimelucky · 19/09/2020 21:35

The cat of a friend of mine went missing for exactly two months last year. He turned up just before Christmas.

equuscaballus · 19/09/2020 21:53

Don't give up.

When ours went missing, we went door to door in evenings with a photo asking people to check their sheds and garages.
Weeks later he was found at deaths door (totally starved) but the person who found him knew exactly who to call.

Be proactive and don't give up!

dizzyness · 19/09/2020 21:58

When my childhood cat went missing for a few days someone said to leave the back gate open. We did this and low and behold he came back home. Turns out he had been run over and had broken his hip so therefore couldn't jump over the gate. Poor love was covered in tics too. Happy and healthy now years later.

good luck :)

catnoir1 · 19/09/2020 22:11

My friends cat disappeared for months. Turned out he had decided to move into another house nearby. Her husband saw him when he was heading to work, scooped him up and took him home.

Never give up hope.

Swipe left for the next trending thread