To think - if I had the money I'd take dd and book a Travelodge so we can get some rest (cat related)

[catsbabyandchaos]

I have 2 cats and live in a second floor flat.

2 weeks ago one cat jumped out of the window () and for two nights kept me and probably everyone else in the flats awake yowling to come in. Except when I went out to try and get her back she ran off.

She has now done the same thing.

I was out there at fucking 4 in the morning sorry for language shaking whiskas kibbles to entice her. She knows it's my window as she howls outside it and I mean proper yowling that wakes you up but when I try to get her back just runs off.

I'm crying my eyes out I can't do another night like last night, I'm at work in the morning and have to be up at 6.

What the hell do I do ?

Do you have a cat carrier? You can catch cats quite easily by tying string to the door and then threading it through the back of the carrier so that you can pull the door shut from some distance (experiment first) then put food in the back of the carrier and lie in wait.

It's hideous when cats keep you awake. We couldn't figure out for ages how to stop our old cat from howling at night. It stopped when we worked out she didn't like the dark anymore my sympathies!

It sounds like your cats are miserable and this is making you miserable. Either let both the cats go in/out as they please, rehome them (give them to a friend or find someone through Facebook), or get them back inside and keep them there.

I have indoor cats in a flat. It is possible to live without them leaping out of the window - the cats can be shut in one room, or you can get mesh to put over the windows so they can't escape. But, if they've been outdoor cats before, it's cruel to make them stay inside against their will. They want to go out, so let them out.

I'd be happy for them to go out if it wasn't a) on a main road b) near a railway line and c) could get her back in again!

WHY are people saying rehoming like it's that simple, or do you all just live next to rescue centres that are empty? Besides WTF would happen if I rehomed them and they went to a shelter, do you think they'd be roaming the countryside, hardly, they'd be in a pen!

She HATES the carrier! And her fave bed is my bed so I don't think that'll work!

She will come back when she's hungry. If she's not ran into the road!

People aren't necessarily talking about rehoming to a shelter - what about friends or family? You could always ask on Facebook or another social network to see if anyone would be interested in taking them.

Well, I hope you get some sleep tonight.

I don't have any family other than my brother and he doesn't like cats.

Look, I've had these cats for 3 years and I can't get one to come to me do you not think maybe they aren't exactly the most suitable pets for rehoming? They are weird animals.

Me too! :) thanks

Does anyone have a ladder you can lean up to window and drape with bedspread or similar so she can get in. Neighbours might be willing to help if it meant a quiet night.

OP, you sound tired and stressed with the whole situation.

You need to focus on getting some sleep tonight, try and deal with everything with fresh eyes in the morning. Try and relax, find some earplugs (or use tissue), cover your eyes and try and drown out the cat (white noise, maybe?). You will sleep if you're tired enough

Leave the window open so she can get in. Dreamies always work for me when I have to lure my cats down or out of strange spaces. Like you said, she'll come in when she's hungry enough.

As for weird cats, mine licks mayonnaise off the plate and eats salt and vinegar crisps - I don't think any of them are normal!

Ugh, sounds awful :( I really hope she decides to come inside soon. I don't really know what to suggest that people already haven't.

I've just had to rehome my cats for some of the same reasons (second floor flat, desperate to get outside+allergies in the household) I did it via the pets4homes site, and they're not with a lovely family who lost their kitty to ill health over a year ago, the cats now have a garden and their own space and are very happy, I know it's heartbreaking thinking about rehome king a pet (there isn't a day I haven't cried yet!) but maybe it's worth thinking about?

Really hope you manage to get some sleep tonight, sleep depravation is torture!

You need to calm down a bit about the rehoming situation. People are only suggesting it because 1) you're giving the impression that you're at the end of your tether and 2) you've mentioned rehoming being an issue only because the centres are full up and 'no one would want them' rather then sending out a message of not wanting to rehome the cats because you love them dearly and wouldn't want to be parted from them.

I suggested gumtree because a good friend adopted a cat from there (whose owner had had to go into sheltered accommodation). I did ask if you wanted to rehome them, I never suggested you should if you didn't want to. I was actually trying to help.

Also, people do adopt 'strange' cats you know. I've got an indoor cat who's a bit of an odd ball and I knew she had behaviour issues when I got her.

Rehome king? Rehoming* stupid autocorrect!

I'm not sure a ladder would do much other than be a security risk. No solutions but you have my sympathies OP, we had 2 cats and had to rehouse them because of my asthma, it was really difficult practically and emotionally

The thing is, she can get out of the window, but not in again. Plus I don't have a ladder lol.

I daresay I do need to calm down! It's just as soon as I mention cat troubles it goes straight to rehome which isn't an option if I can't even get one IN!

I don't want to rehome anyway.

Well it does sound like you have come up with a good short term plan; wait til she's hungry. And you just need to decide what to do so it doesn't happen again in the future (mesh in the windows?).

Just be apologetic to the neighbours and explain it won't happen again as you're going to do XYZ.

I will do yeah, I know it was silly of me to leave the window open. It's just I did forget she could get out.

Don't worry I'd never advertise her on Gumtree. I'd seriously question the sanity of anyone who wanted my mangy moggies anyway lol. Although they do have lovely purrs.

Ear plugs. And a note in the stair well apologising to your neighbours. She'll come in when she's hungry.

This cat catching - I gather there's only you attempting to nab her. You need someone else - would one of those equally sleep-deprived neighbours help? Someone either side of her, preferably with a blanket or large towel ready to drop on her. Think pincer movement with cloth involved. It can be done, just not with one person.

can't offer anything but sympathy - i have two nervy rescue cats that absolutely yowl their heads off if i so much as shut a door - they hate feeling any sort of confinement. my boy cat howls outside and sounds desolate. I've recently moved to a small house from a huge one and i worry what the neighbours must think! taking him in the car to the vets is pure torture! they are awful but i still love them.

i think you should shut your window and make sure that the cat can't actually see you. can you prop open the main door to the building at all?

Thanks. :) I can't prop open the door to the building for security reasons. It's sort of similar to a set out like an retirement apartments only obviously I'm not retired if only

She's got loads of land round the back as it backs on to woods, a steam and the railway line. I can't get her, it will simply have to wait until she's hungry!

She can't see me but she howls anyway. All mine do this, they just have a sixth sense.

Why don't you contact the local cats protection league and ask if you can borrow a cat trap. Tell your neighbours ( note through door) and catch her that way? I wish you well!

I've been out twice, she just won't come anywhere near me.

I am miserable, I just want to sleep now.