To ask if there's any hope of my cat returning?

[BePoliteOpalQuail]

I've been fostering an ex-feral/stray cat from a charity for 10 days. He is neutered and chipped, he is incredibly nervous and timid and in the 10 days I had him he hid the entire time. He would only eat when I wasn't around, and sometimes used the litter tray but occasionally used various locations in my flat.

I have another cat who's female and older, this male is very young. She wasn't at all bothered by him, had a bit of a sniff then got on with her usual business.

Anyway this foster cat was born outside and is not socialised, it's unclear how long he'd been in the shelter but he is not used to living with people.

Unfortunately in the early hours he escaped. He is quite small but is still adult size, he managed to squeeze through the gap in my window which is no bigger than 2 inches.

The window is on a security lock, I know cats can be contortionists but I'm still bewildered as to how he got his head through a gap that size. I never left the window wide open, however I'd left it very slightly open on the security latch and then fallen asleep.

He urinated on my couch and throw and then must've made his escape. I am furious with myself for being so irresponsible. I honestly thought it would be very difficult for him to get out of that tiny gap, my other cat is larger but has absolutely zero chance.

I know I've been a complete idiot and I'm already beating myself up. Have left food outside the window which has been eaten, but that may have been another cat. Been out looking everywhere, but nothing. I haven't stopped crying, I know that sounds dramatic but it's my actions that have led to this.

I've posted on local groups, any further advice? My partner is telling me to stop beating myself up, but it's hard. It's only been 10 days so he may not recognise this as home.

I've left his toy, litter tray and blanket outside of my window. My other cat goes out but always comes back and knows where home is. I feel like I've let this foster cat down.

Also the fact that he's not domesticated doesn't help either. I doubt he wants to be a house cat, he's used to living outside. I'm just glad it's not freezing cold but I'm really worried about him. Anything more I could do?

Are you absolutely sure he's escaped and not hiding somewhere in the house? I've been convinced my cats are out before and then found them squeezed in a corner.

Yeah, I've looked absolutely everywhere and it's only a very small flat. He had his designated hiding places that he'd move between. I was stupid to think he couldn't get through that gap.

Why did the shelter let you rescue a semi feral cat when you already have a cat??

He might show up still. I found a cat in my back garden who had been missing for three weeks, it happens :)

They advertised him as ok to live with other cats as he's tame, and since my cat has previously lived with other cats.
They did a home check and cleared me to have him here.
Thank you, maybe he'll show up, I just can't stop worrying.

It's the fact that he isn't socialised which makes me worry even more. Even if see him, he'll probably just run off as he's scared. I don't think he wants to live as an indoor cat.

I know the shelter have the aim of him being socialised and used to people, they actually said I could let him out eventually, I just know that 10 days is too early.

Have you checked inside the underside of your chairs/sofas? There was a gap in the lining of one of ours which the cats were able to get inside of.

I think there is a good chance he will return.

Have you tried looking in the curtains? We once searched for hours for a cat, only for her to swoosh down and frighten the daylights out of us.

Thanks, yes I've had a look but will look again.
Also I might be wrong but if he were here he'd probably have pooed somewhere by now.

Thank you, I really hope so.

And yes I've had a good look but will look again.

I would bet good money that he's still in the house somewhere - a cat squeezing through a 2 inch gap in a window is very unlikely.

I would check inside cupboards, behind things like the oven, fridge and washing machine, inside the fabric in the sofa, inside drawers etc. I once came home to find my cat missing - there was no way he could have got out - he had squeezed himself up on top of the kitchen cupboards and got stuck. Another cat got behind a skirting board and underneath a cupboard - DH had to come home and drill into the boards to get her out!

We are in a similar position here, except not a foster, just adopted a second cat from a rescue, both billed as OK to live with other cats. We were keeping them apart while doing gradual scent swapping etc and she also squeezed through a tiny window gap. I have also been so upset and couldn't imagine how her head fit through.

We've been leaving food out and calling her dawn, dusk and often in the middle of the day too. Neighbours must be so sick of it bit I'm desperate to have her home. Worried because there seem to have been a lot of missing cays on our local Facebook page too.

It sounds like it's so far from normal for him to be locked in a tiny flat. Basically he would've got out eventually. He could well be in the area, eating the food, but he's choosing to stay out. My old cat spent several days missing every summer and was out every night for 12 hours.

I honestly think you couldn't have stopped his determination to be out. Especially If he was born there. Being in probably feels like prison for him!

I think he will be hiding inside somewhere. I hope you find him soon

Bet my last bob he is still in.. Leave food out and hide yourself! Bet he comes out...

Thank you everyone for reassuring me. I'll take a photo of the window in a second to show you. He is small, but he's not a baby kitten. I will keep looking.

I agree..with hindsight it's not the right environment for him to be locked in a little flat, if he was born outside and used to living out.

Can you get a camera see who is taking the food?

Keeps saying my image is too big to post but just measured and I'd say it was about 1.8 inches.

I don't think a cat could fit their whole head through a gap that small.

That's what I thought but I've checked the entire flat twice and he's nowhere at all. It's bizarre.

Trying to post the window again

I have the exact same windows, with the exact same gap.
In the 9 years I have lived here there has been 10 different cats - including a rescue who had been outside for a year.
No cat ever has gone out one of my windows.
I believe cat is somewhere in the flat - on top of a wardrobe ? under a chair ?

Is he a bit or small cat, my girls head would fit through there, although she's built like rugby ball so the rest of her wouldn't (ex rescue).

If it makes you feel better I got a rescue, locked him in my utility room and went out (on awful date). Checked the camera I'd set up through the evening but couldn't spot him. Got home to find he'd gotten out through the locked car flap and was sitting in the garden on the sofa looking a bit confused. He was 7 months and had been with me only a few hours. I hate to think how stupid I'd been, but my other rescue refused to use the flap so I'd forgotten it could be used for escape.

The cat could very well be hiding in the flat somewhere. My feral foster kitten spent 5 weeks hiding behind books on a shelf. Is there any holes in lining of sofa or beds? They love small enclosed spaces. I would think that he’s using the toilet somewhere though. Have you got your other cat in the room with the open window? Is there a spot they are sniffing a lot. Could’ve used that spot as a toilet or hidden there?
the window gap is a possibility though. Another rescue kitten of mine was waiting to be spayed and when on her first heat she got out the snallest gap and got pregnant!!
if he’s got out. He’ll hide. Check sheds, garages, garden furniture etc.
hopefully he will return if he’s gone out. Please don’t beat yourself up. Cats are known escape artists and a law to themselves. Hope your cat returns, one of mine (I rescue cats so have had a lot!) was missing 3 months I was heartbroken then he strolled in like nothing had happened!!