Does anyone else have a wondering tom cat?

[shootRudolphinthehip]

I have never had a tom cat until June this year when I inherited one. He's nearly 2 and was a housecat before we got him.

He's lovely, however, he disappears. He's currently missing and has been gone for 24hrs. In the snow...

He has gone for 24hrs before but I'm really worried about him. We live near a river and I know that he has fallen in twice. We also live on a main road and he's not got a huge amount of road sense.

I know that he will probably turn up but I feel really nervous every time he goes out as I'm forever thinking 'is this going to be the time he doesn't come home?'.

Anyone else been through this, even if there wasn't a happy outcome, I'd rather prepare myself iykwim?

Have you had him 'fixed'?

Think that could slow down his wandering.....

He was done a couple of weeks before we got him. He was very scatty when he came to us (he'd been neglected) and had lots of bad habits but has turned into a lovely, lovely pet. But he's not very bright and does keep buggering off.

Why not keep him as a housecat? It would take him a bit of getting used ot, but he'd get used ot it after a while. You can always 'cat proof' your garden so he has the run of that?

On avergage, apparently, outdoor cats live for 3-4 years, whereas indoor cats live for 12-14 years.

One of my Tom cats was a real wanderer when he was young. Sometimes he would go for 48 hrs and DH and I would be worried sick and go out looking for him.
He'd always come home safe and sound and we would say that we wouldn't worry wbout him next time... but, of course we always did.

Sadly, he is now 15 and very old and tired. He isn't in pain but I think his days are numbered. He didn't want to eat this afternoon which isn't like him at all.
He's been a fabulous cat, he was an outdoor cat but he decided to move indoors and sleeps in my study.

Aw, thanks folks. I have two other 'outdoor' cats but they are a bit fairweather and never venture far. They are both girls and 11 yrs so seem to know better.

I think I am destined to worry about him for as long as we have him!

Just checked the weather and tonight is forecast to be -9 (we're in Scotland). Hope he turns up.

I had a outdoor cat he lived for 14 years he would go missing for a few weeks when older and it would break my heart I would walk around the streets calling and banging a tin I saw him once and he scarpered but he always came back eventually.

Any news, OP?
Sone of them just do this, don't they - then they saunter back in nonchalantly while we collapse in a quivering heap of relief at their safe return
Might be worth asking neighbours to check their sheds & garages, and I'd recommend microchipping him if he isn't already.
Hope he's back very soon

there is a tom cat that often turns up at our house demanding food

I think most cats have several homes on the go, my cat goes missing for days but returns looking groomed & well fed

AJUCE, hope that your cat is feeling better today. Our hooligan has been found- I went looking for him earlier and he bounded up to me. He hasn't eaten anything since he got home so methinks he is being fed elsewhere

However, he is home and well so that's great

I'm glad he has turned up. We always say we won't worry next time (we have 6 cats) but we always do.

My old boy has perked up today - yesterday we decided that if he was still the same we would phone the vet and we were resigned to having him pts. He was very lethargic and just looked so frail and exaughsted it seemed asif he had had enough of life.

Today he is really chirpy - he's eaten and been for a stroll round the garden.
I'm working mnetting in the study and he is curled up on a chair by the radiator purring away.

Good news all round then.
Glad the wanderer has returned & that your boy's feeling brighter, AJUPB