Do cats actually 'leave' home??

BigMomma3 · 2010-02-26T21:27:47+00:00

Puss has been missing since yesterday evening and DH is insisting that it's because I 'told him off' when I caught him sleeping on DSs bed (right next to his head) yet again. We also make him sleep downstairs in his very comfy basket rather than upstairs with us and the DCs do sometimes chase play with him a bit too much! So is it true that cats decide to go elsewhere if dissatisfied with what they have at home or is DH taking the proverbial!! We have since found out that he has been visiting neighbours houses for strokes and titbits >. He is only 6 months btw and am very worried about him .

heQet · 26/02/2010 21:34

oh yes. They'll leave without a backward glance if they feel like it.

They are not loyal, like dogs. If they fancy living somewhere else, they'll go and they won't miss you.

It's true what they say - to a dog you're family, to a cat you're staff!

You never truly own a cat, iyswim. They live with you for as long as it suits them to do so. You can lock them up of course, but if they want out they'll find a way.

However, I bet he's not left you! he's probably just gone walkabout and will be back for some grub soon enough. Try going outside with some tuna or some prawns and wafting them about a bit

Toms can go off for WEEKS, or even MONTHS before wandering through the door and plonking themselves down although I'm not sure if 6 months is a bit young for him starting all that?

And knock on your neighbours doors (the ones he visits) and see if he's bedded down there.

RuthChan · 26/02/2010 21:35

I don't know the reason for his leaving his old house, but when I was a child a perfectly well-cared for local cat decided to move in with our family. He was about a year old and stayed with us for the rest of his life. On the other hand your cat has only been missing for 24hours, so it's still a bit early to worry too much.

heQet · 26/02/2010 21:35

oh - forgot to say - your cat wouldn't have given a shit about you telling him off. You aren't important enough to your cat for him to give a toss what you say! (pretending he understood your words here of course )

heQet · 26/02/2010 21:41

ruth - same here! I am looking at our cat right now.

She came with the house she had been the much loved cat of the previous occupants for SIX years! And they moved out. And they took her. And she came back. And they fetched her. And she came back. And they fetched her. they gave up before she did! So we moved in and she walked through the door and sat down! We talked to her previous 'owner' and said it was fine, she could stay with us (like we had a choice!)

But they'd loved her for 6 years (and for the other 6 years of her life she's lived with this woman's mum) and she was more attached to the house than to them! didn't care who the employees were, as long as they did the job

The bloke had reason to come to the house once, and she looked straight through him. Didn't give a crap about him.

They're cold, cats are

usualsuspect · 26/02/2010 21:44

I had a cat that just left ..was obviously being fed whiskers somewhere else and not tescos own brand

radstar · 26/02/2010 21:55

We had two cats, one day the black one didn't come back. We thought he must of died somewhere. Then several months later a black cat started to visit. We didn't think it could be ours but it used to come in the cat flap and eat the food and once was even sitting on our sofa when we came home.

This has been going on for four years now the other week we "caught" him in the kitchen and had a really good look at him. I think it must have been our cat, he had a similar face shape and the same weird croak rather than miaow, but he looked older more battered and wild. He also seemed stiff and lame and ours pulled his tendon a couple of months before he went, had to be plastered and everything - a great expense I should add!!

I guess all the posters are right about cats not caring but I always wonder what happened to make him go and then what made him come back. Did him and the other one have a falling out and hate each other now? They always seemed close, but now our one either growls at the flap or runs away scared to hide, if the imposter is in eating his food. It's sad I know, I put human emotions onto animals but it made us very sad to think he didn't love us anymore

radstar · 26/02/2010 21:55

We had two cats, one day the black one didn't come back. We thought he must of died somewhere. Then several months later a black cat started to visit. We didn't think it could be ours but it used to come in the cat flap and eat the food and once was even sitting on our sofa when we came home.

This has been going on for four years now the other week we "caught" him in the kitchen and had a really good look at him. I think it must have been our cat, he had a similar face shape and the same weird croak rather than miaow, but he looked older more battered and wild. He also seemed stiff and lame and ours pulled his tendon a couple of months before he went, had to be plastered and everything - a great expense I should add!!

I guess all the posters are right about cats not caring but I always wonder what happened to make him go and then what made him come back. Did him and the other one have a falling out and hate each other now? They always seemed close, but now our one either growls at the flap or runs away scared to hide, if the imposter is in eating his food. It's sad I know, I put human emotions onto animals but it made us very sad to think he didn't love us anymore

radstar · 26/02/2010 21:56

don't know what happened there!!!

notquitenormal · 26/02/2010 22:07

All while growing up we had various cats that came and went. They'd turn up one day and decide they lived with us...stay for a few weeks to a few years and then bugger off again. A few we'd get as kittens and the toms tended to go as soon as they were allowed out. We'd sometimes see them living a few street away.

We have three cats that have stayed for about 8 years now. I don't think they'll leave...they're afraid of everyone except DP.

Original poster

BigMomma3 · 26/02/2010 22:39

LOL HeQuet! This kitten has been pretty much of an adventurer since he was tiny and was constantly trying to escape even before he'd had his shots!

Am quite heartbroken to think he may be lying injured somewhere though and DH, who professed to hate the flea ridden things before agreeing under duress to get one, was out until 1am last night looking for him and is quite morose now.

I do hope he comes back as the DCs will insist on getting another one and seeing as we've shelled out loads of cash getting all his shots and neutering done quite recently, I will be quite pissed to have to start again (not to mention the fact that we did'nt realise how attached to him we were until now, sob, ). Almost feels like one of the DC is missing . Anyway have rung all the vets, RSPCA, Cats Protection League, spoken to neighbours and posted flyers through 40 doors tonight - not much more we can do.

OP posts:

ilovesprouts · 26/02/2010 22:44

ive got 4 cats and they all have 2nd homes i feed em then they vanish

BikeRunSki · 26/02/2010 22:48

Our family cat left home about a week after I went to uni. Moved in with a family in the next street, but would come back to ours when I was home for holidays.