How long do you wait before you start worrying that your cat is missing?

[Marne]

Cat went out early this morning 6am (he stays in at night as he's still very young), usually he will stay in back garden or just stay out for 5 minutes. I forgot he was out as i was looking after a poorly dd1, took dd2 to school and spotted the cat near the main road so text dh to get him in, dh had'nt got the text so when i got home there was no sign of the cat. He's now been missing sinse 8.20 (when i saw him last), i have walked up and down the road shouting, checked an outbuilding across the road and checked the garden and no sign .

Hopfully he's just lying in the sun somewhere.

How long do you leave it before you panick?

Oh Marne, I really hope you have him back safe and well by now.

Have you tried calling the local vets? Just a thought, but if he's been found wandering or god forbid clipped by a car, might someone have taken him there?

Is he microchipped?

Can't see if you have said whether or not he's neutered, but if not, maybe he's just hanging around outside a certain lady friends house?

Still no sign, its raining now (he does'nt go out in the rain .

Have called the vets (no sign)

Just drove along the main road but its too dark to see.

He's not chipped, he was going to ne neutered and chipped next week, bloody thing wouldn't even keep a collar on so he has no ID.

Poor dd2 keeps calling out for him , how am i going to explain to her that he might not come back?

Even the dog looks upset (the cats always glued to her). Not sure what to do now,i always keep the cat in at night as we dont have a cat flap, should i leave a window open just incase he comes back?

Oh Marne.

He might still have been locked in somewhere.

Fingers crossed.

we had a cat missing for several days once, eventually turned up ravenous & filthy, he'd been shut in a shed or coalhole or something

we lived near a main road too

fingers crossed for you, Marne

yes keep a window open.

have you checked your home top to bottom, every place he could be hidden?
stupid question prob.

I would worry after half an hour. Less probably.

At our last house she was missing for about 9 hours and I was frantic. She came home soaking wet.

She is really old now and doesn't go far.

I hope she is home soon.

Have checked the house and garden, have had the back door open all day and been out in the garden, usually he would be straight there.

Last time i saw him he ran across the main road towards our house so i thought he was on his way home (was shocked that he went across the main road though).

gosh i know. i saw my cat cross our road once and was also shocked.

wonder where he is little monkey.

whats his name?

His names Iggy (the dd's named him), luckily dd1 is'nt to bothered but i think dd2 has noticed he has gone as she keeps shouting 'Iggy, Iggy, where are you' when i open the door .

Poor little chap - I do hope he turns up unscathed.
I have 2 cats, one frequently goes walkabout (boy cat) and I don't tend to panic unless he's gone for more than 24 hours.
(the other barely leaves the garden, he's a 3-legged lazy ).
But he is older than yours. Have you done the whole going quietly round the houses calling his name, shaking biscuits etc thing?
Definitely leave a window open and double check hiding places.
Fingers crossed for you and the little guy - I hope he comes home.

If he's not neutered yet, that's probably your answer - try not to fret, he's probably found a queen somewhere to pine over and will be back when he's ready.

Can you possibly go with the 'he's gone on an adventure' story for the time being with dd2?

Hopefully he will just stroll back in very soon, but if you are worried MyMoggy is a brilliant site for lost & found cats - some useful info on there as well, keep us posted and hope he comes home soon xx

Still no sign this morning, left the window open all night, dog was whining at 2am so let her out but no sign of her little friend.

please don't panic yet. One of my cats used to disappear for 3 days at a time. Male cats have to find their territory boundaries and wonder much more than females (mine was female and still went wondering)

If the area is full of fields he could be gone some time whilst he checks it all out.

Also, at this time of year the females start to come into heat, he might just be feeling a bit randy and has gone off in search of some hanky panky.

Sorry to hear about your cat. They do wander though. Mine buggered off for three sodding days with no explanation. he looked remarkably smug when he meandered back into the kitchen though. I looked, well pretty much how anyone who had been fretting and wibbling for three days would look.

He could have found a cat on heat - that keeps them out.

I hope he is back very soon.

Keep us updated Marne. I hope he turns up soon.

I have a friend whose cat goes for months and then comes back as if "yeah? what's your problem?"

Don't know what the weather's like where you are, but in my experience, cats get quite excited at this time of year - more light, warmth etc and go further and for longer.

Check with your neighbours that he's not in any sheds or garages.

Our neighbours cat is always sneaking in to our garage and I've given them a key in case we go away and lock up not realising he's there.

Ask at local shops/businesses too - he might be going through their bins or outbuildings.

Keep us posted.

I'm just going to put notes through the neighbours doors, theres only 10 houses here and lots of frields so not many places he can be .

Will also go to both shops and ask/put poster up.

Dd1 said she had a dream that he came home (lets hope it comes true).

right of to the neighbours houses.

Good luck.

Good luck Marne, hope he comes home today.

Any news Marne? Hope he's ok...

Hey Marne - I'm also lurking here hoping for happy news.

You mentioned you live near fields - is this farmed land? Have you spoken to the farmer? They are always out and about and may notice an animal (that isn't part of the farm) on their land.

Any sign?