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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

My cat's disappeared :(

21 replies

TobyLerone · 03/05/2011 13:24

I have 2 adult female cats. They have always been indoor cats, but this year have shown signs of wanting to go out (and it was a pain trying to keep them inside with the weather being so warm), so I had them spayed and innoculated 3 weeks ago.

They've had all their final checks and have been going out into the garden and slightly beyond for a week or so, but never straying far.

On Sunday we were in the garden at about 9pm and saw Steve, the more outgoing and confident of the cats, running in and out of the garden as usual. When we went to bed at around 11pm, the other cat was in, but there was no sign of Steve. We called, looked around the garden, opened the squeaky food cupboard (which is guaranteed to send them both haring indoors), but she didn't appear.

She hasn't been back. We haven't seen her at all.

She's not wearing a collar, as she always gets them off within 2 minutes. And she's not microchipped.

Is this a normal thing for her to have done, having so recently won her freedom? I'm getting pretty worried now, and the children are thinking the worst.

Is it 'leafleting the neighbourhood' time? I have asked the immediate neighbours if they've seen her, and asked them to check their sheds, but nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
TobyLerone · 03/05/2011 14:43

Hopeful bump.

OP posts:
buggerlugs82 · 03/05/2011 17:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/05/2011 19:03

Phone ALL the local vets because people take lost cats there, they will take your details if they have a register of lost cats so if someone finds her and they ring the vets they can contact you.

Then phone all the local rescue centres, the vets will have a list and register her as lost there too.

Put leaflets up and cards in local newsagents shops.

Don't stop going out calling her and shaking the biscuit box

it's the time of year for young mice and fledglings so she might be having a good time hunting.

Good luck I hope she comes home soon x

Original poster
TobyLerone · 04/05/2011 10:51

Thanks, both. We're going door-to-door tonight, and I have printed some leaflets. We all miss her :(

OP posts:
Vix1980 · 04/05/2011 11:02

Hi,

Definatly dont stop calling your cats name, mine recently went missing after hardly moving for of the couch for the past 12 years, he was gone for 4 days and i was totally beside myself and know exactly what your going through, he finally came home 1 morning and just miawed outside the window!

It does happen and they do know how to get home even if you dont think they can, definatly ring the vets as someone else has said, she may have been locked in a shed if someone has been gardening and left it open then locked it, so ask all your neighbours, i also put up lotsof posters in the surrounding streets too which i had quite a good response from (albeit after he had finally come home!). It is possible she has wandered off with a tom cat as its mating season and just got disorientated, cats are more resillient than we give them credit for, but good luck and pls keep us updated x

Original poster
TobyLerone · 04/05/2011 11:10

Thank you. We are definitely going round the neighbourhood tonight and then I'll start ringing round tomorrow.

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bamboobutton · 04/05/2011 11:15

don't lose heart.

our cat went missing for over two weeks once. turned out he had been shut in someones house when they went on holiday and when their cleaner released him he went running off and got a bit lost.

lot's of posters on lamp posts/vets/shop windows etc will be a huge help. we got lots of sightings that way.

piratecat · 04/05/2011 11:16

Just a suggestion. ring the council refuse. it sounds cruel of me to mention this, but, unfortunately if your cat has been run over, they may have had to collect her.

I know it's a horrid thought, but my cat was killed 3 weeks ago on the road. A neighbour of mine's cat was also killed last week and i know that the council men picked him up.

It is better to know, at the end of the day.

xx

Original poster
TobyLerone · 04/05/2011 11:24

:(

I keep telling the children that she'll be fine and she's bound to come back soon, but at the back of my head I'm worried she's been run over. I'm going to put off calling the council just yet, but thanks for the tip. I hope it doesn't come to that.

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DooinMeCleanin · 04/05/2011 11:27

My cat went missing for almost 6 months once Shock. I was just about to start looking for a new friend for the remaining cat who getting very lonely when he just turned up on the windowsill, stinky, scrawny and feeling very sorry for himself.

My mums cat went for about a week last summer, which was very out of character for her. She normally never leaves the garden. She came back on her own.

Cats will often find their own way home once they are ready to.

Original poster
TobyLerone · 04/05/2011 11:46

Wow, 6 months! Shock

Thanks, these success stories have made me feel a bit better. Hope she comes back soon. Roxy (the other cat) misses her a lot.

OP posts:
buggerlugs82 · 04/05/2011 12:04

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

Original poster
TobyLerone · 04/05/2011 12:33

I think I'll try to continue thinking she's alive and just trapped in someone's shed for a day or so more first. But thanks all the same.

OP posts:
piratecat · 05/05/2011 07:35

any news.?

StudiousSal · 05/05/2011 07:46

Don't worry she'll be fine, my cats regularly do this usually when
The weather is warmer, one of my cats disappears for a week, its
As though they go on a walkabout to see what's about.
Do check with neighbours too as they are very nosey, and ask people
To check their sheds.

Original poster
TobyLerone · 05/05/2011 09:28

No news :(

We went round the neighbours last night with leaflets and asked them to check their sheds. Left my number in case anyone sees her. Nothing yet. Today I will start ringing round shelters/vets if I get time at work.

Thanks, Sal :) I'm sure you're right!

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TechLovingDad · 05/05/2011 09:33

When we got a rescue cat, we kept him in for two weeks as instructed. When he did go out he disappeared for a month. We thought he'd found somewhere else to live.

He turned up one night, happy as larry and hasnt disappeared since.

Leafletting was a waste of time for us, I found. There are loads of similar cats round here, though.

unclefester77 · 05/05/2011 09:38

We lost our cat for 10 days....he came back in the end. Keep making a fuss, do NOT give up. Posters on lampposts and flyers through letterboxes asking people to check that your cat is not shut in the shed. Call every time you would normally feed your cat, and walk round calling on the streets. Keep phoning vets, the council, also put up MISSING posters in local shops. Good luck -I know how horrible it is waiting but DO NOT GIVE UP Smile

ShoutyHamster · 05/05/2011 09:40

Bit of a long shot, but could you namechange, put up a new profile with pics of your cat, and start a new thread with your rough location???

You might not want to do that though because everyone on THIS thread will link to you.

Best of luck, hope you find Steve Lady soon x

aristocat · 05/05/2011 09:45

hope your cat returns today Smile

one of my friends cats went missing recently and he returned 3wks later much thinner but fine ..... this cat has daily meds for epilepsy and definitely used up one of his lives

good luck

Original poster
TobyLerone · 05/05/2011 09:57

Thanks, all :)

It's good to hear these stories of cats coming home. Gives me a bit of hope.

We're calling her every morning and night, and Roxy (the other cat) is running all around the garden miaowing and obviously looking for Steve. It's sad :(

She's very distinctive-looking, especially given that she still has a big patch on her side where they hair hasn't yet grown back after her spaying.

Good idea, ShoutyHamster. Like you said, I'd probably rather not do that, but I will if it comes to it.

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