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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

Much loved family cat is missing

41 replies

SeaweedNK · 18/11/2011 13:40

He hasn't been home since yesterday morning. He has never stayed out all night before and is always home to greet the DCs after school. He's such a part of family life that he trots upstairs with the DCs at bedtime and settles down in his basket on the landing between their bedroom doors.

He's only just over a year old, I can't bear to think he's gone. DD (8) worships him and will be inconsolable. He is microchipped but came home collarless on Wednesday so isn't wearing one now.

Positive thoughts please to bring him home to us!!!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 18/11/2011 14:11

Oh dear I am sorry, we have lots go missing here and they turn up later hungry like nothings happened.

Keep calling him

Walk round the block calling him with a bag of biscuits to rattle

Put posters up locally and in the post office/local shop

Have any of your neighbours gone on hol yesterday? could have got himself locked in.

If the worst has happened the local vets and the council cleansing department have microchip scanners so you will be told.

Its really mild so he's probably found a mouse hole full of prey.

Dont give up hope!

DELHI · 18/11/2011 17:18

I know how you feel Seaweed, I have been thru similar. Just hoping he returns. One of mine went for nearly 2 weeks once and Id really given up hope, but one morning -there he was!

planetpotty · 18/11/2011 17:40

Cats often go off for a few days.

Have you asked neighbours to check sheds/garages he could be locked in it happens a lot round here.

My neighbour put posters up around locally recently and her cat was found safe and sound in someones kitchen.

crazynanna · 18/11/2011 17:43

Oh seaweed...I'm sure he'll come home

Sparklingbrook · 18/11/2011 17:49

Oh Seaweed I hope he comes home soon. I went through this and I thought my heart would break. Posters and flyers is the way to go.

My story didn't have a good ending but she was found by someone who had had a flyer and I got some closure which was better than not knowing IYSWIM.

Sending positive vibes and hoping he trots back in wondering what all the fuss is about very soon. He is chipped which is a big plus.

Original poster
SeaweedNK · 18/11/2011 21:24

Thanks for all the support. Still no sign of him. DCs have been out all day at school, then children in need party so haven't had time to notice he is missing yet. I will have to break the news in the morning.

I have called the RSPCA centre in the next village and the vets and asked the local dog walkers to keep an eye out for him. Its a small village and he is quite a well known character.

Really can't face this again. We have already been through the death of the cats adored twin brother who was found in a neighbours garden looking like he was sleeping peacefully. I thought DDs heart would break that day and she has transferred all her love onto this little cat. Actually we all love him dearly. Sob.

Thanjs again all - glad some people understand.

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planetpotty · 18/11/2011 21:32

Sad hoping for a safe return - hopefully mogs off having a whale of a time not realising he's causing so much worry.

Sparklingbrook · 18/11/2011 21:35

Oh seaweed it's horrible isn't it? I slept on the settee for a few nights in case she came to the back door. Every time I got home I would rush to the patio door to see if she was there. Like yours she was found looking like she was sleeping, she was only one. She had a heart murmur which may have contributed.

We have another cat now, and I get all jittery when she doesn't come back at the right time.

I really understand. There's a good chance he will come wandering back though-I'm keeping everything crossed for you.

puzzlesum · 18/11/2011 21:37

Keep the faith - they do this so we become even more indulgent for fear of them doing it again :)

Hope he's back soon.

Sparklingbrook · 19/11/2011 13:41

Any joy seaweed?

TopazMortmain · 19/11/2011 14:16

My cats go missing all the time and mostly because they have got trapped or stuck somehow. When looking for them at various times I found out that a cat will mostly be found five to ten houses in every direction. I would drop fliers in houses in a ten house radius asking if they can check their sheds, garages and so on for your cat.

Leave a piece of clothing outside that smells strongly of your home scents (gross but try a pile of well worn socks)

I hope your cat is found soon Sad

Sparklingbrook · 19/11/2011 15:04

Topaz that reminds me. When mine went missing I was told to empty the hoover bag outside too. Familiar smells I suppose.

sprinkles77 · 19/11/2011 15:46

Any news OP? I'm so sad for you. We had one cat that came back after 5 days, she was ill and I'd given up hope. Another one that never came home and I'm still really sad about nearly a year later. My current cat is not allowed out after dark.

Original poster
SeaweedNK · 19/11/2011 17:58

Thanks for all the messages. Still no sign and no sightings either. I have a bad feeling about it. SadSadSad

We have only just started leaving the flap open at night. As he always comes to bed with the kids and goes down for breakfast with DH in the morning, we stopped closing it. Its a microchip reader flap so no other cats can get in.

DD has been out all day at dancing classes and then a birthday party. Will tell her he is missing later when we are watching 'Strictly'.

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Sparklingbrook · 19/11/2011 18:01

Sad It's so frustrating isn't it and you feel so helpless. Poor you and poor DD. Still holding out hope though.

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/11/2011 20:22

Ok bit morbid but there was a story in the paper ages ago about a man who committed suicide (sorry moodhoover) because his cat had disappeared and then 2 weeks later the cat turned up.

On here there was a young cat who went missing and they put posters up, it was a small village. Next night she hears a car pulling off from the house, and cat at the front door. He had moved in with someone else and been brought back when they realised he wasnt a stray.

TopazMortmain · 20/11/2011 01:21

Maybe some comfort - mine have variously gone walkabout overnight, for three days, a week and once TWO months Hmm (where did she go?)

I think most likely scenario is cat got distracted by somethings shiny / furry / tasty and is now a bit lost but will work out how to get home, or is in someone's shed and will leap out when they go to get the lawnmower.

Fingers crossed for safe cat return

Original poster
SeaweedNK · 20/11/2011 01:27

Thanks Topaz. DD has shed a lot of tears this evening. We are going to make posters in the morning and cycle round the village putting them up. Poor girl is so upset. The brother cat that died was 'hers'.

Will explain to DS in the morning. He is only 4 but the missing is offically 'his' and he loves him too.

OP posts:
TopazMortmain · 21/11/2011 04:05

Any news of cat? hopes

Original poster
SeaweedNK · 21/11/2011 10:32

Hi Topaz, no news of him at all. DD has convinced herself that he has just gone a bit too far on a hunting expedition and he resting up with a friendly little old lady. I am a bit more pessimistic Sad

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MyLittleFluffball · 22/11/2011 21:42

I'm sorry your cat is still missing. :(

TopazMortmain · 23/11/2011 09:00

So sorry Sad

But don't despair yet. When I had given away the cat bed and tidied away all the toys (forever) cat came back at 3am. It may be off having an adventure.

JinxAndFluff · 23/11/2011 09:22

Really don't give up hope! I do know what its like - I cried every single morning in the shower after i checked to see if one of mine had come back after an 'excursion', and she hadn't....
I totally second the leaflet thing as wide as possible. Once, mine had gone off to a building site beyond where I had sent out leaflets and she was found because a little old lady on a bus told another about an unusual cat she'd had in her garden, and the person she spoke to had had a leaflet.
That cat then went on to have a wierd period where she would go and hide way way under the decking of a garden 4 houses away, I could hear her wailing but she wouldn't come. Had to invade poor neighbours privacy repeatedly with bowls of tuna, totally distressing their own cat.
She invaded another neighbours house while they were on hols and left the house in the capable hands of a painter who shut the cat in when she was being nosy... I found her in the bath tub of the house after she appeared to have pulled most of her fur out in distress all over the v posh 5 storey town house.
I have had to pay out a small fortune in rewards (or flowers). But all am saying is, the strangest things happen to cats (cat karma?) and a week is not long in the life of a cat
Said cat is now a happy 18yo house cat.

Sparklingbrook · 25/11/2011 13:53

It's been a week. I take it there's no news?

Original poster
SeaweedNK · 26/11/2011 21:23

No definate news but a neighbour was passing this evening while DH was outside and told him that a black cat had been hit by a car in the village last week. The neighbour didn't know any details but thought the cat was in a very bad way and was taken to a local vet. Our boy is microchipped though, so I would have thought we would have been telephoned by now if that was him? [clutches at straws]

Very sad this evening, he was just the most wonderful boy and was loved by the whole street. Just hoping it wasn't him and he will slink home soon.Sad

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