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

Missing cat has returned but ....

220 replies

topknob · 22/04/2012 12:46

Charley went missing just under a year ago...searched everywhere, did leaflet drops etc, many sightings but no one could get him. We now have two females, both spayed. I thought I saw Charley last week, just a fleeting glance so wasn't sure. Then yesterday dh clearing out his works van, I was out there too and along comes Charley following one of my females :) I was patient, sat down near them as they laid together under a car then watched them following each other about. He did at one point lay in front of me, but I was worried about scaring him. He came back AGAIN about an hour later..went to follow our female into the house then she turned round and went back out !! So he sat on our front garden for ages...when I called him he would look at me but didn't make any attempt to come up to me or dh (he was Charleys fav :) ) I took lots of photos have compared them to when he was younger and the markings are exactly the same.
What do I do now?? I am eagerly waiting for him to pop up again hopefully should I attempt to approach him? Should I put his old bed out for him?? Any ideas?

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topknob · 06/05/2012 19:57

My dd found Charley sitting on our mat today outside..he hid when he saw her understandable but he came as soon as I called him :) he ate from inside our hallway and came all the way to the end. I could have shut the front door and kept him in BUT I decided against it for today. Still nervous of scaring him. He also had a sniff about the bottom of the stairs, then sat for ages in the doorway, then moved to his bed outside the door where he stayed for about an hour.

He does need to see a vet to be neutered but he also has an injury on the top of his head. It isn't bleeding but he has some fur missing and keeps washing it with his paw and he has a slight limp.
I am not looking forward to attempting to get him there :o

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Sparklingbrook · 06/05/2012 20:06

Sounds like you are very close though.

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/05/2012 20:09

I have a really good way of getting cats into cat carriers. Stop me if you have heard it before.

I take the cat into the bathroom cos it's a small room and he cant get away and then I take the door off the carrier and get him cornered so he has to get into the box because he cant make himself squish into the wall anymore then I put the door over the entrance again and click it into place.

He doesnt get as stressed as if I try to put him in normally.

It helps that he has a plastic basket that I can take the door off and on easily.

You will probably need your DH to help, toms are fesity.

perfectpins · 06/05/2012 20:23

Mine has been missing since November and you are giving me hope. I've been following your thread and hoping....

RandomMess · 06/05/2012 20:29

With my male cat - put cat basket down, open door, cat gets in Confused

Girl cat - sees both cat baskets, goes and hides very very very well takes dh 25 minutes just to locate her Grin

Guess who has the brains and who has the brawn Wink

JustFab · 06/05/2012 20:48

Please try and pick him up the next time he comes as it sounds like he needs a vet's attention asap.

topknob · 06/05/2012 21:09

Not able to pick him up yet. He is too jumpy although he does settle once he starts eating. He is looking very healthy and I am keeping an eye on his injury :) I will be hopefully shutting the door next time he comes in but If he flips I will have to let him out again x remember he has had no human contact for almost a year.

I know who those of you with missing cats feel Sad it is awful not knowing and I have cried over that cat many times x

As for the cat basket ... Will be purchasing heavy duty rubber gloves Grin

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RandomMess · 06/05/2012 21:12

Hmm I'm thinking thick suede gloves up to your armpits!

topknob · 07/05/2012 20:04

lol you may be right Wink

Little update, last night I couldn't locate Milly, our black fluffy one which surprised me as she is normally in the utility (has catflap) at night...Lucy the other girl is often not in :o so I checked out the front, Lucy was curled up in Charleys bed and laying next to her on the mat was Charley :o all sleepy :o when I checked an hour later at bedtime both were still there..Milly had surfaced at this point !

Didn't see him again til about 1/2 an hour ago..he went straight up to dh who had food :) and came in the hallway, got dh to move all the way to the end and Charley went with him. So I closed the front door Shock the poor boy immediatley stopped eating and got stressed, he went halfway up the stairs came back down and went into the living room and jumped onto the sofa to the window, the back down to the front door..I had to open it as he was stressed and I felt bad :( but once I opened it he carried on eating in the hallway. After eating he sat on the mat grooming, then went under my car. I went back out after a few minutes and called him and he came to me, then wandered off :) . I think I shall carry on closing the door when he comes and reopening until he settles with it, just like he has with coming into the house and coming up to me :) it is just going to take time x

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crazynanna · 07/05/2012 20:17

That's the first step to being home for him Smile

RandomMess · 07/05/2012 20:17

What fantastic progress!

Could be weeks until he gets the snip though - LOl!

topknob · 07/05/2012 20:58

Agreed Smile as soon as I can get him confident to stay a few hours with us he will be booked in Wink

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MNP · 09/05/2012 01:59

Great progress am so pleased TopKnot

shoegal34 · 09/05/2012 08:23

Lovely thread. Read it all this morning. Best of luck topknob, i will be watching with interest. Do keep posting x

topknob · 09/05/2012 09:53

Thank you xx

Fed him yesterday with dd, actually I let her feed him (she is 8) on the doorstep as didn't want to stress him again, she got to stroke him so she was v v pleased :o He did wander into the house by his own free will, had a little stroll and off he went again.

The wound on his head is healing nicely :)

Poxy raining again today so probably won't see him until it stops !

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topknob · 09/05/2012 22:02

Fed the boy twice today once at about 4.00pm and then about 1/2 hour ago..the first time he came into the hallway no problem even sprayed up my wallpaper Angry :o then the 2nd time dh saw him next to next doors bins...as soon as I called him both times he came running over nothing to do with the food in my hand he has eaten lots today :o I did attempt to close the door the 2nd time but it needs oiling and was very noisy so stopped as soon as he looked around (will be oiling tomorrow). I have stroked him loads all over and got to his stomach as I would if I were to pick him up and he has been fine with this. I am feeling very happy tonight and quite positive.

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RandomMess · 09/05/2012 22:04

Good stuff!

Sparklingbrook · 09/05/2012 22:06

That sounds very encouraging. I think you are nearly there. Smile

perfectpins · 09/05/2012 22:09

I miss mine.... SO MUCH!!!!! Please come back....

topknob · 09/05/2012 22:15

aww perfectpins I do know how much it hurts :( and how worrying it is...I was amazed to see him those few weeks ago and now get worried if I don't see him for a day..he is still my cat, even if he sleeps outside :( ....
dh said after watching me with him this evening, how relaxed he is with me :) how much more friendly he has got. I am hoping so much he will turn up when the kids are at school and I can shut him in without any risk of him hurting them..I am however anticipating various injuries :o

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perfectpins · 09/05/2012 22:20

if is was me I'd be keeping him inside and never leeting him out my sight!

topknob · 09/05/2012 22:21

He is too scared/nervous for that :( I don't want to risk scaring him off x

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topknob · 09/05/2012 22:28

door has now been wd40'ed :o :o

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Sparklingbrook · 10/05/2012 07:17

Today could be the day.. Have you got the cat carrier to hand? Grin

shoegal34 · 10/05/2012 08:37

Good luck topknob :-)