I think my cat is missing.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I could cry.

We've been staying at my mum in laws for a few weeks while some work is done on out house. We took our 3 cats with us. They had been totally fine until yesterday when my mils friend came round...with her 3 lurchers. Who escaped and chased the poor cats. Two of them are fine, but one has not been seen since. We have searched the house repeatedly, but nothing. And she is a big Maine coon so not that easy to miss.

I think she must have got outside. It's been pouring with rain all night, and she has never been outside.

To make matters worse, we had to move back home today. So we aren't even in the house to keep searching.

What the hell was she doing bringing 3 big dogs around, especially lurchers which are bred to chase small furries?

How far away are you from your inlaws?

Oh dear, can you print off some MISSING leaflets and put them through the doors?

Notify the Vets, an announcement on MIL Facebook if she has one, call the local vets and cat homes just in case someone hands her in.

Mine used to hide in bushes, no idea why but they did, I am assuming you have rattled food tine and bowl outside?

So sorry I have been though this and it is heartbreaking! I hope you find her.

Oh no! Are they chipped?? Can you contact cats protection down there? They will put a picture on their website

She probably has not gone far.
Cats get scared and hunker down for a few days.

I'd suggest you put posters and leaflets through doors for a few minutes walk in each direction. Ask people to check their sheds etc. Speak to local vets and the council.
Leave something that smells of you outside the house where you were staying to guide her back, or alternatively some of their dirty litter (the smell will be familiar). Go out and call her in the evening when it is quiet around the area where she was lost.

I realise you've moved back home, but you need to keep actively looking for a while (at least 5 days), as they can stay hidden or a long time. We had a kitten vanish and we found him again 4 days later after he took to howling in someone's garden. He hadn't even crossed a road but got disorientated in all the back gardens. We think he was trying to come home but was going the wrong way.
People will spot a maine coon they have not seen before when she stops hiding. You just need to make sure they have your phone number when they do.

There is a national lost/found pets website.

Google and pop all your details on and a pic of cat if you have one.

We founf a lost cat and have put its details on in addition to contacting the localvet, paper,and putting up posters - no one has yet claimed cat so meanwhile we are looking after her.

Thanks all.

I am currently avoiding mil as I just dont have a clue what to say to her- apparently the dogs just took off after our 3 cats and got pretty close to catching them. We have been back- mils is relatively close- to search outside and the back door has been left open with food out for her. We have been round all the neighbours and are getting posters printed tomorrow- cant find ours! Facebook, gumtree, email to vets and some local rescues done, will phone the others tomorrow. She is chipped, thankfully. But mil lives in a strange spot, lots of busy roads but also a huge population of foxes who are always in her garden.

Our cat went missing for 3 days last year and I was beside myself. It was raining heavily when he disappeared and was found having got locked in a garage so do ask neighbours to check their sheds and outbuildings. He was fine. I hope your cat comes home soon.

Thanks jchocchip. Have made up a flyer which I will put through the doors in all the neighbouring streets/houses tomorrow. I just know she will have no road sense whatsoever.

The others are very confused, they were searching mils house last night and now seem to be looking for her here too.

So sorry StatisticallyChallenged. Not knowing is just about the worst thing. I'll be thinking of you.

It's torture- been here once before even I was much younger and it's part of the reason they are indoor cats. Going out to flyer the neighbourhood this morning.

I think I'd have a hard time to forgive mil for something like this.

Keep calling her, are there any conifers she might have scooted up? our cats could be quite well hidden in a conifer.

The area although in the middle of Edinburgh, is right in a valley full of trees leading to a river. Wellies on today, leaflets and posters printed. Going to try again.

I really cant even look at mil, I feel so hurt and angry. She now says she isnt sure if the cat was around before the dogs came in- but we definitely saw her that morning so either way she let her out. We have a little girl too, dont know how to tell her. She adores her cats

They can survive up a tree for a few days from what I've seen on tv in the past.

Have you got any binoculars?

No binoculars but have been out and searched again.

Very sweet moment actually - we put flyers around the street MIL lives in and the two neighbouring ones, stuck posters up and as we came back to the car saw a child with a flyer in hand - I originally thought they had ripped a poster down. Then I realised it was actually a dad and his two children, and they had got all wrapped up and come out with the flyer to search for her. So kind.

We managed to speak to a few people - the gardens around there are absolutely huge so she could stay hidden in one of them for ages. But the next door neighbour mentioned that he heard the foxes going absolutely crazy this morning and that there were 3 of them in his garden.

I know where she went missing from what you've said. Very difficult. I don't really know what to say apart from sending you thoughts.

Here's hoping she turns up.

Thanks Cosietoesie - I guess you are fairly local? She went missing from EH4 - near the Dean Gallery area. There are literally 5 houses on a private lane, a few trees, a little tiny stream, a car park and sports club, and then the Water of Leith. The gardens all go up a huge steep hill and have loads of big bushes and trees.

She could wander in circles without ever actually emerging and being seen. I don't feel very hopeful.

I was fairly local once , many years ago - not any more, but I just recognized what you said.

I really do not reckon lurchers. I had a glorious male border collie who was the dream of every female dog he came across (he was an utter gentleman and they all fell apart when they met him - even the ones who were antsy with other dogs) - until he met a female lurcher who attacked him. Badly. He didn't maul her of course. Just limped back.

I see you're not hopeful. I'll be thinking of you and her.

Apparently MIL has been out searching too. I've tried to contact her microchip company (closed for the festive period grrr) so emailed them. Contacted all the local rescues. Not much to do but sit and wait.

I am actually finding this harder to cope with, mentally, than when my previous cats have passed away. I swing between thinking/feeling that she is gone and kind of grieving for her, and then feeling bad for giving up on her and thinking she is a big strong healthy cat in a nice area with lots of eyes looking.

You can't do anymore than you have done please don't feel guilty.

As you said.

She is a big strong healthy cat in a nice area with lots of eyes looking...

Go to bed now.

My MIL's cat turned up 7 weeks after being scared out of their new house by a fire alarm. We put flyers through lots of doors and posters in doctors, chip shop etc. It was a poster that got him home in the end as someone remembered seeing one when they heard about a stray cat hanging around. He had wandered a few roads further than expected so maybe more posters would have got him home sooner.

Good luck!

Just been down to search again and stuck posters up a street further away.

But, when I went round past MILs, despite it being broad daylight there were two of the biggest foxes I have ever seen running around like they owned the place. They were blinking huge!

Don't worry too much about the foxes.
I was sure one had got our (really rather dim) kitten. We're in London and I see foxes really often. But dim kitten was fine.

I've actually seen a video of cats meeting foxes in a street - the foxes knew that the cats were dangerous and gave them a wide berth.

I would be horrified and angry too - fingers crossed that you get her back sson.

Fingers crossed you are right. These buggers are pretty bollshy - it turns it their den is in the next door neighbours garden so it's very much their territory.

Just had MIL round for a visit. I think my tongue may be bleeding...