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Original poster

Cat missing . what next?

88 replies

dobby2001 · 27/03/2013 00:06

One of our cats has been missing since this morning. Its the more timid of the two we have, and she rarely goes out more than an hour at a time. I have been calling her all day, and our other,bolder cat has been out looking for her, as we'll as DD and I going out around the block calling and asking friends to check gardens.

I don't have a good feeling about this. She is easily spooked and has always gone out to our back garden, which backs onto other gardens, has never been near a road. If something has spooked her she could be anywhere,and she is not a vocal cat,so would be unlikely to call out.
Is it worth contacting vets in the morning? Do the council bother to check for microchips if they scoop up cats from the road? Poor DD has been down twice as can't sleep and having tweeted her photo locally, and been out calling her and roaming streets, I am at a loss as to what to do next Sad

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thecatneuterer · 27/03/2013 00:43

Try not to panic just yet. Do you have a cat flap? If so she might just wander back in. If you don't make sure you leave food outside your back door in the morning (no point now as the foxes will eat it), which should encourage her back and keep her coming back even if you're not there to let her in.

The Councils are supposed to scan any dead cats for chips yes. It probably isn't worth contacting vets as, if she is taken in to a vet or rescue, they will scan her anyway.

I have got loads of cats back (normally when they've gone out for the first time and aren't sure how to get back) by putting posters on trees, lamp posts and by putting flyers with photos through all the doors of the houses with adjoining gardens - normally at least a 100. I don't know what your neighbours are like but I always get a phenomenal response that way and have always managed to track down the missing cat in question.

cozietoesie · 27/03/2013 08:21

Just to say that I always check flyers and posters for missing animals (no putting them straight in the bin) so that might be worth doing indeed if she's not back shortly.

I'm hoping she's turned up overnight.

foxache · 27/03/2013 09:30

Flyers and posters are good idea, I always read them too.
I really hope she's come home.

Original poster
dobby2001 · 27/03/2013 14:48

Hi folks. No sign of her yet. We dont have a cat flap so have resorted to calling her name outside, every hour or so. Can see straight out to garden easliy though so constantly checking Sad
Have got her photo circulating on twitter, and facebook, and have phone the 2 local vets but nothing so fat. Our other cat is very clingy (again, like he was when his brother died, florrie was his replacement Sad ) and keeps looking out of the window.

Have taken a slow walk around all the local roads and even the park - freezing and feeling very sad now.

Not done posters yet as working, but thats the next step Sad

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foxache · 27/03/2013 16:00

Oh dobby Sad Still don't panic, hopefully she's at someone's house.

Also, although I'm sure you would already have done this, have you thoroughly checked inside your house? Sorry if this a daft suggestion.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, I really hope you find her soon.

Original poster
dobby2001 · 28/03/2013 17:19

Florrie is still missing Sad. Today I have e.mailed all the rescue places I know of, the local council animal wardens who gave me the number for the council clean up team - sort of good news, they have not picked up a dead cat since 18th March.

DD spent the first day of her easter break printing out 100 flyers to put through local letter boxes. We have got shops at top of road with posters in too.
Crossing fingers that the dry weather this weekend will get people out in gradens and opening up sheds...

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Sparklingbrook · 29/03/2013 21:12

Sending you positive vibes dobby. The feeling of not knowing is bloody horrible.

Come home soon dobbycat. x

Darmont · 29/03/2013 23:28

I really hope you find her soon, will keep everything crossed

Original poster
dobby2001 · 30/03/2013 21:28

Still no sign of her. I spent the morning, printing out more flyers, laminating them, and putting them on lamposts in the area. I did two streets either way, plus as we are near train,tram and bus stops, by there too. I have had some lovely responses. An elderley couple pulled over in their car to ask me more info, the local shop keeper came out to take a poster for his window and said he would ask his customers, and my neighbour was sending her husband out to look later . She has a cat and looks after mine we we go away so felt upset too. With the dry weather, I had hoped more people would be out in their gardens, but it is so cold - I am so worried that if she was shut in somewhere, it would be the cold , and not hu Ger, that would kill her.

I have been in touch with the Celia Hammond trust, where our two came from, and they have been lovely, giving us advice about where to put notices up etc. They have reassured us we are doing all the right things. I feel so awful, as Florrie was actually fostered by the rehoming lady, and she had a real soft spot for her Sad

Our other cat keeps going out and when not out, is either shadowing me, or looking out of the back door. He is eating a lot less too - where are you Florrie ??????? [Sad]

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Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2013 16:28

Just checking in to see how you are doing dobby x

cozietoesie · 31/03/2013 16:46

I'm hoping and hoping for you dobby.

sleeton · 31/03/2013 20:05

Dobby Ask your postmen/women and any regular local delivery people. I have twice been told of my cats' whereabouts by local postmen.

Once, sadly, when the postman found our female cat dead on the road, but once when a family thought our big neutered tom cat was a stray (oh yes, eleven years old, big, fat and sleek ... I don't think so) and were keeping him in so he could get 'used to his new home'. On the second of those occasions, he had been missing (with us very actively looking) for over three weeks when we found him, so there is hope!!!

Good luck, I do hope she is back with you soon.

cozietoesie · 31/03/2013 20:08

Postmen/women That's a good idea sleeton!

Original poster
dobby2001 · 31/03/2013 22:09

Hi all, still no sign. We have been in and out of the garden more today, as we had family over andused the shed for storing drinks. Our neighbours were in the garden too, so I was really hoping she might turn up- no such luck Sad Post ie is a good idea, ours is really friendly, thanks

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Sparklingbrook · 01/04/2013 18:15

Sending hugs dobby. Don't give up hope. x

TheEasterQODdy · 01/04/2013 18:18

My neighbours cat turned up after 11 days!!

Fingers crossed. You're doing all you can

Original poster
dobby2001 · 02/04/2013 15:14

We have had two messages lately that have given us some hope. The first was that there was a poster about a found cat matching our description. Unfortunately it had been removed before the person who told us could get details, so we went to the area and have put a few of our Lost cat posters up in the hope somebody sees it.

Then this morning , in complelty the opposite direction to yesterdays info(!) A lady had seen on of our posters and called to say she had seen a cat in a road over a railway bridge to us that matched Florries description - in particular that she was small for her age - she notcied her because it was late at night, and she was surprised to see such a small cat out that late. It sounds a lot more like Florrie and we are going to go out leafleting houses in the area when I finish work tonight!

I am crossing fingers and toes it is her, and we can get her back - the lady said she looked well(she was a good killer, so probably feasting on local train line rats!) . Of course if it is her and she has got over a bleeding busy railway line and was running across the road when seen - she may be so bleeding adventurous now she wont want to come back ! Hmm Grin

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Sparklingbrook · 02/04/2013 15:16

That does sound promising. Putting up posters further afield is a good idea. Fingers crossed. x

cozietoesie · 02/04/2013 15:43

Best of luck.

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/04/2013 20:50

Good luck.

We saw a stray Norwegian forest cat but we couldn't catch him, he had a squirrel in his mouth and thought we wanted it.

We knew it was him because we used to see him stalking in the grass, then one day he vanished and posters went up.

Freyaee · 02/04/2013 23:11

Oh Dobby :( This must be worrying you sick, but I'm sure you will get her back. These responses sound very promising. I really do hope you or someone else finds her and she is home safe and warm with you soon. Don't give up yet!

Freyaee · 02/04/2013 23:12

P.S. I've read stories about cats returning several YEARS after they went missing - obviously you don't want her to be missing for years, but just to say there is always hope!

out2lunch · 03/04/2013 00:30

good luck dobby
my really old cat went missing for two weeks once
somebody kindly picked him up and took him to animal sanctuary - they put ad in found col of local paper
don't give up hope

Sparklingpeaceandlovebrook · 04/04/2013 13:37

How's things dobby?

Original poster
dobby2001 · 05/04/2013 23:04

Hi folks, well it has been a real saga since we last spoke. Florrie is still not home , but we have now had Two phone calls from people saying they have spotted her in the same location. Most frustruatlingly the last one was only 10 minutes after I had arrived home form searching there Hmm . We have also had a call about a cat fitting her description about 3 roads away in the other direction, this afternoon. We went down there and happened to see a neighbour who confirmed there was an "unknown and bedraggled" cat hanging around. One of my posters was on the corner opposite her house so she has promised to call if she spots the cat again.

Given the strong possibility she is in the road the other side of the railway line to us (where we had the sighting last night) and she only seems to be there around 11.30-midnight (obviously has a routeine!) I am actually about to go round there with a tupperware of cat food to see if I can spot her/ rule out the cat concerned - yep I am going on cat stake out! Grin I may be posting from my car if it all gets a bit cold and quiet!!

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