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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

Another missing cat thread :-(

34 replies

happymummy2010 · 29/04/2013 18:15

We rehomed a cat 6 weeks ago and he settled in well. He started exploring our garden 2 weeks ago and always came back when we called him or shook his box of food. We always made sure he didn't go out at night
. Last night however he went out at 7pm and hasn't come home since.

My husband has spent all day searching for him with no luck. My 9yr old DS is devastated.

Mikey the cat is microchipped and was wearing a collar with a disc with my phone number on.. But he is nowhere to be seen. He was neutered at Battersea before we rehomed him.

We have asked all our neighbours but no one has seen him. I'm a bit worried he may have been Hurt by a fox.. How likely is that to have happened ?

Any other suggestions or ideas of what we can do to find him ?

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 29/04/2013 18:22

First of all forget about foxes. They have been known to attack adult cats, but it's so rare it's not worth considering. They are really only a threat to small kittens.

The chances are he's just having a good explore and will be home soon. Do you have a catflap? If not then make sure you leave food outside during the day so he knows where he lives and it will encourage him back.

And you say you've spoken to neighbours, but it's worth doing loads of leaflets and putting them through letterboxes - at least 100 I would say. Also a few on lamp posts. But may be leave it another 24 hours before you do that as he will probably just turn up.

And don't forget to ask people on the leaflets to check their sheds/garages.

Good luck.

Original poster
happymummy2010 · 29/04/2013 18:27

Hi.. Thanks for your reply. Mikey is 1 year old.. So do you still think the foxes would have left him alone ?

We don't have a cat flap fitted. I had bought the cat flap and was going to arrange to get it fitted this week...

Can't believe how upset we all are over this and we have only had him 7 weeks tomorrow Hmm

Will try and get some posters done.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 29/04/2013 18:49

I'm sure the foxes will leave him alone.

I know it's awful isn't it, but I'm sure you'll find him. It's very common for cats to spend a couple of days exploring when they're new to an area.

Sparklingbrook · 29/04/2013 18:55

happy the cats are really testing us at the moment. i think it's the nice weather. My neighbour's cat went on a jolly, and Sparkling Cat's routine is all over the place, and she'e getting into fights. Hmm

Make sure you tell the postman/binmen and any local children who can all look out for him. Leaflets asking people to check sheds/garages.

Fingers crossed Mikey returns very soon.

Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2013 07:08

Hi happy. Hows things?

Original poster
happymummy2010 · 30/04/2013 07:12

Still no sign of him....Hmm

The food we left out last night has been eaten but I doubt whether it was Mikey who ate it.

My DH will have another look round today.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2013 07:16

Sad The feeling when they do this is just horrible. keeping fingers firmly crossed that he's back soon. x

QueenStromba · 30/04/2013 10:11

Mikey would have been at Battersea at the same time as my girl - we got her on the 9th of March. I'm sure he'll turn up, definitely ask all of your neighbours to check their sheds and garages.

Original poster
happymummy2010 · 30/04/2013 14:03

We collected Mikey from Battersea on March 20th so he may have been there the same time as your cat.

Still no sign of him Hmm

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2013 15:22

Sad Have you put any posters up yet or any leaflets round? Phoned all the local vets/cat rescues?

Original poster
happymummy2010 · 30/04/2013 15:31

I haven't phoned the vets or rescue centres because I thought if he was taken in or found they world be able to contact me as he is microchipped. Is it still worth phoning around ?

I have designed a poster and just need to get some photo copies. His photo doesn't come out very clear on the photo copies though. Because we only had him for a short period we don't have many photos.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2013 15:33

When mine went missing I rang them sort of to alert them IYKWIM. So if one matching the description came in they would know, but they will contact you once they scan.

Do the rescue have any photos left?

QueenStromba · 30/04/2013 15:50

I'm sure if you give Battersea a call they'll be happy to email you some pics of him. They might also be able to advise you on the best way to search for him. It's also worth asking them where he lived before - if it's not too far from you he might have ended up back there.

Original poster
happymummy2010 · 30/04/2013 16:08

My DH has a photo on his phone we can use, so hopefully we can get some posters done tomorrow.

I just hope he is ok and just having a wonder around and not lying somewhere injured or locked on a shed.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 30/04/2013 17:16

That's a good point QS. Hadn't even thought of him trying to find his original home.

QueenStromba · 30/04/2013 21:01

It's definitely a possibility especially since he wasn't neutered before he went to Battersea. Unneutered toms roam quite far so he could have easily gone out on Sunday, had a bit of a wander, found a place he knew and gone back to his original home from there.

Original poster
happymummy2010 · 01/05/2013 07:29

Still no sign of him... I have uploaded a photo of Mikey onto my profile. My DS is so upset he spent much of the day at school yesterday crying Hmm

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 01/05/2013 07:31

Oh happy (((hugs))). Today is a new day, and it is still early days. Keep looking and spreading the word, and hopefully there will be news soon. x

joey99 · 01/05/2013 10:15

Ah sorry to hear he isn't home yet. If it is any consolation our old cat who never ventured anywhere once went missing for 2 days and came home grubby and greasy like a sheep with a sore paw so she had obviously been shut in somebody's garage or something and trying to scratch her way out. It is the time of year people are in their gardens so could well be what has happened and fingers crossed he'll be home soon

Sparklingbrook · 01/05/2013 16:47

Just checking back in to say thinking of you happy.

Original poster
happymummy2010 · 01/05/2013 18:10

Thank you. Have printed 100 posters today so will be putting them up in the local area and posting through doors later tonight.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 01/05/2013 18:12

That's great. hopefully someone will have some info.

Original poster
happymummy2010 · 01/05/2013 18:39

Just had a call.. Someone has found him GrinGrin

On my way to collect him now... Will be back later....

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 01/05/2013 18:40

OMG that is the best news. Yay!! Phew.

QueenStromba · 01/05/2013 19:08

Brilliant news!