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Original poster

My cat has gone missing.

64 replies

hiddenhome · 05/09/2013 16:07

He does go out hunting, but he loves his home too Sad

48 hours now. I can't concentrate at work and I'm trying to get someone to cover my shift tomorrow as I just don't want to see people.

Where the hell is he? I'm worried he's stuck down a rabbit hole as he goes rabbiting.

I've put leaflets through peoples doors and the local kids have been out looking. We've been out searching and driving around and everything. He could be anywhere, there's loads of fields around. It's like cat heaven, but I'm so scared that he's stuck or hurt and needs us and we're not there.

What do I do? I can cope if they're knocked down and I have a body, but this is just agony Sad My mind is racing.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 08/09/2013 01:17

God this is so awful isn't it. It's just the worst, worst feeling. I'm thinking of you and I really hope you get some good news.

MexicanHat · 08/09/2013 09:48

Thinking of you OP. It's not knowing what has happened - it's just the most horrible feeling Sad

I don't understand why the collar was taken off and left in plain sight if he was stolen. Surely they would have binned the collar? I don't know what to think. I hope you get some news soon.

chinley · 08/09/2013 11:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
hiddenhome · 08/09/2013 14:57

Thank you for everyone's kindness. I'm embarrassed about this, but my cats are my family. I don't relate well to people (apart from dh and the dcs) and my cats mean everything to me after them. I am just so unhappy and empty without a cat around the place. I try to pet my eldest cat, but she's so nasty and she just bites me. My lost cat was just such a beautiful cat and had a lovely nature. He would curl up on the sofa next to me. Dh used to sneak feed him prawns. He was doted on. I can totally understand how and why people get addicted to cats. I would have a houseful if I could. Even dh has come to love the cats and he was never a cat person. They are beautiful, meaningful creatures and brought light into my life.

Dh is talking about getting special escape proof railing stuff to put around the garden so any cat can't escape. I can't go through this again. This is the third cat I've lost - the other two were killed on the road. I should have got a female as I don't think they wander off to go hunting.

We've been out looking again, but found nothing. I think he might have been taken. One of the neighbours has told us that dogs have been stolen in the town and then the thieves claim the reward Sad Somebody must have tried to grab him to get his collar off, then remove the ID. Nobody has phoned. It's all very suspicious I think Sad I hope and pray that they're not hurting him.

OP posts:
chinley · 08/09/2013 16:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wokeupwithasmile · 08/09/2013 19:34

Fingers crossed that he comes back, I'd be going mad if my cat disappeared, no need to be embarrassed.

timtam23 · 08/09/2013 20:24

I really hope that you find out what has happened, even if it's bad news
The waiting and not knowing what has happened is awful

chickydoo · 08/09/2013 22:41

I am still crossing everything for you. It is so hard, the not knowing. Do go back and scout around for more clues. Wishing you all the best

Original poster
hiddenhome · 09/09/2013 15:16

We have come to the conclusion that he's been abducted.

My thinking is as follows:

No body - he's white and would show up easily
Nobody has seen him
He hasn't returned home
Council workers haven't picked his body up from the road
We've searched and searched and there is no sign
He didn't return home in all the rain we've just had
I don't think he's in the area any longer

I think he is still alive and that somebody from down by the river has taken him.

You can't walk down the street with a wriggling, very large and possibly biting/scratching cat. He has been put into a car in order to remove him from the area.

The only people down by that area with a car are the fishing fraternity - it's a popular fishing area. The fishing people are also down there at all hours of the day and night - I know this because my late husband used to go down there.

I think that somebody has grabbed him, bundled him into the car, removed his collar, removed the ID tube to see what his name is and then taken him home and is currently passing him off to friends and family as a stray. The discarded collar has been found by somebody and attached to the barrier for the owner (me) to find. They won't have known that it was discarded for a reason. They probably just thought it was lost.

I have reported it to the police. I have also contacted the local paper and they're going to run an article on his disappearance.

OP posts:
MissStrawberry · 09/09/2013 18:59

I am so sorry that he appears to have been stolen. There really are some vile people in the world.

If you want to say where you are I am sure there are people who will keep a look out for you.

Could you go door to door and ask? You never know he might shoot out the door when you find yourself calling his name....

Original poster
hiddenhome · 09/09/2013 19:06

MissStrawberry the town is too big and I think whoever has taken him has travelled by car. I'm worried that perhaps dog baiters have got him, but why would they remove the collar? The police said that they wouldn't go to that amount of trouble. I hope that they don't hurt him Sad

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 09/09/2013 19:16

Getting something in the paper would be your best bet. This is a truly awful situation to be in and I really hope you get some news.

MissStrawberry · 09/09/2013 19:32

I can't imagine how you are feeling but don't give up.

Paper.
Police.
Vets.
Rescue Places.
Facebook page.
Twitter.

All worth a try?

cozietoesie · 09/09/2013 19:49

hidden

I'm so sorry that he hasn't returned but the fact that you haven't found a body doesn't mean that he wasn't hit by a car, say, and then the body went.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that he returns, though. My Mum had one that returned after two or three months. Not in the greatest shape but he did return.

Original poster
hiddenhome · 09/09/2013 20:10

I'd rather he was dead than the dog baiters have got him Sad there are poachers in the area who use dogs. I think they use cats to train their dogs to be vicious and go after the rabbits.

Oh, God, my mind won't keep still. I'd rather he was dead tbh. I would be relieved if I found a body.

Why was I stupid enough to let him out. I lost two cats to the road, you'd think I would know what can happen. I was being selfish in wanting a cat. To satisfy my own selfish needs. I'm angry with myself.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 09/09/2013 20:13

It's the risk we all run hidden. Giving our love and then losing them.

He would have had a very happy life with you. You'll wish that it could have been longer but he would still have enjoyed what he had.

Lovethesea · 09/09/2013 20:16

It's not your fault. Cats need homes as much as you wanted a cat in your life. Rescues are full of cats waiting for a chance and others being put down as they are just too unlikely to be rehomed.

I totally understand wanting to know and prefering to know he is dead than possibly suffering. But he is also possibly being looked after by someone and fed and content in a confused cat way.

No point dwelling on the worst case when he could be fine.

Do what you can and then breathe. None of this is your fault. It just is a thing that is.

Original poster
hiddenhome · 09/09/2013 20:22

Yes, I hope he's being looked after. My dark thoughts have only appeared after receiving an email from the bloke at the anglers club who said that there were 'two legged scum' around. I think he was trying to reassure me that my cat hadn't been attacked by mink Confused Only from a man eh? Hmm

It's at times like this that I can't stand people and just want to curl up in a corner. If it's this bad over a pet, how the heck do people who've had their loved ones go missing, cope?

OP posts:
timtam23 · 09/09/2013 21:46

hidden I am so sorry

I hope the local press report brings some new information for you

grants1000 · 09/09/2013 22:09

I'm really sorry about your cat. It's so hard for you, but they want to be outside, it's natural for them, so don't blame yourself. Thanks Hmm

MexicanHat · 10/09/2013 07:55

Gutted for you OP Sad

You have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. I agree that getting something in your local paper is a good way to get some answers.

Something happened to some swans and their babies in my village recently, you just can't believe that people can do these things - why??

Original poster
hiddenhome · 11/09/2013 11:13

A lady has just phoned to say she found the collar and attached it to the barrier. The ID tag was definitely attached to the collar when she put it there, so it must have been removed afterwards.

It's looking more likely that he's been attacked by another animal, the collar has come off and he's run off somewhere and is too scared to venture home.

He would have avoided humans so I don't think he's been abducted.

OP posts:
MissStrawberry · 11/09/2013 11:23

I am so sorry you still don't know what has happened to him Sad.

MexicanHat · 11/09/2013 11:25

I think you can take some positives from this OP.

No body has been found - he sounds like a distinctive cat and he has been chipped. Plus the ID tag was attached when the collar was found - if someone has taken it off since it's likely they have taken it to use for their own pet who already has a collar.

How widespread are the posters and leaflets you've distributed? He could well be living at someone's house and being looked after.

Original poster
hiddenhome · 11/09/2013 15:15

The posters are mainly around the area where he went missing. There is a lot of parkland and woods around here so he could be hiding out. I am worried that he's injured but he's in good health generally. I will expand the posters to the park and beyond.

OP posts: