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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

New cat completely vanished

47 replies

lifeissweet · 27/09/2013 20:43

I was given a cat by a friend yesterday. We have wanted one for ages and this cat was being rehoused having been displaced when his owners got 3(!) new dogs.

Last night, he was delivered. I put him in the end of the kitchen with a bed, a tray and some food. I thought he would hide overnight and take a long time to settle, but within a couple of hours he came into the living room miaowing loudly, tail in the air, rubbing against my legs for a fuss. He's lovely! I thought it was great that he was settling so soon.

This morning, I came downstairs to find he'd eaten all of his food and used his tray (good sign, i thought)

However, there's no sign of him anywhere. I figured he was probably hiding from the noise of the DC this morning, so put down some more food and went to work. When I got back, the food was still all there, there's no evidence of tray use and no sign of the cat.

Now I'm really worried. We've wracked our brains, but no external doors or windows have been open since he was here (unless we were walking through the doors - so we would have noticed an escape), I have looked in every tiny, dark, hidey hole I can think of, but he just seems to have disappeared.

He will come back out, won't he? Where could he be?! Should I look outside even though I can't imagine how he would have got out there? I feel like I'm going a bit mad!

It just seems odd that he was so confident yesterday and now has completely disappeared.

I will be so, so sad if doesn't come back and my DS will be devastated. Just reassure me that he hasn't left us!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 27/09/2013 20:48

Do a fingertip search (shutting doors behind you) all over again. They can hide in the most extraordinary places. Is he a kitten or a full grown cat?

cozietoesie · 27/09/2013 20:50

PS - is he used to going out and how old are the DCs? I wouldn't put it past children or young adults to let a cat out of the door if it was yeowling by it - and then to fib about it afterwards, I'm afraid.

Original poster

lifeissweet · 27/09/2013 20:51

He's about 2, but quite petite. On the day my friend brought him round they had had a scare when they thought they'd lost him, but found him squeezed behind the stereo speaker, so he has form.

I'm just panicking a bit!

OP posts:

Original poster

lifeissweet · 27/09/2013 20:54

DC are 1 and 8. I have quizzed the 8 year old, but he can't open either door. I asked him about windows. But he promises he didn't open any and hasn't seen the cat at all today. To be fair, I believe him. He was desperate to see the cat this morning and was asking where he was. He was upset when I said he was hiding. I can't bear the thought that he's escaped and it does seen unlikely.

OP posts:

difficultpickle · 27/09/2013 20:58

Have you looked under sofas, armchairs etc. It is surprising where they can get.

cozietoesie · 27/09/2013 20:59

Okey cokey. Search the house then - and this time do an inch by inch search, particularly if he has form. You may think you looked thoroughly before but believe me, it's entirely possible to overlook something.

If he's not been around all day, that's a bit more worrying because it likely means he's stuck somewhere (think chimneys if you have any?) but you'd best make certain of the house first before going outside.

Is he chipped and used to being outside? (If he has managed to get out.)

smokinaces · 27/09/2013 21:00

My very big fat cat did the same thing when I got him. One time he was squished behind the fridge freezer. The second he was curled up in the pedestal under the sink and almost impossible to find! Took me hours, and I was home alone!

123bucklemyshoe · 27/09/2013 21:01

Look everywhere...they can get in the most unlikely places. I once found my cat in the fridge...It was the last place I looked after I had tried everywhere else...he was fine! It is quite common for them to find a hiding place in the first few days until they get the hang of things. Fingers crossed you find the cat.

Original poster

lifeissweet · 27/09/2013 21:03

Thanks for your help. He's not chipped. I was going to get it done this weekend. Thanks for the advice. I'm off to hunt...

OP posts:

17leftfeet · 27/09/2013 21:03

Mine have squeezed down the side of the washing machine and behind the kitchen units once

It is amazing where they can get to

Lovethesea · 27/09/2013 21:04

Mine hide in wardrobes, boxes, under the double bed by climbing into the underbed drawers then over the back of them into the tiny space under the bed that is not the fitted drawers.

That took ages to crack.

In a box of clothes on top of a wardrobe.

Any of those worth a shot?

hillyhilly · 27/09/2013 21:04

Hope he's just sleeping somewhere, try putting some tuna out for him, maybe the smell would entice him out?

cozietoesie · 27/09/2013 21:06

The fridge ?

Dear Goodness.

Original poster

lifeissweet · 27/09/2013 21:06

Thanks everyone, you're making me feel loads better. I will try everywhere you say...room by room and then, if still no luck, I will have to hope he just pops up again. I'm so sure he can't have got out that I'll leave phoning round and hunting outside for a little while yet. Thanks again

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 27/09/2013 21:07

Off you go and hunt.

123bucklemyshoe · 27/09/2013 21:09

Yes...my mother had opened the door and left it open - he must have climbed in and it closed behind him....he wasn't in there that long!

Mogz · 27/09/2013 21:09

Have you got a fireplace? I've known cats who will try to make a break for it up a chimney because they can see daylight out of it.

Rikalaily · 27/09/2013 21:11

One of my boys loves the coat cupboard in the front porch, only know he's in there because the door will be open when it shouldn't. Can't see him when he's in there, I have to feel around to find him. Little buggers can't half get into small spaces.

Hope he turns up soon.

givemushypeasachance · 27/09/2013 21:12

My parents have a sofa that reclines and when they got a pair of new cats that seemed to have disappeared the next morning they were eventually found to be hiding inside the sofa reclining mechanism - they can get into amazingly small spaces and often like to hide inaccessibly because that's where they feel safest. Good luck with your search!

FiveHoursSleep · 27/09/2013 21:12

We've 'lost' cats up the chimney, right at the back on the computer in the recess for the desktop tower and in the lining of sofas and chairs.
They all came out eventually.

MrsSchadenfreude · 27/09/2013 21:17

One of our cats is known as Elastichead Pussy because she can squeeze into the smallest spaces and through the smallest gaps.

MrsSchadenfreude · 27/09/2013 21:18

Try looking under a chest of drawers - yes, that one with the impossibly small gap under it. There will probably be two large eyes staring at you from underneath.

Putitonthelist · 27/09/2013 21:36

My cat goes missing inside the house sometimes and I still have no idea where she goes!!

I've found her behind the plinth in the kitchen, in a Hessian bag under DDs bed and inside the sofa bed.

Hope you find him soon!

TheWinterOne · 27/09/2013 21:39

Hope you find him soon. They're bloody good hiders when they want to be. I'm another one who's went hiding behind the fridge. They can squeeze in the most unlikeliest of places.

DearlyDepartedMrsFinch · 27/09/2013 21:42

We found our kitten in a dressing gown pocket once (hanging on the back of a door).

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