Cat gone.

[Notfootball]

I think I'm looking for reassurance really.

I have 6 month old brother and sister who I've been introducing to the big outdoors. They rarely leave the decking and are out for less than an hour but after the school run, I came home to find a garden confrontation with one of the local big cats and my two. I was watching carefully to allow them to do their thing when DS shouted at our cats to hide. Well Bluefootball did and disappeared rapidly under the decking just as another large neighbourhood cat arrived on the scene. 2nd big cat had a nosey under the decking then both big ones wandered off. My tortie ran inside but Bluefootball hasn't been seen since; that was 2 hours ago.

Has anyone else had their young cats become scared and hide, only to return hours later? This is so out of character for him as he's usually the one to stay by the door when I open it and I'm wondering if he is actually coming back.

I'm sure he'll come back. But how do you know he isn't still under the decking? And I'm assuming they're both neutered?

We're having work done on our house and my 11 month old kitten who is normally in and out all day (more in than out!) keeps going off for hours. I do worry that she's not coming back but she does…

Hope Bluefootball is back now and tucking into his dinner

thecatneuterer oh yes! I'm a very responsible cat owner and they were neutered a month ago . I'm only guessing that he's under the decking, I can't imagine where else he'd go. Just checked with the neighbours and went to our nearby park but nothing.

Just checking:) as of course unneutered males are very likely indeed to go missing.

So you think he's still under there? Is there a lot of decking? Can you shine a torch under there and have a look?

He has just come out, 4 hours later and he was indeed under the decking. He obviously liked it under there. Whilst he was gone, his tortie sister was in petting heaven and thoroughly enjoyed all the attention lavished on her, I think she like being a temporary only!

I'm glad. Did he get a taste treat for returning?

It would be spider/insect heaven under decking though.

Maybe even small rodent heaven. Has he got a full-looking belly, OP?

He does love a spider! He wolfed down his dinner and I gave him some chicken for returning. I'd better get used to his disappearances, I sometimes forget he's a cat.

Well I wish I could tell you that it gets easier - but it doesn't really. Or not a whole lot. They develop a routine (always in by 18.30 for tea, say) and if they're late much past their 'normal' time, you start to pace a tad.

If there are some mean cats on the block, have you thought of getting a microchip cat flap so that either of them could dive into the house for safety if they saw the opposition?

Cozie we are looking at that sureflap(?) and will get one. I think Pinkfootball actually enjoyed fronting up to the big cats, she's a feisty little thing.

Sureflap is the one used by most posters. They seem to be very good.

How did I know (before I looked back on the thread) that Pinkfootball was a tortie !