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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.

Original poster

Haven't seen our boy since 6pm on Sunday...

32 replies

littlemrschatterbox · 01/04/2014 07:48

He's only normally out for a few hours at a time. He's 11 and we've had him for four years. He has a completely relaxed life (no kids or dogs) and nothing has changed for him to do a runner.

What can I do?! I had a good drive/walk around last night but no luck.

Feeling very upset as DH is away next week for two weeks so if he doesn't come back I really will be on my own... Sad

OP posts:
AnotherSpinningFuckingRainbow · 01/04/2014 08:00

I feel your pain. Our boy went out last Tuesday night and hasn't been seen since. Things we have tried:

  • putting up posters with a recent photo and description; *posting on all the local Facebook groups, especially the pets/ cat lovers pages; *phoning the local rescue centres, leaving a description and contact number; *walking around any likely areas. Good luck, I hope he comes back soon.
Original poster
littlemrschatterbox · 01/04/2014 08:18

Thank you, sorry to hear your puss is missing too.

Going to do a leaflet drop later if he isn't back. Bin day today as well so I am going to call the council shortly. Just hope he is safe somewhere.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 01/04/2014 09:28

Fingers crossed for both your lads.

timtam23 · 01/04/2014 09:47

Oh I am so sorry both of you. This time last week I was absolutely devastated as my little cat had not come home (see the "Dudley is missing" thread on here). He did come back in the end, after 3 nights away, but the waiting was awful and I cried a lot, thinking that he'd been killed.

I did: leaflet drop in about 5 streets round about; phoned local vets to report him missing; neighbours put a pic & description on Twitter/Facebook; put pic/description on 2 national "missing pet" websites; DH & I walked around and around the local area several times day & night, shaking a box of food & calling him; I sent a group email to the parents in DS1's class asking them to keep an eye out; also phoned the 2 local councils to ask if they'd had any dead cats reported (they were both really really kind & sensitive to my fragile state)

I phoned the microchip company to report him as missing - they also said to ask the postman & milkman if they'd seen anything but my cat came back before I managed to do that.

Not sure if any of that helped but I did find it kept my mind occupied

Good luck and I do hope that both cats come home

timtam23 · 01/04/2014 09:49

Also should add that I think my boy had been shut in somewhere as he was clean & dry (it had rained a lot in the days he was away) - I asked everyone to check sheds/garages in case he'd been locked in

AnotherSpinningFuckingRainbow · 01/04/2014 19:20

How did it go today littlemrs?

Original poster
littlemrschatterbox · 01/04/2014 20:53

Thank you cosietose and timtam. I'm so pleased your cat came home. I did read your thread. It's a horrid feeling, isn't it?

No sign here. We're on the edge of a village and back onto woodland so went for a good long walk in the woods when DH got back from work. He's printed some leaflets so I am going to post those through doors tomorrow.

How about you, Rainbow? Any luck?

I spoke to a friend this morning who is a very wise owl and she said that's it's very likely that he is either locked in a shed or has been distracted by all the baby rabbits and other things out there and has decided to go AWOL. Just hope she is right...

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 01/04/2014 20:58

People are opening sheds with some signs of the beginning of spring - and then quickly shutting them again and going for cuppas. And I think you said he went missing on a Sunday? (That's a gardening day.) I reckon he's shut in a shed somewhere.

Original poster
littlemrschatterbox · 01/04/2014 21:33

Yeah, he does love an open door too!

Will resume the search tomorrow. I doubt he is going to turn up tonight.

OP posts:
moonbells · 01/04/2014 22:55

Hope all the little missing curious cats come home as soon as they're able. It's times like this I'm glad my shed has a normal catflap in it!

timtam23 · 01/04/2014 23:40

Sorry to hear no sign of him yet. Definitely get as many people as possible to check their sheds & garages. I spent most of last Wednesday evening leafletting about 200 houses round here - may have been overkill but then again, he came back in the early hours of the following morning so maybe someone saw the leaflet, checked their shed and there he was...we shall never know!

If it helps, I had so many people (on here and in real life) tell me stories of their cats who'd gone missing and eventually found their way home again - it gave me some hope that mine would come back in the end. As did phoning the councils, as it seems that they do try as best they can to identify dead cats and notify the owner. When they told me there were no reports of dead cats near me, I felt more positive that he was alive & well and still out on the prowl somewhere

I remembered one other thing the microchip people said - put something outside which smells of him (they said some old cat litter, or one of his toys or a blanket he'd slept on) - as their sense of smell is so good and it may help to guide them home if they're lost somewhere. Had mine not come back, I was going to hang his blanket on the washing line for a few days.
Also if any new builds or conversions going on in your village - maybe speak to the builders in case he is shut in there (lady down the road rang me last week to say this had happened to her cat)

cozietoesie · 01/04/2014 23:47

It happened to a poster on this board as well - in high summer so her cat was very very lucky being shut in in the high heat last year.

Original poster
littlemrschatterbox · 02/04/2014 07:06

Thanks everyone. Going to knock on some doors this morning. I am thankful that the weather is pretty mild - not too cold and not too hot!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 02/04/2014 07:06

Good luck.

FairPhyllis · 02/04/2014 13:56

If it has been warmer recently where you are he may just be off enjoying the joys of spring.

AnotherSpinningFuckingRainbow · 02/04/2014 16:59

How's the search, littlemrs? Any joy?

I've been leafletting the houses in nearby streets, and spoken to a few of the people walking around who said they'd keep an eye out and call me if they see any sign of him. Had a sighting last night, went out to have a look at the cat but unfortunately wasn't mine. I think FairPhyllis has a point, they are probably out having nice holidays, oblivious to us fretting away at home!

Original poster
littlemrschatterbox · 02/04/2014 17:44

Sorry to hear you are still looking, Another. Sad

I knocked on doors and leafleted houses this morning. He's quite distinctive and no one has seen him which confirms our suspicions that he doesn't go very far!

Going out again to do the other side of the street when DH gets home.

Feel a bit down today. Woods on the back of our house go on for miles. It just feels like he could be anywhere. I finished work on Monday and I was really looking forward to some cat time!

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 02/04/2014 18:44

Sorry to hear that littlemrs. Our fingers are crossed here for the boy.

Fluffycloudland77 · 02/04/2014 20:57

Don't give up, keep calling & putting food down for him. If I want mine in I leave a plate of food out so he can see it from the flap.

timtam23 · 02/04/2014 20:58

Sorry to hear neither of the cats are back yet

Hang on in there both of you

Original poster
littlemrschatterbox · 02/04/2014 21:39

Thanks everyone. Smile

OP posts:
timtam23 · 03/04/2014 21:54

Any news littlemrs and Another?

HarpyFishwifeTwat · 04/04/2014 10:22

Fingers crossed for littlemrs and Another. Hopefully your wanderers return soon.

Original poster
littlemrschatterbox · 04/04/2014 14:41

No, still nothing here. Sad

I really hope he is having a great adventure. Just trying to stay positive. DH is really upset.

OP posts:
maybeIwillmaybeIwont · 04/04/2014 15:07

Ah, no. I was hoping all missing cats would now be home, but in the great scheme of things it is still early days. They are so resilient, so 'walking in as if nothing had happened', so loved, they WILL be back!

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