It's far too soon to worry - tell me to get a grip

[ThistledownAndCobweb]

This morning we let our newest cat out for the first time.

He's a stray who turned up six weeks ago in an awful state - skin and bones, starving, bedraggled and un-nuttered.

Four weeks ago we caught him,took him to the vets where he was vaccinated, neutered and treated for various ailments. We did check he wasn't chipped, and no one local claimed him, someone thought he may have been turfed out of a car. We're very rural so he may have been a farm cat who took off.

On the vets advice he was kept in to recover. Today he had the all clear and was let out.

He had a meander round the garden, interacted with the other cats and then buggered off - I think he went across a field.

We haven't seen hide nor hair of him since about 11am.

He's used to being fed at 4pm so I assumed he'd come back for that but he hasn't.

I know it's too soon to worry but I hope he comes back - DH said he might have gone looking for his previous home.

I hope he's just enjoying his freedom, but I wish he'd pop back home to reassure me!

It's summer and outside is much more interesting than it was a few months back - he may eve be on a hunt or something. I know it's unsettling but - keep calm. (And plan a real tasty treat when he returns.)

Thank you, of course you are right.

You'd think as a veteran cat owner I would know this - if it were someone else's cat I'd be saying exactly what you just said - because he's mine I'm being completely irrational and angsty.

Poor Tubby-Tabby has been looking for him. He's a lovely boy who never leaves his garden!

It's always the same, I'm afraid. Even with experienced, mature cats who know their local area, you get edgy when they vary from their routine - don't come back spot on for their supper, say.

I'm afraid there's no solution if you have an outside-going cat.

Don't worry, he's probably hunting. He's got a lot of catching up to do.

Keep calling him.

Thank you.
No sign yet. I've been out calling and rattling my bag of cat crack Dreamies.
I managed to get the attention of all my other three cats!

DH who isn't worried at all just happened to take a stroll around the field bordering the garden. He's also prepared him a big bowl of food.

DH has pointed out that when missing cat first appeared all scrawny and hungry it was always late at night.

It's started to rain now so perhaps that'll bring him back.

Best of luck. Let us know when he turns up.

Any news?

Hope he's returned overnight.

He came back, at 4am.
Little dog came up and woke me and when I went down the cat was sat on the windowsill.
He ate a huge bowl of food and fell deeply asleep.

I guess I have to accept he's going to be a 'hotel cat'. Coming and going as he pleases.

My other three are real stay at homes, two of them don't leave the garden and the third only goes into the neighbouring field. It's been a while since we've had a wanderer.

I think I was more worried because it was his first time out, in case he didn't return at all!

Thank you all for listening and stopping me panicking too much.

Little blighter! And you actually kept admirably calm considering the circumstances - even your DH was a bit (secretly) anxious from what you said before.

DH is now saying maybe he should be kept in to recuperate for a bit longer! So yes, I think you are right he was anxious.

We're a pair of fools, in the past when a cat has been late home we take it in turns to appear not to be worried, but just happen to spend the evening going in and out for casual, non cat seeking walks

The good thing is he came home to us, so hopefully he views this as his home.
Next time it happens I'll be much less worried ...

Yes - that's quite a big reassurance with a new cat.

(Is DH calling him 'My Boy' yet? That's always fateful.)

You've done a lovely thing taking him in but it sounds like he's a very independent boy ,I think you will have to get used to worrying times ahead when he goes walkabout .

I'm glad he's back!

I get hysterical if mine don't come back when I call, and they only go as far as the bush opposite the house! Cats bring out the helicopter parent in all of us I think.

It also, like you said, depends on what you're used to. I used to have a lovely great big brute who patrolled for miles and went off for days at a time touring his kingdom. I never worried. But when you've got homebody cats it's panic stations if you can't see them right away!

Lovely to hear he's back

My young cat went walkabout for 3 nights recently and I was beside myself with worry (there is a massive thread on here about it!)

I agree with Blithereens it's definitely worse if you have other non-wandering cats - my other cat is old and blind so only potters around and no longer leaves the yard, it's been a few years since I had to worry about cats staying out late!

casual, non cat seeking walks

You should do casual, non cat seeking walks together. Two pairs of eyes are better than one when your not looking for a cat.

The latest our cat stayed out was 4am, dh woke me to tell me he was back. I'm not a morning person.

I would have felt the same despite years of cat ownership. Wordy snuffle boy escaped on his first evening with me before he even had a name. Barged thru a closed cat flap! I was utterly heartbroken and wandered the streets convinced he was gone- especially as I live in a very unusual hillside town where it's next to impossible to sort which back of a house belongs to which front. He worked it out - jumping down a series of obstacles into my yard and back through the broken cat flap. I luffs him :) so glad your hew boy came home!

The little bugger bit me hard tonight when I was giving him a tickle while DH prepared his tea!
I had to remind myself how pleased I was to have him back.

Wordsaremything, what a clever puss you have.