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Original poster

BOTH cats missing within 24 hours?

33 replies

DrLizAsher · 03/12/2014 14:40

Hi, I'm a fairly regular poster but namechanged as this is very identifying!

I'm heartbroken - both my cats have gone missing within 24 hours. One left after breakfast on Monday morning, the other did the same on Tuesday and I've not seen anything of them since. We left the catflap open overnight but their food hasn't been touched. The house feels so empty without them, I'm starting to realise they're missing and have called the vets, chip company, knocked for neighbours etc.

One of them has been missing for the odd night before but usually at this time of year they're in the warm and hassling me for their dinner by about 4pm. I just can't work out how they can both be missing, it keep thinking to myself 'to lose one cat may be regarded as misfortune, to lose 2 looks like carelessness' and I keep wondering what I've done wrong. Nothing has changed at home that I can think of!

Any advice or words of comfort would be very appreciated.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 03/12/2014 16:36

Have you put it on facebook spotted and done posters?. If their insured you might be covered for printing lost notices.

fenneltea · 03/12/2014 17:12

Animal search uk is a good website that has volunteers keeping an eye out for missing pets. Hopefully yours will turn up soon, it is so traumatic when they go missing.

Madcats · 03/12/2014 19:18

Oh goodness, you must be feeling very worried at the moment. It could be that cat 2 has gone looking for cat 1? I feel fairly confident that it's nothing that you've done!

One of our cats has a habit of getting locked in garages and sheds (as well as wandering off for a day or 2 each Autumn...every Autumn). He is a heavy sleeper, so we found it best to go out calling him at supper time. Most recently one of our new neighbours put netting over fencing (presumably to keep cats out!) and our cat couldn't figure out how to get home. Our cats are good at yowling, but some aren't. I happily let neighbours check my garden for wayward cats; I am sure most people do.

I don't want to worry you unnecessarily, but our local newspaper (Somerset) reported a sudden spate of unexplained cat disappearances in a neighbouring town this summer.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Original poster
DrLizAsher · 03/12/2014 19:25

Oh God madcats we're west wilts, on the Somerset border. I can't say it hadn't crossed my mind. Where was it? Feel sick thinking about it. They are cuddly at home but won't fraternise with strangers outside so I hope they wouldn't be an easy target.

fluffy what is Facebook spotted? I tried to google, if it's what I think my local one is pretty inactive and not been used since April.

fenneltea I'll look up animal search now.

OP posts:
Original poster
DrLizAsher · 03/12/2014 19:30

Oh my God I just found this. think I'm going to be sick www.bathchronicle.co.uk/24-cats-missing-month/story-24201246-detail/story.html

OP posts:
Original poster
DrLizAsher · 03/12/2014 19:31

We live V close to here

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 03/12/2014 19:40

Oh god, those poor cats.

I'd report it to the police.

Thumbcat · 03/12/2014 19:41

How awful for you. I hope they stroll back in this evening without a care in the world.

It doesn't seem from the artical that there's any concrete reason to believe that's why they're disappearing.

FiveHoursSleep · 03/12/2014 19:47

That's awful. I hope they both wander in tonight wondering what the fuss is about.

Original poster
DrLizAsher · 03/12/2014 19:53

Thanks very much. I joined the Facebook group and they seem lovely and not all scaremonger-y. We're a few miles away so have calmed down a bit. I suppose you tend to just imagine the worst when you don't know.

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CurlyhairedAssassin · 03/12/2014 19:54

Oh that Bath chronicle article is horrible. Let's hope it's nothing like that. Although there was something on the news about the dangers of putting anti-freeze in garden water features and fountains - cats drink from it and it can then kill them as you probably know.

I would ask all the neighbours not only if anyone has seen the cats but also if they have a water feature.

Fingers crossed it's nothing bad.

Original poster
DrLizAsher · 03/12/2014 20:01

People don't tend to have water features here as not many gardens but it's worth thinking about thanks curly. If they're dead that's it and I'll have to grieve and move on but not knowing is horrible.

OP posts:
chockbic · 03/12/2014 20:38

Could they have gone off for a jaunt together.

Perhaps contact local vets and the police.

Must be so worrying Flowers

timtam23 · 03/12/2014 20:38

It's awful not knowing isn't it. I really hope you have some good news soon. My cat disappeared this spring during a spell of really cold wet weather and I did fear the worst, imagining him lying injured somewhere. Fortunately we had a happy ending as he turned up none the worse for his experience, & I had so much support on here which was very comforting at the time. Fingers crossed for your two.

Marmaladecat1 · 03/12/2014 20:57

Sorry have nothing helpful to add but hoping for good news, fingers crossed they come back safe and sound

Original poster
DrLizAsher · 04/12/2014 05:42

One of them is home! Such a relief. Just crossing fingers for the other now but I'm less worried he's been catnapped. Thanks for all the kind words.

OP posts:
PedantMarina · 04/12/2014 05:56

Good to hear, and hope you're getting lots of fuss off that naughty stop-out.

Andthen · 04/12/2014 06:23

So pleased one is back op. Keeping everything crossed for the second.

Original poster
DrLizAsher · 04/12/2014 07:20

He's currently snoozing under the bed, safely out of reach of the toddler but I will be submitting him to a lot of cuddles later! Thanks again for the moral support!

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Fluffycloudland77 · 04/12/2014 07:59

Thank god for that.

If it was me, after reading that article, they'd be house cats.

Lets hope the other one rocks up today.

Thumbcat · 04/12/2014 08:04

Glad you have one back. Hope the second one follows soon.

Original poster
DrLizAsher · 04/12/2014 09:58

fluffy I'd love to keep them in but I can't, they would absolutely hate it. They're both big boys and just love being outside. We're right on the endge of town so have a big garden, fields out the back and a stables next door where they're very welcome as they keep the vermin down, so day to day life is pretty safe for them...just when they wander too far it's trouble!

Just been out postering and a lady says she thinks she saw the other one in her garden a few roads down this week so am crossing fingers. The other boy is still chilling under the bed and shows no signs of wanting to come out - think he's scared himself!

OP posts:
Original poster
DrLizAsher · 04/12/2014 15:58

Sad news I'm afraid. My neighbours just knocked, they found him in their garden, he'd been hit by a car. I think the other cat was missing as he was watching over his brother overnight. I've brought him back and buried him in the garden with his favourite toy. Feel pretty sad but it looks like he was hit in the head so hope it was fairly quick and at least we know and can say goodbye. Thanks again for all the lovely words.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 04/12/2014 16:01

I'm so sorry - but perhaps a little bit of a relief for you that you actually know what happened to him.

chockbic · 04/12/2014 16:16

Oh bless that is sad.