When do you stop looking for a lost cat?

[deedeelondon]

My beloved cat went missing two weeks ago, and I am in agony - I miss her so much and have been searching for her day and night ever since. I can think of nothing else. I have put up posters, posted flyers through doors, called all the vets and cat rescue charities in the area, knocked on doors and combed a two mile area on foot, calling for her and looking under bushes and cars. You hear stories of cats returning home months or even years after disappearing, but I know they are few and far between. How long before you give up hope and accept that you have to move on?

[dobby2001]

Deedee, I am sorry to hear about your cat. I thought you might like to see my thread from last year which hopefully might help to reassure you that sometimes out cats are found, and perhaps give you some ideas where to look. As you will read our cat was very close in fact to our home'
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/1718121-Cat-missing-what-next

[AmeliaPeabody]

I hope your cat turns up for you, Deedee. And it is early days. Its sounds like you've done all the right things. Local newspapers usually have a lost and found section if you could check there daily (or even online).

I thought I'd given up on one of my cats who went missing some years ago. But (funnily enough) last week, late at night, we heard a cat at the front door and I immediately thought of our long missing cat and called her name at the door. Sadly it wasn't her, but I surprised myself in thinking it still might be after all this time.

[deedeelondon]

dobby just read your thread from last year - so happy that you got your cat back. My Evie is from Celia Hammond too! I have been in touch with her and she sent me a lovely email with lots of tips on finding a lost cat. I'm going out to put more posters out today... My biggest fear is that she is trapped somewhere. We have had lots of calls, but all so far have been false alarms, as there seem to be so many similar looking cats in that ar Can I ask( as you got your cat from Celia Hammond) are you in the East London area?

[fenneltea]

I really hope you have some good news soon. x

[deedeelondon]

Thanks fenneltea and everyone else for all their support

[thecatneuterer]

Deedee. I'm from CHAT and I'm in East London. Where exactly has she gone missing from? Also are you a member of Streetlife? If not join up and post on there too.

[deedeelondon]

catneuterer She went missing in Leyton, Skeltons Lane area. She was staying with a relative for a couple of nights whilst we were having work done on the house. She somehow managed to escape. She doesn't know the area. Yes I have posted on Streetlife. We got her and her sister from Celia when they were 8 weeks old.

[dobby2001]

Hi DeeDee. Our cats came from the Lewisham branch. CHAT are so lovely and helpful. Really hope you find your kitty x

[LoopyLa]

I feel your pain OP. My boycat went missing in early August, very unlike him as he wasn't very brave when it came to the outdoors. We did everything you did and I registered on Animal Search & national Missing Cats Register. I still check them both every few days & have joined several groups on Facebook that help reunite lost/found pets. I'm still paying out for insurance but will have to cancel it in the new year sadly.

Just wanted to say good luck really, hope she comes back soon x

[deedeelondon]

Loopya thank you - same to you . I'm just about to print out another batch of flyers. I'm convinced someone has taken her in thinking she's stray. I had another false alarm last night and had my hopes built up - it's hard to cope with the disappointment, but at least people are still responding to the posters.

[timtam23]

deedee I have been checking back here for news - so sorry there haven't been any positive sightings, but as you say, at least people are looking out for her

Loopy sorry to hear about your missing cat as well

[deedeelondon]

Thanks timtam I've been out all afternoon blitzing the area with flyers. Still nothing ... Feeling very down and dreading having to put on a cheerful face for Christmas

[Iwouldratherbemuckingout]

So sorry to hear this, just wanted to send you a hug and I hope she comes home soon x

[Reindeerballs]

My childhood cat went missing for around 6 months and 4 months respectively. This was pre chipping and Internet. We put flyers up everywhere. On one occasion we got him back when a bloke rescued him from some kids who had him on a chain. He asked around the local shops who knew we had lost him. The second time, he just reappeared.
Don't give up hope. I agree that someone is probably feeding him and looking after him.

[Reindeerballs]

Her, sorry.

[PTAblues]

Our cat went missing. I went a bit mad and put out loads of flyers and posters. Doesn't really do any good as if you get a call the cat has gone before you get there and they travel much further than you can imagine.

In the end he turned up months later a bit dirty. I expect he got in a van (he had previous for this) and spent 2 months getting home.

Take heart -your cat may appear back at any time and they are very resourceful.

[Legionofboom]

She is a beautiful cat deedee

PIL's cat went missing while staying a couple of nights with SIL who lived about 5 miles away. They put out posters everywhere and told everyone in the area in shops etc. Their cat was found about 6 weeks later when a lady walking her dogs in the woods heard a faint crying. She recognised the cat and took him home with her then called FIL. The cat was very thin but otherwise unharmed by his adventure.

I hope you find her soon. She is clearly very much loved.

[Legionofboom]

I meant to add that FIL was very proud that their cat was found in woodlands about half way back to their home. He was convinced the cat was slowly making his way home as per the film 'The Incredible Journey.' FIL dined out on that story for years.

[deedeelondon]

Thank you all for your support and for the encouraging stories. I have met some very kind people during my search - a lovely lady today, who has seven cats of her own, came rushing out of her house when I put a flyer through her door to give me a big hug, and to let me know that she looks out for Evie every day. I'm still hoping and praying for her return.
I know what you mean PTA about the flyers and posters, but I just want to keep her image in everyone's mind. Also I've been amazed at how many people put out food for 'strays' - she might just turn up in someones garden one day and keep coming back for food.

[thecatneuterer]

I feel fairly confident that you will get her back one day. She's chipped. It makes such a difference in these circumstances.

And flyers and posters make a huge difference. I and some of my neighbours have 'lost' a number of cats over the years. Flyers and posters were successful in getting them all back eventually.

[timtam23]

Don't give up hope deedee. I found that at least if I was posting flyers/posters, it distracted me a bit and I felt that I was doing something. It was worse if I was sitting around at home not able to settle to anything, thinking about the cat all the time and bursting into tears. Some christmas and for you

[deedeelondon]

Oh timtam that's exactly how I feel - just sitting at home crying makes me feel as if I've given up on her. At least when I'm out posting flyers and putting up posters I'm doing something positive towards getting her back.
Thank you catneuterer - that's how I feel on my good days! I'm still hoping...

[BruceyBaby]

Just wanted to say that our lovely 3 year old tortoiseshell went missing on Christmas night. I'm absolutely devastated as she was spooked by fireworks outside at around 7.30 pm and flew out the cat flap but I thought she'd come back in .... pretty sure she did but she must have ran out again. We lock the cat flap at 10 every night so she can get in but not out again but she didn't reappear ??. Fretted the entire night over her but she hasn't returned since. We've done all that everyone else has posted they've done ... flyers through doors - literally every house in the neighbourhood and roads beyond, posters within a 1.5 mile radius, FB posts on our town site which have been shared by about 70 people but hoped for more plus contacted vets and Cat's Protection League. Had false sightings which we've followed up but to no avail. It's now as I go to bed that I fret all the more about her, although during the day I can think of little else, and I too wondered at what point do we give up hope. Just found this thread and am feeling a little more positive but the weather has been shocking since Christmas Day that I worry about her chances of survival if she's still alive. Really feel for you OP ... I know exactly how you're feeling ??. Feel really helpless.

[deedeelondon]

BruceyBaby I know just how you're feeling of course - just wanted to send you hugs and I hope you find her soon.
I've been worrying too about the cold weather, but cats are very resourceful and I'm sure she will find shelter. I'm sure that, having probably researched as much as I have, you know that the likelyhood is that she hasn't gone too far away. If she is frightened and hiding somewhere it may be a few more days before she feels confident enough to come out and find her way back to you. Make sure that everyone is checking their gardens and outbuildings. Empty some the contents of your hoover bag in your garden, back and front, and leave a trail of the same whenever you are out searching, leading back to your house - it will give her a scent to follow if she is lost and disorientated.
I've been sending emails to vets and rescue centres further afield over the last day or two - there have been no positive sighting of Evie in the immediate area where she went missing and as it's been a month now I think it likely that she has wandered further afield. I had a reassuring email from my local council today, confirming that they scan all dead cats and dogs for microchips and as I haven't heard anything yet I can still believe that she is alive somewhere out there. My hope is that she has been taken in by someone and at least is being fed and cared for - I now need that person to see one of my posters or get one of my flyers through their door. I miss her and think of nothing else every day, but I'm trying to keep positive...
Good luck - don't give up. It's early days for you.

[BruceyBaby]

Thanks deedee ... just feel helpless really but just hoping she is in hiding somewhere and will somehow make her way home. Having read the stories on here there seems to be some hope then that she and your little one will make their way home sometime. Has been a rotten Christmas but have tried to put a brave face on things for the family but just hate the fact she may be (if she's alive) out there lonely and scared. We will try the hoover bag thing later and go out very late and try to call for her again with some biscuits. Saw the tip about the cat litter tray so left that outside the front of the house last night (safer out the front than the back at our house) but not worked yet. The Cats Protection League have been great and have contacted all the vets in the area including the council and I've lodged her details on lots of sites. Really feel for you as you've had longer to wait and wonder and really hope both our girls turn up . Hope Evie turns up soon ... she's lovely.