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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

9 month old indoor kitten got out this afternoon

24 replies

muddleup · 10/04/2015 18:25

He's micro-chipped and up to date with worming/flea treatment.
I've walked for what felt like miles shaking a treat box which seemed to attract every cay but ours.
The front door is open for now but other than that I don't know what to do.
Can anyone offer any advice? Thanks

OP posts:
Mitzimaybe · 10/04/2015 18:33

He's probably been scared by an unfamiliar noise and hiding - possibly even very close to the house.

Sit outside the door or window he got out through, and just keep calling him and rattling the treat box. Look in any bushes / hidey holes.

I hope he comes home soon.

fackinell · 10/04/2015 21:12

Is he home yet?All outdoor cats go out for the first time and find their way home. I'm sure he will be the same. He will follow his scent home. Has he been done?

givemushypeasachance · 10/04/2015 21:57

If he's not back yet it may be worth leaving a carrier or box with familiar smelling bedding in the garden by the door he escaped from - something to help him scent his way back. Some people recommend emptying some vacuum cleaner fluff by the door for the same reason; since cats primarily orientate themselves with scents.

Hope he finds his way!

Original poster
muddleup · 10/04/2015 23:49

He's not back yet, we did spot him in the hedge but we couldn't get to him and he ran off again.
My neighbours have been out looking for him, shaking treat boxes but he wouldn't go to them either.
It's really cold here tonight compared to through the day.
He's been neutered.
I just want him to come home, :(

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fackinell · 11/04/2015 05:42

I bet he's having a right old time of it. The fact that you've spotted him, I wouldn't worry. He's not going to sprint off ten miles in the opposite direction. Can you leave a downstairs window open safely? What reason do you want him to be a house cat?

Original poster
muddleup · 11/04/2015 09:11

He's still not home, it's been raining all night so I hope he found some shelter.
I left the side window open through the night, he likes to sit on that one watching the birds.
We didn't want him being an outdoor cat as we live on a busy street, maybe that was a mistake.
I just want him to come home

9 month old indoor kitten got out this afternoon
OP posts:
Hakluyt · 11/04/2015 09:16

Put a poster in the window saying you promise never to dress him up again if he comes home!

Cats are very good at looking after themselves. But I do think you have to accept that most some cats are just not designed to be indoors, and it sounds as if yours is one.

Original poster
muddleup · 11/04/2015 10:17

Lol I think you might be right.
These are him naked as my daughter says lol

9 month old indoor kitten got out this afternoon
9 month old indoor kitten got out this afternoon
OP posts:
ragged · 11/04/2015 10:22

In future you could train him to know a certain noise for food, make up a noisy call (we trill like purring) that you always make when he's eating, so that he knows when he hears that noise it means food.

Not all cats respond, but 2 of mine comes when called and it least gets the other cat's attention.

Bells are good, too, on collars, so you can hear them. Especially with black cats at night.

Original poster
muddleup · 11/04/2015 10:41

If I shake his treat box he usually comes running from where ever he is in the house, but yesterday when I was shaking them all that happened was I was followed by other cats that were not mine.
He can also be very vocal but I've heard nothing from him.
He's probably sitting in the bushes laughing at me.

OP posts:
ragged · 11/04/2015 10:44

Treat box doesn't sound that loud, you need a call you can raise volume on so he can hear 200-300 metres away in urban envt.

Original poster
muddleup · 11/04/2015 20:11

He's home, Smile
He was in the gap between my garden and my neighbours. It's full of crap so he had got stuck under it all.
Once it was moved and he saw I had some wet food he came out, he wasn't happy when I grabbed him and hissed and growled and scratched at me.
He's had a bath as he was really dirty but isn't really eating so I'm hoping its because he's in the huff with me, but he's now grounded for life lol.

OP posts:
ragged · 11/04/2015 20:22

hooray! Poor chap but lucky to have you.

cozietoesie · 11/04/2015 20:46

Yay! Maybe keep a very close eye on him though in case he's injured something or eaten what he shouldn't during his escapade.

fackinell · 11/04/2015 22:53

Oh glad he's home safe ??

EleanorAbernathy · 12/04/2015 00:32

So glad he's back! Grin

Hope he isn't too traumatised by his ordeal.

Our indoor boy (he's deaf and knows no fear, wouldn't last a week outdoors!) got out once and it was several hours before I noticed - I found him by trying to think like him! I worked out his probable point of escape (housemate's bedroom window) then went out and worked it out from there. "If I was Sparkle, where would I go?"

It didn't actually take long to find him that way - I asked a few people along the way if they'd seen him and it turned out he'd been having a great time with all the local cats! Eventually found him stuck on a shed roof in someone's back garden with a very excited dog jumping up and down barking at him.

Old cat hated him when we got him home, he must have smelled funny!

sashh · 12/04/2015 07:21

glad he's back home

Hakluyt · 12/04/2015 09:38

"He's had a bath as he was really dirty but isn't really eating so I'm hoping its because he's in the huff with me, but he's now grounded for life lol."

Do be prepared for him not being an indoor cat- not all of them can be. And once he's been out he may well want to go again.

And unless he was dirty with something toxic he didn't need a bath-cats are very good at cleaning themselves up. A wipe down to get the worst off then let thm get on with it is best.

fackinell · 12/04/2015 10:57

Is kitty eating again? Poor bairn must be traumatised after his adventure.

Hakluyt · 12/04/2015 11:07

Honestly- his adventure won't have traumatized him. The bath, on the other hand........

girliefriend · 12/04/2015 13:26

Ahh bless him, I think he maybe telling you that the indoor life isn't for him though Wink

Original poster
muddleup · 12/04/2015 22:24

With hindsight we probably shouldn't have bathed him, this is all new to me, he was smelly, had goodness knows what stuck to his fur.
He's eaten a bit today and slept on and off since yesterday, so hopefully that's him getting back to normal without ripping off wallpaper

Just so glad to have my boy back and hope he never wants to go on his travels again!!!
Thank you.

OP posts:
Stinkersmum · 15/04/2015 04:14

Is he neutered?

Original poster
muddleup · 15/04/2015 21:54

Yes, he was neutered at 6 months.

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