How likely is it?

[winkywinkola]

That we will see our cat again?

One of our little girls - 9 months old - has disappeared. I last saw her on Sunday evening.

We live in a very rural area with no neighbours for at least 1 km. It's freezing outside.

She'd just started going outside regularly using the cat flap. She was getting bolder and is was lovely to see her.

I'm so very sad a fox might have got her or she's lost and frozen somewhere. I've scoured the garden, calling etc.

Her 3 sisters don't seem too bothered but then who knows with cats?

My girl went missing for 8 days last winter. I was worried sick, she on the other hand came sauntering in as if nothing at really happened. She was hungry and black but she was herself. Had a bit of food and curled up for a long sleep. I think she may have been stuck somewhere.

It can't have been too traumatic because she went missing again just before Christmas. I think she may have lost her way somewhere then though. I kept her in for 2 weeks and now she isn't out for longer than 20 mins a time.

Hope your little cat returns soon. Cats are known to wander though so although you say its 1km away from anywhere she still could have. Have you tried local fb groups for lost pets. Is she chipped?

Yes she's chipped. I've not posted on local FB groups yet. Will do in a couple of days.

I keep hoping she'll turn up but she's such a tiny girl - smaller than her sisters and very snuggly. We miss her!

I'm going to check the roadside and ditches near our house now. :-(

Dd (aged 8) is devastated. What should I tell her - that cats do this sort of thing and she might not be dead?

Hmm I'm not sure. I think just stick to she's lost and we don't know where she is for now. I don't know how likely it is that she's been safe overnight :( I know cats can die in the cold. Fingers crossed she's just been shut in somewhere and will appear a bit hungry and disgruntled, though!

Do cats get lost? I thought they were canny and could cope.

Sorry, we're all so upset about this blooming cat.

My old boy (with 3 legs) disappeared for over 2 weeks. It was summer but we were beside ourselves and then accepted he had gone. He rolled in as if he'd been out for 10 minutes.
I hope she comes back. We have a house cat now as I found the worrying about where my boy cats were just awful x

Now i think about it, when I got back from walking the dogs, the other three cats were bombing around the house away from me.

I thought it was because I had my big grey dog walking coat on.

Perhaps it's because something happened to the back cat that spooked them. Usually they're so curious and affectionate.

All hope is not lost, and try and stay positive. My big boy went missing for 2 weeks, but he was locked in a garage. Our Lady went missing, for 8 days on her first venture out after moving (she'd been indoors for 4 weeks) didn't scent the garden, scaled the fence and then probably had no idea how to get home.

If you have any used litter, spread it about the garden sort of a smelly guide to where home is. Also go out and call her, try at dusk and dawn if you can.

We now live somewhere very rural and twice my big boy has been gone for 8 or 9 days, in winter. It's an awful awful feeling, but going out and looking does at least make you feel like you're not just giving up.

Put litter tray outside? They can smell it apparently.
Ask neighbours to check garages and sheds. Cats can get shut in.
Wishing you well. One of ours did this when I was a kid. Turned out she had been injured and crept into a garage. She recovered.

I've done the litter tray. I've put up some posters around the village, put flyers through doors and a poster in the local newsagent window. I've looked all along the roadside and in the ditches. Nothing. Bugger it.

It's been freezing here. The owner of the local cattery says she's either frozen to death or a fox has got her. She's so little I can't see how she could have trekked across muddy fields to another house.

Now, I guess we just do the waiting and try to console dd. Thanks for all your tips.