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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

How long does your cat have to be missing before you worry?

120 replies

RobotMenu · 26/02/2016 11:53

She may or may not be being fed by someone else...

She Normally hangs around the garden, but today she was desperate to get out and hasn't been seen since...

She may also have been run over... Or eaten... Or doesn't want to live with us anymore...

Or be having the time of her life and perfectly happy Blush

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 27/02/2016 10:26

Good luck.

Lurkedforever1 · 27/02/2016 10:32

Put them in shops too, and ask dog walkers/ local cat owners/ regular groups of kids that hang about. And ask about anyone hearing cat fight noises/ wailing. Not cos I think she's maybe hurt from a fight, but because cats straying onto new territory usually result in a lot of loud vocal disgust from the resident cats. (I always know there's a new cat around because of the way my dictator dominant cat behaves)

Danglyweed · 27/02/2016 10:39

If my wee man wasnt in by his usual feeding time I would be fairly worried. Wee bugger did exactly that the other day, come 6pm I was getting ready to head out to look for him when he sauntered in. Unfortunately his brother was run over a couple of years ago in our old village so probably makes us worry about him a bit more. Our new house backs onto woods, where he loves to hunt so I suspect he was out doing just that

abigamarone · 27/02/2016 13:05

I was a bit concerned about my two last night, had put some food out and no sign of them and food untouched a couple of hours later, I was becoming increasingly worried. Turned out they'd sneaked into the shed while my son was getting something and he'd shut them in. I could only hear their pitifully quiet miaows because it was so late and no traffic around.

Original poster
RobotMenu · 27/02/2016 15:06

That's what worries me - I am having to rely on people checking. Still no sign at all and I don't know what else we can do now.

OP posts:
ladybird69 · 27/02/2016 17:52

hope there's some news soon Flowers

Original poster
RobotMenu · 27/02/2016 19:06

No news, except I've walked everywhere possible today. I feel like I'm losing hope.

OP posts:
TimeIhadaNameChange · 27/02/2016 20:03

Please don't give up hope just yet.

Really hope she turns up soon. She'll no doubt be ready to tell you all about her adventures when she finally appears!

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/02/2016 20:07

Don't give up. Cats are tougher than they look.

Original poster
RobotMenu · 27/02/2016 20:11

I hope so. There's just no sign of her. It's frustrating asking people to check their sheds and for them so answer 'cats get lost and come back all the time' (and several variations of that. And I know they won't check no matter how much I ask.

I'll never forgive myself if something happens to her. We were considering keeping her indoors. We chose against it as there are so many neighbouring cats that have free run and all seem ok that I thought we'd be laughed at by the owners of the free reign pets. Now I deeply regret that decision.

Do they really just disappear then turn up again? I just can't see it happening any more Sad

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 27/02/2016 20:14

We had a at take off for about three weeks when I was a kid. We think she was stuck in a garage.
Hoping she comes home.

Waxlyrically · 27/02/2016 20:14

No please don't give up hope - no news is good news.. Maybe she's shut in somewhere and whoever's house it is is away for the weekend?

Original poster
RobotMenu · 27/02/2016 20:20

That was my only hope. Someone came back from work op and locked her in the garage with the car. They'll go to the car on Monday and set her free.

I can't stop crying. I feel like I've let her down by not keeping her safe.

OP posts:
TimeIhadaNameChange · 27/02/2016 20:27

Robot, please accept a virtual hug from me. Not that it will improve things, but still. (And pass one on to the wee madam when she finally turns up!)

It may be that, seeing that this whole going outside thing is still fairly new to her still, she's just got carried away.

(Slightly mad idea but if you live in a noisy area could you ray going out in the early hours, calling quietly and seeing if she'll reply if she's locked in somewhere? Of course, she might be asleep, though! And only if you can do it without annoying the neighbours. Not that I'm worried about them per se, but if you do need to go and ask again it's probably best you don't wake them in the middle of the night!!!)

gamerchick · 27/02/2016 20:34

I hoped she had turned up Sad you must be going out of your mind.

WicksEnd · 27/02/2016 20:44

Hope she turns up soon WineThanks

Original poster
RobotMenu · 27/02/2016 20:45

Thank you both of you.

I hope she's just got carried away. She really wanted to be outside from the evening before - I wasn't surprised at first when she didn't come straight back due to this. We have lots of fields near us. I just hope she's having the time of her life. I don't think that's the case, though. I would be looking under every stone and behind and under everything. You can't do that in other people's gardens, though.

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 27/02/2016 21:17

Mine went missing for a week when we went on holiday. Put her on animal search UK and on FB. That's how I got my little one back. She went into someone's house and they'd seen her pic on FB.

timtam23 · 27/02/2016 21:33

Sorry she is still not back. I agree with above suggestion of putting a message on Facebook, my area has its own local page and also a page for cat owners, lots of people do look out for lost cats and a surprising number do go missing for a week or more yet still return. Also if your vacuum cleaner has a bag you could try scattering the contents outside as it gives them the scent of home. And hang her bedding on the washing line. Also if you have a regular postman or milkman they may keep a lookout. If she was excited/restless it seems likely that she has gone for an extended wander, I really hope you have some news soon.

Lotsofcamping · 27/02/2016 22:12

Don't give up hope. In a way no news is good news if that makes sense. My friend's cat went missing recently. Someone spotted him after seeing a poster on a lamppost. Have you put up posters?

Floralnomad · 27/02/2016 22:13

Hope she turns up soon .

FlowersAndShit · 27/02/2016 22:21

Oh I hope she turns up soon OP. It's so stressful being a cat owner!

TimeIhadaNameChange · 27/02/2016 22:25

Fingers and paws crossed that she gets bored tonight and comes home soon. Will look out for an update in the morning. In the meantime I hope you manage to get some sleep tonight. x

Original poster
RobotMenu · 27/02/2016 22:30

I'm going to drive round again in the small hope I'll see her (probably much smaller chance than on foot, but I can cover a larger area).

I was up at 5 this morning as I couldn't sleep. I don't ever remember feeling this sad and awful.

I have logged details on animal search. There must be something stopping her - she's such a homebody (or has been so far) that I can't believe she doesn't want to come back.

Could a Tom have scared her away? We do have one scarrface claw - he does a long low meow at her and it doesn't sound friendly...

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 27/02/2016 22:32

Have you got a Facebook spotted page?.