Cat hasn't come home

[freshstart24]

My lovely young boy cat (11 months) hasn't come home tonight. I'm desperately worried and feel so helpless.

He's been going out for four months via the catflap, and until tonight he's reliably come home at about 6 o'clock at the latest. He usually also comes running when I shake the dreamies tin.

I've looked everywhere, over and over. Have messaged a few friends on the street, popped a note through neighbours door and put a message on the local Facebook group.

He's never stayed out like this and ignored my calls. I hate to think of him frightened or injured somewhere. It's so cold and I can't think that he'd deliberately stay out without something bad having happened.

He's such an independent cat, but still only a baby really at 10 months.

I can't sleep and can't beat the thought of going to work tomorrow with him still missing.

Posting for a handhold I guess- DH is away and DS with his dad, so there's no one here. Oh DS will be devastated if our cat is lost!

He will come back, my boys usually religiously come home but occasionally they will be awol for a day or two

Oh I feel your pain :(

I'm sure he will waltz in without a care in the world, wondering what on earth you're fretting about!

Thank you for your replies.

Oh Silly I do hope that you are right. He's never stayed out so late or ignored the dreamies tin rattle before. It's so cold I just can't understand it... But I really really hope you are right.

Thanks again. I feel very alone and helpless tonight.

It's now started to rain, oh please come home into the dry little cat.

Oh no, my heart sinks when there's a thread like this.

Hand hold.

Don't fret too much tonight x

Thanks bullet, I am so worried. Can't sleep knowing my boy is out there in the rain. Sorry to sound so dramatic, but it's horrible when you feel you've let your pet down.

I don't know what to do with myself.

I have had this feeling so many times over the years. Most likely your cat is exploring his boundaries and lost track of time. I've had cats that have been missing for longer but have still turned up.

Wish I could give you a hug!

Thanks Rusty I do hope so. It's raining so hard now, I've been out again and called him . The not knowing is very hard, and I'm
imagining all sorts of awful stuff- probably because I'm so tired.

Thank you Mumsnet for being there for me tonight.

If it is raining hard then he may well be taking shelter somewhere. Can you ask your neighbours to check their sheds and garages tomorrow?

I really do feel your pain but fingers crossed that he comes home soon

I do so hope he's currently sloped in and having a great breakfast.

He has! He's home. He arrived back at 5am soaking wet through. I'm so happy. I was utterly convinced we'd lost him forever especially when the rain started pouring.

I've not slept, but who cares.

Thank you so much for the handholding, really kept me going.

Wonderful news. Give him a hug from me.

Oh how wonderful! There is nothing better than the sound of a missing cat coming through the cat flap or meowing at the door.
Very pleased for you OP-

Glad he’s back 😺

Fantastic news !

My heart always drops when I see threads like this

Lots of snuggles for you both

Thank you all for your kind words.

He seems none the worse for wear. I however am a puffy eyed, exhausted mess. No matter though, he's home and he's fine.

I wish he could tell me what he's been up to. Just hope it's not repeated anytime soon.

Has he been neutered? If not may begin to wander a little? My cat uncharacteristically vanished for about 2/3 days about a year ago then reappeared unharmed in the middle of the night. Relief. Try not to worry too much I know it's hard though. Hope he comes back

Fantastic :)

They like to do this to you. Stick to a fairly consistent routine then one random day they won't come back until hours later than normal. He probably decided to sit it out under a bush somewhere. My cat has also become a master hider in the house so we have times that I am convinced she is out and missing and then she appears from a room. One time there were three of us out at 2am in the snow searching for her with no success then the next morning she appeared like nothing had happened from under a pile of clothes in my sons wardrobe (which I had checked about three times!)

Just saw your thread now and am so glad he's back. You don't know which way to turn when they go on the missing lost. Hope you're not too shattered today. They just do their own thing regardless

I'm glad he's back. Tell him he's a naughty boy from me and remember that it's obligatory to post a photo.

I'm sure he's completely unrepentant!

Give him The Talk: basic courtesy costs nothing, not treating your home like a hotel etc.

Glad he's home.

I'm sure he's completely unrepentant

He probably demanded breakfast and then stole the OP's bed.

They are little buggers!! One of mine once disappeared for 5 days. He had gone back to our old house that we had moved from 3 months previously.

Then he did it again!!

Total worries, but it's their nature - we don't own cats, they own us