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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

My cat has escaped from the cattery

77 replies

TheHallouminati · 24/08/2018 15:34

I left my boy in a cattery last thursday to go on holiday. I had a phonecall from the owner of the cattery on wednesday to say that he had clawed his way out of his enclosure in the night. He was spotted that wednesday but ran as soon as he saw humans.
He was adopted by me nearly two years ago- I had very little information on his previous life but he has always been fairly timid of humans and I suspect he was a stray as he spends most of his time outdoors and is a prolific hunter.
The woman who owns the cattery has been putting food out for him but he's not been seen since the morning he was discovered missing and he's not eaten any of the food. They've also been in touch with the local vets as he is chipped but there has been no news. I don't know what to do. The cattery is 9miles away from my home so there's no way he would have made his way home.
I've just unloaded the car after driving home and I've got to head over to the cattery to try and find him myself. What else can I do?

OP posts:
Reaa · 24/08/2018 15:37

Find as many local Facebook groups as you can and ask if anyone sees him to contact the cattery or yourself.

Papergirl1968 · 24/08/2018 18:56

I’m sorry, I don’t know how to link, but if you read Missing cat - escaped from cattery in Blackpool posted on 27th July, that cat made its way home. Don’t think it was as far away as yours though.
I’d walk the streets near the cattery armed with dreamies or whatever, calling hi, especially when it goes dark and quiet. And checking with vets in that area, Facebook, putting posters up etc.
Good luck and let us know any news.

Original poster
TheHallouminati · 24/08/2018 20:03

Thank you both. I have been checking the missing pet directories and I've posted on the communities facebook page. It's very rural, think long winding lanes, paddocks and lots of vegetation and wildlife. I think I'd feel more confident of finding him if it were a residential area. Been there today calling and shaking food but not a whisker.

OP posts:
TallSlutNoPantiesthe2nd · 24/08/2018 20:13

I've seen people recommend attracting cats back with familiar smells - putting out t-shirts that you've slept in, the contents of his litter tray etc.. if it's too far from him to come home could you maybe do this in a field close to where he escaped, along with some food? Then maybe keep a watch out and hopefully catch him?

Sorry, it sounds like a horrible situation. I'd also be on at the cattery to do absolutely everything then can to find him. It is their fault, after all.

MrsMozart · 24/08/2018 20:15

I hope he's found soon!

LEMtheoriginal · 24/08/2018 20:21

Im sorry this has happened. Something to try - put items of clothing of yours and his things around the cattery. Do they have a cat trap they could set up? If not your local rescue might have one they are willing to lend you.

Get him on facebook on local groups - not just lost and found sites. Pictures on lamp posts etc. Worth even doing door to door leaflets.

Dont give up - cats have amazing homing instincts and actually have massive territories.

Bearwithverylittlebrain · 24/08/2018 20:23

9 miles to a cat is not a massive distance. One of ours, many years ago, made her way across Lincolnshire to our old house, stayed for a few weeks before coming back home again. She was an avid hunter and very much an outdoor cat too.

Hopefully yours will be sat on the doorstep when you get home asking for his dinner.

HuggedtheRedwoods · 24/08/2018 23:12

Even on the rural lanes try attaching posters to trees, paddock fences ect so local dog walkers and riders are also aware. I agree with PP about making sure the cattery do as much as they can to help you too. Could you share the cattery/area location so any local MNs could share an update too?

Sending positive thoughts you find your boy soon.

SimonBridges · 24/08/2018 23:15

How dreadful.
I’d be livid with the cattery. There is no way your cat should have been able to get out.

Dollymixture22 · 25/08/2018 09:04

This is quite upsetting, cauterise should be safe places. Cats should not be able to claw their way out!

I hope you find him. And the chattery improves their enclosures

CityRoadClassof93 · 27/08/2018 16:52

Any sign of your cat OP? I hope he is home now.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 27/08/2018 17:35

I hope he's back home by now.

I think it's disgusting that the cattery allowed this to happen. I would have gone mad and been naming and and shaming them everywhere I could think of.

cushioncovers · 27/08/2018 17:38

Spend time at the Cattery take clothes that smell of you and his regular food. Keep calling his name. So sorry this has happened to you you must be frantic 😢

0range99 · 27/08/2018 17:41

That is dreadful of the cattery - there is no way that their pens should be escapable.

I have heard of scattering the contents of the litter tray / hoover bag nearby so that it is a familiar scent to return to.

Have you got a trap set up?

Really hope you get your cat back. I would be expecting the cattery to move heaven and earth to get your cat back.

cushioncovers · 28/08/2018 08:32

Any news op?

Original poster
TheHallouminati · 28/08/2018 09:29

Thanks everyone.
No news. Dh is livid wheras I'm just devastated really. We had to tell the dc but we explained it that dcat so enjoyed it at the cattery that he's gone on permanent holiday. They were sobbing. We lost dcat's brother in a rta less than 6mnths ago.

Dh was on the phone to the cattery as they seemed to have done very little so far.
He requested they use social media to try and find him, put up posters in the local area with a reward and set traps. They have done the posters and reward and said the cat traps won't work so won't do them.
Dh made it clear that they need to tighten up their enclosures and protocols to ensure this never happens again and has said he will give them 2 weeks to do so otherwise he will take action. He didn't specify what action to them but he wants to notify the council to come and inspect. We don't want this to happen to anyone else's pet.
We've been out searching and calling but there's no sign at all. He can be a skittish cat so I think he's gone to ground and is too scared to show himself.
I think the cattery owner has given up really as she was asking us what compensation we wanted as she is insured for that.

OP posts:
Pissedoffdotcom · 28/08/2018 09:32

Can you sort cat traps yourself? A trick we were told was empty the contents of your hoover near a 'safe space' so that the cat has a hugely familiar scent. Same spot every day with food before you set up the cat trap. Can't hurt to try & there are some volunteer groups that will lend out cat traps. Tbh the cattery owner sounds a bit too blase...she should be trying everything she can

flumpybear · 28/08/2018 09:38

Poor puss 😞
Our car went missing when they were staying with me at my dads house - escaped! Bitch of a step mum let him out and completely lost our other cat

My mum banged a tin and called him relentlessly- he was found in a thicket not far from where he was lost - he was gone a good week before she arrived and took a few days fornmy mum to find him, but he was fine, just skinny
Good luck!

SimonBridges · 28/08/2018 09:39

Fuck her being insured.
I would be apoplectic with rage.
My cat is extremely precious to me, she is part of my family. This isn’t like she’s lost your favourite sunglasses or spilt red wine on your sofa.
I would be naming and shaming all over social media and going to the local paper.
Cats go to a cattery to be safe. That is their one job and she has failed to do that. Other people need to be warned.

thecatneuterer · 28/08/2018 09:50

It really is awful and appalling that it should have happened at all. They are right though that traps won't work. A trap can only work if you know where the cat is. And an automatic trap can only work if there are no other cats or foxes in the area.

Original poster
TheHallouminati · 28/08/2018 10:00

I will try the hoover bag thing.
I will look into the possibility of traps but I suspect it won't work to be honest for the same reasons Thecat explained. It's a very rural area and they have lots of foxes plus the cattery have their own outdoor cats who are mousers. Although the suggestion of hoover bag contents in conjunction with that sounds promising.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheHallouminati · 28/08/2018 10:06

I am not keen on the naming and shaming at the moment. I instead hope that if anything comes from this, the experience will put a rocket up their arse and they will improve the cattery. I want them to be inspected and solve any security issues there may be. I don't want to ruin anyone livelihood.
I am aware that I need to keep them onside as I don't want to be refused access to their property.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheHallouminati · 28/08/2018 10:09

One thing that is interesting is that my husband said to the owner, "when exactly did dcat go missing?" Her response was quite stuttered and she replied, "er, well we rang you on Wednesday, so he went missing on Wednesday." That doesn't seem quite right to me. That's not what you'd say is it? I suspect he went missing sooner.

OP posts:
cheesefield · 28/08/2018 10:16

My god OP. I would be absolutely furious.

The cattery is not fit for purpose if it's bloody enclosures are not escape proof!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 28/08/2018 10:50

I'm so sorry he's not back and I can't believe the attitude of the cattery woman. It definitely sounds as though she's lying about when he went missing.

I would definitely name and shame, if only to prevent it happening to someone else. My worry would be that if they brush this under the carpet they won't bother do anything and it could happen again. I have to say you're nicer than me, I wouldn't give a toss about their livelihood.