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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

Missing Cat - any positive stories of cats returning home?

50 replies

Whereisthecat · 10/09/2018 20:31

Our cat has been missing for 3 weeks now. She was being looked after while we were on holiday and escaped, 3 miles from home.

We're really worried about her and have done everything we can think of to find her.

I'd love to hear any happy stories of missing cats finding their way home. It would help to keep my hopes up that our gorgeous girl will come back to us.

OP posts:
Original poster
Whereisthecat · 11/09/2018 12:21

Oh no Aprilshowers, poor dcat Bob! Glad he lived a happy 3 legged life after his accident.

I'm feeling more confident that our dcat can be found. I'll go out looking again soon. I'm getting a lot of exercise searching for her - lost half a stone in 3 weeks!!

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 11/09/2018 12:27

How long had she been in the new house before she went missing? The most important thing is for the people who live there to leave out food and water every day. It is the only way to attract her back.

dameofdilemma · 11/09/2018 12:55

I'd recommend posting on Petsreunited (you can post for free).

Our cat was found 2 miles away after going missing for 3 weeks (but within a day of posting on PR). The man who found him wasn't on FB and wouldn't have seen the local posters but had seen the cat hanging around, so he looked on PR for a match within a 5 mile radius.

Good luck, hope you find her...

Original poster
Whereisthecat · 11/09/2018 12:55

She was in a cattery thecatneuterer. Had been in there for 8 days before she escaped.

OP posts:
dramaattheschoolgate · 11/09/2018 13:02

mine went missing for about 5 months, in rural area.
Turned up thin and covered in ticks, she slept for about a week.
A few years later she had hip trouble and when she was x-rayed the vet said she had at some point dislocated her hip and it had healed slightly out of place and wonky. I suspect that was why she had vanished and it she couldn't get home until she could walk. Sad

She was a very outdoorsy cat before, but stayed firmly home afterwards

Original poster
Whereisthecat · 11/09/2018 18:41

I do wonder how she'll be when she gets home dramaattheschoolgate. Probably very nervous and not so keen on the outdoors for a while.

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BloomsButtons · 11/09/2018 19:19

Our cat has been missing for a week and this thread has given me hope. I'm going to make some leaflets and posters and put them around the local area and local shops. I've already contacted the vet and local cat rescue.

Original poster
Whereisthecat · 11/09/2018 20:35

So sorry to hear your cat is missing BloomsButtons.

The posters and leaflets are a great idea. Are you on Facebook? Is there a missing pet Facebook page for your area? Upload a photo and details of your cat onto there. Get your FB friends to share a photo with their friends - in no time 100s of people will have seen the post and know to keep a look out.

We have been advised to hang our cats bedding & our own dirty washing on the line so that the pong will carry on the wind and help the cat find her way home.

Email her photo to any pubs, hotels and takeaways in the area. Lost cats are often found hanging out around the bins of these places looking for food.

Is your cat usually an indoor cat? I'm told that when indoor cats go missing they're often found within a few houses from home. Get neighbours to check sheds and look under decking - a favourite hideout for cats apparently.

I hope your cat is back home soon. Keep us updated.

OP posts:
BloomsButtons · 11/09/2018 21:36

The furthest she would usually go is the end of the garden so this is very unusual. I've put notices on our town FB page and they've been shared a lot which is great! No take aways close by but the pub is a good idea!

Thank you!

Original poster
Whereisthecat · 21/09/2018 13:34

I've got my own happy ending to add to this post. Our clever cat managed to make her way back to our town and was found just a few streets away from us! So relieved and very proud of her for finding her way back over 3 miles of farmland & houses that she doesn't know. I wish I knew which route she took and if we were ever close to her when we were out looking for her every day.

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ifonly4 · 21/09/2018 14:12

So pleased for your and it's great to have a happy ending. It sounds like she was trying to find her way back home, but I'd keep her in for a few days, give her chance to settle. Have a lovely weekend of pampering and treating her.

sunshine1912 · 21/09/2018 17:34

Aww that's great news. They are so clever aren't they!

IHaveBrilloHair · 21/09/2018 17:36

Oh that's lovely, glad she's home.

BloomsButtons · 21/09/2018 20:33

Mine came home too Smile. So pleased your kitty got home safe!

Mine was emaciated, had no meow and claws torn to ribbon. The vet said she must've been locked in somewhere. With lots of TLC she is getting there now. I cried when she appeared at the door Blush.

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/09/2018 20:46

She's done so well to find you again op. Is this the cat who escaped through the cattery roof?.

Fadingmemory · 22/09/2018 10:23

A friend’s cat disappeared for three months. He just walked in one evening as though nothing had happened.

Original poster
Whereisthecat · 22/09/2018 18:46

BloomsButtons I'm so happy that your cat is back home. Sorry to read about her claws & meow. Our cat's meow was really croaky when she first came back but is back to full volume now.

Our cat escaped through the floor of the cattery Fluffycloudland77. Worrying to think there's another unsecure cattery out there. We've used many catteries over the years and they've all been great so don't think this is a common problem thankfully.

Any sign of your beautiful cat yet Harlexx?

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Harlexx · 22/09/2018 20:34

Unfortunately not yet :( 5 weeks now and still no sign, no tracks, no trace nothing. Not even a bit fluff! Not like she's lacking fluff. She's either hunting and lost her way or (my nightmare) someone has claimed her as their own. Got posters up now in the local shops and we're gonna go to all the vets nearby on Monday. She's quite distinctive so if someones taken her to a vet they should remember. If that's the case I can't guarantee me keeping my cool if someone just claimed her. Fingers crossed she'll just come home like nothings happened!

Original poster
Whereisthecat · 22/09/2018 21:14

Oh Harlexx, I'm so sorry she's not back yet. You must be so worried. Have you tried Facebook? Most areas have missing pet pages.

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cricketmum84 · 22/09/2018 21:18

Reading all these stories with hope. Our girl has been gone since 2nd August :(

Howhot · 22/09/2018 21:25

Lovely ending op!
Two of my cats went missing within 2 days of eachother 3 years ago. I still look out for them when I drive around Sad

Harlexx · 23/09/2018 04:54

Whereisthecat yeah my mum actually runs a missing pet page so got that covered, was reluctant to post at first since she has wandered before but after a while we did post it. Its so frustrating :( all i want is her back safe and sound but like i said, no sightings, no fluff nothing! :(

Harlexx · 23/09/2018 04:56

I hesitated last time in getting her a tracker collar. Not this time. She's getting a tracker whether she likes it or not, even if she wears it for a few days just to get an idea as to where she goes. better than the current hell im in :(

Pishpashes · 18/12/2020 17:00

Hi, my cat is missing too after we moved to a new house, it's been more than a month now, I just wanted to check if ur cat returned by himself or did some one help you. Looking forward for your reply

ramarama · 23/12/2020 17:47

Cat in street behind us had been missing for two weeks and just returned home. They suspect he was stuck in someone's shed.

They put signs on every lamppost and i think that's what got him back to them.

Good luck to everyone who is still missing their cats!

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