My little cat has been attacked - so worried

[sunshine49]

Hi everyone. About an hour ago DH and I were sitting in the lounge when we heard an almighty screeching outside. We ran to the conservatory to see two cats rolling around fighting on the patio, one of which was our female rescue cat. DH immediately opened the door and shouted and the other cat (who lives nearby, is quite a bit bigger than our girl and regularly gets into fights) shot off down the garden and over the fence.

Sadly our girl also ran off really quickly in the opposite direction and jumped over the fence on the other side before we could see if she's ok.

It's now been an hour and she hasn't come back, despite DH calling her in the garden and shaking a packet of Dreamies. It's dark outside now and raining.

I'm so worried about her and absolutely terrified that she's hurt under a bush somewhere, or is too scared to come back. She's a young rescue cat, a slip of a thing and is extremely timid - she wouldn't hurt a fly.

I'm hoping the fact that she was able to run off and jump over the four-foot fence means she's not too badly hurt?

Any advice would be much appreciated

Just to add that we've spent eight months building up her confidence since we adopted her from the rescue centre, and she was kept in for four months to begin with (on their advice) as she's so timid. Since going out she's been loving the garden, but I'm so worried this incident will really knock her confidence and progress. She's such a gentle girl with an incredibly sweet nature - it breaks my heart that this has happened to her

My cat goes in a right mood when she's been attacked, she usually comes in my hides for a while. I'm sure she has just found a hiding place for a while to calm down. Keep calling her, she will come back.

Poor wee soul, she must have been frightened. I expect she's just hiding out the way somewhere quiet. Leave the lights on and the door open a bit so she can come in, I'd just keep going out looking for her.

Hope she comes back OP. Bless her. Can you put something smelling of you outside?

Oh, op! She is probably so frightened. I seconded putting smelly food outside and maybe a little blanket or shirt that smells like you. She might curl up in familiar smelling things. Sending prayers that your little girl will make her way home.

If it isn't raining, a cushion off the couch or the last top you wore about six feet from your door to encourage her in.

Cats make an awful racket when they fight so hopefully a lot of screeching and spitting rather than anything else.

Cat bites do have a tendancy to become infected so when kitty comes back keep an eye as she migjt need antibiotics

Has she come back in OP?

Agree with what @LillyLeaf says,
Really hope she comes back so upsetting when this happens

Yeah, cats tend to sound like they're being ripped to pieces when in fact nothing more than a little fur has been flying... Don't worry too much. Give her a thorough check over when she gets back, but I'm sure she'll be back soon x

I hope she's back. Are you able to go through your neighbours to check their gardens? I realise it's late now.
Our young lad (adopted in January) has started two fights with another cat about twice his size and he was very subdued afterwards both times. First time did require a vet visit as a wound on his ear got infected so I would keep an eye on her.

Thanks for the reassurance and advice everyone! My girl came back an hour or so after posting and seems completely unharmed - I was surprised but very relieved!

That is happy news

Agree with the racket they make! I was woken the other morning to a crescendo of cat yowls outside - I eventually went out to see what was going on and saw my cat and a neighbours in what I can only describe as a ‘death grip’ on the neighbours drive- neither moving just lots of screaming! As soon as they saw the light come on from the house they both scarpered but my cat hid in the bushes at the front of our house for over an hour. He the came back through the cat flap later as if nothing had ever happened ( although his fur was a bit bedraggled). No obvious injuries but the noise they made at the time was enough to make me panic!