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The litter tray

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

Original poster

Help i let my cat out for first time & hes disappeared!!

39 replies

Justme1981 · 28/03/2019 12:30

As above, hes just over a year, ive had him since christmas. I let him out for first time today & he has literally disappeared. I've tried calling, rattling food etc but hes gone. What do i do? I haven't got a catflap & need to go out for a few hours, my little boy will be really upset as am I. Advice please good people of mumsnet. Yes, he is my first cat.

OP posts:
BIWI · 28/03/2019 12:33

Is he chipped?
Was he fed or is he likely to be hungry?
If he's hungry he'll come home. Try not to worry. Cats have a good sense of where home is.

dementedpixie · 28/03/2019 12:35

When I first let mine out I went out with them. He will just be exploring his territory as it's a novelty for him. Could you leave his food/water dishes outside if it's not raining if you are going out?

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 28/03/2019 12:37

How long has he been gone?

Original poster
Justme1981 · 28/03/2019 12:38

Thank you both, yes hes chipped, unlikely to be hungry as he had breakfast, i was with him then he just went!
Good plan I will leave food & water out - hopefully he will comeback 😥

OP posts:
Original poster
Justme1981 · 28/03/2019 12:38

Hes been gone an hour

OP posts:
yiskasha · 28/03/2019 12:42

He'll be back! Don't worry.

Shinesweetfreedom · 28/03/2019 12:43

Have you wandered round the streets with the Dreamies

Original poster
Justme1981 · 28/03/2019 12:46

Yes ive wandered with dreamies - i thought that might work 😥😥

OP posts:
SoftSheen · 28/03/2019 12:49

He'll be back when he's hungry, an hour isn't long. Next time let him out BEFORE breakfast, then he will be unlikely to wander far!

YesItsMeIDontCare · 28/03/2019 12:55

Oh an hour's nothing OP, it's not time to worry yet. My house cat escaped once and was gone for 4 hours - yes I was freaked out by that a bit! My neighbour's cat has been gone for a week, but is absolutely fine and neighbour is sent frequent photos of her cat having a whale of a time!

Cats do this, they are absolute buggers for it. You can't live without them but they do your head in. If a man treated like your cat does you'd be told to ltb 😂.

It's a nice day, he'll be back when he's hungry, but do keep us updated.

Original poster
Justme1981 · 28/03/2019 12:55

Yes if he comes back lesson learnt!!

OP posts:
MancaroniCheese · 28/03/2019 12:55

He will be back I am sure. He has been with you a good long time so will know his home is with you.

Original poster
Justme1981 · 28/03/2019 12:55

Thank you YesItsMeIDontCare that's reassuring

OP posts:
Original poster
Justme1981 · 28/03/2019 12:56

Thank you MancaroniCheese i guess i wasnt prepared for him to disappear!

OP posts:
Original poster
Justme1981 · 28/03/2019 13:06

Hes back!!! Little bugger has just strolled in miaowing at the top of his voice!!!

Ok how do i get more confident letting him out, he looks very smug!

OP posts:
YesItsMeIDontCare · 28/03/2019 13:13

Ok how do i get more confident letting him out

If you ever find the secret, bottle it and sell it 'cause you'll make a fortune.

Do we get a picture of the little furry bugger?

EL8888 · 28/03/2019 13:19

Phew! Glad he’s back. They are little gits!! I’m still in trauma from cat 1 vanishing for a few nights and then cat 2 doing a similar thing last summer. They keep us on our toes. One trick l did when first letting them out was letting them out hungry and then having something tasty to entice them back in. They can be hard to cajole in when the weather is nice and there are things to chase!!

Minkies11 · 28/03/2019 13:21

Can you put a quick release reflective collar and tag on him and look to getting a catflap?

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 28/03/2019 13:36

Ours always go out for hours, they know which window to stand miaowing at when they want back in! If we're out, they just wait.

PlasticPatty · 28/03/2019 13:39

Ok how do i get more confident letting him out, he looks very smug!

Accept the truth. He is not your cat. You are his servant. Your role is to obey.

Original poster
Justme1981 · 28/03/2019 13:54

Thank you everyone, PlasticPatty that is sooo true!!
Yes im looking into getting a catflap - hoping to figure out how to not have a nervous breakdown everytime he goes out!! Little bugger is now sat at the door miaowing - cats are hard!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Justme1981 · 28/03/2019 13:56

YesItsMeIDontCare here he is

Help i let my cat out for first time & hes disappeared!!
OP posts:
GarthFunkel · 28/03/2019 13:59

Make sure you let him out before he's eaten. Possibly let him see you out the food down through the window. We've also got a GPS cat tracker Grin because there came a point where we didn't know where to look for a wandering cat - now we have some idea of typical range.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 28/03/2019 14:05

You do get used to it (honest). I quite often don't know which of ours are out or in. Mine regularly play the game of hiding in the house when you think they are out - just so they can piss themselves laughing at you calling them through the front door.. Grin
He's a very handsome chap btw.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 28/03/2019 14:06

Oh he's gorgeous OP, his fur looks very skooshable. Bet you can't stay cross with that little furry face for long!

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