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Original poster

I think my cat's been taken by pest control

55 replies

catburglar · 24/04/2019 14:17

I was away overnight for Easter and my cart has been missing since I got back. There were several stray cats living around the estate that are gone too. Out of a total of maybe seven cats there's just one mummy cat and a kitten still in the area. At first I thought she'd just gone for a wander but now I'm terrified that she's been taken away. She was vaccinated, spayed and microchipped but she didn't have a collar. She had access to the house via a microchip cat flap but I'm sure she'd have been outside mostly enjoying the sunshine.
I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
viccat · 24/04/2019 14:39

Pest control? Are you outside the UK?

I guess it's possible a cat charity could have rescued the strays but they would scan any cats for microchips and usually put paper collars on any thought to be stray to establish if they're owned first.

Have you done the usual missing cat things like asking your neighbours to check their sheds and outbuildings, put posters up on your street, posted on local social media pages etc.?

Fluffycloudland77 · 24/04/2019 16:13

That’s very unusual, did anyone see th3m being taken?.

Original poster
catburglar · 24/04/2019 17:16

I've contacted the local cat rescue centre and haven't heard back. I'll go around the neighbours tomorrow and put up posters

OP posts:
scratchyfluffface · 24/04/2019 17:38

Is your chip registered with correct data? Some of them let you put out a broadcast that the cat is missing, which goes to local vets

Vinorosso74 · 24/04/2019 18:22

I don't think pest control in the UK take cats. A charity could possibly have got some "strays" but they would all be checked for microchips pretty much immediately.
Ask neighbours to check sheds/garages etc. Hopefully she turns up.

WeeDangerousSpike · 24/04/2019 18:29

Our local cats protection are a law unto their bloody selves. (I appreciate its our local one that is an abberation - at least I hope so)

My friend's cat was taken as a stray, she finally found him at cp, despite them being adamant they didn't have any matching his description. They wouldn't let her take him without proof (fair enough) but when she went back with a photo of her and him the next day they said they had rehomed him and refused to tell her where or get him back.

I'd insist on seeing all the cats they have OP, don't just take their word for it.

Ask around the neighbours - someone must have reported the strays to somewhere, so will know which organisation could have taken your cat.

Don't delay, friends cat was microchipped, but they either didn't check or couldn't be arsed to contact her.

Original poster
catburglar · 24/04/2019 19:30

The local rescue and they say they don't know anything about it. I've sent them photos and they'll put a message on Facebook.
The neighbours say they noticed that the cats were gone but don't know what happened.
It's a complete mystery. It's raining here and I hope she's ok wherever she is.

OP posts:
Original poster
catburglar · 24/04/2019 19:32

Here she is last week

I think my cat's been taken by pest control
OP posts:
WeeDangerousSpike · 24/04/2019 19:48

She's lovely op. I hope you get her back soon.

endofthelinefinally · 24/04/2019 19:59

Do get the word out round your neighbours.
My friend's cat was shut in somebody's shed for a week and survived.
People will have been getting their garden furniture out this weekend.

WeaselsRising · 24/04/2019 20:48

Somebody "rescued" our elderly cat when she wandered up to their doorstep, and took her to the only vet we hadn't contacted to see if she was there. We have a local FB page for missing animals and I put her photo on there. The person who "found" her put her picture on a different FB page and by chance someone saw both.

She ended up being "rescued" 3 times Angry. Luckily the vet recognised her after the first time and just rang us to say she was there. She wasn't lost at all, she was just bumbling up and down our street, as cats like to do. I ended up putting a collar on her with a message holder with our name and address and a note that she wasn't lost!!

Do you have a local 24 hour animal hospital? That's where well-meaning people take them.

Original poster
catburglar · 25/04/2019 22:01

There's a message up on Facebook about the missing cat now with a photo. Tomorrow I'll go around the vets and see if anybody knows what's happened.
Thanks for all your suggestions. I can't believe that none of my neighbours knows anything about it. They all said they'd noticed that there were a fewer cats but that was all.
I'm feeling pretty lonely without her.

OP posts:
64sNewName · 25/04/2019 22:04

Lovely photo - you must be so worried. I hope she’ll be home with you soon.

RogersVideo · 25/04/2019 22:11

Do you have a village/town/community Facebook group? Ours is brilliant for finding out local goings-on, someone might know who rounded up the cats.

Dippypippy1980 · 26/04/2019 22:03

Is she microchipped?

I put a breakaway collar on my monster with my mobile number - she is also microchipped.

Hope you find her

Original poster
catburglar · 27/04/2019 01:03

Yes, she's microchipped.
She's on all the lost pet sites and all the vets have been notified. I've enquired in just about all the houses in the area.
I think the next thing is to take your advice and spam all the neighbourhood Facebook groups. I doubt the person who removed the cats will admit it but somebody must know something.
I'm feeling really sad and get waves of nausea when I think of her being scared and dying Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
catburglar · 27/04/2019 01:04

I keep thinking of the end of the boy in the striped pyjamas and getting tearful

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 27/04/2019 06:56

Someone always knows something. Would you consider reporting the police? A group of cats don’t just disappear like that.

Original poster
catburglar · 27/04/2019 12:11

I contacted the police and they said that anything like that would be dealt with by the local pound. I thought they only dealt with dogs but apparently they work with all stray animals. I'll call them on Monday when they open. I've already left a voicemail.
My cat is really affectionate and trusting. I hate you think how they may have handled her.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 02/05/2019 07:40

How’s it going?.

Original poster
catburglar · 02/05/2019 11:10

She's still missing. None of the pest control companies have dealt with stray cats for as long as they can remember. Nobody knows anything about it.
The only possibility remaining is that she's been poisoned.
I'm brokenhearted.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 02/05/2019 11:18

I’m not surprised, I would be too. There are pet detective companies for missing pets. It’s just affording it, but they do exist.

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/05/2019 21:10

Did you find anything out?.

SirVixofVixHall · 13/05/2019 21:19

Any news op? Are all the other cats still missing too ?

Original poster
catburglar · 13/05/2019 22:51

Still no sign of my cat. I saw a cat hanging around this week who I thought disappeared with the other strays. Maybe it survived or escaped? Or was dumped out in the countryside and made its way back?
I've had a lot of good wishes from Facebook and neighbours etc. which is very kind.
I still haven't lost hope.

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