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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 new cat has escaped :(

81 replies

AnnaBanana333 · 07/07/2020 05:57

Just posting for hand holding really, not that I deserve it. I'm the shittest human ever.

I only adopted him on Saturday and today he got out. I've searched everywhere in the garden and all around the surrounding roads. I've put out everything in the garden that might have his scent (his carrier, bedding, litter tray) and left out some heated chicken. But he ate just before he got out. :(

I don't know what else to do. I'm sitting here looking at pictures of him and crying like the useless idiot I am.

OP posts:
Original poster
AnnaBanana333 · 07/07/2020 06:12

Oh thank goodness, I've found him... in a gap next to the neighbours' shed. I can't get him out though so all I can do is wait. But thank GOD he hasn't gone far, he's 20ft from the front door. He'll come back, won't he? He's neutered and he was starting to feel secure here. Slept on my bed with me last night and we had lots of cuddles.

All I can do is wait...

OP posts:
TW2013 · 07/07/2020 06:22

Have you tried tuna? Mine seem to be able to discern a tin opening from the end of the garden. Ultimately cats are fairly fickle and will go to whomever has the best offer. If you are the only person in the area offering tuna it will probably be you. Are you able to leave the door open for a bit so the cat comes in if it is a bit skittish and won't be picked up?

Original poster
AnnaBanana333 · 07/07/2020 06:25

I have all the doors and windows open, he has about 10 options for entry! He doesn't like tuna (weird, I know) but loves his chicken. I put some heated chicken by the shed and his nose went crazy, but he didn't budge.

He hid under my bed all day Saturday and Sunday and only came out at night (yesterday he was out all day and seemed much more confident) so I think it might be dark before he feels safe enough to come out and hopefully come home.

Three cats from the neighbourhood come in here to eat our cats' food so I'm hopeful we're the best offer around!

OP posts:
slipperywhensparticus · 07/07/2020 06:27

Can he get out?

Original poster
AnnaBanana333 · 07/07/2020 06:30

Yes, when he comes out he has a clear path to our house.

OP posts:
Original poster
AnnaBanana333 · 07/07/2020 06:35

One of the neighbourhood cats is now eating the chicken. At least it attracted A cat, even if not the right one...

OP posts:
slipperywhensparticus · 07/07/2020 06:59

well he will get hungry sooner rather than later

slipperywhensparticus · 07/07/2020 06:59

have you tried dreamies

Original poster
AnnaBanana333 · 07/07/2020 07:06

Dreamies is a great idea. None in the house because we have an overweight cat, but I'll buy some and try him tempt him with those.

OP posts:
SpillTheTeaa · 07/07/2020 07:08

I'd sit by the shed and talk to him. In the hopes that eventually he'll come a bit further forward

TeddyIsaHe · 07/07/2020 07:12

How far in is he? Can you reach him at all? Worst comes to worst, chuck a towel over him and scoop him up. Supply endless treats for the day or he’ll kill you in your sleep!!

Or leave a trail of stinky food, sit where he can’t see you and keep an eye on him coming out.

Original poster
AnnaBanana333 · 07/07/2020 07:18

I can't reach him :(

I'm going out every 20 minutes or so to talk to him, but he just looks at me like "Nah, I'm good." When it's a decent hour I will knock and ask the neighbours permission to sit in their garden. I can take my laptop and work out there if the WiFi reaches!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 07/07/2020 08:05

It’s happened to us all, your not an awful owner. Dh backhanded ours in the face accidentally once. Mistakes happen.

Hopefully he will be hungry soon, decide you’ve worried enough and come out.

That or you’ll have to sit near by all day pretending not to care while he sits there, genuinely not giving a shit.

Lindy2 · 07/07/2020 08:12

Is he playful? Something fluffy on a string dangled where you want him to come out may catch his attention and entice him in that direction.

Possibly he's not settled enough yet for that though.

Hopefully he will come out soon.

thesunwillout · 07/07/2020 08:25

String is a great idea!

Long bit of string dangled on his face and pulled towards the exit. Multiple times. He might chase it.

Noworrieshere · 07/07/2020 08:28

You will look back and laugh about the day you spent sitting outside your neighbour's shed. Hope he comes out soon, the rascal.

Original poster
AnnaBanana333 · 07/07/2020 08:28

Thank you all for the replies and suggestions. Fluffycloudland77 I've stepped on some tails in the dark but this makes me feel even worse.

Lindy2 It's been such a short time I don't really know his personality. I know he likes cat nip but he hasn't seemed interested in toys. He definitely likes his food and he was starting to come to me when I called him and rubbed my fingers together, but he's stubbornly ignoring both at the moment.

It's been 3.5 hours since he escaped. I hope he'll get hungry soon.

OP posts:
TeddyIsaHe · 07/07/2020 10:05

How are you getting on? Has the little scamp decided he’s hungry enough to come back now?

gotothecooler · 07/07/2020 10:16

I hope you managed to tempt him out

TW2013 · 07/07/2020 10:33

One of ours shot out of the house when the three weeks was up really fast and we were worried that he might have lost his bearings. We spotted him a few times but he wouldn't come near. Eventually we went inside and shut the door and then he came yowling to be let in!

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/07/2020 10:50

I snorted at that! Such a cat thing to do.

One of ours got out after spaying and squeezed under a fence. She was fine but we were convinced her insides would fall out.

Floralnomad · 07/07/2020 10:53

Have you managed to attract him out yet @AnnaBanana333

Original poster
AnnaBanana333 · 07/07/2020 11:00

I asked my lovely neighbour if I could sit next to his shed and talk to the cat. He said yes, so I plonked myself down. About a minute later Ollie comes out... then gets nervy and races past me towards my house. I went back through the gate and there was no sign of him, the little ninja. I couldn't see exactly where he went because of the fence in the way.

I'm hoping he's somewhere in the house and has found a really good hiding spot I haven't thought of. If not then at least I've seen his first instinct is to run towards the house. And he did give up one hiding place to come to me, even if he then got spooked.

Gosh this is stressful. I just want him home safe :(

OP posts:
MashedPotatoBrainz · 07/07/2020 11:07

It sounds like he recognises your house as home. He won't go far from his safe food supply. He's just being a bugger. Try not to worry. My boy is an expert at disappearing for the exact amount of time to cause optimal stress in me.

Oliversmumsarmy · 07/07/2020 11:15

Cats are expert at finding hiding places.

I have 5 and can put them in my bedroom (they are super scared of people coming to the house) which has very little furniture and when I go to get them out I usually only find 3. The other 2 have disappeared only for them to surface hours later.

Good luck in finding him