My new cat has escaped :(

[AnnaBanana333]

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.

Thank you all again.

MashedPotatoBrainz That is so true. Whenever I let a cat out for the first time they always come back about an hour after I've realised they're lost and I should never have let them out and it's all my fault.

Only in this case it really is my fault because he shouldn't have been out at all.

Come home Ollie boy...

I found him again, tempted him out with a treat, got hold of him, and he twisted out of my grasp. Gone again. I feel so useless.

I'd leave him be now. He wants to be left alone to hide. Give him a few hours and then call him in with food. He'll come in when he's hungry.

Can you leave a large box out with food in it?

Is it best to leave food out or make him have to come inside for it?

Make him come in for it. It’s torrential rain here in the midlands so hopefully It will reach you and he’ll decide coming home is a good idea.

We're in London so I hope so.

I would just wait now, he seems to know where home is. The cat I mentioned above still hates being picked up. We have had him six years and if I picked him up outside he would still squirm away and escape. He will happily come in (in his own time) and curl up on my lap.

Yes, leave him for a bit now, otherwise you’ll make him more nervous.
Leave a door or a window open with some tasty and smelly treats inside. Don’t open all the doors and windows, because once he is in you need to be able to confine him quickly.
It’s a very good sign he is in the vicinity! He’ll come in soon enough.

It rained, no sign of him yet. I'm holding out hope that he'll come back when it's dark - counting down the hours.

He will definitely come back.
Do you have some litter from the litter tray used by him? You can put that outside the door. He will recognise the scent. Not that he’s far away, but it might help.

Yes I've put his litter tray outside as well as the carrier I brought him home in. Fingers crossed.

Good luck. It’s such an awful loss-type feeling. I’m sure he will come back to you!

If push comes to shove, you may have to get a humane trap like the ones charities use to trap, neuter and release. These contraptions do not hurt the cat.
Is he microchipped? Is he still in that hiding place where you saw him?

He is microchipped, though I doubt the transfer of ownership has been processed yet so they would call the rescue if anyone caught him.

He fled from the last hiding place when I tried to grab him and now I don't know where he is. But the two times I found him he was within 20ft of my house so he is staying close.

It really is an awful feeling. I want my boy back :(

Keep calling him, he’s not the first cat to get out early.

It’s a shame it gets dark so late these days, I’m sure he will make his appearance under the cover of dark.
You may have to sleep downstairs with the door or a window a little bit open.
Leave the food inside so he comes in for it. You said he likes chicken, mine go mad for those packets of cooked chicken for sandwiches, I think it has a really strong smell? Don’t lose hope, he will come in.

I hope he comes back to you soon ☺️🐱

One of my cats stays outside all day and completely ignores us. Then strolls in around 10 pm and expects immediate food service.

He'll be back. He just not hungry enough yet.

I'd put the cat carrier away, the other things you put out smell of him anyhow and carriers can cause animals anxiety.

All my cats have run off to check they can explore when first out. He wants to know his freedom and boundaries and come back through choice. A regular shake of biscuits and call will work when he's hungry.

Cats tend to hate carriers. Take the carrier inside well out of sight.

Cats tend to hate carriers. Take the carrier inside well out of sight.

Exactly the same happened to us - he crept in to eat at night Every night for a week. The cat home lent us a trap - we got him!
We did message all the neighbours asking them not to feed him while he was away.
I’m sure he’ll be back - be patient

I saw him again but I didn't approach him. I just wanted to know he was still close, which he is. It's finally getting dark now.