DCat didn't come home today

[violetbunny]

My one-year-old male cat left at 5am, it's now almost 10pm where I am and he hasn't been home.

His usual routine is to pop out early in the morning then back for breakfast and a nap, in and out all day, then dinner and curling up in my lap for a snooze. I knew by the time he hadn't been back for breakfast that something was wrong, he's never even missed a meal let alone not come home for the evening.

I've been out for hours and hours today calling for him, I'm absolutely beside myself with worry. I know he's just a cat, but he's my absolute best friend in the whole world, he's like my little shadow and always wants to be close to me. He hasn't even been gone 24 hours but I just know something terrible has happened, otherwise he'd have come in by now 😭

Not sure why I'm posting really other than to try and reassure myself that I'm not crazy for being an absolute wreck.

I know exactly what it is like, op. We have two siblings. The girl cat was missing for 11 weeks. When she first went missing, we went to all houses around and on our street. We put up notices on lamp posts and vets and rescues. She had been chipped.

We had reached a stage of acceptance she was gone and could only hope someone was taking care of her. This was when she came in through the cat flap into the kitchen. I couldn't believe it and her brother hissed at her. He was also relishing the only cat in the house scenario.

We have no idea where she was or how she survived. She was skeletal and I have overcompensated and she is now a little tubby. Not trying to give you false hope; just to say an unbelievable happened in our situation. I hope he is ok wherever he is and that he makes his way back to you. He has ears like a lynx.

Oh op, I know the feeling. My old girl went missing for 6 weeks and I was beside myself. I came home late from work one night and she was just sitting in the kitchen as if nothing had happened!!

Keep searching, hopefully you’ll have some news ASAP.

I have you find your lost cat soon, it's not just a cat! Don't give up hope but know it's harder as days go on.

I've been there and know what your feeling. My lovely cat was 18 when she was missing and never seen again but I think it was her time and she knew.

But your cat is still young, fingers crossed she's just having too much fun or is locked in somewhere. I've read many happy stories so don't give up hope.

@Cailleach1 Thanks for sharing your story. I must admit one of my biggest concerns is whether he can feed himself. He isn't a bad hunter, but he's been absolutely mollycoddled.

I'm quite tickled that you noticed his Eres, I've always thought the same!

Ears, not eres! Stupid autocorrect...

That's a gorgeous photo of him. He's a stunningly handsome boy. Do keep us posted.

I FOUND HIM!

I went out looking for him as I have every single day, I decided to go a bit further out than I usually look. I had delivered some missing cat flyers to this street but hadn't really trespassed into people's gardens spent as much extensive time looking.

I was calling for him and then heard a cat going absolutely crazy meowing. I didn't even think it was him at first because he doesn't normally meow like that. The whole property was surrounded by a massively high fence, I peered through the gaps in the fence and it was him!!!

The property had an electronic gate, I tried the buzzer but no one answered. I got a bit panicked that he might run off so I scaled the fence 😳 I was trying to figure out how to get him out when I realised the people who lived there were home. I quickly had to explain why I was breaking into their garden 😂 Luckily they were very understanding, they let me stick him in a bedroom while I literally ran home and then drove back with the cat carrier.

So far he has eaten a ton of food and been to the vet. He is painfully thin and his leg is injured, so I think he must have been chased by something, which is how he got injured and was so far away. He has to go back for an X-ray tomorrow. He's been purring nonstop and keeps meowing at me.

I'm just so glad I kept looking for him, he was so far outside of where he normally goes and on the other side of a very busy highway. I highly doubt he ever would have found his way home. I cried at the vets because i was so happy.

Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and comforting words.

Oh I’m so happy for you!

I knew it! Amazing news, shame your baby is injured but i knew if you didn't give up you would find him ❤️

Let us know what the vets say !

Delighted for you, op.

Absolutely amazing news!!

Fantastic news 😻

Thanks. He's been in my lap for the last hour and literally hasn't stopped purring the whole time. I think he is extremely pleased to see me (and I feel the same of course!)

Also the more I think about it, it's a bloody miracle I found him when I did. He's painfully thin and in no state to hunt. Don't know how much longer he would have lasted, and we live in a population dense central city area with a lot of cats, so not sure anyone would have noticed him.

I'm so glad you found him! From your description I think I live in the same city as you and was going to start looking out for him myself (though I'm not sure I live quite that close to you!) Enjoy your cuddles 🤗

Can you catproof the back garden? There’s an Australian system that isn’t that expensive and isn’t unsightly.

Just read this whole thread and was getting upset on your behalf then had a tear in my eye when I read your update!
I don't think I'd cope if any of ours went missing.
So glad you found him!

I am so glad that you found him! I hope that he gets a clean bill of health at the vet too.

Hooray! That’s such good news. Fingers crossed his leg is ok, and he’s back to his usual self ASAP.

Amazing news! Mine had also gone much further than I thought he would, and was also very very happy to see me when I finally got him home. Very happy for you.

what a lovely thread :) here's to his rapid recovery.

OMG! That's brought a tear to my eye 😀 This is the best news ever. Thank god you didn't give up looking for him. He is so very lucky to have such a caring owner. Many people would have given up.

How is his sister with him? They can be a bit funny when they are parted for a while. I hope the x-ray goes well and please do up-date us and may be post a photo of him? I would love to see one now he's home.

Phew I can uncross everything now!

@Icequeen01 His sister has hissed at him a few times since he got home, he's not smelling his freshest and as it's been 2 weeks he must have smelled not quite right to her. However, it's late at night here and they're currently both asleep on the bed (he's on top of me ) so I think she does know who he is now, but isn't thrilled to see him 😂

He's been meowing at me constantly unless I'm either touching him or sitting next to him, and if I go into another room he howls and limps after me. So I think he's feeling a bit traumatised about having gotten lost, and doesn't want me to be too far away. Here's a pic I took of him earlier, not long after he'd got back home.

He does look thin over his rear doesn’t he?.

One of our neighbours lost one of two brothers on the road, the one left was quite pleased to be an only child.

@Fluffycloudland77 Yes, he's lost a lot of weight poor thing. I can't give him breakfast tomorrow as he needs to go for an X-ray, but he's been eating plenty since he got home.