My cat is missing. I am distraught.

[oxcat1]

I adopted two tortoiseshell sisters, four years ago, and they have been the light of my life. Just us, they are with me almost 24/7, as I am disabled and often housebound.

On Tuesday night, Mabel went missing. I always keep them in at night (scared of cars) but somehow she found a way out, despite the window netting etc. No sign of her since. Nothing.

I have printed 50 posters and put them up all round, and slips through over 100 houses. Mabel is posted on our local missing cats page, and this has been shared and reposted over 200 times. I have called the microchip company and registered her missing, and called all the local vets. One of my carers has paced the streets in the dead of night calling for her and I am calling for her day and night.

I have used cat litter in the garden to help with scent, and I have been spending as much time outside talking as I can.

Is there anything more I can do? I am frantic. She is so very timid - a shy little home bird who had to be coaxed into loving me and then did so unreservedly. She would sit silently doing long slow blinks, and would very gently tap my arm when she thought she was owed some attention.

What else could I do? She won't have gone adventuring and is very unlikely to be hiding 'in plain sight' as she is simply so timid. She is never normally out of sugar for more than an hour T a time so this is so very out of character. She is microchipped and neutered but no collar.

What else can I do? I am so desperate.

Is she chipped? Try calling the local vets in case someone has taken her there or even cat protection? I hope you find her soon

I know it’s worrying. I’ve had a cat go missing and I found him by going right into gardens down an alleyway and he heard my voice. There is a pet detective on Facebook who I think is supposed to be really good. Ideally you need someone to knock on doors and ask to look in sheds and gardens. Good luck.

I'm really sorry to hear this OP. If my girls went missing I would be devastated. It sounds like you are doing all of the right things.

I did go out at about 10pm last night with the carer and put slips through another 4 streets of houses, calling as i went and shining the torch into gardens etc. Nothing.

I had one other thought: her sister gets very loud and vocal from about 5am, first because she wants breakfast, and then because she wants to be allowed to go out (I let her out once it's proper daylight). Should I try letting Mulli out during those early hours to see if that tempts Mabel back?

Of course, the noise all stops as soon as the door is opened for Mulli, but still.....

Yes good idea, or even record the sister and take the recording out when someone can look for her. When someone calls you need to do that while walking back towards your house, not away from it, or it will confuse the lost cat.

Yes Tell her sister to go and find Mabel. Sounds silly but That's what I do with Magic when I can't find Cheddar. It really does work.

I'm so sorry she's missing.

Get in touch with this guy, him & his dog Molly have found lots of cats.

thepetdetectives.com/molly.php

Yes that’s the one ^^ he’s meant to be great

Sorry you’re in such a stressful situation. I agree that if you aren’t able to get out and knock doors then you need someone who will do it for you. Get the person who is searching to ask neighbours if they can check their garages / sheds themselves, or at least if they’ll leave the door open for half an hour or so, for her to escape if she’s too timid to do it infront of people.

If you have netting are you quite sure she isn't somewhere inside still?

Behind furniture or trapped behind the fridge. That kind of thing.

My boy disappeared. I found him days later in a garage that was attached to a house. He's very loud so I don't know how they didn't hear him!

I'm not in the UK but what I learnt was we have a vet clinic that all deceased unclaimed animals get sent too. So that's a place to check.

I'd get someone to knock on each door of your immediate neighbours and ask them to check all buildings.

I found mine by calling as I was walking around trying to talk to them all.

Thanks all.

There is netting but i have checked everywhere. I don't know why she wouldn't call out if in my house? I only have a 2-bed flat so not a huge space.

I suspect she snuck out when one of my carers was taking something in or out of the garden overnight. They said they were careful but that is my best guess.

I have alerted all local vets, and also contacted that pet detective and another, just in case. It looks like my insurance might cover some costs.

I just need to know. The idea of her lost and terrified is possibly even worse than the idea that she is gone. She is so very nervy.

Hi
I am so sorry that your cat has gone missing.
Are you able to post which area you are in?
There be a cat loving mumsnet poster nearby, that would knock on the neighbours for you.
Just a thought

May*

You are doing everything you can & I hope you find her soon. Cats are tough little buggers so don’t give up.

We locked one of ours in a shipping container once for a few days (by accident we aren’t monsters) & she survived. She was incredibly pissed off with us about it for a while.

Pin up some of your worn clothes on the washing line, if you have a water spray bottle lightly mist them as it enhances smell.

Hope she is back soon, it is awful, the not knowing.

I read about a cat that had been trapped in a garage for 3 weeks and apart from being dehydrated and thin she was fine and made a full recovery.

Also it is very rare for a fox to attack a cat. Also there would be a lot of noise if they did. On the rare occasions that it does happen it is usually very old cats.

I know your mind is running to the very worst scenario, but it is much more likely that she is very close by.

I am grateful for the replies. Thank you. Dirty washing is blowing on the line!
No sign of her at all so far

Some hideous thoughts today about how she could be feeling. I am coming, little one. Just hold on.

Nothing from anything or anyone.

I have contacted a pet detective with a sniffer dog (what else are credit cards for?) but I haven't yet had a reply.

It will be a week tonight. My little girl. I am losing hope.

Photo from happier times.

A week isn’t that long, dont give up!

I hope you manage to find her

Keep your chin up OP, don’t lose hope. Mabel will find her way home soon. Keeping everything crossed for you.

I'm so sorry. One of mine went missing very recently. It was very unlike him and I really thought he must be dead. Then he just strolled in almost exactly a week later - very hungry but fine. Don't give up hope.

It has been a week.

I called three pet detective agencies. Two never got back to me, and one was totally booked up until 20 September but spoke to me anyway. He said he believes she has almost certainly been taken by a fox - that there has been not a single sighting, and that she disappeared overnight and therefore she could not be trapped or taken. I asked how that could happen and leave no trace but he said the foxes take them back to their dens.

My little girl. How could I not protect you?

Foxes aren’t usually interested in cats. I’ve had foxes sit curled up with mine on a shed roof. I find that a strange thing to say.