11 month old cat missing. So worried

[ChuffingHeck]

Our boy has gone AWOL. He did this once in January but was home 24 hours later. It’s now coming up to 48 hours and we’ve not seen him at all. The litter tray is outside and we’ve been shaking his dry food to try and tempt him home.

We’ve contacted the vets and posted on local FB groups but no luck yet. Could really do with a handhold, my autistic son is very attached to him and I’m so worried how he’ll react if our lovely kitten doesn’t come home to us 😭

When you are looking for him, take an opened tin of sardines or tuna with you. The smell can be very tempting to a hungry cat, and might prompt miaows if he's trapped and can't get to you.

I also had a cat that disappeared for two weeks and then reappeared. I really hope he turns up. It sounds like you are doing all the right things.

The scrap yard owner was lovely and was happy for me to go back again. It only takes cars, most of which were open or had smashed windows so don’t think he’d be trapped. I will try and go out later tonight when it’s dark or ask my DH to because it doesn’t get dark here until after 10pm. I will definitely keep calling for him and searching, good tip about the tuna, thank you!

About 20 years ago I read an article about a cat owner who committed suicide because his cat vanished for 3 weeks.

The cat turned up after 4 weeks.

Our cat ran off at the same age. We live rurally and had not long moved house. Everyone was full of doom and gloom but she sauntered home five days later apparently none the worse for her absence.

At least the weather is ok at the moment. Don’t give up hope.

I was out last night banging a can of tuna like a crazy person but no joy. Possible sighting about 2-3 miles away so we went up there today and put leaflets through some doors and a lady has said she’ll keep looking for him too.

My son showed me some some pictures of him he’d taken on the iPad the morning he went missing and all I could think is what if that was the last time we see him? Will keep doing what we’re doing but just feel so sad and want our boy back so much

Just checking in. Any news? I assume not but keep thinking of you, I know how awful it is when a cat is missing.

Thinking of you. Hope he is home soon.

Hi, I know, its really rough when they're missing. Please try and stay positive.
Any chance you could go to where he was possibly spotted tonight and look for him?

So sorry to hear about your missing cat. Is he neutered?
I hope he comes home soon.

Keeping everything crossed for you

Good luck with your search. It is worrying when they go missing. Two of my cats have gone wandering and both returned home - the first cat went missing because a storm was approaching and she decided it was safer hiding in the surrounding gardens for two nights and the other cat went AWOL - we think because something spooked her - we were so confused because we kept hearing her meow (I thought I was hallucinating!) and realised she was under the decking and we had to keep feeding her Dreamies through the wooden boards until she felt it safe enough to return indoors.

I’m back where the sighting of the cat was and I can see said cat but it won’t let me come anywhere near it, so I’m not convinced it’s him. Very frustrating as I can see it and it’s about 5 metres away!

It’s jet black like ours, but our boy is very friendly and this one is very skittish. Plus I’m calling his name and this cat isn’t even looking up so I don’t think it is him unfortunately!

I’m confident it wasn’t him in the end as I’m pretty sure he wasn’t neutered and our boy is. I couldn’t get close enough to catch him but have taken photos to post on FB incase anyone is missing him.

I’ve done more streets tonight but feeling so exhausted. I’m 33 weeks pregnant and struggling to walk as it is and just finding the whole thing so draining. So hoping he is home soon.

Oh OP, I'm so sorry you're having all this stress and worry when you're pregnant and must be feeling tired enough already. I do hope he's safely home soon..

So sorry to read this. My friends cat went missing shortly after she moved house a few years back. He eventually turned up at her old house a whole year later....absolutely fine, and has been back with her ever since. Probably not helpful atm, but just wanted to let u know there is hope

The other cat that keeps coming to our house, we can see on the security camera that it comes every night now. Could our cat be too scared to come home because of this? If the other cat was spraying all over our garden would that keep our cat away? I don’t know how I can get this other cat to bugger off completely or if our cat is now just too scared to step into another cats territory

It's maybe chased your boy away. You need to get it out of your house and garden. Have you got a water pistol? Does it only come during the night. Poor you, what a worry and you pregnant as well. Is there any other people/neighbours you could ask to help you keep looking for him?

@Mzy123

We do chase it and throw water at it when we see it. It’s not been last night as we have a camera on the garden in the we’ll see our cat. But it has been the previous nights. I’m not sure how we can keep it away without deterring our cat. We’ve put our rug from the living room in the garden to try and get our home scent to him.

This cat has already attacked him earlier in the year and cost us almost £600 in vet fees. They also got into a spat a few weeks ago leaving him with a bleeding ear. I know it’s only doing what cats do but it’s so hard not to be angry with it!

I would be bloody angry too.
I would bet that cat has attacked/chased him away now knowing the background. Do you have any idea who owns the bully? If so, ask them if they could please keep him in at night for a week because he keeps coming into your home.
Any wise litter tray/mumsnetters have ideas for getting this cat from coming in the catflap/garden if no luck tracing the owner.

I feel like if that is the case I have no idea how to get him back

HE IS HOME!

We had a phone call from the scrap yard saying they’d caught him and I’ve been round to collect him. He is filthy, stinking and he’s definitely lost some weight but he is home and straight into the arms of my DS who cried when he saw him.

He’s now meowing at the window to be back out! I think not! DH lecturing him and telling him when he’s mature enough to come back when he’s told he can go back out

Thank you all so much for the support on here. It’s been a lifesaver.

Oh he’s so grounded!

I hope your filthy stinking skinny but deeply cherished and loved wee cat will appreciate home more now!!

Aye - because your DH’s lectures will get him telt!!! He may be telt but isn’t listening!!! 🤣

Thrilled to bits for you all

So thrilled for you xxxx