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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

How long before you give up? (Missing cat)

11 replies

LavenderAskew · 03/07/2021 11:31

I've no seen my cat (male, 6 years and neutered) for over three weeks. I've the cat flap on in only, and he has been in the house at night once last week (though one of my sons let him out early morning after Cat nibbled his toes).

Before this he changed his behaviour stopped eating his dry food; eating less, some times not eating, his wet food (no weight loss mind you). He'd not come home for a few nights but I'd spot him slinking past the house daily and he'd come in be meowing a hello and looking for rubs and sleep.

He was gone for about a week five weeks ago, came bacl and I felt he was skinner and I kept him in as long as possible (very hard with him, always was he has open a locked cat flap) and he didn't really eat - was the right time for flea and worm treatments so was down vets, talked to them and was arranging to bring him him for weight check and possible.

He has gone before for long periods (just under three weeks being the longest) and 'm still leaving down (dry) food and fresh water daily as I did then then. But this just feels different how long do I gold out hope for. Forever?

I don't want to give up by the way, I just feel so sad this time.

OP posts:
SometimesIFeedTheSparrows · 03/07/2021 11:39

Have you put his photo up on every lost cat Facebook page in your area?

It sounds like he's found another home, more than he's lost.

LavenderAskew · 03/07/2021 12:04

Yes.

I do think he's moved out rather than gone missing I was suspicious a while back he was living with a woman near me. But it was just he visited her daily and she fed and chatted to him. Though she died suddenly few months ago (oddly at the time he decreased his eating in my house).

I suppose what I really mean is, when to I accept he has given up on us and leave all care, vetting and regular needed treatment to someone else

OP posts:
Stickytreacle · 03/07/2021 12:21

I had one go missing for four and a half months, and a friend had one that turned up after six years.... I wouldn't give up yet.

Viviennemary · 03/07/2021 12:23

I reckon somebody else could be feeding him. Don't give up yet. Put up notices asking people to check their garages and sheds.

SometimesIFeedTheSparrows · 03/07/2021 12:46

You could put some leaflets on lamp post outside her house Grin

I know my MIL's cat went 'missing' having moved in with a house out the back of hers and up the road a bit. He came back for a visit after about 10 months, by which time she'd got another cat and she and her new cat chased him off. He came back a few more times thinking he could have his pouch cake and eat it but she was having none of it and had moved on.

darumafan · 03/07/2021 14:09

My wanderer has just returned after two years so don't give up hope yet.

LavenderAskew · 04/07/2021 11:27

So could you any length of time. Or never. ☹

Cats are right horrible rotters aren't they. Why do we love them?

OP posts:
DiaryofWimpyMumm · 04/07/2021 13:40

My boy was mussing first 4 weeks. I put up posters and someone in the house opposite mine phoned me to say he was under their camper van and they were feeding him.

Got him back that day and he's never been out since. I live on a fairly busy road so he shouldn't have been out the front

Don't give up

LavenderAskew · 05/07/2021 10:02

My youngest is deverstated. Thinks Cat left because he doesn't like him (Youngest adores Cat and as always wanted to pet him all the time but in typical cat fashion Cat ignored him!!)

We hold out hope.

OP posts:
BarkingUpTheWrongRoseBush · 05/07/2021 10:14

If nothing much has changed at home…like new dog etc. Then he’s probably on his summer holidays. We had a cat that went awol every summer, lived in the fields, ate mice , came back skinnier. He was neutered.

Came back when it got cold.

I had another one that came back after 6 years….

30degreesandmeltinghere · 05/07/2021 10:16

Our Molly went for 6 months. Flitted in and out of our lives for a good 2 years after that then stayed home for good. Dcats are very strange...

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