My cat seems to have left home

[Bojingle]

Does anyone know what I do? He seems to be sleeping outdoors. He's stepped foot inside the house once in two months but that was a month ago now. He doesn't even seem to come in the garden. I see him around once a fortnight ish and I breathe a sigh of relief that he's alive and has no visible injuries but he's never close enough to touch.

I had my second baby in April so I'm assuming that is what's caused it. My 3 year old has always been very loving towards him but the cat didn't feel the same way, he's a timid little thing and has always hated children - I think its the noise. The cat is 12 years old and I've had him since he was a kitten so I'm sad about him being outside alone. Does anyone have any advice on getting him home? I see him so infrequently it feels like a lost cause 😭

Aww bless you all. Does he have a nice bed anywhere outside, in a covered box or anything? Does he have dry food out to smell?

sounds like he has made his decision

Can you set up a shed or something for him in the garden?

I think its much more likely he has moved in with someone else, sorry, especially if he doesnt look thin.

I'm not sure how to entice him back again if you can't get near him. Maybe you could put some flyers around to ask if anyone has taken him in recently?

My cat went missing for two days. By chance we discovered where he was and he had been visiting them fir two weeks or so. The two days he didn't come home was because they fed him. We kept him in but had to let him out after two nights as he was crying. He went straight to them. We kept him in for five nights and we see him a lot more now. I've not had any messages to say he's there. I would try my best to catch him then keep him in for a bit. Maybe a new bed, toys, nice food, space for peace. Don't give up and good luck. Also, definitely set up a good outdoor space for sleeping and water. Mine weren't impressed when more babies, small furry animals, a dog and another kitten came along but it worked out with time and patience.

I have posted here about a cat that came to our garden and isn't going away.....

Is your cat microchipped? And does it have some information on its collar? Maybe call the local animal protection organisations and vets so they have information on your car if someone goes there with it

@something2say He can get in and out of the shed to sleep, I also leave food there but theres no sign of him going in. I leave water and dry food in the garden by the back door, it does get eaten but I've also caught a hedgehog sniffing around so I'm not certain whether its being eaten by my cat, the hedgehog or another cat.

He's not wearing his collar anymore @grey12 but he is chipped and his microchip details are up to date.

My next door neighbours are a bit odd. They throw whole slices of bread on their garden for birds and have a bowl of cat food on their front door step, for the hedgehog. I know my cat has been eating their food and I know they talk to him as I hear him through the fence/front bush. They say he doesn't go in their house though, just drops by for some fuss outdoors ocassionally.

Ugh, if he had moved in with someone else I'd rather just know about it. If he was happy and being cared for then I could at least relax, I hate the idea of him being out on the streets uncared for.

I'm due to go on holiday for a week in 3 weeks time. Usually he would go to the cattery but the chances of me catching him to take him seem so remote. Going on holiday and leaving him on the streets feels so irresponsible though. This bloody cat is causing me more stress than my kids atm! 😂

Could you ask your neighbours if they would take him in for those three weeks or leave food out each day?

@Mycatcontrolsmymovements I'm going to have to, I'm going to ask them to try keep an eye on him and make sure he looks fit and well. I'll leave them my mobile number in case of any problems.

Its so frustrating. I'm a good pet owner but I feel like I can't be. Selfishly I miss having a cat around the house too but I accept the decision is out of my hands but will just keep trying to persuade him home. Maybe when it gets colder he'll reconsider

I would put a collar on him with your details if you can get close enough to him, even just for a few weeks so that whoever has been feeding him understands he has a home.

Is there anything more you can do to make your home more welcoming for him? For instance, are there plenty of high-up spots where he can escape from a small child if needed? Does he have somewhere "safe" he can sleep? Have a look at Jackson Galaxy's videos on Catification.