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The litter tray

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

Original poster

Missing house cat

53 replies

icedcoffees · 25/11/2021 12:52

I'm hoping for some positive stories here!

My female cat is indoors only due to some health issues - she's 5 and has never been outside.

Last night she got out of the back door and she's done a runner Sad she's tiny and black so really hard to spot at the best of times!

I've left her litter and her food outside but there's no sign of her - we've checked the shed/garage and asked the neighbours to keep an eye out. I've also blasted social media.

Any other advice or positive stories? Her older kitty brother looks lost and keeps looking for her 😞

OP posts:
Brusca · 25/11/2021 12:57

Fingers crossed for you.

Is she chipped and are the details up to date? (Some Petlog data was lost a while back so it's worth checking).

Original poster
icedcoffees · 25/11/2021 13:02

Yes - she's chipped and all up to date thankfully!

OP posts:
AngelsWithSilverWings · 25/11/2021 13:03

My indoor cat escaped one night and was missing for 4 days. I was in a right state.

I read a tip on here about smearing wet food around the outside of the house. Enough to tempt him back but not enough to actually eat.

I did that on day 3 and he was outside the window, hungry but fine the next morning.

Keeping my fingers gets crossed for you .

Original poster
icedcoffees · 25/11/2021 13:14

Ooh I'll definitely give that a go!

And thank you - I'm just worried she's terrified herself and is hiding somewhere but too afraid to come out 😞

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 25/11/2021 15:54

My indoor cat decided she didn't like the outside world was was hiding very close by. Fingers crossed yours is near by.

Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse · 25/11/2021 16:00

Sorry no advice OP just hoping she comes back safe and sound to you.

Original poster
icedcoffees · 25/11/2021 16:04

Thank you - still no sightings of her :(

I suspect she hasn't gone far and is just scared and staying put until she feels a bit safer (or hungry!).

OP posts:
Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse · 25/11/2021 16:09

Hopefully on her way back now🤞

Catnipples · 25/11/2021 17:40

Sorry to hear she's missing....I'm sure she hasn't gone far but it's the not knowing isn't it? I live in quite a big town and it's a cat haven - on the local Facebook group there are constant posts of cats going missing then turning up a few days later like nothing ever happened. One was missing for 3 months & it turned out she was living in a car park only 2 roads away and was absolutely fine Hmm

The link below has some good tips, especially the parts about the litter/hoover bag contents. Maybe try to ration those things so that you can sprinkle more as & when you need to (hopefully you won't need to!) And do lots of calling at night when there aren't other noises to distract her.

Keeping everything crossed for you Flowers

Original poster
icedcoffees · 25/11/2021 17:44

Thank you so much for all the tips!

DH went out after work but no sign of her still - it's extra worrying as she's black and it's pitch black out the back of our house. I can only hope she has the sense to avoid the main road...

I also don't think she's gone very far - most of the missing cats around here are found about three houses away!

OP posts:
Original poster
icedcoffees · 26/11/2021 17:23

Unfortunately still no sign of her Sad

I've been putting fresh food out at her meal-times and her litter tray is out there. I also emptied the vacuum cleaner on the lawn this morning!

The weather here has been awful - storms overnight and 40+mph winds so I suspect she's still sheltering somewhere. All the neighbours are keeping an eye out for her too.

OP posts:
Stickytreacle · 26/11/2021 18:06

See if you can borrow or buy a humane trap, it's how I've caught frightened escaped house cats before. Also setting up a wildlife or security camera can help to see if she's coming back overnight.

Original poster
icedcoffees · 26/11/2021 18:08

Thank you, will give the camera a go! A lady local to us has traps so I may get in touch with her if she's not appeared over the weekend :)

OP posts:
LakeShoreD · 26/11/2021 18:14

Are you sure she’s not got back into the house? Mine did this once, he definitely got out because I saw him scamper but somehow missed him getting back in and he emerged the next day all sooty from the chimney Confused

Original poster
icedcoffees · 26/11/2021 18:35

@LakeShoreD

Are you sure she’s not got back into the house? Mine did this once, he definitely got out because I saw him scamper but somehow missed him getting back in and he emerged the next day all sooty from the chimney Confused
Yes, we've double checked everywhere.

Our beagle would sniff her out in seconds anyway - she once got herself stuck under the drawers in the living room when DH took them apart to find something. Within 30 seconds of DH putting the drawer back, the dog was pawing and whining at the spot she was stuck Grin

OP posts:
Catnipples · 26/11/2021 18:49

Glad your neighbours are looking for her too. The humane trap sounds like a good idea.
Really hope she appears soon! x

Mrsfussypants1 · 26/11/2021 20:04

This happened to us in the summer, indoor cat, in 5yrs she's never been out except the vets. DH left the bedroom door open and we had windows open, I can only think she went to sit on the outside windowsill and she's tried to catch something flying by. We searched till late, no luck, out neighbours all have 6ft high fences and front driveways with no hiding places, I was in dispare. I followed some of the tips given above, I even cut up my nightie and scattered it around the estate with a couple of toys of hers, left her litter tray out etc. We went back out in the very early hours the next morning as advised, when nobody was about. 6.30 we found her, 3 houses away, sitting on a low front fence huddled into the house, she didn't even meow, we were calling her and nearly walked past her. Indoor cats don't go far, can hide silently for days, so don't give up hope and post flyers through your neighbours doors and get the word out. Don't give up hope x

Original poster
icedcoffees · 26/11/2021 20:12

Thank you so much, I'm so glad you found your girl.

We've looked for her daily but with it being so dark and her being black it's been really hard as we both still have to work during the day.

We think we know where she is but it's getting to her that's going to be the problem! We have some woodland out the back and our dog has shown loads of interest in the area but it's really overgrown and we just can't see her - she'll be too scared to come to us as well I think.

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 26/11/2021 20:19

Have you taken a torch and flashed it around - including upwards- to try and catch an eye reflection?

Original poster
icedcoffees · 26/11/2021 20:26

We have, I was out for 30 minutes last night doing that, and DH did the same! I suspect she's hiding somewhere and is so curled up/frightened that she's just not responding - at least, I hope that's what's happened and she's not hurt or worse :(

OP posts:
Original poster
icedcoffees · 26/11/2021 23:35

She has been sighted!

She was hiding in next doors wood shed but she ran off scared so I have no idea where she's gone but at least she's alive and doesn't appear injured, just very frightened.

I hope we can find her over the weekend when the storms die down.

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 27/11/2021 00:02

Ah what excellent news!
Hope she shows up very soon and that you soon have her safely back home.

Catnipples · 27/11/2021 07:31

Oh that's good news! She will probably go back to it, is it possible to set up a humane trap with food in it close to it?

Original poster
icedcoffees · 27/11/2021 07:42

Possibly - the owners are going to check it regularly and shut her in if they spot her again, then come and knock so we can fetch her Smile

OP posts:
Stickytreacle · 27/11/2021 07:47

I would make sure you keep putting food out, it will keep her in the area, the danger is she gets scared and becomes chased and completely lost, smelly food should attract her. Hope she's home soon!