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Original poster

Missing cat been seen on our street but won't come home?

41 replies

prettyprinceofpartiez · 16/12/2021 19:01

So my very distinctive looking Bengal cat totally disappeared 3 weeks ago - he's outdoors but is like a little dog, very attached and bonded to us. Haven't heard a peep about him in that time, despite posting on our local area and estate FB groups. I've been convinced he got into a van and become displaced as he has previous for doing this. But strangely, one of our neighbours today messaged to say he'd seen my cat wandering around a car parked down our road. He knows my cat well and as he's so unusual looking he was 100% adamant it was him, but he disappeared out of sight quickly, like he'd jumped over a wall. But why hasn't he come home?

Has anyone ever had this, where a cat is off living nearby but won't come home? He's clearly a well loved (and expensive!) cat and it seems so odd that he wouldn't come home if he were able. We love him and he loves us very much! It also seems strange no one else has seen him in the last 3 weeks as he normally roams around quite freely and is seen lots.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 16/12/2021 19:05

That’s odd. A bonded Bengal wouldn’t just leave you either.

Did he tell you which house?.

Original poster
prettyprinceofpartiez · 16/12/2021 19:21

@Fluffycloudland77

That’s odd. A bonded Bengal wouldn’t just leave you either.

Did he tell you which house?.

Yes, it's just a few doors down. Perhaps I should knock on their door? I feel he must be mistaken as the behaviour doesn't add up but he KNOWS my cat - he often tries to get into their house and there really is no mistaking him as his markings. He's golden and is known as the 'leopard cat' around here!
OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 16/12/2021 20:36

I’d knock.

User8756777732 · 16/12/2021 21:23

Hope you get him back. Sounds like someone is feeding him…

This gives me a bit of hope as our moggy has gone missing this week (though no sightings) 😿

icedcoffees · 17/12/2021 06:24

Ours went missing and wasn't spotted for three days until she just turned up in a neighbours garden. By the smell of her, she'd been hiding in a garage or shed somewhere.

Cats can be surprisingly resourceful if necessary but it does sound like he's maybe being fed elsewhere. Is he chipped to you?

Original poster
prettyprinceofpartiez · 17/12/2021 10:58

@icedcoffees

Ours went missing and wasn't spotted for three days until she just turned up in a neighbours garden. By the smell of her, she'd been hiding in a garage or shed somewhere.

Cats can be surprisingly resourceful if necessary but it does sound like he's maybe being fed elsewhere. Is he chipped to you?

He is chipped to us - he's so nosy and friendly and is forever sneaking into our neighbours' houses and having snoozes on their bed, so wouldn't surprise me if someone has decided to feed him and adopt him as theirs, but that is just so immoral! He's so clearly loved and cared for.

Also strange that he would be close by and not come home, he's been my little shadow for 2 years including constantly during lockdown.

Perhaps worth noting that the last time we saw him, we had friends staying over who have a dog (the dog wasn't over too but presumably they'd smell like it). He was fine with them for the day but then the next day he didn't come home - coincidence or not?

Going to knock on the house where he was apparently seen skulking around and ask if they've seen him...

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 17/12/2021 12:48

He is chipped to us - he's so nosy and friendly and is forever sneaking into our neighbours' houses and having snoozes on their bed, so wouldn't surprise me if someone has decided to feed him and adopt him as theirs, but that is just so immoral! He's so clearly loved and cared for.

I agree but sadly some people seem to be of the opinion that cats choose their own homes, so when a cat comes into their house they just decide to claim it as theirs Hmm

Stickytreacle · 17/12/2021 13:12

Ours didn't come home for four and a half months because a Tom cat was visiting our garden, we caught, neutered and brought in the stray Tom, and the week after caught our missing cat. A dog in the house could well be the reason he's found alternative accomodation I would think.

Stickytreacle · 17/12/2021 13:13

Ah sorry, just realised they didn't have the dog, but yes, I'd imagine he would smell it.

Original poster
prettyprinceofpartiez · 17/12/2021 13:16

@icedcoffees

He is chipped to us - he's so nosy and friendly and is forever sneaking into our neighbours' houses and having snoozes on their bed, so wouldn't surprise me if someone has decided to feed him and adopt him as theirs, but that is just so immoral! He's so clearly loved and cared for.

I agree but sadly some people seem to be of the opinion that cats choose their own homes, so when a cat comes into their house they just decide to claim it as theirs Hmm

This idea makes me so upset. What is wrong with some people!
OP posts:
Original poster
prettyprinceofpartiez · 17/12/2021 13:16

@Stickytreacle

Ah sorry, just realised they didn't have the dog, but yes, I'd imagine he would smell it.
Yes it's possible, seems a coincidence!
OP posts:
Original poster
prettyprinceofpartiez · 17/12/2021 13:17

Spoke to the person whose house he was seen outside, she hasn't seen him in weeks and she knows him too, often goes into her garden to drink from her pond. He gets everywhere!

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 17/12/2021 20:20

This idea makes me so upset. What is wrong with some people!

I know, it's grim.

I would be tempted to blast social media with photos and mention the latest sighting - someone may be guilted into letting him out to find his way back home. I would also ask people to check sheds, garages etc. as he may have taken shelter there.

Ours was spotted in a neighbours garden but she stank of engine oil so I suspect she was hiding in a garage or under a car for a while before emerging. I ended up poking her out of a bush with a stick in the end Grin

OrangeSamphire · 17/12/2021 20:30

One of our two x-Bengal moved out for almost six months. We assumed he’d gone wandering and got lost/come to a sad end somewhere in the wilds around our village. We were heartbroken.

Then one January morning I came downstairs to see two cats eating breakfast. I thought I was hallucinating!

Turned out he’d moved in with an old fisherman and his wife. They had no idea he was ours, aren’t on social media and he was just coming in to theirs for fish scraps and hanging out with them in the evenings so were unaware he was a missing cat.

I wish I’d gone door knocking rather than relying on FB. Hope you find your cat OP.

Original poster
prettyprinceofpartiez · 17/12/2021 21:55

@OrangeSamphire

One of our two x-Bengal moved out for almost six months. We assumed he’d gone wandering and got lost/come to a sad end somewhere in the wilds around our village. We were heartbroken.

Then one January morning I came downstairs to see two cats eating breakfast. I thought I was hallucinating!

Turned out he’d moved in with an old fisherman and his wife. They had no idea he was ours, aren’t on social media and he was just coming in to theirs for fish scraps and hanging out with them in the evenings so were unaware he was a missing cat.

I wish I’d gone door knocking rather than relying on FB. Hope you find your cat OP.

Oh gosh! So glad he came back at least. I wonder what tempted him back? Was he affectionate before he left? Thats the trouble when older people aren't on social media and don't realise pets are almost all microchipped there days.

I've put posters up but there are so many houses 😱 I spent almost two months of my maternity leave posting leaflets and searching when he went missing earlier in the year (he got in a van and was displaced!) and just can't do that again. We're quite built up where we live so I'd hope that even if the person who was feeding him wasn't around, their neighbours would have seen one of my FB posts. Most people I've spoken to about it have seem one of my posts by now! I'm semi famous as the owner of the lost Bengal 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
prettyprinceofpartiez · 17/12/2021 21:57

@icedcoffees

This idea makes me so upset. What is wrong with some people!

I know, it's grim.

I would be tempted to blast social media with photos and mention the latest sighting - someone may be guilted into letting him out to find his way back home. I would also ask people to check sheds, garages etc. as he may have taken shelter there.

Ours was spotted in a neighbours garden but she stank of engine oil so I suspect she was hiding in a garage or under a car for a while before emerging. I ended up poking her out of a bush with a stick in the end Grin

Thing is I've posted loads on our wider, local and estate FB groups - if they haven't seen that or cared, not much I can do really. I feel like my neighbour must be mistaken but he was SO certain, so unless he's hallucinating...?!?
OP posts:
SweetBabyCheeses99 · 17/12/2021 22:20

Sorry but I don’t think cats are really that bonded. They will go where they get the “best” food. Even if this is offal in jelly. If there are other cats in the area then they will sometimes adopt a new territory as they feel they need to protect it. Guaranteed someone will be feeding him, and possibly others too. Some CFers just see it as easier than getting their own cat I guess

Original poster
prettyprinceofpartiez · 18/12/2021 00:26

@SweetBabyCheeses99

Sorry but I don’t think cats are really that bonded. They will go where they get the “best” food. Even if this is offal in jelly. If there are other cats in the area then they will sometimes adopt a new territory as they feel they need to protect it. Guaranteed someone will be feeding him, and possibly others too. Some CFers just see it as easier than getting their own cat I guess
I don't disagree to be honest, it's very easy to anthropomorphise cats and I try very hard not to - having said that, when I say this cat is my shadow I mean it. He's been like a little dog to me for the majority of his life, I got him as a kitten during lockdown while living in a flat and he was like the other half of me. He's loved his freedom since we've moved out of London but still comes for strokes and cuddles throughout the day. When I tracked him down at a stranger's house when he went missing for two months, he was cowering in a corner away from anyone, skinny as anything but bounded right up to me and crawled on my lap. I know he might be getting food else where and might not remember/ give a shit about me but it just feels unlikely! I hope he's just having a nice old time and will stroll through the door soon. Who knows but this limbo is so tough. At what point do you give up?
OP posts:
NMC2022 · 18/12/2021 00:58

@SweetBabyCheeses99

Sorry but I don’t think cats are really that bonded. They will go where they get the “best” food. Even if this is offal in jelly. If there are other cats in the area then they will sometimes adopt a new territory as they feel they need to protect it. Guaranteed someone will be feeding him, and possibly others too. Some CFers just see it as easier than getting their own cat I guess
Depends on the cat. Mine is strongly bonded to me, he went missing and got stuck somewhere, came home frantic with weight loss and a dislocated hip where he had got out He wouldn't leave my side for weeks after that. I came home from hospital having left him for 24hrs and he shouted mama at me Hmm (I have it on video!) He is absolutely obsessed with me and has been since day 1, even cats protection called him ridiculous Grin as if I am with someone talking he just sits and gazes at me
Missing cat been seen on our street but won't come home?
Missing cat been seen on our street but won't come home?
Fluffycloudland77 · 18/12/2021 06:13

Bengals are like siameses, they are capable of bonding to one human.

OrangeSamphire · 18/12/2021 07:00

Yes he was super affectionate before he moved out. Even more so now he’s back!

I think it was when one of his ‘new family’ went into hospital that he came home.

He’s a monkey though and now has become quite well known in the village. He walks to school with the infants, hangs out on the slipway with the fishermen and isn’t choosy with his affection 🙉

Really hope you find your cat OP. Bengals are wanderers and it’s such a worry.

stayathomer · 18/12/2021 07:04

Our neighbours' cat sits outside our house most of the day and night. They thought he was gone for the last year and couldn't believe it when people around the area(including us) started texting to ask was he okay etc (he was looking awful for a while now looking great again). When I was chatting and saying ah he's looking great again they looked at me blankly. It's been 6 months! He's into every other neighbours house!

Caramellatteplease · 18/12/2021 07:21

My cat disappears completely for 3-4 months every summer every year for about the last 10. The first time he went for nearly a whole year. He might reappear for a few hours if we go and come back from holiday so hes not staying too far. Initially I thought he was staying at a neighbour who was feeding him HmmHmm but it seems not.

Every winters he's back. Sleeps in my or my daughters room and is clearly very fond. Has barely left my side for the last 24 hours.

On a side note My sister's cats are very bonded to her. One will hide if anyone but her is in the room and the other seems to raise the alarm/make a terrible fuss if her diabetes gets messed up.

icedcoffees · 18/12/2021 07:26

@SweetBabyCheeses99

Sorry but I don’t think cats are really that bonded. They will go where they get the “best” food. Even if this is offal in jelly. If there are other cats in the area then they will sometimes adopt a new territory as they feel they need to protect it. Guaranteed someone will be feeding him, and possibly others too. Some CFers just see it as easier than getting their own cat I guess
I really think it depends on the cat - some may be more independent than others but I do think they know where there home is, even if Mrs Jones down the road feeds them tuna.

The solution would be for people to stop feeding cats that don't belong to them in the first place Grin

DobbyTheHouseElk · 18/12/2021 07:39

I wish people wouldn’t feed cats that aren’t theirs. My NDN is always feeding my DCat. She knows he has a home. Another person down the road, took in a cat who had a home. After a week decided he was a stray and kept him. He had a home at the end of the garden, but she took him and won’t let him out.

A stay cat doesn’t usually look healthy and clean and wear a collar.