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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

My cat won't come in, please give me some suggestions!

42 replies

AndrewPreview · 08/03/2022 10:47

Last weds, our cat (8yrs) had a dental and had a lot of teeth out. She'd been struggling to eat for a while and that hasn't really improved since (mainly because she thinks it will hurt) she was having liquid painkiller to help.

She went out Saturday evening and has refused to come in since. We saw her Sunday morning and I tried to grab her (stupid and I regret it) and failed and then didn't see her again until Monday evening when she appeared at the window but ran when I opened it. She was seen again at midnight last night and then again this morning at 10 when I tried to coax her in but she's gone again Sad

We've left food out (smelly mackerel and tuna) but it's not been touched and her litter tray is outside (from when we thought she was properly lost) and I'm currently cooking a chicken in the hope the smell will entice her in. But she's not interested in food or us and I'm at my wits end with it now having run out of ideas.

I don't think a trap will work because food isn't interesting to her (and if it failed it would make things worse). She's always been a nervous/skittish cat but this has just tipped her over the edge and she just wont come anywhere near us now.

The back door is open and I'm hoping that she'll just wander in but other than that, I just don't know what to do anymore. It feels like the more proactive I am, the more skittish she gets.

What else can I do? do anyone have any ideas?

OP posts:
maddiemookins16mum · 08/03/2022 18:33

It sounds like she is staying close if you’ve seen her a few times. Did she finish the meds?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 08/03/2022 18:35

Go out and rattle a bag of dreamies.

I did that one night in s dark suburban garden and as well as the cat I was trying to catch I got half a dozen others too.

Original poster
AndrewPreview · 08/03/2022 19:16

@maddiemookins16mum she had 3 days worth out of 7.

@TheYearOfSmallThings I tried them early on, she likes the smell but won't eat them so backs away. She is very food averse right now. Although I got close with some freshly cooked chicken this afternoon.

We've seen her lots thru the day but she won't have anything to do with us. She's come up onto the windowsill a couple of times but runs off when I open it. I've left it open for now, to see if she'll come through without us approaching.
Shes certainly staying close which is something. I've left some tuna in the hedge where she tends to hide but then I worry that if she eats it she'll just stay out longer. I worry that we're making mistakes and making it worse Sad

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 08/03/2022 19:24

Can you borrow a trap. They are easy to set up. I’ve caught a few cats that way. Then keep her in or take to the vets to check she’s not in pain.

maddiemookins16mum · 08/03/2022 19:25

I’m not an expert, but take heart in that she is staying close. What about ‘cat milk’ - you could even put some of her meds in there?

beccahamlet · 08/03/2022 19:27

Cats have a long memory. I think she'll come round soon. She s just a bit cross with you for taking her to the dentist.

SisterRuth · 08/03/2022 19:31

You're doing the right things, she'll come in when you give up trying so hard. I was going to say my cat is exactly that contrary but maybe we do give out "anxious smells" that put off skittish cats.

Original poster
AndrewPreview · 08/03/2022 19:44

Thanks everybody, we've tried to not be so eager to see her (just leave her be and she'll come round) but it's just not in my nature (I will try harder!). I suspect she's hunkered down for the evening and dh might see her around midnight but we'll start afresh in the morning.

I'm thinking about a trap, but my worry is that if it fails it'll make her a million times worse and there isn't really anything I can bait it with that shes interested in. I'll reconsider if we have no luck soon though.
I'll put some milk out tomorrow @maddiemookins16mum she was having it in melted butter but she does drink cat milk. It will be interesting to see if the tuna gets touched overnight.

Fingers crossed Smile

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 08/03/2022 20:45

Cats are curious. They don’t have to go far into the trap to get trapped. You put the food at the end. It has a Perspex end so it looks like a tunnel. I’ve put a sheet over the top in the dark they only see a tunnel and food. They can see the escape route. Unfortunately it’s a dead end!
It is last resort really. But you will be nearby so she won’t be trapped for hours.

Original poster
AndrewPreview · 09/03/2022 06:57

Thanks, I think I'm going to ring around and find a trap today (I spoke to a cat rescue lady on Monday when she was first missing so she might have one) I've seen her this morning but she ran away from me into the road so I think we need to do it as she's too spooked to be safe now Sad

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 09/03/2022 07:09

I hope you have success with a trap. Once you’ve trapped her and she’s back at home I’m sure you will be able to soothe her and calm her. Just keep her in for a few weeks before letting her out again.

The trap will be big, but drape a sheet or blanket over it and it looks like a safe place. Make sure each end is NOT covered, just the sides.

Food in the end and once’s she’s in the trap will close. I had to trap my neighbours cat several times and each time I thought no way will this work again, but it did. That was a very nervous slightly feral cat.

Good luck and let us know how you got on.

Original poster
AndrewPreview · 09/03/2022 10:15

Thanks @DobbyTheHouseElk I've just picked one up from a lovely lady who rescues cats.

Now I just have to think about where to put it. She's keeping to the hedges in our garden so I just need a gap big enough I think.

I saw her 10 mins ago under a van on the driveway opposite so she's still around (she'll just be waiting for a quiet moment to cross).

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 09/03/2022 15:54

Good luck. Can you put it along the hedge line. Side by side to the hedge. Cover with something and see what happens.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 09/03/2022 16:02

Wait til it’s dark.

Original poster
AndrewPreview · 09/03/2022 18:54

We've put it under the hedge, but so we can see the clear plastic end (just). She was there when we came home from work (I had to nip out) but DH went and spoke to her and she legged it across the road again. (He got told off for that) but I took the opportunity to put it out. Made sure no twigs were blocking the door etc.

Hopefully she'll come back across in a while and go in it. I'm terrified she'll escape it and then properly run away (neurotic cat parent!) but she's more scared of us than the road now which is a big worry as its not a quiet road.

I think we might be in for a long night as I know you're not supposed to leave them out overnight/unsupervised Sad

I'm also rather worried she won't be heavy enough to trigger it as she's such a small cat (neurotic!)

OP posts:
Gemmathecat · 09/03/2022 18:57

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thecatneuterer · 09/03/2022 19:09

@AndrewPreview This is very important - have you cable tied the perspex end? The clear end slides up and down - to allow you to bait it and to enable the cat to be transferred into a crush cage once caught - but it must be cabled tied when the trap is in use. There should be a small hole in the perspex to allow you to do this. If you don't do that then the cat can push the end up and escape.

Original poster
AndrewPreview · 09/03/2022 19:14

@Gemmathecat why? Should it be next the hedge instead of under it?

OP posts:
RandomMess · 09/03/2022 19:14

I hope she's back inside with you soon Thanks

Original poster
AndrewPreview · 09/03/2022 19:14

@thecatneuterer thankyou! I've just done it!

OP posts:
Gemmathecat · 09/03/2022 19:15

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DobbyTheHouseElk · 09/03/2022 19:18

A small cat will trigger the trap
I’d put it alongside the hedge personally. Then cover with a sheet

Original poster
AndrewPreview · 09/03/2022 19:23

I've moved it to the side of the hedge and it's covered.

Thanks for talking me through it, I really appreciate it.

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 09/03/2022 19:26

Good work. Now we wait…

Original poster
AndrewPreview · 09/03/2022 20:32

Well we caught A cat... just not our cat!

So we know the trap works anyway Wink
Hopefully she won't have been put off if she saw it.

Reset for round 2...

OP posts: