How long to wait before declaring cat "missing"

[BookWorm45]

My cat was last seen some time in the early hours of this morning....... nothing since and hasn't come to eat his breakfast, which is very unusual. He's neutered, and microchipped. I've been calling in the garden and rattling the box of his favourite food - no good.

How long is reasonable to wait until I start putting up posters, logging him on the microchip database as "missing", and so on ?

Is there any other method any of you cat-loving people can suggest (apart from posters, calling on neighbours, etc) ?

Very much hoping this unusual blip is just that he's found somewhere nice to snooze or possibly someone's bacon fat (for the birds) to gobble down.

I rang the microchip company after 12hrs with tears in my eyes as dcat hadn’t been seen and they very nicely said wait 24-48hrs before worrying. Little sod came home a few hours later to a hero’s welcome from us both. He’d missed two meals.

When he didn’t come home because he was dead I knew he’d gone hours earlier when he missed dinner. Dh was out looking but the atmosphere in the road was off and I knew.

I rang the microchip company after 12hrs with tears in my eyes as dcat hadn’t been seen and they very nicely said wait 24-48hrs before worrying. Little sod came home a few hours later to a hero’s welcome from us both. He’d missed two meals.

When he didn’t come home because he was dead I knew he’d gone hours earlier when he missed dinner. Dh was out looking but the atmosphere in the road was off and I knew.

I rang the microchip company after 12hrs with tears in my eyes as dcat hadn’t been seen and they very nicely said wait 24-48hrs before worrying. Little sod came home a few hours later to a hero’s welcome from us both. He’d missed two meals.

When he didn’t come home because he was dead I knew he’d gone hours earlier when he missed dinner. Dh was out looking but the atmosphere in the road was off and I knew.

I rang the microchip company after 12hrs with tears in my eyes as dcat hadn’t been seen and they very nicely said wait 24-48hrs before worrying. Little sod came home a few hours later to a hero’s welcome from us both. He’d missed two meals.

When he didn’t come home because he was dead I knew he’d gone hours earlier when he missed dinner. Dh was out looking but the atmosphere in the road was off and I knew.

Sorry, server was down and I didn’t mean to spam you like this.

Thanks Fluffy and no problem about the repeat message !

Thanks Fluffy and no problem about the repeat message !

Depends on the cat.

Depends on the cat.

Well, I've done it - logged my cat as "missing" with the microchip database people, plus put some flyers through neighbours' doors. I've also posted on a Facebook page for lost and found pets, for the city I live in.

Some more rattling of treats and calling his name is planned for the evening.......