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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.

Missing and it's my fault

28 replies

Athenajm80 · 06/06/2022 00:37

I went out on Wednesday and had a great night with two friends. When I came home, my cats Vixen and Ghost ran outside. They're both indoor cats, since Ghost broke her leg a few years back and had to have it amputated.

I remember being sat on the pavement across the road trying to get Vixen in and managing it. I'm not sure why I didn't get Ghost in. She is fast and harder to coax, so maybe that was why.

I wasn't ridiculously drunk but I do tend to get missing memories weirdly only once I get home, possibly due to my meds, which is why I can't remember why I didn't stay outside till Ghost let me catch her. She's been missing ever since. I've done all the usual things, posted all over SM, gone looking for her and cling at various times of day and night, put a cushion she loves outside so she can smell home. I've even put a big poster in my window with photos of her so people will see it. There's a park at the bottom of the road so I'm hoping lots of people will walk past and take note. I'm so sad without her, she was going through a really snuggly stage although she has always been one of the sweetest cats. I feel so guilty, why didn't I stay outside instead of just thinking she'd come back when she felt like it (happened once before but she was back the next day) If she's been hurt or killed then it's my stupid fault.

I don't know why I'm posting this. I think maybe it's cause you don't know me and I feel too guilty and embarrassed to tell my friends. I just want my little cat back, safe and well, but the longer it takes, the more I think I won't see her again 😢

OP posts:
butteriesplease · 06/06/2022 13:22

poor you xx hope that your cat comes home very soon. I heard that if you put their litter tray outside the smell can help them navigate home? Will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Athenajm80 · 06/06/2022 13:35

Thank you. I'm hoping that now the weather has got better again, maybe she'll venture out to find her way home. It's been heavy rain here on and off since Thursday evening so fingers crossed she was just sheltering somewhere.

If she comes home, I swear I will NEVER get annoyed at her incessant headbutting, and I will give as many scratches on her neck on the missing leg side as she wants.

OP posts:
Want2beme · 07/06/2022 00:31

Any sign of her today? She might just be having a wander. Lots of cats go missing for a little while and return. Have you had a look at any of the lost and found sites?

www.cats.org.uk/root/lost_and_found.aspx?spid=1913&f=2083&original_url=frome%2flost-and-found&b=133&m=1020&id=

www.nationalpetregister.org/mp.php?pt=Cat&pb=&c=

I hope she comes home soon🤗

onedayiwillflyaway1 · 07/06/2022 00:46

I hope she comes home soon. Been through this a few times with my cats. Have you put some of her cat litter out?
Mine all came home eventually much to my relief.

Athenajm80 · 07/06/2022 01:28

A lovely man from the next street came round and said he thinks Ghostie is in his shed. His wife and daughter both looked at the photo and said it's definitely her. They'd been away for the weekend so it sounds like she got stuck in there. By the time we walked to their house, she had gone again though,but at least I know she's alive and nearby.

I now have a blanket out the back (the gardens all back on to each other and then there's another row at the bottom so it's fairly enclosed) to entice her, plus a bit of litter and a plate of food, but I think the gulls or another cat have eaten it. I've called her several times but no answer. At least I know she's alive, unhurt, and close by. Hopefully she'll manage to make her way home now. I usually wake up about 4.30/5 so am going to walk round the block and call her. Fingers crossed!!

Thank you for your messages, they have helped.

OP posts:
WeAreBob · 07/06/2022 01:37

I'm really sorry your cat is missing you cannot walk around at 4.30/5am and call out for the cat. People will be sleeping. A missi

WeAreBob · 07/06/2022 01:37

*a missing cat just isn't a reason to be walking around shouting at 5am.

GiltEdges · 07/06/2022 02:27

WeAreBob · 07/06/2022 01:37

*a missing cat just isn't a reason to be walking around shouting at 5am.

Where exactly did OP indicate she'd be shouting FGS?!

If it's quiet because people are sleeping she won't bloody need to Hmm

MolliciousIntent · 07/06/2022 02:58

GiltEdges · 07/06/2022 02:27

Where exactly did OP indicate she'd be shouting FGS?!

If it's quiet because people are sleeping she won't bloody need to Hmm

Calling a cat generally involves shouting.

youlightupmyday · 07/06/2022 03:17

MolliciousIntent · 07/06/2022 02:58

Calling a cat generally involves shouting.

About 1 on a Fenton scale though

WeAreBob · 07/06/2022 08:21

GiltEdges · 07/06/2022 02:27

Where exactly did OP indicate she'd be shouting FGS?!

If it's quiet because people are sleeping she won't bloody need to Hmm

She planned to walk around the neighbourhood at 4.30/5am "calling on her cat".
That's called shouting. Noise travels. Especially when everything else is quiet.

Toddlerteaplease · 07/06/2022 09:59

@youlightupmyday that made me laugh out loud!

Athenajm80 · 07/06/2022 21:51

I wouldn't be shouting or even using an "outside voice". I know how annoying it is to be woken up by people outside as there are twats round here who make noise at 1/2am shouting, slamming doors etc.

I was planning on softly calling her by bushes or the random overgrown areas which she could come out through. Even in the daytime I wouldn't be shouting for her too loudly as people WFH and may be in meetings etc.

OP posts:
Lizzieismagic · 07/06/2022 21:55

Op does your dcat not respond to dry food box rattling? Ime this is a vital part of dcat recall training!

Athenajm80 · 08/06/2022 22:10

Lizzieismagic · 07/06/2022 21:55

Op does your dcat not respond to dry food box rattling? Ime this is a vital part of dcat recall training!

It depends on her mood. The rest of the tribe respond to anything remotely food related, but bloody Ghostie isn't even responding to her name at the moment.

The lovely neighbour who found her in their shed texted me last night to say she was back. I went round, armed with dreamies and a cat box and she had run off again! Fingers crossed she'll be back tonight

OP posts:
chiffchaffchiff · 08/06/2022 22:28

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. With mine I had to put food down and back away from jt before she'd approach it. After over a week in the wild on high alert, she was nervous. I sat down nearby and she approached me after scoffing her food.

OnaBegonia · 08/06/2022 22:44

You can contact local cat rescues who often can provide a trap which could be left in neighbours garden.

Lizzieismagic · 09/06/2022 14:47

Apparently in flight mode they don't always acknowledge their name. . Keep shouting though op. Our dcat was out 10 cold October nights one year. Shouted every night after the tea time traffic had died down. He made it home with a mangled leg (was amputated and he was fine).. Vet said us shouting has spurred him on to get home. He was a well loved boy in our area with 3 legs!

tiddlywinks2 · 09/06/2022 14:54

This happened to me, my indoor cat accidentally got out, pour the used cat litter around the garden and your cat will be able to find their way home.

48 hours later and mine did, it was so terrifying when she got out.

Athenajm80 · 10/06/2022 23:43

Lizzieismagic · 09/06/2022 14:47

Apparently in flight mode they don't always acknowledge their name. . Keep shouting though op. Our dcat was out 10 cold October nights one year. Shouted every night after the tea time traffic had died down. He made it home with a mangled leg (was amputated and he was fine).. Vet said us shouting has spurred him on to get home. He was a well loved boy in our area with 3 legs!

She can't afford another mangled leg, she only has 3 as it is! 🙂

Yesterday, the NDN of the first family came round to say they had her in their garden. I quickly put shoes on, grabbed a box (cat carrier was with Fred the cat who was at the vet being neutered), rushed round, and....she'd gone again! They all have my number, I'm dropping letters to the houses across the bottom tomorrow.

The women who saw her yesterday actually ended up with a couple of my cats moving into their house many years ago. I did tell them that my cats are really pampered and have no reason to leave home. They asked if Ghostie had fallen out with any of the others but I explained that she is a princess and all the other cats adore her.

Well, at least she is apparently looking healthy and happy! Fingers crossed she'll be home soon, but if she does choose to stay between the other two houses, I know she'll be looked after and loved.

OP posts:
Athenajm80 · 12/06/2022 02:42

SHE'S HOME!!!! The people with the shed called me tonight, she was in their shed again but this time they blocked the door. I went round (interrupting their dinner party) and got her. I think she recognised me as she kept moving away but then coming back but she hissed and growled in the carrier and again when we were home. She's calmed down now and allowed me to pick her up and give her lots of attention. I even got a few purrs.

I have posted on Cap'n's thread for recommendations for a harness as that would be better for her and Vixen than them running out of the house. Thank you everyone for the advice and support!

OP posts:
Want2beme · 12/06/2022 11:07

Yay! What an emotional saga you've been through. So glad she's home with you😁

Feel free to post a photo, if you can.

Lizzieismagic · 12/06/2022 11:09

The little buggar!!
So pleased op!

RomeoOscarXrayIndigoEcho · 12/06/2022 11:26

Yay!!!

Davros · 12/06/2022 11:45

Great news, so pleased she's back.
I trained my cat to come to a bell and get a treat. The bell and treat MUST be paired, I.e. even if the bell just gets moved by accident but she hears it, she must have a treat. Likewise, if someone wants to give her a treat for no good reason, they must ring the bell. It's helped us find her and get her in many, many times. Also she will kill for Lick-E-Lix, they are a secret weapon if all else fails

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