Worried for my cat gone awol

[Alphavilla]

Got 2 rescue kittens last year and have kept them both indoors for their first year. Our bungalow is in a village location and the living room patio door opens onto the back lawn, beyond that is a ploughed veg field. As the weather turned warmer we have been opening the patio door to allow our girls to scamper around the lawn jumping at moths and chasing back in whenever they heard a noise or got spooked. Before it gets dark i close the door and they stay in for bedtime. Last Sunday I thought that next time they have both scuttled in I will close the door, but realized that I could no longer see one of my girls. I assumed she had gone off into the field or along the edge towards the neighbouring properties, called her, shook treats bag but she did not come. We went to bed assuming that she would return hungry in the morning for breakfast but I have basically not seen her since. She has spent 6 nights away not returning for food or drink. She has just gone. Vanished. I have spent all week on sofa with patio door open in the hope she comes back during the night, set a trap with food in these past 3 nights, but all we caught was hedgehogs. We are so sad to have lost her. She is chipped and spayed, and nervous of people. What are the chances she will ever come home? Has she gone wild? Do young cats forget their home and family? Her sister is missing her. Please give me hope.

I've heard you should pop their used litter tray outside - the scent will carry on any breezes and if she smells it, she'll follow it home. With it being summer, there's always a chance she's successfully hunting and feeding herself and she's just having a ball. It is a long time to go without any sign of her though. Have you reported her missing via the microchip people? And with your local facebook group?

We had an overnight stop out a few weeks ago but she appeared early the next morning (shut in somewhere, we suspect) so I feel your pain.

Have you put posters up, put her details into your local lost and found sites, I hooe she is safe and finds her way home soon.

I'm so sorry. Its every cat owners worst nightmare! However, there's definitely hope. I know of many cats who've disappeared for 2 or 3 weeks and come back. I had 2 cats that did this. With the warm weather she could well be on an adventure. Definitely worth printing posters, speaking to neighbours etc. If she's trapped somewhere she needs to get out quickly. Cats don't cope well without food. I really hope she turns up soon. It's likely she will but do all you can in the meantime.

Thank you for your kind replies. Yes we have posted flyers around all the properties within the vicinity and those that back on to the field. Facebook too. I've left food and water out but she doesn't seem to have come back to find it. We have put litter tray outside, hung our worn clothes on line, put her cat tree outside, put her fur in gaps in the fence, walked the field perimeter with tuna and treats calling her but just dont know where she is. Hubby heard her at door scratching to come in on first night but by the time he reached the door she had run off. On third night during sofa stakeout he says he saw her on patio but again gone before he could get the door open and despite calling her she did not come. The last 3 nights I have literally sat up all night staring at the garden watching the security lights flick on and off with the moths and hedgehogs but no show from my girl. We hear stories of cats coming home eventually and are clinging to hope but the wait is agonising. As she was a kitten rescued from a feral mother we are wondering if something clicked in her to just go off, although she loved her cuddles at home.

It sounds as though she is close. So sorry to hear this, I know I would be heartbroken in your place. Here's hoping she comes back soon (rattle those Dreamies and search the nearby gardens)

Can you leave door open for her to come in at night? She’ll always have the feral in her and the fact she’s coming back is positive

The fact that she's been spotted means she's probably just on an adventure. She'll find her way home when she's ready.

A few years ago, one of my male cats “brought home” a young female cat who had been missing from her home for 3 weeks and I was able to catch her. She was no more than 200 metres from home. Don’t give up hope 🤞

I waited 6 months for dcat coming home once!

Thank you all it is good to know there is still hope. I have had door open these last 4 nights with me watching for her but no show, I could leave door open and go to bed from now on but that means shutting other cat away so that she doesn't disappear into the night too. Why doesn't the daft puss return evening or morning when we are about? It's so difficult to keep watching the garden at 3 in the morning!

Any updates op?

We have a trap and camera set up in back garden but it's been 7 days with no sighting of her at all. 9 days missing altogether. She's just gone. Really don't know why she's not visiting home.

She'll be out exploring and having lots of fun, I imagine!

One of my cats vanished for five days recently - he turned up in next doors shed 🙄 another of mine vanished last year for four days and eventually turned up three houses away in the back garden - I had to prod her out of a bush with a stick 🤣

Speak to ALL your neighbours and ask them go out and check any outbuildings, sheds and garages. Mine was hidden under an old lawnmower. I called him for about 10 minutes - nothing, then just as I was coming back inside I called him again and he shouted at me from the shed - as he's black, all I could see when he yelled was his orange eyes 🙄

I would try checking at night with a torch as if she has her eyes open you'll be able to see her that way.

I hope she comes home soon!

It is such a worry. Our DGirlcat has been missing 3 weeks now and I'm worried sick about her being out all alone.

I think it's a case of searching when its quiet and keep on. Although your DCat has not been gone so long so she could just wander back.

Two weeks now and my girl has not been back to our garden. It is torture watching the camera playback picking up other cats and hedgehogs. We have delivered leaflets around the village and I have been out calling but no sign. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack and I have no clue which direction she went. Why hasn't she come back? How is she feeding and drinking in this heat? I am heartbroken and I feel I have let her down by allowing her to slip away. We were doing so well the cats getting used to the back garden and coming in for bed, and all it took was seconds for her to vanish and be gone.

I'm sorry she hasn't come home yet. We haven't seen our boy cat since Sunday and we're all worried sick. Even though I have had cats disappear for weeks in the past, it doesn't make it any easier.

I'm so sorry op.

On another thread someone suggested going out with a torch. The might from their eyes reflects back. You could try it if she has any favourite hiding places.