Found cat that's been missing for over a year

ofwarren · 2022-08-07T16:47:03+00:00

And he was literally one street away all this time! I'm not sure what to do because I don't know which house he's been living in and when I found him I had no way of bringing him home. I tried picking him up but he was having none of it. I've been back since but can't see him. He also has 4 siblings and his mum living with us who will probably not take too kindly at him coming back and I imagine he will probably just run back to the other house [sad] So frustrating. I had posters out and posted on our local Facebook page but obviously whoever took him just ignored them. He is well fed and looked after and ran straight to me meowing. I suppose at least I know he isn't dead.

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/08/2022 18:28

Oh dear. Like you say though the others might not want him back.

Maybe he’s an only child at heart.

frozenlakes · 07/08/2022 18:39

Ah bless! I'd be so upset if someone stole my cat like this. Don't give up on him just yet though, try to assimilate him back in with his siblings 🙂

Original poster

ofwarren · 07/08/2022 18:45

The way he ran up to me when I called him brought a tear to my eye.
He's grown so much! He was only one and a skinny little thing last time I saw him. He's now got a little pouch

OP posts:

MeridianGrey · 07/08/2022 18:49

If you manage to catch him then I would keep all cats in for several weeks to give them chance to settle. If it was mine I’d go door to door knocking.

Arucanafeather · 07/08/2022 19:02

If he’s living that close then he’s chosen another home for himself that suits him better. I know you love him but IMO (and in UK law) cats are only semi-domesticated and have the right to roam. If he’s happy and well, I would leave him be. We’re a multi-cat household and over the decades a couple of them haven’t liked that and chosen a home nearby where they are the only feline occupant. I let them go as I feel it’s important to put their wants above mine as it’s their life. I do feel a little sad but respect their right to choose.

Original poster

ofwarren · 07/08/2022 19:16

Arucanafeather · 07/08/2022 19:02

If he’s living that close then he’s chosen another home for himself that suits him better. I know you love him but IMO (and in UK law) cats are only semi-domesticated and have the right to roam. If he’s happy and well, I would leave him be. We’re a multi-cat household and over the decades a couple of them haven’t liked that and chosen a home nearby where they are the only feline occupant. I let them go as I feel it’s important to put their wants above mine as it’s their life. I do feel a little sad but respect their right to choose.

You are probably right
I do know that his siblings would really struggle with another cat here now. They have their own disputes and him coming back would make it worse. 2 of them are really not friends but tolerate each other and I'd worry that it would all kick off if I changed the dynamic.
Im just so happy he's not dead to be honest. My youngest child was certain he was. He was over the moon to see the photos I took of him today.
He's definitely being looked after.

OP posts:

IdiotCreatures · 07/08/2022 19:20

At least you have the others and you know that he is safe and well. Only a street away means that you can pop by and visit him on the regular.
I'd probably try and talk to his new humans about the microchip.

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 07/08/2022 19:24

We got a lovely tabby one time.. He split his time between 2 homes for about 2 years. Then once just didn't come home.
Sad but as has been said his choice.

QuestionableMouse · 07/08/2022 19:26

Make and carry a paper collar with your phone number on it asking the thieves to contact you?

Original poster

ofwarren · 07/08/2022 19:38

QuestionableMouse · 07/08/2022 19:26

Make and carry a paper collar with your phone number on it asking the thieves to contact you?

Good idea

OP posts:

Arucanafeather · 07/08/2022 19:54

I wouldn’t put a paper collar on. Anything that won’t come straight off will be a choking risk if the cat catches it on something. Even “easy-release” collars can cause fatal accidents.

For your two cats who are grumpy with each other - have you tried felloway friends plug ins. I was very skepical but we got a couple to try for free and they’re amazing. I know when I haven’t noticed that they’ve run out as our cats start bickering again. With them, they all sleep happily on the same bed together. We have a few plugged in around the house.

Minecraftatemychild · 07/08/2022 19:58

When domestic cats ‘live wild’ what usually happens is they live in a group of females and mixed-sex kittens, headed by a female. Male kittens stay for a while then go off to be on their own when they feel big enough. Don’t take it as rejection, be glad that you raised a cat confident enough to do this.

If only cats could leave a note.

(And if you try to bring him back home, his mum will go MENTAL my friend had a similar situation…)

Original poster

ofwarren · 07/08/2022 20:18

Minecraftatemychild · 07/08/2022 19:58

When domestic cats ‘live wild’ what usually happens is they live in a group of females and mixed-sex kittens, headed by a female. Male kittens stay for a while then go off to be on their own when they feel big enough. Don’t take it as rejection, be glad that you raised a cat confident enough to do this.

If only cats could leave a note.

(And if you try to bring him back home, his mum will go MENTAL my friend had a similar situation…)

I didn't know this. Very interesting indeed!
Thank you, this has made me feel much better about the situation.

OP posts:

Original poster

ofwarren · 07/08/2022 20:20

Arucanafeather · 07/08/2022 19:54

I wouldn’t put a paper collar on. Anything that won’t come straight off will be a choking risk if the cat catches it on something. Even “easy-release” collars can cause fatal accidents.

For your two cats who are grumpy with each other - have you tried felloway friends plug ins. I was very skepical but we got a couple to try for free and they’re amazing. I know when I haven’t noticed that they’ve run out as our cats start bickering again. With them, they all sleep happily on the same bed together. We have a few plugged in around the house.

I've never tried feliway. They generally do okay just avoiding each other to be fair. I do find them occasionally on the same bed but one hisses at the other whenever he walks past.
I'll give it a go next time it kicks off.

OP posts:

sparkypupp · 07/08/2022 20:33

I had a cat that did the exact same thing and was also only a road away. Turned out their cat had been killed on the road, mine was practically identical so they took it as a replacement and kept it in as a house cat.

They must have left a window open one day and it found it's way home. Threatened me with all sorts when I rang the number on the collar to tell them I had MY cat back so the vets put a note on their file to say if brought in it was stolen and to call the correct owner to collect. We moved fairly soon after but I don't think cat ever went back so don't think it enjoyed house cat life!

MeridianGrey · 07/08/2022 21:40

@sparkypupp wow, it’s one thing to let a cat choose to move house, quite another to swipe one and keep it captive.

sparkypupp · 07/08/2022 22:40

MeridianGrey · 07/08/2022 21:40

@sparkypupp wow, it’s one thing to let a cat choose to move house, quite another to swipe one and keep it captive.

Yep, she was horrible about it as well, screaming I had ruined her children's lives by stealing their cat and I was lying that the microchip proved it was mine (I'd already checked at the vets). Their cat had a very similar sounding name (like Molly/Dolly) so cat wouldn't have known the difference.

The vets were quite annoyed they'd been treating the very cat they had recorded as "missing" all along!

Chicca1970 · 07/08/2022 22:49

@ofwarren

This is THE BEST thread - such a bloody lovely story. You must be so happy that he is back!!

I absolutely LOVE this - give him a kiss from us xxxx 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛💖

Society · 07/08/2022 22:55

Glad you found him and he's been looked after at least. Boils my blood how many people think it's ok to steal other peoples cats! Personally, passive aggressively, I'd post on your local Facebook group thanking the person who's been looking after your cat for the last year and asking them to get in touch so you can thank them face to face. And post a pic of the cat. Anyone who knows them will know they've stolen your cat.

One of my neighbours cats when missing last year. She was walking to work, walked past a house on the next street over, he was sat in the window. He'd been stolen and kept inside purposely. She knocked on the door and told them to give him back.

thecatneuterer · 08/08/2022 15:24

Minecraftatemychild · 07/08/2022 19:58

When domestic cats ‘live wild’ what usually happens is they live in a group of females and mixed-sex kittens, headed by a female. Male kittens stay for a while then go off to be on their own when they feel big enough. Don’t take it as rejection, be glad that you raised a cat confident enough to do this.

If only cats could leave a note.

(And if you try to bring him back home, his mum will go MENTAL my friend had a similar situation…)

Well, I've been working with feral colonies for the last 20 odd years, and that definitely does not happen. They all stay where there is food, forever. I suppose if there were no food source and they had to hunt I can imagine that might be the case, but certainly not when there is a feeder.

hotfroth · 08/08/2022 15:31

Is he microchipped?

Having had personal experience of a cat who decided to leave her sibling and us and go to live with a family 100 yards up the road, I suspect that it was his decision to move out and find a quieter home. Not all cats are happy living with others, even if they are closely related.

Original poster

ofwarren · 08/08/2022 16:14

hotfroth · 08/08/2022 15:31

Is he microchipped?

Having had personal experience of a cat who decided to leave her sibling and us and go to live with a family 100 yards up the road, I suspect that it was his decision to move out and find a quieter home. Not all cats are happy living with others, even if they are closely related.

Yes he's chipped

OP posts:

EmmaC78 · 23/08/2022 00:00

What did you end up doing about your cat OP?

TempNameChangexx · 23/08/2022 00:24

Is he neutered?
You do need to find out who is feeding him to make sure they're keeping up with his vaccinations and keeping an eye on him generally
Often people who take other people's cats don't bother with that, and abandon them when they need to spend money on them, apart from food.

Paranoidandroidmarvin · 23/08/2022 14:28

This is how I ended up with mine. Someone down the street stole him from the owner and then decided they didn’t want him anymore.
When they stopped feeding him he started coming round my house.
There wasn’t a hope we could get him back to his original owner ( we were in this together ) so the cat and us decided he could stay with us. Had the cat for eight years now. So sad that people think they can just steal other peoples cars.