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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

New cat has been gone for 10hours

119 replies

ChorserSaucer · 09/02/2023 20:42

We adopted a cat 3 weeks ago after losing our previous kitty.

The new cat is a curious 2 year old who settled in with us super quickly. We started letting her out each day this week to explore the garden.

She was last seen today about 10:30am inside my neighbours house. Seen again by the same neighbour in her garden around 2pm.

I’ve left the back door open all day and have been around the block calling for her & shaking her dreamies bag frequently through the day and in to the evening. No luck so far (but I’ve attracted 3 other cats)! I’ve also put her litter tray outside and sprinkled some of the litter by our back gate (luckily she had just used it before heading out so it was nice and stinky).

Any further tips to get her back?

She’s microchipped but her collar came off in the neighbour’s house. I’m concerned by this as she mistakingly had her ear cut by vets when rescued to identify her as a feral cat even though she’s not feral.

Any reassurance greatly welcomed!

OP posts:
Molly9090 · 09/02/2023 20:45

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you meant to keep a new cat indoors or when you move house for 6 weeks minimum , as they try and get back to their previous home? That's what I've heard. I hope that's not the case here. I really hope you find her soon!❤️

Blowyourowntrumpet · 09/02/2023 20:47

It does seem terribly early to let her out after three weeks. Do you have any soiled cat litter that you could put outside so that she can recognise her own scent. Or a blanket or cat bed with her scent on?

Emmamoo89 · 09/02/2023 20:49

Seems too soon to let out. Sure its 6 weeks. Hope she comes back x

EmmaEmerald · 09/02/2023 20:49

Are you 100% sure she's not still in neighbour's garden?

mum told a neighbour the missing cat wasn't with her. The next day I came round, went all around the garden and found her fast asleep in a very smol bol between the shed and the fence. She's a black cat and squeezed herself into a tiny corner.

so just thought I'd mention it. Hope she turns up asap.

Emmamoo89 · 09/02/2023 20:49

Soon*

Outtasteamandluck · 09/02/2023 20:49

My kitty has been with us since July and he's still not allowed out.

LadyJ2023 · 09/02/2023 20:50

3 weeks and your happy she went into a neighbours thus confusing her further which is meant to become home to her. Mind saying that my 2 when we move are usually out within a couple of days but then there already bonded with us so run over soon as they hear the word treats lol 😅

EmmaEmerald · 09/02/2023 20:50

Blowyourowntrumpet · 09/02/2023 20:47

It does seem terribly early to let her out after three weeks. Do you have any soiled cat litter that you could put outside so that she can recognise her own scent. Or a blanket or cat bed with her scent on?

OP has done this.

Outtasteamandluck · 09/02/2023 20:50

I hope she turns up soon. You must be so worried.

GettingStuffed · 09/02/2023 20:51

We had this with our cats, one bad managed to get herself locked in the garage of an empty garage, her sister insisted in going out in a thunderstorm and was lost for a about 4 weeks before we got a phone call that she was at the local vets.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 09/02/2023 22:33

The best time to find a missing cat up early morning or late at night.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 09/02/2023 22:34

Sorry, posted too soon!

If you go out during the day it's often too noisy and they get scared. Two of my cats have gone missing and one was only next door - we shouted him for days but it was only when I went out at 10pm and called him that he was brave enough to call back.

LoveMyADHD · 09/02/2023 22:38

In the litter you left out, you can put some stuff (like hair) from your carpet … that’s what we ve done and I think it helped

also cook something really fishy (like sardines if you have a tin or mackerel) and put it outside in the garden or your front door

then like others said go outside your home in the night and wait…she might come back but only if very quiet

really hope you find her x

DontStopMeNow7 · 09/02/2023 22:46

My last cat used to wander off. The anxiety was so awful that I eventually made him an indoor cat. But on a couple of occasions he escaped- an even worse situation. He came back when I cooked some chicken and left the doors open so he could smell it.
At least your cat is microchipped. I really hope you find him soon x

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 09/02/2023 22:47

Our cat doesn’t tend to roam beyond our garden/next door and pretty much always comes when called - but a few years ago she disappeared for hours and we were so worried. She’s pure white so generally very visible even if she doesn’t fancy coming in. Per pp it was late at night when she started calling back to us, and we realised she’d got stuck behind a high gate that is usually open in our neighbours, and couldn’t get back through. DP ended up scaling the wall, picking her up, letting them both out the gate, and round and in the front. She’s never been back there!

hope she comes home soon, OP.

Original poster
ChorserSaucer · 09/02/2023 22:50

Thank you for all the suggestions! And the hope!

I will get some smelly fish tomorrow. I don’t think she’s a fish fan though. Any particularly smelly non-fishy foods??

We’ve been out every half hour in the dark calling her and shaking the dreamies. I’ve only been able to attract 3 of the local cats (ironically as they are the least friendly ones).

Just concerned that if she was curious enough to go in to my neighbours house (she literally dashed in when my neighbour opened the back door) then she’s likely to have gone in to a house / shed / garage.

Optimistically hoping she’s in / under the neighbours shed!! @EmmaEmerald

Im going to try again early morning before sunrise.

Reuniting stories are welcome in the mean time! 💕

OP posts:
MyOldFriendTime · 09/02/2023 22:59

Eek really a bit early to let her out but it's done now.
As well as the litter outside you can put out the contents of your vacuum cleaner - they can smell it for miles apparently.

When you go out looking shine a torch in the dark bushes etc as you'll see her eyes reflected if she's hiding.

Do you have a cat flap in case she comes back in the night?

I bet she'll be back tomorrow but if not put a few posts through letterboxes asking your neighbours to check their sheds/garages etc. I'm sure she wouldn't have gone far.

DontStopMeNow7 · 09/02/2023 23:02

When my cat used to wander I’d frequently wonder where on earth he went to. Before making him an indoor cat, I put my address and phone number on his collar. Then when he disappeared I’d get phone calls from various people in the neighbourhood about my cat who was super friendly and attempting to move in with them. One lady lived 2 streets away! Another man from the next street showed up at my door with my cat saying he’d spent the day with his 3 other cats sleeping by the fire.

Whatever his favourite food is think of a cooked version of it because the smell will travel.

And if you don’t find him in the morning…I was just reading another story on here where the missing cat was found because of posters put all over the town and someone recognised him.

Yours is microchipped so that’s in your favour. Let us know if you find him xx

LoveMyADHD · 09/02/2023 23:03

If you go out to look for her, perhaps don’t call her name, be very very quiet

its very likely she s disoriented and any weird noise will be freaking her out

happened to us, put litter with carpet stuff out and smelly fish and just waited till he came back; he couldn’t recognise me though he was all over the place

dont worry if she doesn’t like fish, I bet you she’ll love it after a day of no food x

LakeTiticaca · 09/02/2023 23:07

Do you have any catnip?
This usually brings my wandering cat teararsing back as soon as he gets the scent of it x

Beautifulsunflowers · 09/02/2023 23:11

My cat went missing, I was frantic with worry so I know how you must be feeling. I got up early and made posters to post through neighbours doors. Then I heard a miow coming from next doors garage -the cheeky boy had got in there and got trapped!
Hope your cat turns up soon

Yarnosaura · 09/02/2023 23:14

2-3 weeks is absolutely fine before letting out for the vast majority of cats, so please don't let anyone make you feel guilty, Chorser Flowers

Do you have a cat flap? If not, unless it's completely impractical, leave a window or door open so she can get in.

They are sods though, my latest was a former semi-feral who needed to be kept in longer but who actually didn't want to go out for the first 6 months, and then on the second day she buggered off and didn't return until very late and I was in a right state.

Fernticket · 09/02/2023 23:20

Hope he comes back soon.

Original poster
ChorserSaucer · 10/02/2023 08:16

Thank you @Yarnosaura

No luck yet.
I even went out at 4am to have a search as I couldn’t sleep.

Here’s what I’ve done so far:

  • Left back door open (no cat flap)
  • Sprinkled her used cat litter around the edge of the garden (key entry and exit points)
  • Sprinkled the contents of our hoover around the edge of the garden
  • Left our shed open with her lottery tray inside
  • Hung up 2 towels in the garden which were lining her cat carrier
  • Hung up 2 of my unwashed pj tops in the garden
  • Regularly out in the garden and surrounding area shaking dreamies and calling her name

I’m going to put notes through the neighbours doors if she’s not back this evening. Really hoping her nose is put to good use!

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I’m going to try everything!

OP posts:
coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 10/02/2023 08:49

I know it's hard but please try not to worry!

Two of mine have done runners and both came back on day four!