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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:
Furries · 12/02/2023 05:10

As others have said - phone round vets (maybe widen your search area just to make sure). Go searching at dusk - they are crepuscular creatures, so it’s when they’re most active. Keep up with the litter outside.

I do agree with others though. You let them out far too early. Am not saying this to dig at you. But I hope that others, in the future, may read this thread. Letting cats out needs to be done slowly and carefully.

If you’re putting posters up, do be aware of complete arseholes that message you and demand funds or they will harm “your cat”. They are absolute chancers and prey on owners who care about their pets.

Mumdiva99 · 12/02/2023 07:04

When my cat went missing she was actually in the neighbours hiding under a bed.

When I went to get her she wouldn't come out for me at all. Eventually I had to get my daughter to come and coax her out. (I had food, she doesn't have any issues with me.....just DD is favourite.

Make sure your neighbours have checked the whole house thoroughly...use a torch to look for eyes in all little spaces.

lljkk · 12/02/2023 07:22

my mother used to let them out after 3 days after we moved house, and no more than a week later when it was a new cat to us. We never had one disappear. Don't think you did anything wrong, OP. X fingers you'll be reunited soon.

Original poster
ChorserSaucer · 12/02/2023 08:43

I appreciate you bringing up your concern respectfully @Furries

I have logged her missing with her microchip so vets in the area will have been notified and posters handed in to the closet vets.

Ive been going out dawn, day time, dusk and late at night when it’s quieter so I can try to hear her meow. She’s very vocal. When we first got her she would yowel in her safe room when left alone with the door closed so I don’t think she’s in the neighbour’s house. That being said, I will ask to have a good look around her house.

I have deliberately withheld a key distinguishing feature to help identify her and ensure calls are legitimate.

All the positive stories are very reassuring - I can’t give up hope yet.

OP posts:
HappyHolidai · 12/02/2023 08:46

Hope she turns up soon!

I have a happy story. I moved house and let my cats out after a couple of weeks. One disappeared for weeks: I think he had got stuck the other side of the main road. I put out posters and was called about many different black & white cats none of whom was mine.

I though I would never see him again but one night after 6 weeks he just came back in the cat flap and ran up to meow on my bed. He was thin but not starving. My other cat was not impressed with the return! Disappearing cat never roamed far again after that; disapproving cat died a few months later, so I was very pleased still to have one.

MyOldFriendTime · 12/02/2023 14:13

Hopefully today is the day OP. Sunday lots of people open sheds/greenhouses/garages and the like so if she's crept in anywhere like that hopefully she'll be found or at least disturbed if she's hiding out anywhere 🤞

HumourReplacementTherapy · 13/02/2023 15:55

Any joy OP?

mondaytosunday · 13/02/2023 16:11

Three weeeks is the time I've always done and never had an issue. Let's hope the cat comes home - one of mine went missing for five days snd walked in very dusty one day, I think she got locked in to a garage or shed.

Original poster
ChorserSaucer · 13/02/2023 20:34

No luck yet but I’m still holding out hope!

I’ve increased the area of my search and went to over 70houses today so the whole block is covered. Had a few sightings; a few of which I think is mistaken identity of a VERY similar-looking cat in one area and two callers who stated a second, very likely area. Both fairly adamant it’s her but are going to check for her distinguishing feature when they see the cat again.

OP posts:
Vallmo47 · 13/02/2023 20:44

Hope you find her OP. 😢

MathsIsFab · 13/02/2023 21:46

Bless you @ChorserSaucer really hope you find your baby x

Yesthatismychildsigh · 14/02/2023 11:56

Hope the sightings help you.

lljkk · 14/02/2023 19:30

DCat didn't come home for 20 hours, she is not in my good books. Tsk Tsk.

Original poster
ChorserSaucer · 14/02/2023 20:42

thank you 💕

No further sightings but starting to receive weird messages already from flyers that had my number on 🙄👌

i don’t want to block them incase they become threatening but ignoring might also bring on the same response. I’ve replied with an auto-generated response so hope that’ll work 🤷‍♀️

any tips?

OP posts:
EmmaEmerald · 15/02/2023 19:30

I would block them

can you take down the flyers with your number?

Original poster
ChorserSaucer · 15/02/2023 20:11

It all turned out okay with the odd messages I was getting. I think who ever it was is just lonely. I told them it was purely a number for finding a family’s pet cat & not a private number.

Posters in the public area have an email address as PPs suggested - I made a specific cat one. The phone number has been given to neighbours in my area - I just don’t know who all of my neighbours are. Especially as this person wasn’t someone I spoke to directly whilst knocking on doors. Everyone I have spoken to personally has been lovely.

OP posts:
EmmaEmerald · 15/02/2023 21:16

ChorserSaucer · 15/02/2023 20:11

It all turned out okay with the odd messages I was getting. I think who ever it was is just lonely. I told them it was purely a number for finding a family’s pet cat & not a private number.

Posters in the public area have an email address as PPs suggested - I made a specific cat one. The phone number has been given to neighbours in my area - I just don’t know who all of my neighbours are. Especially as this person wasn’t someone I spoke to directly whilst knocking on doors. Everyone I have spoken to personally has been lovely.

Cool
sorry the kitty is still AWOL.

xsquared · 15/02/2023 21:48

Hope your cat returns soon, op.

Original poster
ChorserSaucer · 16/02/2023 20:39

SHE’S HOME!!

She was found almost 20miles away!
So relieved to have her home. She’s in her favourite spot now; my shoulder. Purring away.

Thank you for all the good wishes!!!

OP posts:
MathsIsFab · 16/02/2023 20:42

Woooooohooooooo!!!!

well done!!!!!!!!!

enjoy her!!!!!!

how did they find her?

Yarnosaura · 16/02/2023 20:46

Oh wow, what a relief, that is fantastic news.

Pearfacebananapoop · 16/02/2023 20:49

20 miles?! Got to have been in a car?!

lovelychops · 16/02/2023 20:49

Fabulous news !!!

Emmamoo89 · 16/02/2023 20:53

Aww so happy for you!! 🥰

Nimbostratus100 · 16/02/2023 20:55

wonderful!!!!

I am so happy to read your news

xx