9 month old kitten not come home

[CheeriosOrFrosties]

I've got 2 9 month old kittens who I let out during the day when I am at home and they regularly hop over the wall into the neighbours garden and beyond. 90% of the time they come back within a minute or so of being called, but tonight I've called and called (and walked round the block a few times) and one of them hasn't come home.

We have a cat flap but he doesn't know how to use it. We are in the city so I don't feel comfortable leaving the back door open all night.

What do I do?!

Give it a little longer before worrying, today has been sunny and warm and it’s only just about dark. My cat will keep me waiting at this time of year. Keep going to the door and calling, shaking food if they are on dry. My cat will occasionally rock up about midnight, even though I know he’s just hiding in a neighbours garden (and can damn well hear me!)

@Grimbleton do you wait up for him to come home? I usually go to bed at this time!

Not much you can do but wait sorry @CheeriosOrFrosties And if you need to go to bed then go, as he may be away for HOURS yet. Leave the catflap open anyway, as he may figure it out. Also, cats come back after DAYS - and WEEKS even, so he may appear tomorrow. You say you are in a city, are you on or very near a main/busy road?

@LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway argh not sure I can cope with the emotional turmoil of days or weeks away! We are near roads but they aren't main ones.

Can you tape your cat flap open? This is what we did when ours were learning to use it.

Very stressful time for you, hopefully all good news and nothing to worry about in the morning. They can get carried away staying out when it's warm

@peopleonthebusgoupanddown yes I can tape it open but I don't think he will even think to try using it. I'll do that anyway though, thanks. Just got to hope that the other cat doesn't try and go out of it whilst it's open! (I usually shut them in the lounge overnight which is where their litter tray etc is but I think the other cat will go mad being shut in alone)

I sellotape my cat flap open if I need my incompetent cat flapper user to be guaranteed to get in.
I’d keep trying for a bit longer though…shake treats etc

Don’t panic. They all like to try an all nighter at this age! He’ll most likely be waiting in the morning for you.
I’ve two slightly older cats and both decided to stay out all night in March. I went looking for them but they determinedly refused to be caught or follow me back from the barn yard to the house. The next morning they were outside the back door and have never repeated the exercise.
If he’s not back in the morning ask all your neighbors to check sheds and garages as they also get locked in places very easily.
Try not to worry all night

I never go to sleep and leave my cat out, if I'm really tired and I do I always wake up in the early hours and if she's still not back I panic but she's usually nearby or sneaked into my neighbors. Try putting a litter tray out if you have one or a piece of your clothing so they can smell home

I've sellotaped the cat flap open but worry that the other one will just go out now! Would you still shut him in the lounge as usual? The kitchen where the cat flap is doesn't have a door to it so I can't keep the other cat out of the kitchen to stop him from also going out unless I shut him in the lounge, where he might cry all night for his brother. Gah!

I also find mine comes home late on clear nights when there's more animals rustling around so id be tempted to wait a bit longer if you can

Has he been done? If not he might be off looking for a lady friend. That said my girl, who has been done, is being a dick about coming on now. (She literally came in as I said that)

Def keep at least 1 safe tonight.. Lock it in alone... Can you leave the window open on the lock-so just an inch... ? Inside dcat making noise might lure naughty dcat home?
Worked when 1 of my pair went years ago. Little buggar came home 10 nights later!

Yes he is neutered. I'll shut the other one in the lounge and hope he doesn't keep everyone awake all night!

Aw op, such a worry. One of my lovely sister cats went walkabout a while back, she was a cat who would go out the front door and run round to the back, she wasn’t too fussed on being outside so her disappearance is awful just worry about where she is, her sister misses her, we have her mum too and a baby kitten, she’s not getting out now. I find boys do wander more than girls, but devastated about my girl, never thought she’d wander. I hope your kitten comes home soon

I doubt you will sleep anyway op. Hopefully tomorrow you will update he is home.

Still nothing. Sitting watching some TV with his brother asleep next to me. Fingers crossed he comes home before I head to bed.

Still nothing :(

And you know he’s just going to stroll in like nothing is the matter.

I really hope so.

I’m sure he will. Typical cocky teen cat!!

I think keeping the other one in but the cat flap open is a good idea. Look into getting a microchip cat flap. That way you can set a curfew. We have ours set to lock and unlock at certain times. Only ever to stop her going out, not coming in.

Oh this one is a microchip one but I'm not sure if it has that feature.

Our cheeky chappy strolled back and cried his eyes out on the kitchen window at 2am once. I waited up for him with DD1, well she had just come back from a night out and then couldn't go to bed knowing he was out. He looked at us as if to say how dare you keep me out to this time of night! He hasn't been out past 6pm since that! Hope your lovely little kitty shows up soon

Good luck, OP 🤞 I hope he'll be safe back in the morning.