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Original poster

Picking up our cat that's been 'missing' for years

459 replies

KiffyKiffyKiffy · 03/02/2025 14:57

Well not missing exactly but we lived at our old address and as our cat got older and we had kids and 2 dogs our cat spent more and more time with our elderly neighbour. We would try and coax him home but he always went back.

The neighbour loved him and spoilt him rotton.

2 years ago we moved house and we tried to catch him a few times to bring him with us but he evaded us. So we went to the neighbours house to ask him to catch him for us. The elderly neighbour said he would like him to stay (his wife and dog had passed away) as he was good company

So over time we check in on him, make sure he doesn't need vet care etc.
Neighbour has our number.

We just stopped by to check in and he asked if we could take him.

Of course!

But I'm worried as he's not seen our dogs in years. He's never been to this home and we have somehow adopted a stray cat here who treats it like his home and is basically out unplanned cat too now.

We are picking him up in an hour and I'm just a bit stressed at how to navigate this!!

We never planned to be apart from him but he chose the neighbour over us and at that time the neighbour really needed him.

Any advice please!

OP posts:
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Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 03/02/2025 15:08

I've got a crate and a heated mat set up.

Would it be best to keep him in there for tonight? With acess to a litter tray

Picking up our cat that's been 'missing' for years
OP posts:
probablyabadidea · 03/02/2025 15:17

I'd cover the crate with a blanket (leave the door open and a gap for him to get through!) them give him the run of the room, and don't let him out or the dogs or other cat in there. Spend time in the room with him but just sit quietly and let him come to you when he's ready. And definitely don't let him outside for a good couple of weeks, if not more! Cats get so attached to places that he's effectively a 'new' cat in terms of settling in, as he won't know the house at all.

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 03/02/2025 15:30

probablyabadidea · 03/02/2025 15:17

I'd cover the crate with a blanket (leave the door open and a gap for him to get through!) them give him the run of the room, and don't let him out or the dogs or other cat in there. Spend time in the room with him but just sit quietly and let him come to you when he's ready. And definitely don't let him outside for a good couple of weeks, if not more! Cats get so attached to places that he's effectively a 'new' cat in terms of settling in, as he won't know the house at all.

Thankyou. Outside the room or outside the house?
I think I'm going to try and keep him inside. He's quite old now.

Should Inget him elderly cat food? He's 18

OP posts:
Whatisthisbs · 03/02/2025 15:37

When our cat disappeared and ultimately returned with his head held high after a year, we kept him in one room for the first night, then the run of the house again for about 2 weeks. Settled straight back in like he'd never been away!

MelainesLaugh · 03/02/2025 15:37

Did your neighbour say why? I’d be worried the cat was sick or something

CerealPosterHere · 03/02/2025 15:46

You must keep him in the house for a minimum of 4 weeks I think. He’ll be stressed. Dogs on leads for initial introduction so that they don’t crowd him. Get a feliway plug in. Keep him on his normal food. At 18yo is the neighbour wanting him gone as on his last legs or weeing inside or something?

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 03/02/2025 15:47

MelainesLaugh · 03/02/2025 15:37

Did your neighbour say why? I’d be worried the cat was sick or something

His son has moved in to look after him and he has a large dog and they don't get along.

OP posts:
Marinel · 03/02/2025 16:05

What type of 'lifestyle' has the cat had with the neighbour? He's 18 so is he more or less an indoor cat now?

The first thing I'd do is take him for a check up at the vet because at that age he may have various unidentified health problems and it would help to know exactly what's going on.

What is your intention with the crate? He doesn't need one if he's kept in one room away from the other pets. I would do reintroductions very slowly and carefully.

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 03/02/2025 16:10

Marinel · 03/02/2025 16:05

What type of 'lifestyle' has the cat had with the neighbour? He's 18 so is he more or less an indoor cat now?

The first thing I'd do is take him for a check up at the vet because at that age he may have various unidentified health problems and it would help to know exactly what's going on.

What is your intention with the crate? He doesn't need one if he's kept in one room away from the other pets. I would do reintroductions very slowly and carefully.

Mostly indoor but poops outside, does use a tray for pee.

Right now I'm just keeping him in one place whilst I sort the room out because I didn't expect this at all and the rooms full of boxes I was organising to go in the attic.

I need the door open to transfer the stuff so he's safe in the crate.

He here and cuddled up on the blanket purring 🥺

I think he remembered us

OP posts:
Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 03/02/2025 16:12

I will book him in at the vets. He seems perfectly healthy! He looks like a kitten still 😂

Maybe a bit on the slim side

OP posts:
Marinel · 03/02/2025 16:14

Bless him. Good luck with it OP.

MissDoubleU · 03/02/2025 16:15

You need to keep the cat INSIDE the new house for at least two weeks. Let them get used to it and learn this is their new house. If that means locking in/out the adopted stray also, that’s how it’s got to be.

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 03/02/2025 16:20

I can't lock the other cat out of the house. He's been sleeping here for over a year now, it's his home now.

I will keep him out of the room for the foreseeable.

Am furiously trying to sort the room out so I can go get him a litter tray and things.

OP posts:
SerenStarEtoile · 03/02/2025 16:21

He’s purring, so he’s happy; that’s what matters.

I’m sure he recognises you but maybe not others and the dogs! Give him plenty of time to reacquaint himself with humans first - he’ll know the dogs are there, he’ll smell them and hear them.

Maybe feed him something he likes that’s special, cooked fish maybe, as bribery can go a long way and may convince him he’s better off sticking with you!

Good luck! I’m sure you’ll get there.

Badgersandfoxes · 03/02/2025 16:23

Our cat went missing for 5 years (we thinks she must have gotten into a van) when we eventually found her (thank got for her chip) we brought her home from the vets and she came into the house got onto her favourite chair and went to sleep. She just got on with it. Lived till she was 24 🤣

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 03/02/2025 16:32

SerenStarEtoile · 03/02/2025 16:21

He’s purring, so he’s happy; that’s what matters.

I’m sure he recognises you but maybe not others and the dogs! Give him plenty of time to reacquaint himself with humans first - he’ll know the dogs are there, he’ll smell them and hear them.

Maybe feed him something he likes that’s special, cooked fish maybe, as bribery can go a long way and may convince him he’s better off sticking with you!

Good luck! I’m sure you’ll get there.

He seems absolutely normal. He's purring and rubbing against our hands. He's sat enjoying the heat mat and blankets.

Amazon just came so the dogs were barking and he didn't even lift his head from grooming himself.

I will cook him a bit of fish for his supper alongside his whiskas

OP posts:
SnowflakeSmasher86 · 03/02/2025 16:35

Ahem.... you seem to be missing something? Where is the photo of your kitty please?!

Springflowersmakeforbetterhours · 03/02/2025 16:38

Pic or it didn't happen.....

SerenStarEtoile · 03/02/2025 16:43

That’s brilliant!

Mindedmy · 03/02/2025 16:51

Good d that he is settling. Can you put some of his used blankets near the other pets and vice Verda so that they all get used to scents before you introduce them

Lovemycat2023 · 03/02/2025 16:53

We have a 17 year old cat, and he’s gone deaf over the last year so just something to watch out for (I thought of it when you mentioned he didn’t react to do barking). But also - photo needed!

Original poster
KiffyKiffyKiffy · 03/02/2025 17:03

He's booked in at vets tomorrow at 3pm

He's just started coughing quite badly :(

Hopefully it's something easily treated.

Picking up our cat that's been 'missing' for years
OP posts:
Gloriainextremis · 03/02/2025 17:18

Our senior cat coughs like that sometimes, but she had a clean bill of health last time she was checked over.

JohnTheRevelator · 03/02/2025 17:24

SnowflakeSmasher86 · 03/02/2025 16:35

Ahem.... you seem to be missing something? Where is the photo of your kitty please?!

Exactly what I was going to say! And,18 years! What a great age for a cat!

DazzlingCuckoos · 03/02/2025 17:34

I would say not looking up when the dogs barked probably does mean he's a bit deaf now.

As others have said, keep him away from the others and keep him in one room for a while before gradually letting him explore and be introduced to the other pets.

Definitely keep him away until you are sure he doesn't have any infectious diseases with that cough. He's presumably not had any vaccinations for a while?

Finally, are you definitely certain it's your cat? The picture makes him look rather like a tortoiseshell and if it's male then that's a very, very rare cat indeed as about 99.5% of them are female!

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