HELP! My Cat hasn''t been home in 5 days! Need advice!

[hearts-arrows_girl]

We moved 3 weeks ago, and I followed advice from friends to keep Blue, my baby in the new house for 2 weeks, We started opening up the french doors to the covered patio area after day 14, and he would look outside, but stay in. He decided on Sunday, March 9, to go out and look around. We just left the doors open and he wandered off. My husband said he saw him at the end of the property that night, but Blue ran away from him when he went to talk to him. We are on a 1/2 acre with barns at the back of the property, that is where my husband saw him. I have been told by friends that sometimes cats take off for 4-5 days just to mark their territory, but I am soooo worried about him and sad. Has anyone else gone through this during the moving process with their kitties. We live in a horse area near the mountains. Some people have said maybe coyotes got him, but my husband says there aren''t any near here. If we thought there were, we would have never let him out. We love him. My son is so distraught about his baby. Any advice would help! I went to the animal shelter today, he is not there. Also he has a chip, so if they find him, they will call us. Thanks for any helpful hints!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Did you put up fliers with his photograph on it? Maybe offer a small reward? I hope you find him soon!!!!

 

[neatfreak]

If I had to guess your husband running after him may have scared him into hiding. He may be hiding somewhere on your property, my cat did that once for a few days and the whole time she was hiding scared under a porch (this was also after a move). So keep waiting it out and leave food out if you can. And DON''T chase him if you see him.

 

[sumbride]

How far away from your old house did you move? Have you been back to the old house to look for him? They "go home" a lot. Good luck!!!

 

[sumbride]

Also, my mom''s cat has run off a few times.... she always lures him back with a really stinky cat food or tuna. If he''s been gone a few days, I bet he''s hungry! Just stay close by when you put it out.

 

[VRBeauty]

Date: 3/14/2008 11:17:46 PM
Author: sumbride
How far away from your old house did you move? Have you been back to the old house to look for him? They ''go home'' a lot. Good luck!!!

When I was a kid, we also had to retrieve a cat from a prior home once. It seems cats have tremendous homing instincts! I hope Blue turns up soon!

 

[moremoremore]

I''m really sorry about your kitty and I hope he comes home. It is VERY VERY hard for me to hold my tongue here. I just don''t understand why people let their cats out and then get upset when they go missing. Cats should not be outside. Ever. A chip doesn''t help when it comes to other animals, nasty people and vehicles. I guess I just feel so strongly about this subject and it makes me nuts. I find it''s a good lesson for people where the cat pays the price. Probably not what you wanted to here but this is my hot button big time. I''m hoping for a safe return for the cat''s sake.

 

[moremoremore]

Cat owners. Please read this article from the Humane Society about keeping cats indoors.


http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/humane_society_magazines_and_newsletters/all_animals/volume_4_issue_1_spring_2002/a_safe_cat_is_a_happy_cat_and_your_cat_is_only_safe_indoors.html

 

[Hera]

Moremoremore, It''s my hot button too. Thanks for that article from a highly credible source!

Hearts-arrows, I hope you find your kitty and keep him inside from now on.

 

[bee*]

Definitely put up fliers, offer a reward, ring the local spca''s or cat aid groups. Over here, we always ring the garda also as a lot of people will call them if there''s a stray cat about.

 

[Eva17]

i hope your cat returns safely!! it is sad when a family pet is missing. i feel bad for you son.

when he does return home, maybe you can make the kitty an indoor cat. one of my neighbors has two cats and when they sit outside the put leashes on the cat and tie them with a nice long lead while they are outside with them. when they go in the cats go in too.



moremoremore, also a hot topic for me. first and foremost because of what the outdoor cat brings home, and second as a homeowner who doesn''t have cats, (justdogs) i have to clean up cat poop before i let my dogs play out back.

 

[moremoremore]

They also have those huge outdoor kitty play pens...too funny...

I hope you inderstand hearts-arrows that my post comes from my passionate love for cats e/t it''s not what you want to hear righ now. I feel that society views them as second class pets- even pet owners...mostly bc people aren''t educated about the needs of cats. That said, I''m sorry for your son and hope the cat returns home soon.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Thanks for posting that article mmm - I was just about to post a link to an article that basically says the same thing. This is also a hot-button topic for me, I really just don''t get what''s so hard about keeping your cat indoors, or supervised/leashed/confined when outdoors.

hearts and arrows girl - I really hope your kitty turns up safely. I''d definitely second the suggestion of putting out some stinky food. I''ve also heard that walking around dragging a blanket or dirty t-shirt or something else that smells like you to make a "trail" back to your house can help if kitty is lost and/or disoriented. And definitely put up posters so your neighbors know to keep an eye out. Good luck - I really hope Blue returns safely, and I also hope you''ll consider keeping him safely indoors from now on for his own safety.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Both our cats are indoor b/c it triples their life (according to my vet) and I just love them so. Our male has escaped and I had to crawl under my neighbor''s deck (7 months preggo)

Shaking treats helps too.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/15/2008 11:35:29 AM
Author: AmberGretchen
Thanks for posting that article mmm - I was just about to post a link to an article that basically says the same thing. This is also a hot-button topic for me, I really just don''t get what''s so hard about keeping your cat indoors, or supervised/leashed/confined when outdoors.


hearts and arrows girl - I really hope your kitty turns up safely. I''d definitely second the suggestion of putting out some stinky food. I''ve also heard that walking around dragging a blanket or dirty t-shirt or something else that smells like you to make a ''trail'' back to your house can help if kitty is lost and/or disoriented. And definitely put up posters so your neighbors know to keep an eye out. Good luck - I really hope Blue returns safely, and I also hope you''ll consider keeping him safely indoors from now on for his own safety.

Just in response to this... our cat escaped outside one day and wasn''t deliberately "let out". Just wanted to put that out there that sometimes cats get outside by accident rather than intentionally!

 

[Hera]

If you''re worried that he won''t know how to come back because you just moved there, they have better memories than you would think. When my husband and I went on our honeymoon, we left my cat in my mom''s possession. Well, the day we came back, my mom told me my cat got outside and she couldn''t find her. Even though we weren''t picking up my cat until the following weekend, I asked my husband to take off work, drive two hours to her house and find him. He was theer for three days but couldn''t find him. Two hours before he was set to drive home my cat showed up at the door.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 3/15/2008 12:44:32 PM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 3/15/2008 11:35:29 AM

Author: AmberGretchen

Thanks for posting that article mmm - I was just about to post a link to an article that basically says the same thing. This is also a hot-button topic for me, I really just don''t get what''s so hard about keeping your cat indoors, or supervised/leashed/confined when outdoors.



hearts and arrows girl - I really hope your kitty turns up safely. I''d definitely second the suggestion of putting out some stinky food. I''ve also heard that walking around dragging a blanket or dirty t-shirt or something else that smells like you to make a ''trail'' back to your house can help if kitty is lost and/or disoriented. And definitely put up posters so your neighbors know to keep an eye out. Good luck - I really hope Blue returns safely, and I also hope you''ll consider keeping him safely indoors from now on for his own safety.

Just in response to this... our cat escaped outside one day and wasn''t deliberately ''let out''. Just wanted to put that out there that sometimes cats get outside by accident rather than intentionally!

Absolutely true neatfreak - I certainly didn''t mean to suggest otherwise. Even with very responsible owners who try to do the right thing, accidents absolutely do happen and I certainly don''t hold it against everyone - I just feel bad for all involved and hope that the story has a happy ending. Sorry if I implied otherwise.

 

[hearts-arrows_girl]

thank you all for your replies and advice.
Tacori - flyers are a good idea
Neat - I hope he is on the property still, although I have looked.
Sumbride - I live about 5 driving minutes from the old property, I still own it and have the renters on the lookout for him. I also went next door to the old neighbors where Blue use to hang out and left them my number to call if they see Blue. I will try the stinky food thing tonight.
Minims- I hope Blue''s instincts are as good as they should be and he will come home.
Moremoremore-I read the article you included, and if Blue comes home, he will become an inside guy. He actually did ok for the 2 weeks he was in.
heraanderson-thanks for the kind words.
bee-good advice I will contact these groups. I don''t know what garda is though.
Eva17-thanks for the advice, when Blue comes home, inside will be the way to go.
moremoremore-I do understand where you are coming from. Our Blue is our baby, we just were under the impression that by letting him outside he would have a fuller life, so we were putting our own worries aside so that he could have the best of both worlds. But you are correct about the cruel harmful people in the world that hurt cats. Funny thing is I also worry every time my son goes out too, I wish I could keep them both in. (My son has aspergers and sometimes also falls prey to cruel people) Believe me, when I first let Blue out when he was little it was a hard thing to do for me and my son, but we thought we were doing what was best for our kitty. Your article was very insightful and I am glad I read it.
Ambergretchen-that is a great idea, I will try that tomorrow. I am sooo worried, it is pouring rain tonight and I am afraid his trail might be washed away. We have also been driving around the neighborhood just looking for him.
tacore-we also shake the treat can.
heraanderson- I hope My Blue will show up too.
Well I want to thank you all for posting. I am going to make up flyers tonight. I appreciate the advice from all!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I am glad about keeping him indoors and don''t worry too much yet. We have two indoor cats, one who is perfectly happy with it and the other who is not. She got out once and there was no trace of her. For seven days we called the humane socienty every day put up flyers in the local vet''s offices and all around the area and nothing. Then we got a call. Within a few hours of her getting out, she had wandered into an apartment building and found a new family. The woman saw one of our flyers when getting some coffee and called and we got our Maggie back.
One thing I ask as a concerned cat owner is to take the posters down once your find Blue. Nothing is more heartbreaking than driving by, seeing the flyers and never knowing if the family got the baby back home.

Also, you asked what "garda" is, it is the Irish word for police.

 

[sumbride]

Blue will definitely be ok as an indoor cat. My cats are indoor only, BUT Bill was a stray when we found him, so I do sometimes take him out on the patio with me, on a leash, because he loves the sunshine and fresh air. He rolls around on the patio for a while, sniffs all the flowers, and then I pick him up and take him back in, where he pouts for about 10 minutes, but then gets over it. Supervised garden visits are nice to do if you can, but really, indoors is best.

I do hope Blue comes back. He may have gone "home" to his old house and be confused as to why you aren''t there but those other people are. Is he friendly to strangers?

 

[Pandora II]

My parents have siamese indoor/outdoor cats - but we have PetSafe around the property so they stay well within the garden, they are also locked inside when we are out and have to be in by 9pm.

Being Siamese, they only really want to be out a lot if we are outside too - they are much more people cats than place cats. We do take them for walks in the fields - we tried leads, but they prefer just to trot along in a line beside us. In over 15 years of walks none of them have ever wandered off.

One of our cats, who sadly died at 18 about 10 years ago, used to love going out on summer evenings. The only way to get him home was to go and make cat fight noises - he'd come running like a shot. If you went and shook cat treat boxes he just used to sit and watch you like you were some kind of fool. He was normally under a bush 5ft away.

If I had a cat in London I would have an indoor cat, but in the countryside I'd definitely let them out - but only with PetSafe installed.

I do hope your baby comes home - definitely try looking at your old house, and make sure that he couldn't have got trapped in anywhere like sheds or barns etc

 

[hearts-arrows_girl]

Date: 3/16/2008 12:56:49 AM
Author: brazen_irish_hussy
I am glad about keeping him indoors and don''t worry too much yet. We have two indoor cats, one who is perfectly happy with it and the other who is not. She got out once and there was no trace of her. For seven days we called the humane socienty every day put up flyers in the local vet''s offices and all around the area and nothing. Then we got a call. Within a few hours of her getting out, she had wandered into an apartment building and found a new family. The woman saw one of our flyers when getting some coffee and called and we got our Maggie back.
One thing I ask as a concerned cat owner is to take the posters down once your find Blue. Nothing is more heartbreaking than driving by, seeing the flyers and never knowing if the family got the baby back home.

Also, you asked what ''garda'' is, it is the Irish word for police.

I hope someone calls us too. And yes, I agree, taking down the flyers is important once he is found.

Sumbride- Blue is not friendly to strangers, he is a very skiddish cat. I have my renters and the neighbors keeping an eye out for him.

Pandora-I have been checking all the places on the property where he could have gotten trapped. My son goes out and calls to him too. I am going to hang one of my son''s old blankets over the fence in the back of the yard hoping he will get the scent. We all loved Blue, but he was my son''s baby. I always told my son the he is Blue''s person. Those two were always sleeping together, I use to fear he would roll over on the cat, but is was like sychronized swimming the way those to sleep. I hope Blue returns home quickly.

Thanks again for all the kind and helpful posts!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I hope Blue comes home soon. Please don''t feel bad about letting him out. It is your decision and we shouldn''t make you feel worse than you already do!

 

[VRBeauty]

Junebug: Don't forget to ask your neighbors, old and new, about any outbuildings they might have on their property. My Maya once got stuck in a neighbor's garage for two days -- it was being used as an artist's studio, and the artist was only in there every few days. Maya loves to dart into "forbidden" places and still get trapped in a closet for the day, every other week or so, as I rush off to work.... I know, you'd think at least one of us would learn by now...

Your son's relationship with Blue sounds very special. I hope they're reunited soon!

 

[Gypsy]

Prayers and Dust for Blue safe and prompt return. ((HUGS)).

 

[isaku5]

Any news about Blue?

 

[hearts-arrows_girl]

Tacori, thank-you!

Minims-good idea! and yes, Ricky and Blue are very close!

Gypsy-We can use a few prayers! My mom and sisters are saying prayers for his safe return. Thanks!

isaku5-no news yet. I went to the animal shelter again, to put a flyer in their lost pets book, and just take another look around for him. We put up over 30 flyers. I numbered the flyers and marked their locations so that I know where to go to remove them when Blue comes home. I put one at our Vet, which is half way between the old house and the new house, also at the local market, and all the telephone poles around each house. My son and I go back to the old house and call for him daily. I bring Rick because I figured Blue might feel better hearing his voice too. We are stepping up the search each day. I left a message with the ASPCA, but have not heard back yet. (answer machine at # I called)

Again, thank you all for your great ideas and words of support! I will post immediately when Blue comes home.

 

[isaku5]

You''ve certainly covered many bases. Cats are so sneaky sometimes, though.

When we lived farther outside of town, I used to call for "Amber" to come in at night. Crazy fool that I was, I went out with a coat over my nightie armed with a flashlight and called loudly enough to wake the neighbours, shook the cat treat can and everything. I finally saw her sitting on the roof of our car watching me make a fool of myself.

 

[hearts-arrows_girl]

Isabel, that sounds just like Blue! We have heard no word yet, he has been gone 11 days now! I have had to replace a few poster (I think kids probably tore them down). I am going to place more of Rick's clothing around the property, I am afraid after that rain that he might have lost the scent home. I still check daily at the old house. I guess it is just a waiting game for us at this point. thanks for the reply!

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 3/15/2008 11:35:29 AM
Author: AmberGretchen

I've also heard that walking around dragging a blanket or dirty t-shirt or something else that smells like you to make a 'trail' back to your house can help if kitty is lost and/or disoriented. And definitely put up posters so your neighbors know to keep an eye out.

This works. Seriously, it does. My parents' cats are indoor, but one of them charged the screen door and blew right through it...ran around and then disappeared before my parents knew what had even happened. They figured it out once they couldn't find the cat and saw a gaping hole in the screen door, but that was little consolation when they couldn't find the cat.

They walked all over the neighborhood, put up signs, and were quite despondent. For weeks. The vet suggested dragging a blanket around to make a trail leading back to the house. My parents even DROVE ALL OVER TOWN with a blanket dragging behind the car. Unfortunately, it rained a lot. And every time it rained, they had to go back and make the scent trail again.

About a month later someone called and said, 'I think your cat is here.' We're talking MILES away, and across some major roads. My parents immediately drove out there, but the cat the people had seen was nowhere to be found. My parents drove home from the place dragging the blanket from the trunk of the car, and the next day, their cat was at the front door wailing to be let in.

That having been said, I second, third, and fourth not letting the cat out. I freak if mine even get too close to the front door. My reaction has definitely kept them away from it. Holly was a stray, and she doesn't ever complain to be let out. I crack some windows open so she can smell the 'outside' through the screens, but never wide enough so that she could take a flying leap and go through the screen.

ETA: Good thing about calling the ASPCA...if someone calls them up saying they found a cat and noone has reported a cat missing that matches the description, the 'finders' legally own the cat after 30 or 45 days or something like that. I know this because I called the ASPCA when I found Holly. They wrote up a report and said that if no one reported a cat with that description missing, then after a certain amount of time (I think a month) I was legally responsible for her. However, she wasn't wearing any ID and didn't have a microchip. So it would be different if yours was wearing ID or a chip.