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Cat Forum / General Topics / February 2006Missing Cat
Hi, Our 10 month old male cat disappeared on Friday morning. We're very upset, especially the kids. He's never done anything like this before. Does anyone know if cats do this kind of thing of their own accord sometimes, or should we fear the worst? Could he be off roaming, and how long could it last? He's also not been 'done' yet by the vet. We live in a large town by the way. Thanks, Nick > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Nick Yes, this is very common and especially so for an intact male. You didn't ask for this information, but I would like to interject two bits of advice: (1) When you locate your cat, please take him to a vet ASAP. You have already waited too long to have your cat neutered. (2) In my opinion -- which is shared by many but obviously not by many others -- cats should be indoor-only, at least in the USA and in any situation where you live in an urban environment. Your cat will be much safer, and indoor-only cats have a longer (and generally healthier) lifespan. If it were my cat, I would scour the neighborhood looking for him. Leave out some highly scened food (such as tuna) to try to attract him. Look in every possible location, but especially in areas close to home. Post flyers in the neighborhood, and make lots of telephone calls. It is sometimes useful to offer a small reward (both on the flyers and in a newspaper ad). MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7 Thanks Mary, If the cat does return, I will get him neutered asap. We are making some flyers already (with a reward offered). We live in the UK in a quiet residential neighbourhood, with a few other cats all roaming freely. Nick >> Hi, >> [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e > Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7 > Thanks Mary, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Nick Good. Thanks. I should have paid more attention to your addy. I know it is very common to have outdoor cats in the UK. For one thing, you do not have the kinds of predators we have. However, it is still important to have your cat neutered (and you have already indicated that you plan to do so). That may also reduce -- but not eliminate -- the tendency to stray. MaryL > > Thanks Mary, > > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > that you plan to do so). That may also reduce -- but not > eliminate -- the tendency to stray. Also, if you do get him back, while he is at the vet being neutered, get him microchipped as well. Ivor > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Nick I do hope you find your cat. We lost our Winston about 8 - 10 years ago. He was gone from Friday to Sunday morning. When Jack opened the door Sunday morning to pick up our paper, Winston was sitting there waiting to come in. He strolled in leisurely, flopped on his side in the living room, surveyed us for a few minutes, then picked himself up and headed out to his food dish. We never knew where he had been, but assumed he may have been locked in a neighbor's garage for 2.5 days. But in spite of losing him that time, we continue to let our cats run outside for a short time everyday. Contrary to what many people think about cats and training, our cats are trained to stay in our yard and they do so - - - without a fence. I will say a prayer that your cat comes home or that you find him by getting out and searching. Joan > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > how long could it last? He's also not been 'done' yet by the vet. We > live in a large town by the way. A friend of mine had a cat that disappeared. He was seen miles away around a place they'd recently moved from. They wrote him off but months (yes, months) later he showed up back at their new place. I couldn't believe my eyes when I went there one day and, lo and behold, there he was perched on the scratch tree. >Our 10 month old male cat disappeared on Friday morning. >We're very upset, especially the kids. He's never done anything >like this before. Does anyone know if cats do this kind of thing of their >own accord sometimes, or should we fear the worst? Could he be off >roaming, and how long could it last? He's also not been 'done' yet by the >vet. We live in a large town by the way. On my Catpage, there are two articles on this subject, namely: Finding your Lost Cat by Sharon Talbert, Seattle, WA, USA with an addendum by Jenna Steele http://blakjak.com/lost_cat.htm Lost Cat Behaviour by Kat Albrecht, Santa Cruz, California USA http://blakjak.com/lost_ct1.htm There are also links to a couple of other places. I hope that the advice in these articles helps, and that you find your lost cat. Both these articles are available as emails on request from me at David Stevenson <cat2@blakjak.com>. Just ask for Item 12: Finding your Lost Cat by Sharon Talbert Item 13: Lost Cat Behaviour by Kat Albrecht  SignatureDavid Stevenson Storypage: http://blakjak.com/sty_menu.htm Liverpool, England, UK <cat2@blakjak.com> Emails welcome Nanki Poo: SI O+W B 12 Y L+ W++ C+ I T+ A- E H++ V- F Q P+ B+ PA+ PL SC Minke: SI W+Cp B 3 Y L W+ C++ I T A- E H++ V++ F- Q- P B PA+ PL+ SC- > Our 10 month old male cat disappeared on Friday morning. > We're very upset, especially the kids. He's never done anything > like this before. Does anyone know if cats do this kind of thing of their > own accord sometimes, or should we fear the worst? Could he be off > roaming, and how long could it last? He's also not been 'done' yet by the > vet. We live in a large town by the way. This is one of the reasons why you should have your cat chipped. (I had it done, it was $69.00 through the vet.) I've heard of cats who return in a few days, a few weeks, a few months. There was also a news story here where a cat returned after nine years. Unfortunately, we found out after putting up flyers that our cat was run over and killed. The driver phoned as and said our cat had run out in front of him. Don't think we'll get another one.. Nick >> Our 10 month old male cat disappeared on Friday morning. >> We're very upset, especially the kids. He's never done anything [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I've heard of cats who return in a few days, a few weeks, a few months. > There was also a news story here where a cat returned after nine years. > Unfortunately, we found out after putting up flyers > that our cat was run over and killed. The driver > phoned as and said our cat had run out in front > of him. Don't think we'll get another one.. > > Nick That's really sad. However, I would like to suggest that you adopt another cat but keep it indoors. I know it is more common to have outdoor cats in the UK, but even there -- as you have learned -- there are dangers outdoors, and I know that many people in the cities do keep their cats indoors. All of my cats have been indoor-only. Believe me, they are happy and healthy! You simply need to give them a lot of attention and lots of toys/climbing areas to provide activity. For example, you would need several good (tall and sturdy) scratching posts and toys. A good cat tree is an excellent investment. MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7 > That's really sad. However, I would like to suggest that you adopt another > cat but keep it indoors. I know it is more common to have outdoor cats in > the UK, but even there It's getting less common. When I was first owned by a small spitting ball of blue and white fluff called Speedy Joe we only got him because we had a garden and everyone knew cats go out. By the time we had Isis and Fugazi we kept them in but people thought we were odd and perhaps a little cruel. When we got Redunzel and Sarrasine no-one thinks it odd that that we keep them in. Cats can live indoors perfectly happilly. We don't even have much space-it's a small flat but cats utilise another dimension and go up. We don't have cat trees but we do have very tall wardrobes and bookcases where they can sit and look out of the window as well as a Hoomin (Dave) pretty much permanently in residence to play with them Isis (RB) didn't even like to go out. Our downstairs neighbours used to let us sit in their garden in the summer and Fugazi (RB) would come down and have a sniff around the garden but Isis would sit on the bathroom windowsill and demand loudly that we come back at once! One day I made the mistake of saying "she'd like it if she only came down here" and going and picking her up, Now Isis was a lap fungus like no other, she was the friendliest, soppiest cat ever and as soon as she realised where she was being taken to, she went mad and sunk her teeth in. I yelped with surprise and she bolted from me and straight back into the house. Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > That's really sad. However, I would like to suggest that you > adopt another cat but keep it indoors. . . I think Nick mentioned he had kids which might make it near impossible to ensure the cats stay indoors. Kids don't always think a couple steps ahead. Sometimes, you're lucky if they think past the end of their noses. >> That's really sad. However, I would like to suggest that you >> adopt another cat but keep it indoors. . . [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > think a couple steps ahead. Sometimes, you're lucky if they > think past the end of their noses. I thought it was the rumble in their stomach that keeps them thinking :-) I'm really sorry to hear about your cat. I lost a cat to a car as well. I hope that your cat didn't suffer. It took me years before I was ready for another kitten...it may take some time, but when you are ready you will know. you should have implanted one of those electronic cell phone transmitter devices.
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