She never came home

bellesmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
NY
HI,
I have a cat who is spayed, has all of her shots and is about 1 1/2 years old. She is extremely friendly and very smart. She is also very loved. As much as I have tried to keep her indoors, she has always wanted to be in and out. I just bought her a new collar and it was too big. Needless to say, she got out and now I am worried sick. She knows where home is and usually if she is out will wait for me to open the door to come in for the night.

In the past she has actually climbed on the roof and scratched at my bedroom window for me to let her in, oddly enough. I know she knows where her home is but she was gone all day since yesterday morning and has not come home. I have been up all night and have gone out looking for her. It is rather cold out today and very windy. I am worried that she was either hit by a car or someone has taken her. She is a very pretty tabby cat. She has never been gone this long and I am not sure what to do. I did contact the place where I adopted her because they had a small chip put in her when she was a kitten. I am honestly not sure how that works but atleast it is something. Can anyone give me any advice other than not to worry? I am devastated. Thank you.
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
Keep checking with the neighbors - she may have run into someone's garage and got locked inside.

Also let some of the neighborhood kids know and ask them to help look. Offer a small reward for finding her. Be sure to have a picture of her - you don't want 50 "missing" cats dropped off at your house!
 

pauline

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
54
Purraise
1
Location
South Park Colorado
That is great that she has a chip...may help!

Just give her a little more time. I know well what is like to have a lost cat. It is a heart wrenching situation.for your kitty to get home.
 

rang_27

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 28, 2002
Messages
4,304
Purraise
5
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Ask around at other shelters in the area, sometimes cats end up at other shelters. If you have a domestic animal control in the area call them too. Call vets offices sometimes people turn in pets they found to a vets office. Make up signs with her photo & post them around the neighborhood. Take them with when you got to vets offices & shelters.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

bellesmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
NY
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Keep checking with the neighbors - she may have run into someone's garage and got locked inside.

Also let some of the neighborhood kids know and ask them to help look. Offer a small reward for finding her. Be sure to have a picture of her - you don't want 50 "missing" cats dropped off at your house!
Thanks. That is a really good idea. I will do that. It has been raining on and off all day today. I just drove around for the last hour looking for her with no luck. I called the local Bideawee and although they have office hours today, I had to leave a message. I hope someone calls back. From what I found out, if a cat has a chip in her shoulder, the shelters check the cats and will scan the chip to notify the owner. That is, if she winds up in a shelter.

My best friend told me that most people are unlikely to take an adult cat and keep it. That she just may be at a neighbor's house or in someone's gargage. I have been trying to keep myself busy but she is so very special to me. I am trying not to torment myself about her collar but it is hard. I keep thinking the "what if I did this" or "I should have..." but I know it is no point. If anyone has any other suggestions on how to cope and could share their experiences, I would really appreciate it. I am just so completely devastated right now. Only someone who really loves a cat can understand how I feel at this point. Thank you all for taking the time to respond.
 

rang_27

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 28, 2002
Messages
4,304
Purraise
5
Location
Milwaukee, WI
I hope the shelters in your area are good about checking for microchips, but from my understanding an owner should not trust 100% that all shelters will check or that they have the correct equipment to check. It never hurts to ask.

I wish you all the luck in finding your sweet baby! lots of vibes that you find her.
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
I hope she does return, but in one way this is a lesson to you - keep her inside or under supervision outside.
 

mews2much

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 19, 2007
Messages
13,424
Purraise
27
Location
Central Valley,California
In Dec 2007 my Sisters Cat got outside and she put posters up and went to the Pounds to check but he wasnt there. She got phone calls but they were not Ace. We thought he was gone for sure. Then on Jan 22 the day after her Bday he turned up. I hope you find your Cat and I would not let her out no matter how much she begs. I hvae seen what happens to outdoor Cats.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

bellesmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
NY
Originally Posted by mews2much

In Dec 2007 my Sisters Cat got outside and she put posters up and went to the Pounds to check but he wasnt there. She got phone calls but they were not Ace. We thought he was gone for sure. Then on Jan 22 the day after her Bday he turned up. I hope you find your Cat and I would not let her out no matter how much she begs. I hvae seen what happens to outdoor Cats.
Thanks for writing. Your message offers a bit of hope. When I adopted her, I was told she was born outside and was wandering around with the rest of her litter. I have tried my best to keep her in but she loves being outside. I have a huge back yard (an acre)and normally, she never strays. She is usually in like clockwork, but she always has her collar on. Unfortunately, she does not have one on right now because I just bought her a new one that was a bit too big.

I took another drive around the neighborhood and had my sister, her hubby and the kids look too. We spoke to a few neighbors that know her and told her that she is missing and there is a reward for anyone who finds her. I hope it helps. It is still raining out but as soon as it clears up I am going to post flyers to see if anyone has seen her.

I also put her cat litter box (it is one of those huge covered bins) out on the back porch stoop. I hope that if she is lost, she can pick up her own scent. Someone had suggested it, so I am willing to try anything at this point.

I hope she is safe wherever she is and will have to just pray that she comes back. Thanks for writing.
 

althekitty

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Mar 20, 2007
Messages
632
Purraise
1
Location
Nottinghamshire, U.K
Hi Bellesmom, please don't feel guilty, you let your cat out in it's natural habitat, its not your fault, sometimes they wander! They are territorial so fingers crossed not far, maybe gone on a mega hunting expedition. Don't reprimand yourself.

I would suggest to keep the lights on in the room she would come into, all night if needs be. Put some used cat litter outside so that she recognises her scent. Play outside, sounds stupid I know but my kitty is a hunter and if I want him in and he's off on an adventure then I rustle the bushes like a mouse woulod and he comes running to see whats going on!
I know how you feel though and I am sure she will turn up, its heart wrenching though. Shake the biscuit tin outside, she'll get hungry. If I can't find mine I am very vocal outside, to be honest, i just keep calling, soon he heres me and comes running. I also look a little further out, if she has come across another cat she may well be hiding and too scared to come out. Look in bushes and 'safe' looking places. I don't know if any of that has helped, I know how hard it is. You obviously love your cat, I have no doubt of that and you know your cats needs and did your best to accomodate them. Your care for your cats welfare should in know way be in doubt
Please let us know how you are getting on, my thoughts are with you,
 

larke

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Messages
2,278
Purraise
6
Location
SE Canada
Yes, call her - and never mind if you feel silly doing it out loud - and talk her baby talk to her out loud (cats often end up just being in the next door neighbour's bushes) and do it for a while at a time.
 

phelana

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Feb 14, 2008
Messages
115
Purraise
14
Call her..imagine her coming home...she will be back soon..she is in a walk about..
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

bellesmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
NY
Originally Posted by Larke

Yes, call her - and never mind if you feel silly doing it out loud - and talk her baby talk to her out loud (cats often end up just being in the next door neighbour's bushes) and do it for a while at a time.
I drove around the area calling her...got a few odd looks but kept calling. I have been doing so all day pretty much every hour on the hour just in case she may be in someone's house and cant hear me. This is absolute misery. I stood out in the front of my house shaking her treats container and still nothing. I will do as you all have suggested and keep trying. Please think of my little Belle tonight in your prayers. Thank you, everyone!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

bellesmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
NY
Thank you! I hope in a short space of time I am able to tell everyone that she came home and is well. I will try my best not to cry and will do that. (am crying as I write this)It is just very hard. I feel like I lost my best friend. I just love her so much. It is just so hard going through all of this. Thank you all for the support and words of encouragement ;-)
 

cococat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
4,953
Purraise
12
Location
USA
Originally Posted by Althekitty

you let your cat out in it's natural habitat,
Sorry, but the cat no longer has a natural habitat when kept as a pet in urban conditions. The neighborhood with cars, busy roads, highways, dangerous chemicals, disgruntled humans that don't appreciate cat urine and feces on their things - some hurt, tease, or kill the cats, dogs that kill cats, wildlife that kills cat, etc. is not a "natural" habitat my friend. In some places that domestic cat population has negatively impacted native wildlife from their hunting habits.

To the OP, I really hope your cat comes back, I know you are sick with worry and love your kitty kitty. I can hear the pain in your posts and I hope your cat comes back soon, there are a lot of people thinking of you guys!
Keep up the faith
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
I'm so glad she has returned. But now its up to you to see it doesn't happen again. I suggest you go buy a cat harness and leash and work with her and train her to accept "outside" is only supervised and on a harness. No more on your own outside!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #19

bellesmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
13
Purraise
0
Location
NY
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

I'm so glad she has returned. But now its up to you to see it doesn't happen again. I suggest you go buy a cat harness and leash and work with her and train her to accept "outside" is only supervised and on a harness. No more on your own outside!
She has NOT returned. I thank you for your good thoughts but unfortunately. she is still gone. My point was to thank those who had been giving me so much very needed support. I am not perfect and am not going to beat myself up but I still am extremely upset about her being gone. Almost everyone that has responded has kept on telling me that I need to stay positive and that is all I am trying to do. I wrote that I hope to be able to say in a short space of time that she has returned. Sadly, she has not. I will say this much, I just got back in from another drive around the area and I saw other cats that responded to me. Granted, they didn't come too close but they did pop their head out to investigate. So, I am looking at that as a good sign.

While a harness seems to be the perfect end all, a cat that was born outside is not easily trained to remain indoors. Everyone that I spoke to about that has basically said the same thing. Even the woman that I adopted her from has cats that go in and out. I suppose everyone is going to have their opinion about this. I am going to do my best to keep her indoors again and not let her out. I actually had her for almost a year without her being let out till one day a family member stopped by and let her out not knowing she was supposed to be indoors. She came back in a few minutes later but that was about a year ago. She knows she has a good home here and there are a lot of other people around here that have cats. I also have a dog and she is very good to the dog. She is also not a stupid cat and avoids cars, loud noises and actually other dogs. My friends and family members have been reminding me that the weather has been very wet, cold and very windy. She could very well be at someone's home ( I hope) I am not sure what else to do other than keep looking for her, keep my spirits up and respond to the kind folks on this blog who have given me hope and comfort.

My sister told me that when she got her cat, which was about the same time I adopted mine, her cat was missing for two days. She somehow managed to sneak out and went across the street, hiding in a bush. Her daughter cried both days and happen to hear her meowing when she walked home from school.

I just left a bowl of her food out on the front stoop with some water. It is getting dark out now. I will keep you all posted as the night draws near.
 

lmunsie

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
1,326
Purraise
2
Location
Leafs Nation
I just started reading this thread!! I am so so so sorry for you. I am thinking about your kitty coming home


When I was growing up we had indoor/outdoor cats. We had 2 acres and they went out during the day and came in at night.... They were barn cats before we got them and it was too hard to keep them indoors, they were always escaping so I understand!!! my worst fear was that they would stray..... they were never missing for more then a night, but those nights were so so hard. So I am thinking about you and your kitty.
 
Top