Lost! Or Hiding...

Okay, so I feel like a huge doofus. The kitten that I trapped on Tuesday, who turned into a lovebug in a matter of hours and who has been getting along with my resident cat, has been let out of the bathroom for a few hours each day, when someone is home to supervise, to start to integrate him into our household.

He was let out this morning, and he was doing his usual meowing and playing and running all over. At some point, I fell back to sleep. I feel awful about it... I don't know what got into me. I never do that.

Anyway, when I woke up, my first thought was, "Kitties!"

K-Pants was around as usual, of course, but Sgt. Squirrel is nowhere to be seen. I've looked everywhere I can possibly think of and tried everything... making noise, shining lights, moving things around... to try to bring him out of whatever tiny spot he's discovered.

All of the screens are intact; no one opened the door to have accidentally let him out, and as far as I know, there are no holes in the wall that he could've squeezed into. He's got to be in the house somewhere.. doesn't he?

How do I bring him out? I guess just wait him out...he'll get hungry and come out eventually, yeah? Does anybody have any experience with this? How have you brought your tiny kittens out of hiding?

Originally Posted by kaete

All of the screens are intact; no one opened the door to have accidentally let him out, and as far as I know, there are no holes in the wall that he could've squeezed into. He's got to be in the house somewhere.. doesn't he?

How do I bring him out? I guess just wait him out...he'll get hungry and come out eventually, yeah? Does anybody have any experience with this? How have you brought your tiny kittens out of hiding?

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From the sounds of it, yes, he'd have to be in the house. More from reading on here than personal experience, cats, especially little kitties, can hide in the most unbelievable places!

And it sounds like you have the best idea- food! If I were in your shoes, I'd keep everything calm and quiet- the little sergeant has been through a lot lately and I'm sure he's overwhelmed- with some really yummy, stinky food out! Though you'll probably have to keep K-Pants away from it somehow!

Maybe start chanting "Marco" and see if he knows that game! Just kidding.

that Sergeant Squirrel is around and safe and sound and will come out soon!

I just spent two hours looking for him. I've opened every drawer, combed every closet, moved every piece of big, heavy furniture, shined a light into every small space, even ripped a board off from behind my stove (sorry, landlord...).

Nothing.

I've ventured into the basement (though I have no idea how he could have gotten there) and saw no kitty or signs of kitty.

My house is old, and I'm wondering if somehow he got into the walls and is trapped there, too scared to move, like he was that first day inside.

I'm devastated with worry, and I feel horribly guilty. When I was in the kitchen, I saw something tiny and fast run past the window... that's the first place I saw him last week. I put out a bowl of his food in the spot where I was feeding him before I trapped him.

I have no idea if it was him or not, and if it was, how the heck he could have gotten outside. I'm almost hoping he's out there, because if he's stuck somewhere that I can't find, I'm afraid he won't make it. At least if he's outside, he can eat and I have a shot of grabbing him again.

Those TCS vibes worked to get him home once... maybe they can work again. I could use all the help I can get. I'm a mess.

Oh no! Don't feel guilty, it can happen to the best of us (which I certainly am not!). We lost our feral mommy through an open window. Can't get much stupider than that!

You will find him!! I know you looked "everywhere", but I've read on here of people doing that same thing (sorry, can't find the specific threads), and yet still, a day or two later, the little one shows up in the house like nothing happened. If you think he's in the wall, stay awake late at night and keep everything REALLY quiet, that's when he would make some noise.

Even if he's outside, put yummy food and water out. He'll come back! Hopefully he got comfortable enough with you that you won't have to trap him, but if you do, you did it once and can do it again!

For the poor little guy to calm down and come back!

And and for you!

Well, I'm glad to say that I have found the Sarge. Sheesh. What a roller coaster ride this has been, and he's only been here three days!

Apparently, the built-ins in my living room are hollow. I did not know this. He somehow managed to crawl up inside of them, and that's where he's been hiding this entire day.

I only know this, because as I was walking the house for the 100th time today looking for him, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. He'd come down and was standing in the shelving. I said hi, and he tried to climb back up, but I was faster (for once) and managed to grab him. I gave him some love, which he enjoyed, gave him a huge bowl of food, took some pictures (which I will post right after this), and watched him use the litterbox like a big boy and play a little with K-Pants. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was back up inside, where I can't reach him or see him, even with a flashlight.

As soon as he comes back out and I can get him, I'm going to block these off. I have no idea what's up in there or whether it's safe for him, and I'd rather he not use that as a hidey hole. There are better, safer places if he needs to hide for awhile.

I'm glad that I know where he is, though, at least, and that he's eaten something and gone potty. Now, off to post those pictures... where he looks totally innocent. Ha.

I'm so glad he was found safe and sound! I knew he had to be in the house in one of those magical kitten hidey-holes! What a huge relief. You are such a good mommy, you never gave up and you found where he was hiding!

What kind of "built-ins" is he hiding in?

Sarge, you silly boy, you be nicer to your new mommies and no more scaring them like that!! You are in safe, happy home now!

Can't wait to see his pictures!

Yes, I have an older home too. I can't let the kittens loose for awhile because there are so many places they could hide.