Lost cat

Our indoor-only cat escaped Saturday morning at 10:38 a.m. (it's now Monday night at 8:30 p.m.) and we haven't seen a hint of him since. He is a purebred Bengal, and his personality is that he is completely unafraid of anything or anyone. He approaches strangers and licks their hands. He follows us everywhere we go ... greets us at the door, watches us out the window. Runs to the front door to watch the mailman every day. He knows our cars and runs to the windows when we arrive, then to the door to greet us. He fetches and is full of vim and vigor. He is more like a dog than a cat. But alas, he got out. He didn't hesitate for a split second ... he took off running and off he went, like a bat out of h(*&^ll. It's winter in Wisconsin, with temperatures around 20 degrees, warming to maybe 30-35 degrees during the day right now. The ground is covered with snow.

Does anyone know the chances of his safe return if he were stuck outside all this time (or even longer)? We have posted flyers in the area, and our first lost newspaper ad will appear tomorrow morning. We have walked around and called him many times, left food out for him and a used litterbox, and nothing was touched. His favorite toy is elastic hair bands, which he fetches and loves to play with, and we scattered them around outside ... untouched. We do not think he is in our immediate area and we wonder if he has been taken in. We know he would approach strangers and possibly even rub on their legs, lick their hands, etc. He would be an ideal pet because he wouldn't need to be "warmed up" to a family. What are the chances he was taken in for good? What are the chances he would return if he was still outside, given that he doesn't appear to have been back in the area at all? Does anyone have statistics about how often lost cats are returned?

We also printed 500 postcards that we are mailing tomorrow to neighbors within a few-block radius, we made a report with Animal Control and have looked at the facility to see if he is there. Any other suggestions? We are so distraught. We can't stand the thought of him being outside in this weather! We have known coyotes in the area and even saw one standing across the street last night/morning at 4:00 a.m.!

It sounds like you are doing an excellent job covering the bases. There will be someone else that comes along that may be able to better advise you, but it sounds like you are doing everything right.

www.lost-pets.org is a great resource in a time like this. Most cats that get out stick real close to home - but they tend to hide and won't come when called like a dog might. It helped me get through the time my Ginger fell out a windowscreen at about 4 a.m. one scary morning.

Many that your baby comes back fast!

Any news???

You find your kitty soon!! Sounds like you are doing everything you can. Is your kitty microchipped?

Are there any wooded areas nearby where he may have ran in that direction? Perhaps go near there with some smelly food and see if you encounter him?

How about the lost/found and pets section on Craigslist? By the way, I would make sure you are looking online for the Pets For Sale sections too just in case someone DID get your cat and is trying to sell... hopefully no one would do that though! Maybe he got really far and someone took him in and just hasn't seen a Lost ad yet!

I hope you are reunited with your kitty soon!!

No luck yet. However, I'm pretty sure the coyote got him that first night because it was just too unusual to even SEE a coyote and my kitty must have been what brought him here. If it's true that cats do stay near their homes when they stray, then my cat being within 3 houses of a coyote does not bode well. I did post on Craig's list and haven't had any leads. I'm pretty sure I know what happened and while it kills me to think about it, I would be foolish to think a coyote was within a few houses of a cat and didn't attack it.

Be sure to ask your neighbors to check all out buildings, garages, sheds, trash barrels. Cats can get stuck in things. don't give up hope.

I'm so sorry to hear of your lost kitty. Many years ago I lost one to coyotes, so I know what you are feeling.

Right now I have 2 cats, one is indoor only and the other was in/out when she adopted us. We recently moved, and I was a nervous wreck the first time I let her outside. I had taken her outside a few times (in my arms) so she could smell the territory.

for your kitty, and hoping he finds his way home.

I'm sure you've seen all the recommendations. Put out food on a dirty t-shirt that smells like you. Put out a box (with the top on, a hole cut in it and a towel/blanket inside) for shelter. Look around the neighborhood around dusk with a flashlight; it will be reflected in animals' eyes. Look close around your house and the houses within a short distance. If he's injured, he will try to hide.

I have heard that most of the time, an indoor cat will turn right when he leaves the door. That's a good direction to start, I guess.

We saw him run out the door and immediately turn to the left down the driveway. He then stopped and immediately turned around in the opposite direction and ran to the right, to the back of the house. My husband ran to the edge of the house just in time to see him scatter along the entire back of the house. By the time my husband got to the corner to see where he went from there, he was gone. He was running like he was being chased (he wasn't). He was a very instinctive cat ... he was ecstatic to finally be outside and see the sights and smell the smells. He was led by his nose and his instinct ... he just ran and ran and ran. We knew it was one of three directions, but didn't know which of the 3.

Now after seeing the coyote, I know the cat was close to home all along but we didn't really think so at the time. Most cats stop and hesitate at least at some point, but he never did. He was fearless in the house and just as fearless outside. The coyote is the one who let us know he stayed near. The coyote was across the street on the very night the cat disappeared, and I know he got him. I didn't know for sure at the time, of course, but now that more days have gone by without a sighting, I know that must have been what happened. I regret so much that I didn't walk up and down all of the back yards of all the homes in my area in all directions. We walked on the sidewalks and called and shook toys in all directions, several times that day and in the days that followed, but it wasn't enough to make him come out of wherever he was. I wish I had been more proactive and actually physically looked in and under things. The ground is completely covered with snow here and I didn't really see any tracks or anywhere he could be hiding.

He had all the great characteristics of a Bengal. He fetched, he played, he interacted with strangers, he drank water from the faucet, he had the most precocious kitten personality even at 2 years old. He opened doors and cupboards and drawers, followed me everywhere I went in the house and sat outside the rooms I was in, waiting for me to come out. He was literally perfect. I miss him so much. I get so upset when I hear other peoples' stories about how "he's only a few doors away" and "he'll come home within a day or two" and I know he won't because I know what happened to him. I hope it was quick and painless, and I hope he wasn't wondering why we deserted him. I know some people think he was "only a cat," but he literally was the most perfect pet I've ever had, and I will miss him forever. Thanks so much to everyone for your help and advice. I'm just in a different frame of mind today than I was when I first posted, because it has finally sunk in for me.

I am so sorry for you and your family.

I wouldn't give up hope so easily. Cats can climb trees. Coyotes can't.

I would start looking up in trees near where you saw the coyote staying around.

Why do I say this? Because a coyote that catches a cat will almost always immediately leave the area with the cat, to eat it elsewhere. The fact you've seen the coyote may mean that he knows where the cat is, but can't get it.

I don't have any advice better than you already have, just wanted to send some come-home-soon vibes.

I hope you get a happy surprise and that your kitty is safe and sound.

Wow, my husband saw a few neighbors outside yesterday and went to ask about our cat. One man took him in the back yard while they looked in the snow for prints. They saw our cat's prints, a rabbit, squirrel, and coyote, all in the same general area. He could see the path our cat had taken and followed it. He then started knocking on doors and one man said a little cat peeked in his front window on Monday (2 1/2 days ago) and when he called his wife to come and see the cat, it disappeared. That HAD to be our cat. My husband and daughter then went through all the backyards on that block, looking in and under trees, houses, bushes, and anything else outside but found nothing.

He DID make it 2 nights without getting attacked by a coyote! We had renewed hope and walked around calling his name, shining flashlights, dropping cat food all up and down that block last night. He clearly doesn't know how to get home because these things occurred about 5 houses up from us, but across the street! I'm at a loss to what to do now. If he is still there, he ignores our calling his name. It was 28 degrees last night and very windy. It's hard to fathom him surviving out there! It will be in the 30's today and warming up to the 40's this weekend. No moisture expected. But what could he possibly be eating? I'm so worried about starvation and freezing now. Today is Day 5.

I saw on our Animal Control website that a "tiger cat" was brought in yesterday, no gender known yet and no age known. We will be going there today again to check on this new arrival.

Thanks so much for all of your help and advice! I will keep watching for your comments and will keep you posted.

I do hope you find your cat!

As MrBlanche says cats are great climbers and if he thought he was in trouble would climb out of trouble

Let us know if it is your cat at the shelter

for safe return home

sit outside, one of you in front, one in back, at dusk. Just sit quietly with some smelly food, and talk to him in a soft voice, or even just read aloud, throwing his name out now and then. he is probably very near but too frightened to know what to do.

If you see him, resist the urge to jump up and shout with joy. Stay calm and continue to talk softly and encourage him to come to you. Do not reach for him at all, until you are positive you can grab him.

He's probably been hunting birds or what not.

Is there a cat bed with his scent that you can put on your front porch or something? Or towels with your scent that you can put near back and front of house? If you heat the wet food, the scent can carry more in the air.



I wonder if you should get try to trap him with a baited Havahart trap?

Did you give flyers to all of the neighbors in surrounding area? Not posted in neighborhood but literally in their mailbox? I hope some detective work and luck will help you get a happy reunion soon.

I will add him and you to my prayers. I know there is a phone service for lost pets, pls check it here http://www.findtoto.com/search-our-lost-pet.html. When you subscribe to it they place phone calls to everbody in the proximity. Best loving thoughts that he will be back sound and safe to your home!
Marina

I'm praying for your little boy to come home soon! Here are some vibes too!

Wow, these are some great suggestions! The shelter cat was not ours. So we're back to square one. The shelter suggested putting some dirty socks ... a whole pile of them ... outside. That shouldn't be too difficult! We will do that tonight. I like the idea of sitting outside and talking in a normal tone with some smelly food. I will also do the trap thing ... but where can I get one? At a retail pet store?

I'm just really feeling like if I don't get him soon, he is going to leave the area. I know everyone says cats will be found close by, but do they eventually leave the area and get led by their noses to another spot farther away? I know there is no concrete answer, but in general does this occur?

It's also warming up tomorrow above freezing, so I can try to put some warm, moist food out .... we tried that once before but it just froze and I'm sure it didn't carry a scent at all.

Last question ... some people say the cat would be more likely to come out at night. But this person saw my cat peek in the window during the day. And I would guess he would be more likely to move about during the day, since it's sunny and warmer and there are more people around? Night time would be the scariest time to move around, I would think, because that's when the predators come out too! What is your take on this?

Thanks again, everyone!

My hope is renewed too and I will be praying for his safe and quick return!

They are amazing creatures and have the ability to survive. I would keep asking neighbors for recent sightings too.