My cat has mysteriously vanished

catsrmylife

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We have had her for 15 years, since she was a kitten, and she just disappeared a little over a week now. She's a beautiful, sweet, black kitty named Midnite who's an inside cat. We have another cat, Snikerz, who is still looking around for her. My daughter came over with her baby, and when she was ready to leave I walked outside with her. I made sure that the cats were not near the door before we went out. After I came in Midnite and Snikerz were in the livingroom. The door was not opened again till early evening when my husband got home from work. I notice that Midnite wasn't at the door ready to greet him like she normally does, but I didn't thought nothing of it because she's done it before. When it was time to feed the cats, Snikerz went straight to his bowl but Midnite didn't. That's pretty strange because Midnite loves to eat and she races the minute I call her for feeding. I told my husband and we looked everywhere in the house, behind the fridge and wash & dryer, under the bed and box spring, inside the couch, dishwasher, closets, windows, and every inch of the apartment. We went outside searching and calling out her name for days, but nothing. We even put out a poster with a $50 reward if found alive. We asked neighbors, but no one seen her. I know she did not go outside because she was inside when I locked the door behind me and didn't open it again till early evening. We don't smell any odor from a dead animal in the apartment. She has never done this before. That day she was looking well and didn't look sick. Snikerz was licking her head and she was enjoying it.

I just can't understand how she just vanished and I'm losing sleep over it. I miss her so much, and I cry every day for her. My husband and I are both confused about the whole thing. Have anyone ever experience anything like this?
 

yayi

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for Midnite to be found... Have you tried tapping on the ceiling. I had one of my cats vanish mysteriously like Midnite only to find out he climbed thru a hole in the ceiling.
 

ktlynn

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I'm so sorry this has happened. What a confusing and upsetting thing this is.

A long time ago, my husband and I came home to find all 3 of our indoor only cats missing. We called them, looked in all the likely places, under beds, behind furniture, etc. Nothing. It was horrible. I was panick-stricken. We finally found them in the large closet/storage area in the eaves of one of the upstairs bedrooms. Apparently a door had been left slightly open ( very unusual for us to have left it that way) and all 3 cats decided it would be fun to go in there and explore. Somehow, the door closed behind them (also unusual for that particular door). Not one of them meowed in response to our calls. They were all fine - my husband and I not so much...

Yayi's suggestion to look in the ceiling (especially if you have a drop ceiling or a slightly open area with a pipe that might go through) is a good one. It sounds like you and your husband have done a very thorough job looking throughout the apartment, but do it again. Look in places you can't believe she'd even get into. Check again inside the deepest corners and ceilings of all your closets, behind and under every appliance again; under every cushion of every chair , every drawer, etc. Maybe there's a hole somewhere you didn't even know about. Look inside luggage, boxes, etc. When you are absolutely certain she can't possibly be anywhere in the apartment, you have to believe that despite your best efforts to be careful that Midnite did get out of the apartment, especially if the door leads directly to the outdoors.

Please take a look at this website: www.catsinthebag.org
It will give you lots of good advice as to how to go about finding Midnite. Their first suggestion will be to 100% rule out that she isn't still in the apartment. If Midnite is outside, and it seems to be the only logical conclusion that she is, the info at catsinthebag will help you find her. Most indoor-only cats stay close to their homes after they get outside.

Please let us know how you do with your search. I know this is terrible for you. All my best wishes that you'll soon find Midnite.
 
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catsrmylife

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Originally Posted by yayi

for Midnite to be found... Have you tried tapping on the ceiling. I had one of my cats vanish mysteriously like Midnite only to find out he climbed thru a hole in the ceiling.
Thank you for your suggestion. We looked at every inch of our ceiling at our apartment and there are no holes anywhere. She couldn't hardly climb because she was too old. We call her name and quietly listened to see if we hear any faint meows, but nothing. I have read about a woman who lost her inside cat and she lived in the 8th floor, and she never found him again. This is just too strange, but I'm not going to give up on her.
 
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catsrmylife

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Originally Posted by KTLynn

I'm so sorry this has happened. What a confusing and upsetting thing this is.

A long time ago, my husband and I came home to find all 3 of our indoor only cats missing. We called them, looked in all the likely places, under beds, behind furniture, etc. Nothing. It was horrible. I was panick-stricken. We finally found them in the large closet/storage area in the eaves of one of the upstairs bedrooms. Apparently a door had been left slightly open ( very unusual for us to have left it that way) and all 3 cats decided it would be fun to go in there and explore. Somehow, the door closed behind them (also unusual for that particular door). Not one of them meowed in response to our calls. They were all fine - my husband and I not so much...

Yayi's suggestion to look in the ceiling (especially if you have a drop ceiling or a slightly open area with a pipe that might go through) is a good one. It sounds like you and your husband have done a very thorough job looking throughout the apartment, but do it again. Look in places you can't believe she'd even get into. Check again inside the deepest corners and ceilings of all your closets, behind and under every appliance again; under every cushion of every chair , every drawer, etc. Maybe there's a hole somewhere you didn't even know about. Look inside luggage, boxes, etc. When you are absolutely certain she can't possibly be anywhere in the apartment, you have to believe that despite your best efforts to be careful that Midnite did get out of the apartment, especially if the door leads directly to the outdoors.

Please take a look at this website: www.catsinthebag.org
It will give you lots of good advice as to how to go about finding Midnite. Their first suggestion will be to 100% rule out that she isn't still in the apartment. If Midnite is outside, and it seems to be the only logical conclusion that she is, the info at catsinthebag will help you find her. Most indoor-only cats stay close to their homes after they get outside.

Please let us know how you do with your search. I know this is terrible for you. All my best wishes that you'll soon find Midnite.
Thank you for your concerns. Glad to know that you found your cats. Mine was inside when I closed and locked the door. I never opened the door after my husband got home that evening, which later we discovered she wasn't anywhere to be found. We checked everywhere imaginable. She's an elderly kitty and can't climb like she used to. There are no holes in the ceilings or anywhere in the apartment. We went out every day calling for her and asking around, but no one have seen her and called for the posted reward.

I will look into catisinbag and see if they can help me. Thank you for the site and your sweet reply.
 

lorie d.

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If I'm reading this right, after your daughter left, you came back inside and saw both cats in the livingroom. The door wasn't opened again until your husband got home, so it's possible Midnite slipped out the door then without either of you realizing it. You mentioned living in an apartment so I wonder if there's some common areas in your building where she might be hiding? For example: the laundry room.
 
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