Mr. Jinx has left the building :(

Hey everyone.

So things were going supremely well with Jinx. Turns out it was skin allergies most likely due to grains, so I switched him to a grain-free food and he was doing very well.

Unfortunately, he got out into the backyard yesterday, which isn't a huge drama, since the other cats go out there all the time. He decided though, to go onto the roof and then over the fence.

So now he's gone.

We've alerted the neighbors, and this morning my husband found him in a crawl space under someone's house, but he ran away when he saw DH, so now we don't know where he went. I'm so upset, but at least we live in a neighborhood that's extremely stray friendly. Most people offered to put food out and call us as soon as they see him. One person even came out to help us look.

There are so many hiding places in this area, and I'm so concerned because we've only been in this house for 4 weeks. Jinx doesn't know the place well, but I'm hoping I'm underestimating him, and he could find his way back if he wants to.

I've put out food and my sweater, and we keep the front and back doors open while we're home.

Any words of encouragement or ideas and suggestions are welcome. I will put out traps if necessary once we figure out where he is. I want to try and coax him to me first.

hno: Oh dear - I am so, so sorry about Mr. Jinx running away. Your neighbor's do sound very compassionate and are willing to help. Since he knows your voice, I would spend much time outside walking around close to your house calling him. I really feel bad for him and very bad for you. I am sending truckloads of vibes that he is found and trapped soon. Please keep us posted..... :cross:

Just checking in this morning - hoping for some news :cross: For Mr. Jinx.......

Oh NO!!!!!!! Oh how terribly sad!

I hope that as you've been there a month, that's long enough he doesn't try to find his way.... "home." :cross: I don't know how far you moved, but you may really want to consider putting up posters around where you used to live. :nod:

I realize he was on his own for a while, but... given he was hiding in a crawl space, and ran when DH approached him, I think your best bet of finding him is following the advice for finding a lost house kitty at this point. Don't count on him coming to you. :slant: And the MOST important advice in this article - when you find him, do NOT approach him. Sit sideways nearby, and softly talk to him. A stinky can of food wouldn't hurt. But let him come to you and THEN grab him - or he'll just keep bolting. :nod:

That said - I think you need to get some neighborhood help or at least approval to look for him on their properties, and go searching. :nod:

Here's the article, and I hope it helps. http://www.lost-pets.org/content/view/3/1/

Oh, no, that's really worrying. :cross: that you find him asap.

Thanks everyone.

So far nothing. We've alerted the whole neighborhood. 245 people know he's missing and are willing to help make sure he's not in their yards. I've looked all over and can't find him, but he's an amazing hider. I left my pool house door open last night and left food inside, and this morning the food was all gone. I don't know if it was him, as we have other cats in the neighborhood who are out at night. BUT our direct neighbor quite close to there saw him eating his outdoor cat's food the first night. I left it on his bowls and surrounded it with my clothes and clothes he slept on. I've put his litter box outside along with more clothes. I let the inside/outside cat out just in case he recognizes her voice. Last I knew, he was about 5 houses down. That was yesterday.

One of our neighbors who rescues cats let us borrow three traps, so I'm putting one in our yard, and two in neighbors' yards down to the house we found him in before. Here's hoping something gets caught tonight and it's not a raccoon. I am SO worried about him. And I'll probably catch more homeless kitties in the process.

Just loads more vibes that you do successfully catch Mr. Jinx and that it was him that ate that food :cross:

Thank you!

I'm really thankful I have neighbors who literally knock on my door to ask if he's home, and how they can help. I have 3 volunteers who are willing to listen at all hours of the night to the trap closing and then take him inside if he's in there. I am really praying that he's caught tonight, because it is SOOO cold outside.

HE'S BACK!!

The trap worked!!!! It was him who ate the food I'd placed outside the previous night (I believe). Tonight I put the trap out with a lining of my sleep pants he was sleeping on in my closet (he likes to sleep in my closet during the day). I put tuna inside along with his wet food and I led a trail of tuna oil along the outer wall leading to the trap. DH checked it before we went to bed and there he was! He must not have been in there very long and good thing we checked because it wasn't 100 percent closed yet.

We brought him inside and I set up the bathroom with all his stuff. I figured he needed one night just to rest and not stress. He really wanted to come out but I think that was more nerves than anything. As soon as he came out he rubbed my face with his and ATE two cans of food! Poor baby. I left the bathroom and he tried to go with me but I closed the door and told him to relax and I'd see him in the morning.

I am SO thankful he is back!!!!

Now that was one happy ending adventure, maybe Jinx learned something valuable lesson too, he might be tiny bit less curious about other side of fence now :lol3:

That's great, and I can imagine you're hugely relieved that his (mis)adventure is over!

Great to hear that he is back safe and sound!

Yes, thank you!

Checked on him this morning and he's much more relaxed now. He's chosen to stay in the bathroom for a bit longer. I'm so happy he's home, I can't believe it!

DH and I went around and collected the other traps this morning. One had nothing, thank goodness, but the other one - had a baby Mr. Jinx! Almost exactly! He or she is tiny and looks *maybe* a year old. I brought him into the other bathroom (thank goodness for bathrooms! ) and opened the trap, and left some food etc.

This cat is actually quite friendly, just very freaked, but did not try to hiss or scratch or bite at all. I am keeping him in the hopes that perhaps I caught someone else's lost kitty, which would be GREAT!

The trap is a pain because kitty (let's call him Reginald Kittehfur) is sitting on the plate, so the darn thing won't stay open, and I don't want to force him out. I gradually turned it all the way over so the plate is now at the top, and placed a book on the opening, just in case. I also have a twist-tie so I can use it to make sure the spring doesn't snap the plate anyway. NOT complaining - those traps are an absolute miracle for me! But if anyone has any other ideas, please let me know. I think I will put the carrier in there in hopes Reginald goes in there instead.

Just great, great GREAT news! That is absolutely FABULOUS!!!!!

What a wonderful neighborhood! SO nice to hear there are so many caring, lovely people. :nod: :heart2: :rub:

Aw, such a relief!!!!!!

Good luck find the home of - or a home for - Reginald Kittehfur! he'll come out of the trap and use the crate instead!

LDG said:

Just great, great GREAT news! That is absolutely FABULOUS!!!!!
What a wonderful neighborhood! SO nice to hear there are so many caring, lovely people. :nod: :heart2: :rub:
Aw, such a relief!!!!!!
Good luck find the home of - or a home for - Reginald Kittehfur! he'll come out of the trap and use the crate instead!

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OMG I AM SO RELIEVED!!!!!!!!! :lol3: Seriously SO HAPPY :happy3: You do have wonderful and compassionate neighbor's. AWWW Mr. Jinx must be so happy. I bet he couldn't wait to get in that trap :rofl: He wanted to go home

AND another for Reginald (love the name )... You are doing such a good deed Keep us posted

Mr. Jinx has decided he's happy in the bathroom still, so I'm not going to rush him out.

Reginald is now in the carrier, and has no interest in coming out I keep putting tasty things in the bathroom and chatting with him for a bit. I'm giving him LOTS of space right now. Trapping seems incredibly traumatic, on top of the trauma of outdoor life. Mr. Jinx is still recovering from his excursion, but I could tell by the state of his fur and mind he's been through it. Seems like they live in such a high state of anxiety.

But now both kitties are getting some rest without any worry of being attacked, so it's good.

I think it's still WAY too early to tell if Reginald is a feral or a pet. Either or he'd be super stressed right now and have very little interest in coming out. I know if Jinx were trapped by someone he didn't know he'd act the same way and he is my pet. If worse comes to worse and it turns out he is feral, I'll work with him a bit to see if he'd be into homing, and if not, I can always TNR and keep the outside bathroom open with food and water for him all the time, so he has a home base that's safe.

. I am sure that Mr. jinx is very relieved to be safely back inside. I am sure he will soon start to venture out of the bathroom and maybe already has today :cross:

How is Reginald doing?

Update on both:

Jinx is doing VERY well! He came out of the bathroom yesterday and has literally been sleeping on my lap every time I sit on the couch. I think he missed me a LOT. He seems to be making up for those two days in kisses and cuddles.

Reginald is a funny one. I've had two interesting encounters with him so far.

Story 1: I went into the bathroom one night to check on him. I turned the light on and walked into the shower where his carrier is. I looked inside - no Kittehfur. I search the bathroom - he has disappeared into thin air. I am standing there, stumped, and look up - and there he is at the very top of the shower sitting in the windowsill! Let me explain that I was literally standing right under him, very much in attack area, and he didn't bother at all.

Story 2: Last night I went in and found him sleeping in the sink. He didn't leave the sink while I was there, so I looked in the carrier: he peed. LOL I cleaned his carrier and so today, he's back in there.

The good news is he's eating now and doing well. He's got his boxes and cat attract and dirt. Pretty much re-doing the Jinx stuff for him. Though I still don't know if this is for sure a m or f, I think he's an unaltered male because the urine was AMAZING.

He never ever ever attacks. He barely hisses, and I've not seen this cat raise a paw once. I've even placed my hand into the carrier to leave turkey, etc. So obviously this is a very sweet little guy under all that fear.