I'm terriffied I may have lost Tiger!!!!

Has anyone started to introduce a socialized feral to the whole house and couldn't find them?  I started letting Tiger out of his room about a week ago. Every day I'd let him out for a while and he'd stick pretty close to his 'safe room', and then let him back in. I've done that a couple times a day for about a week.  This morning when I let him out, about an hour later he was not where he usually is. I've searched the house from top to bottom and every crevice I could think of and I can't find him!!  I'm so worried!  I don't think there is any way he could get out. Nobodys left the house today.  There was only one window open and there is no damage to the screen at all.  I've searched the house over and over again and can't find him! Has anyone ever lost a cat like this and he eventully turns up?  Is there always a place they can find to hide that we can't find?  He usually always comes when I call him.  I'm so worried.  My husband thinks he may have found a way to get into the rafters from down the basement.  But we haven't heard any noise above us.  I wonder if he did ...he may have found a way out side.  If anyone can give me any hope here I'd be a little hopeful.. Please, please. 

They can hide in amazing places.  A common one:  Inside the box springs on a bed.  In piles of clothing.  One of our cats would crawl into a rolled-up blanket. 

One solution is to confine your regular cat(s) to one room you are pretty sure the cat isn't, and carefully watch the food and litter box.

Oh hun, I totally feel your panic.

You will find him!!  He is in your house somewhere - he has to be!!

....  There is always the psychic pet communicator that charges so much $$ per call....   imo

Definitely as pp said, check underneath the beds up in the box springs, the tip toppiest of closets, the darkest deepest corners, behind curtains, did you leave any dresser drawers open - they can get in behind them sometimes, behind the tv, behind the couch/chairs, under the kitchen sink...

Please keep us posted!!

Everything will be okay.

He's Back!!  I searched the house high and low in ever nook and craney!!  Then we decided to do what Mr.blanch said. I put Miesha, my other Kitty in my bedroom, then cleaned out the catbox in the basement and set out some tuna, his fav treat. Then we left for a couple of hours.  When we came home he was sitting in his usually spot.  He hadn't used the catbox and he haden't eaten the tuna.  I have no idea where he was but I'm so relieved!!!!!  Thank you both!  In case it was the rafters in the basement, I brought the catbox upstairs and closed the basement door.  If he goes missing again, I'm totally mistified.  It wasen't the boxsprings because all the bedrooms doors were shut when we left.  So, we'll see.  If it happens again, I'll let you know.  Thanks again!!

 YAY That is Fantastic!!!!!!

I can feel your relief.

...Maybe you could slide over to Caliesmom's thread on Tripod's Adventures cause her kitty took off today she could use your good vibes

Have a better day!!

OMG I am just catching up here this weekend. WOW what a scare and what a great ending PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH - they can hide in the craziest of places. If you can believe this. I lost a feral cat in my foster room once YEP. You know where she was... she has squished in behind the TV that was in an entertainment cabinet in that room. I had NO idea to look there and I was completely frantic. I figured she somehow got out of the room. It was a couple of hours later when I scoured that room over and over that I found her. I was even looking in dresser drawers ANYWAY!!! So glad Tiger came out for the tuna!!! Hopefully he will just have ONE hiding spot to call his own and you will know where to find him. The basement rafters and ceilings are the best hiding places. Good idea to close off the basement door!!

I have one, Mouku, who sometimes decides to hide, he is big boy, but he fits in tiny space and does not move or make any sound, not even if poked with finger or if I move his tail (which usually is only thing visible). Even he is larger than average cat and 2 years old male, he can fit perfectly well from gaps that are not quite enough large for my fist, that is if he decides it is good time for hiding and he does not need any reason for that.

Today he did go hiding after seeing bird outside that came close to window, all of sudden jumped up into air and did run to usual place into pile of mattresses, only tail was sticking out between mattresses, he always forgets to hide the tail, so at least that helps of spotting him.

Also if I start looking for him, he silently walks behind me and goes to another hide so that I will not see him going to new place, I think that he then laughs in hide how that silly human is running around the room trying to find him :lol3:

So it is very difficult to find a cat when cat decides that hiding is best thing to do, especially if cat is smart enough to hide his tail.

Why they hide is still bit of mystery to me, there is no any logic, except if they think it being a game, surely sometimes cat can be scared of something and hides because of that, but I find that they hide sometimes just for fun or at least I can't figure out any reason for their hiding, when trying to ask from them reason for that it is always same look and maybe bumping head against leg, different languages, too alien to each other to understand