Cat in Forever Home Escaped

A bit of background, and pardon my venting/ranting.

Some of you know that in January 2011 a friend ("T") and I moved four (eventually a fifth) cat from the cat colony I take care of to a spare room in my friend's house.  The goal was to resocialize them and adopt them into Forever Homes.  "Princess Leia" was one of the first ones ready to be adopted out.  She is a pretty, lovely, playful, cuddly cat; she routinely slept with "T".  Best guess as to her current age, around 1.25 years old. 

She was adopted in October 2011 by a man I work with who has two children, wife; they are experienced cat owners.  They live in a townhome development, no woods to speak of, medium amount of traffic.

I learned yesterday that PL escaped from their home on Saturday the 15th. 

They did not realize she was missing until they saw that their other cat (seven months old) was outside crying, and then they thought to themselves, well, where is PL?  To date she has not been seen.  At my strong suggestion, they put out food last night.  (And, don't get me started about why they didn't think to do this five days ago.)  I made other suggestions, such as putting out used cat litter so she can 'smell' her way home, contacting animal control, etc.  I told them that even though PL is spayed, it is prime mating time.  Male cats don't care if the cat is spayed, only that it is female.

I do not think they realize the seriousness of the situation; they think she'll come back eventually.

So some questions, some hypothetical:  is she scared or lost?  (Yeah, I know "dead" is another possibility.)  After almost seven months, do you think she'll try to go back to "T" house or the colony--20 miles away?  Any other suggestions?  I'm certainly willing and able to set out humane traps, but not sure what good that will do, if PL doesn't even come around for the food.

hno: :shame: I am so very sad to hear this about Princess Leia. How in the world did she get out . Well, I would also strongly encourage them to put out her food, and a trap as well. I don't think she would travel that far back to the colony - it has been so many month's since her adoption. I just think she must be really scared. I hope she didn't run off too far that she is now lost. Here are some great articles and tips on trying to find a lost pet to pass along to the owners. For PL :rub: Poor baby

http://www.catsinthebag.org/
http://www.lost-pets.org/content/view/3/1/

Thanks.  The owner thinks both the kitten and PL slipped out behind the children; he doesn't really know.

I sent them the second link yesterday.  And some more information today.

"T" has a motion detector we can loan the family.  And I offered to help trap PL.

Again, I think they are being too passive, that she'll just show up on her own.  And that maybe, or, she may be hurt, injured.

Update:  Just found out the wife won't put out food because she doesn't want other animals around.  As a former foster, how much 'rights' do I/we have?  I can't *make* them put up flyers, call animal control, put out cat litter, etc.  Reiterate my offer to trap--but same problem:  food will attract 'other animals'.  (They live in a residential area, so I don't know what other animals they are talking about.)

WHAT!!!! That is really odd to me that 1. it took five days for them to put food out and 2. NOW the "wife" won't put any food out. It really makes me sad and a bit angry to hear how laid back they are being about PL being lost. Like they really don't care. I would be moving heaven and earth to try to find my kitty. I would be sick with worry. I am sorry, Cindy, this must be very upsetting to you. I don't really know how to advise you on this since they are not seemingly interested in your advances to help. I guess I would keep persisting and insisting that the cat is the priority and so what if other animals come around for the food! AND seriously, how many "other" animals are there is such a busy, residential community :dk: We are talking about a lost pet here that needs rescuing. This sounds fishy to me that they are being so passive about this :shame: I would be tempted to just go over there and set up the trap. So much more work for you though if they are not willing to help. I just don't get that :frusty: When they adopted princess Leia, they took on the responsibility of giving her a forever home, keeping her safe from harm and should be following through with doing whatever it takes to find her. ARGH!!!!!!!! Even I am bothered by this..... :shame:

I totally agree. FIVE days and they think about putting out food!

In my last email to him, I again offered to help "Steve" trap Princess Leia, and he said "I'll let you know". 

Steve said there are other cats and racoons; Trysh ("T") said there were also coyotes.

I too wonder how invested/interested they are in getting PL back.  It is odd:  "Steve" said his wife in particularly bonded with PL.  They have at least two young children, what about their loss?  And PL and the kitten really got along well.

Trysh and I talked about it and this is the game plan we came up with (keep in mind I work with Toussaint and have already sent him several emails):  Trysh is going to call Steve and kind of feel him out, see if he has put up posters, what else has he done to find PL ("have you tried [fill in the blank]"); ask if he would mind us looking for PL.  If Steve and his wife seem uninterested/uncooperative, then we will try to trap PL ourselves (and, obviously, not return him to Steve).  The problem is getting permission from surrounding property owners for us to place a trap on their property.   But Trysh has LOTS of experience in searching for lost pets (use to work with an organization that did just this) and is much more assertive (and diplomatic) than I am.  She'd have no hesitation in going up to strangers' houses and asking.

Unfortunately, the weather here is going to turn dramatically rainy and colder in a few hours (1 to 3 inches of rain by late Sunday, gusty winds), so not sure how successfully trapping will be today/tomorrow.

Vibes, prayers needed.  Thanks.

Oh that is so sad!!! I would feel the same way as you and be really frustrated!

Trysh saw Princess Leia, less than one block (as the crow flies) from Steve's home.  PL was around the storm drainage, which is near a grove of trees.  Looked reasonably healthy, though no obvious signs of a food source, unless mice/rats in the storm drain.

We set out a trap, no takers.  Going again very early this morning to try to trap PL.

We're not saying anything to Steve until and unless he asks us to help trap PL, in which case we'll decide whether to 'come clean'.

She's definitely in that area; I saw her too.  This morning the smart girl that she is maneuvered the bait can over the trip switch and ate some of the food.  Also, another time, there was an orange tabby laying across the entrance to one of the two traps.  No idea whether the orange tabby is an indoor/outdoor cat or a stray.  The area is relatively afflluent,  no obvious signs of foreclosures. 

Princess Leia is also hanging around a neighbor's house, which has a well sheltered balcony and perhaps trash.  No obvious signs of thinness--although we don't of course know what her weight was pre-escape.

Trysh (and me to a lesser extent) plan to set up a feeding station and drop off food on a schedule, in a trap (not set), so the next time we trap, hopefully she'll go in.  Next trapping ETA:  Wednesday and/or this weekend 

Cindy, I am extremely happy to read this update and you both have spotted Princess Leia!!! First of all, I think you and Trysh are amazing. I do think you have to be a bit "sneaky" when dealing with people such as Steve. And being diplomatic and assertive at the same time does take some experience. Thank goodness for the Trysh's of the world. The woman who is the director of feline care at the shelter where I volunteer is just like that. She is so professional and diplomatic to some people who are just so ignorant, negligent and irresponsible, it blows my mind. I have learned a lot from her though. I totally agree that at this point I would just set out that trap for PL and forget about Steve. It seems obviously clear to me, anyway, that he really is not trying to find her. Just such a shame. I guess you have your answer then, if he does not call Trysh again..... Sending mega vibes for her trapping to be successful this week :cross: Poor baby, she must be quite frightened.

We've been trying to trap Princess Leia for a week (Sunday morning; Wednesday evening; Friday evening; Saturday morning; Sunday morning until noon):  no luck.  We're frustrated PL won't go in the trap--and the six (6!) cats we did trap share our frustration I'm sure.  If they could talk they'd be meowing:  just go into the &^% trap already so we can be left alone!

Trysh saw PL Friday evening (she's lost weight) and just sat with her; PL got to almost scruffing-distance.  Trysh thinks perhaps PL remembers her; she looked directly at Trysh.

Trysh is away all week at a dog show, but will make getting PL her first priority when she returns late Saturday.  She'll spend some time at the trapping site to see if she can get PL close enough to her to scruff or even pick up.

I personally have not seen PL since Wednesday evening, but I don't stay at the trapping site, in part because "Steve" would recognize me (we work together).  BTW, he hasn't mentioned anything about Princess Leia, nor have I.  Finder's keepers....

PL doesn't seem at all interested in mackerel/fish flavored food, so I put cooked chicken in the trap today--no PL.  I am putting out food on a regular basis, except the days I plan on trapping.  I plan on trapping Tuesday and Thursday morning and perhaps Saturday.  Does anyone have any suggestions, ideas about how to trap Princess Leia?  She's been trapped before, but that was well over a year ago.  Would PL remember that incidence?

Thanks.

So sorry the trappings have been so far unsuccessful.... DARN..... I guess trapping the other's was good though if some were in need of TNR. I would try KFC - seems to be a good one and irresistible to the cats. What about a drop trap? but then you have to be there to set it up and wait. That really burns me up about Steve How can he not care or be concerned for Leia :dk: :shame: Makes me sad. I really wonder if they are just glad, for whatever reason I don't know, she is gone. They seem heartless about her disappearance. I am sure PL remembers Trysh!! BOY would that be wonderful if she does get close enough to be scruffed. Have a crate ready :lol3: Good luck, Cindy. PL does sound trap smart and yes, they can remember but usually hunger will take over the fear of the trap. I hope that happens soon with Leia. :cross:

Thanks for the advice.  Interestingly, that is how Trysh trapped Ritz, with a drop trap.

Someone is feeding the cats besides Trysh and I.  I guess in the case of the cats we did trap, they weren't trap savvy and hunger ruled out.  If nothing else, these cats won't be repeat customers anytime soon!

Would you suggest my not leaving food?  We don't want PL to wander off too far, too long.  I did leave food out around noon on Sunday.

Weather is going to be iffy Tuesday morning (t-storms) so may have to shoot for Wednesday and Thursday/Friday.

VIBES really needed.

Just sending you good luck vibes . . . I'm certainly not the one to talk about trapping since my boy Tom continues "untrapped" (but I'm more stubborn than he is and WILL succeed).
 

Thanks; vibes for you too.

We can out-stubborn cats.

I'm going to try using the holy grail of bait:  Kentucky Fried Chicken....

UPDATE:  Princess Leia returned to her Forever Home.  Steve's wife saw PL early Sunday and then again Sunday around 5 p.m. She called to PL and she came to his wife.

The kitten is overjoyed to see PL (they played together a lot).  PL is a little thinner.  I told Steve to watch for signs of worms and any wounds; although spayed, male cats don't care.  They won't take no for an answer.

Trysh and I are glad in part, sorry in part; Trysh especially was fond of PL.

But we're both very relieved that PL is safe.

That is wonderdful news that she returned! I hope they will be very careful with her now!