Little Cow is gone

Hello all - it seems a long time since I've been here and I hope all are well. unfortunately I bring troubling news - Little Cow, the beloved little feral who i adopted about 21 months ago, appears to have vanished.
It's now been nearly two weeks since she's been seen. As the summer (although that's a misnomer - very soggy) has developed, we've seen here around the farm more. About 3 weeks ago, I had the joyous moment of seeing her right at the front of the oat field, crouched down in the long grass as I wandered back to the office. I stopped, said hello to her and laughed as she, horrified at being spotted, turned tail and dashed the 200-300 feet back to the safety of her barn.
Saw her a few times after that but, about 10 days ago, realised that hadn't seen her for a few days. With having one other outdoor cat - the friendly Rudi - it's always been very tricky to monitor food levels. But I've tried my best, putting out enough for 2-3 cats and checking on surplus. There always appears to have been some left. Earlier this week I put a tin of her favourite chicken in her barn (her safe place) first thing in the morning and was encouraged 3-4 hours later to see it had disappeared. So I did the same thing the next day only this time I put the food in a trap in exactly the same place. Two hours later, I caught a vey agitated Rudi! He was let out and we were friends again in minutes, thankfully.
It's the not knowing and the wondering that is nagging at me. The field is high with crops, so investigation of that is impractical. She's never wandered far before - indeed the front of field incident mentioned at the top of the hour is the farthest I've seen her from her feral haven! The only slightly odd thing that has happened is that, last weekend, Rudi clearly got into a fight with something between about 4 and 5 in the afternoon (he turned up with a little fur missing from the top of his head). But other than that ... Nothing springs to mind.

Any suggestions/ experience? We've looked around the barns as best we can, but they are full of junk and nooks and crannies - a feral's dream. I have also heard that if cats get injured they go away to die - there's no public display, so to speak. After 18 months of living together (not in harmony, but coping), I can't believe that Rudi has driven her away
Bests

I haven't seen one of my ferals for a few weeks. . .except a couple nights ago I'm pretty sure it was her running away from the headlights as I turned into my driveway. I assume the heat is keeping her in a cool place during the day, and the hunting is good enough at night that she doesn't need a lot of food. So maybe Little Cow is off hunting and will come back when the mice start hiding again. . .we hope! Taking care of ferals is such a worry, isn't it?

Oh I know this heartache! This is the worst part of giving your heart to feral cats.

Earlier this year, Baloo disappeared for a month. After two weeks, I was so upset, I actually contacted an animal communicator we work with. She found him, and told me he was alive, just on walkabout. Thankfully, she was right. (And she's been right about so many other things, as soon as she told me that, I relaxed. She can do long distance communication, if you want to give it a go. Doesn't matter if you're in the US or the UK).

A few cats have turned up over the past ... two months. We've trapped them and had them sterilized, but for whatever reason, they seem to have completely upset the ... rhythm we had here. I rarely see Tabby and Babygirl anymore. I did see Tabby a week or two ago, and Babygirl I saw... yesterday?

Dot disappeared. I was hearbroken over this one. Thankfully she turned up again after about a week - but she breezed by my hubby, and quickly disappeared.

Baloo is gone again. It's been two days since I've seen him now. BUT... Dot was here for breakfast and dinner today, and she kept running over for pets, then going to gobble up food (and she's lost weight. She's not bones sticking out thin, but... ). Then one of the new cats showed up, hissed at her and ran at her, and Dot ran off.

I'm hopeful these new dynamics will work out. But when they're gone for any length of time, all I can do is wonder...

So blah blah blah, all I'm trying to say is... I don't know what there is to do, or I'd be doing it myself on numerous occasions. Basically, I think all you can do is hope. :heart2: :rub:

hno: I just saw this thread today. I am SO sorry your little Cow is missing. :shame: BUT will also add in that this happens often with a few of my feral cats. Dixie, in fact, she can disappear for weeks at a time and then show up one day out of the blue no worse for wear. Another one is Boo. He used to be a regular and then POOF, one day, gone. Until about two months later, he appeared. :dk: Have not a clue where they go off to. BUT I did find and meet another feral caretaker that lives a mile away from me. SO I have to wonder if the cats make the long trek back and forth. It is such a worry on us and takes an emotional toll, for sure. All you can do is wait. I know it is so very hard and each day you go outside and look - hoping to see your missing friend. I do hope that LC returns to you and try not to worry. Impossible, I know.

It is very possible that there are other cats that you are just not seeing. They can be very reclusive. As Laurie said above, the dynamics have changed and sometimes the "resident" ferals get upset by this and have to figure out to manage the new "disturbance" in their social order. We do not have any control over this. None at all. There will always be "new" ferals that find us and cause havoc amongst our "resident" feral cats. Again, nothing we can do about that, but worry. :lol3: And I think that is the hardest part for us caretaker's, the no control over their safety. You are doing the best you can for your feral cat's, and btw :heart3: better then most. COME HOME, LC!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. I also agree with Laurie :lol3:...... IF there was a way to "fix" the social dynamics when a new feral arrives or is lurking in the distance - we would be doing it. So all we can do is HOPE for the best... (and worry )

I have to take no update as no sighting of LC.

I would keep trying to trap. Perhaps a new feral is around and scared her away! Hey..I have had a stray cat in my backyard since January. We thought SHE was a HE. Well she had kittens..it's a long story..Anyway I got her neutered today along with 3 of her kittens..but a few days ago she went into heat and this male cat came out of the woods and we NEVER see this mangy male. I tried to trap him but alas he left after I locked Hobo in the shed until today so she would not get preggie. Anyway my point is this..Where do they go? It's weird but they have their own agenda.

LDG said:

I have to take no update as no sighting of LC.

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Adding in more vibes too.... for little LC... :rub:

Hi All - sadly, still no sign. Rudi is behaving oddly; he normally is all over the farm but for the last couple of weeks he's barely left the area adjacent to the cottages. It's as if he knows something. Being a pariah, Little Cow has always coped with being an outsider: the combined forces of Rudi and Paddy couldn't drive her away, so I'd be surprised if its another feral. Moreover, not really enough food disappearing for 2 cats. She's either gone walkabout and got lost or she's had an accident, I fear. But your stories give me hope, and I'll put the trap out again tonight and see what I catch. Surely Rudi can't be daft enough to walk in again (although, of course, he is. ... Lovely lad though)

Sorry about the update with no news on LC... . Don't lose hope. Believe me, I have known cats to disappear for weeks at a time leaving me to wonder about those things too. Then, one day, they are back. It is odd that Rudi is acting this way though. :dk: HMMMM - wonder what it up on the farm??? I certainly hope that Rudi stays away from that trap tonight. :lol3: AND I do hope that you have at least a sighting of LC very, very soon. :cross:

Still no sign of Little Cow. Trap was entirely unsuccessful. Not giving up hope - she may return when it's colder.

We have, however, temporarily had another cat. The neighbours on the farm had a half-starved tabby and white kitty hanging round for a few days and caught it a few days back. As I had a little more time (and I know the local rescue), I took the cat (we called her Sweetie) to the vet. Poor thing: she was skin and bones (only 4lbs) and clearly had been stray for quite a while. Moreover she was only reckoned to be 7-8 months old and, wouldn't you know it, in season (oh wow was she noisy - but very loving). Microchipped - but not registered. Am actually wondering whether she was 'dumped' rather than strayed. Either way, she was inm a bad way.

The shelter couldn't take her for a couple of days so we had her in spare bathroom for that time. Lovely little thing: she will be a big girl when she grows up based on the amount of food she ate in her time with me! Still, she's at a lovely shelter now and will make a fantastic pet once her health issues (bit of a cold, skin and bones and a bash to the mouth) are healed and she's neutered.

Oh I'm so glad to read this thread.  It's given me hope that my one of my ferals will return.  I've been feeding a mom and her 4 cats for 5 years now.  They wander the neighborhood (residential, but with woods in the backyards).  This little guy, Smokey, hangs around more than the others.  They've disappeared for up to a week and returned, but now Smokey has been gone 6 weeks.  I can't imagine what happened to him.  Because they're a family, they're very close ... always headbutting each other and rubbing up against each other ... so cute!  I've been worried sick about him, and checked the local shelters, etc.  You all have given me hope that he'll just show up one of these days!  Fingers crossed for Little Cow to return!!!  You try not to get attached, but that's just not possible!!!

hno: Still no sign of LC :shame: Sorry about that, but don't give up hope :cross: for you Little Cow. :rub:

Such a great thing you did for Sweetie!!! I bet in no time flat she will get adopted, thanks to you!!!

Just adding continued :heart2:

How's Rudi?

Just wanted to share some fantastic news.  I posted in this thread over a week ago about my feral, Smokey, being missing for now 8 weeks.  He came home last night!!!!!!   We are thrilled!  I just want to give you all some hope.  He is in great shape, no bruises, doesn't look hungry.  We think someone tried to make him an indoor pet, or kept him in a barn, and he got out.  So happy -- I'll be smiling all day today.

lovely to hear - gives me hope. But I have more bad news (another post)

debster747 said:

Just wanted to share some fantastic news.  I posted in this thread over a week ago about my feral, Smokey, being missing for now 8 weeks.  He came home last night!!!!!!   We are thrilled!  I just want to give you all some hope.  He is in great shape, no bruises, doesn't look hungry.  We think someone tried to make him an indoor pet, or kept him in a barn, and he got out.  So happy -- I'll be smiling all day today.

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OH that IS really great news!!!!!!!!! Welcome home, Smokey. I have a feral cat that will come and go for weeks at a time. Returning each time looking wonderful and healthy. But such a worry when they are gone missing. :slant:

dunnyboy69 said:

lovely to hear - gives me hope. But I have more bad news (another post)

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So sorry and more and to you tonight.