Jake got out of the HOUSE!! (ETA: Jake's back!)

He pushed open a screen that was not completely secured.  OMG!!! I am sick! Just sick.

This is not good. He is a house cat. I put out some cat blankies, stinky human clothing, spent litter and some treats at the front and back of the property. We last saw him darting into the wooded area behind the house. I am so upset.... I am sick to my stomach. Is there anything else we can do to coax him back? I KNOW he is terrified. I PRAY a coyote doesn't get him. OMG... OMFG...!!! He is chipped; the chip is still registered to Livingston County AC. I will call there in the morning JIC someone finds him. HE is such a scaredy cat... I need "come home" vibes in a big way.

He is my kissy boy.... he does the happy dance when we come home... my boyfriend adores him... Its all i can do not to ball my eyes out.

He might be up a tree so look up in the trees. 

Call him while shaking the treat bag (you do this?) then be quiet and listen for meows. 

I tried shaking the treat back and calling "treats". No answer. I will go back out and try again. Thank you.

usually the cat is very close - like in a 3 house radius. Look under cars and in bushes. He could be in someones garage or shed - accidentally locked in (this happens a lot). In the morning, you could go around and ask the neighbors.

He may have hunkered down somewhere quite close to the house because he's scared, e.g. under bushes, etc.. Can you borrow a trap from a local shelter? He's probably too frightened to respond to calls. Mega that you find him asap!

The one time one of my cats escaped and wasn't back by morning I had a call from a neighbour a block away saying she was under a bush in his garden and he didn't want to try to get her unless he spooked her.  I had walked right past the bush the night before, calling for her, but she was so spooked she wouldn't move. As jcat and aeevr have said, he's really likely to be close and hiding.

I honestly think it is worth getting as many helpers as you can and literally combing the area, looking everywhere, and not relying on him responding to your call.

please keep us updated

oh no Addie! I agree, he must be very close!
this site has great into for inside cats only: http://catsinthebag.org/

I was hoping to see an update after l saw it on fb this morning

More come home  their way

24 hrs and neither hide nor hair of Jakie. I know people are telling me not to despair, that he is likely close by and hiding in terror. But I am heartsick. We walked the property and that of our two closest neighbors tonight. We are talking LARGE lots. We set out draped, doorless carriers filled with food, water and stinky Doug and Adrien shirts. I am contemplating sleeping in the basement where ...

the walkout is, JIC he comes to the sliding door. I go down there periodically and call him.The boys are moping and very quiet. They know Jake is not here and they don't understand. Tomorrow- we will search the next street over and hand out more "lost" posters. A good friend who is kind of a cat expert said with a shy cat like Jake, he will have to come home as we will likely never "catch" him. I am terrified he will never come home. :*( Doug is totally devastated. This is his "lil buddy."

People are suggesting combing the area... he will NOT respond to strangers and if he's scared and someone approaches I guarantee he will run. A good friend of mine who knows a lot about cats suggested putting out carriers with food and water, drape them... let him come back to the house because beating the bushes will not result in catching him, since he is a shy and skittish kitty. I don't know WHAT the right thing is. All I want is Jakie back home.

We will continue to convass the neighborhood, put up flyers including at the local shopping centers and I send a notice to the township AC... I will check in with them to see if anyone has turned Jake in... tho' I dought it b/c he will NOT be easy to catch.

Have you managed to get a trap or traps? That would promise more success than an open carrier since he's scared. Twenty-four hours seem like an eternity, but we've had members (and mods) who've recovered their fur babies after several days, so hang in there. Continued that you find him very soon!

I have one trap. I do not know how to set it. The neighbor who loaned it to me says her son knows, but he is not around. I am going to hook up with a couple of rescuers I know who DO have traps and have them show me how to use them and I will set them out. I did not have time to do this running around due to previous commitments... so with the carriers honestly I am just trying to make a safe spot for him to come back and hang, eat and then try to trap.

And yes... it seems like forever... I have been crying on and off for the last day... Doug is profoundly sad and frustrated.

Addie, do you have a photo of him on the site (is he in your album)?  I know it sounds a bit out-there, but when sending lots of it's good to have a visual.

My heart is really with you.. I remember it happening to one of my girls, a long time ago, and I know the angst.   But I got her back and surely you will too.

I would love to post photos, but with the new format, I am not sure how to do that. Does the cat site still use photo bucket?   I can try...

Also - how can I try to live trap Jakie if I do not know WHERE he is? He ran like the devil was after him. He could be three streets over...

I checked and none of the food I set out was touched... not even by critters.

Even if he initially ran off, he's probably come back to the immediate area, so your best bet is putting the trap close to your house. Do you have just regular cat food out, or also something that smells strong like water-packed tuna or salmon? If he doesn't like fish, will he eat cheese? You could try another night of cat food and switch to tuna or the like if that doesn't lure him.

Continued

AddieBee, I feel your pain. You may recall that my boy Marlow got out this past May. He was gone for a week before I was sure I saw him again. He was in our yard! Within 24 hrs he walked right back into the house. 8 days I believe. 

Becky was beside herself while he was gone. I kept telling her he would come back. I really thought he would.

There's so much adventure for a cat's curious nature out there. I'm sure he's having a time. But food and shelter will trump adventure eventually. Then he will start looking for home.

Don't lose faith. A lot of things can happen out there but the smart money is on him returning. Probably sooner than later. 

Come home Jake. Come home.

Nothing yet. A friend and the director of a local rescue came and helped me "paper" the neighborhood. Will do more tomorrow. Will blow up an air mattrress and stay in the basement by the walkout tonight. Also planning on putting poor Tex in a carrier downstairs with me for a while. He and Jake are best buds... maybe Tex's crying will draw Jake home.

There are lots of us working on the come home , the "papering" is a great move and your idea with Tex is a good one.

Keep positive... I really have a feeling, too, that he's close to home..