LOST CAT!! MY indoor Male Tabby got out!

Seen as my avatar, my 2 year old male white tabby, Wyatt escaped 3 nights ago and there is no sign of him at all. I've already visited my local shelter (today) and there is no sign of him there either.

I'm making flyers and putting them out tomorrow.

He's fixed. Pretty adventurous and full of energy (even bounces a bit when he walks fast...LOL) but wonder, will he come back???

My female stayed behind and meows like usual...but she's not acting any different. What to do?!

Please help. Any tips, advice,etc. would be HIGHLY appreciated.

-Shawn

View media item 150500
(ABOVE) Meet Wyatt

Hi.. and welcome to TCS

What a lovely boy.. It's a horrible situation when our cats go missing.. always such a worry.  What kind of an environment are you in.. town? city? countryside?

Often cats will be very close to home, but well hidden and frightened, so you need to really search everywhere.  Calling him isn't good enough.  I once seached for two days for my cat who ended up being hidden under a bush at a neighbour's place.  Even though I called and called, she didn't make a move or a sound.

So search very, very thoroughly, knock on doors, put up posters, check with local vets and keep checking the shelter..

Hopefully you'll find Wyatt really soon.

Thanks so much for responding!

I live in a city, actually off of a major street with little neighborhood streets all around.

That's what I've been reading, that they won't respond if you call and call...tonight will become day 4 :-(

I'm making flyers today to post and I'm going to knock on neighbors' doors (should I hand them a flyer as well?)

He's NEVER been outside but always seemed very curious and interested of the outside, by constantly peaking through the blinds, looking out the window and even a few close calls of trying to go towards the slider door when I'd go outside. He be just on my feet...almost "there" to get out but he never would, since all I'd have to do is say "AH!"...LOL.

But sadly, three nights ago, someone broke into our home (ACTUALLY NOT STEALING ANYTHING THOUGH, THANK GOD) and the front screen to the window was cut open (point of entry I'd take it) and the back slider was left WIDE OPEN. But the doors to the cat room (where I house my cats when I'm gone for some time, so they dont' roam the house, getting on the furniture, since we had issues with them and the furniture) were closed and the female cat (Orea) stayed behind...actually when we got home and noticed the window broken into,etc...she was sitting right there close to the open window...not doing anything just laying there (she never seemed to be interested like Wyatt in the outside world I guess, which explains why she's still here).

But, he was gone...and we were only gone 3 hours. So he got out in that time frame...by the time we got home, it was wet, dark and rainy a bit.

I just really wonder where he went and if he's out there somewhere. It's going on and on and no sign of him. We have a neighbor who has about 6 or so cats that just wonder...mostly hanging out in front of her house, in the driveway, on the porch and under her car and we have an outside cat that stays outside our house who basically LIVES here (just on the outside though). BUT...no Wyatt

Just hoping now....been hoping.

l know we've had people on this board who have had their pets let out and have been missing for days. l remember one poster (l'm not sure who it was) set a trap and a camera and watched his cat come to the porch night after night until they managed to trap it.

Here's a link to a page which will hopefully be helpful:

http://www.missingpetpartnership.org/recovery-displacedcat.php

Good luck, and hugs. l hope your kitty returns home safely.

Thanks so much!!

But the downside is that there are a good 6-8 roaming cats within the neighbor next door vicinity :-/

I may end up trapping cats that are not Wyatt...thus,  missing the opportunity.

Any tips, advice???

I just hope he comes home or atleast is back, no matter how long, but SOON!!

There is There is a pet detective site and another web site examining cats by their personality types ie I door or outdoor, outgoing or shy. I could add much but these sites plus I am sure the cat site itself must have great info helpful when you loose a Kitty -and yours is very cute!!

I would say that wrhile ii know this seems incredible, it does not take long for a terrified traumatized cat yo not even come to you. Do not assume it is because the cat is afraid of you. It has everything yo do with the cat and NOTHING to do with you. He has lost his territory and as an indoor Kitty, most likely -unless he had been picked up (which is less likely is he escaped somehow) - he will not travel too far. The fliers are excellent but also call and if you can VISIT IN PERSON as many shelters of vets ' offices as possible. These are busy places. They will give your lost cat more time seeding how serious and concerned you are. Plus they can only guess by your description and /ot Pict on fliers.

Tethered are different thoughts on whether it is wise to give his name since there are evil ppl out there seeking pets for experiments and other dangers. On the other hand, I have found more good people who may find knowing the cay 's name helpful. Atoll, a traumatized Kitty might well be watching you from across the street and still notcrespond.

Take his absolutely fav food and to to all his fav places if he has any -not really likely w an indoor cat. You may have to borrow or rent a safe trap -likes the ones rescue groups usegor s /n programs and check it each evening. That has become a safe and useful method of ensuring your Kitty will be found. Find something he is familiar with ie with his own scent -even clothes of yours and place them in the trap. Here are a couple helpful sites;

http://www.catsinthebag.org/
http://www.pet-detective.com/

Others may have other site recommendations but these are the 2 I know workcwell w many excellent ideas. Good luck!!!!

Have you done the door-knocking?  I'd give people flyers if they want one.. or at least something with your number on it.  And you're putting up posters?

The trouble is cats can really hide in this situation, but the good thing is the more people that know he's missing, the more that will let you know if they see him. And someone may have taken him in.

You may trap other cats, but just release them and try again. Chances are your guy hasn't gone far, and he'll be starving! Other cats used to being outdoors can get their food from home and hunting. l would bait it with something super stinky like tuna, or sardines, and cover the trap with a blanket.

l'll try to search for the link of the successful trapping that l'm thinking of. lf l find it, l'll post the link.

This is the one that l had stuck in my mind:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/247736/jake-got-out-of-the-house-eta-jakes-back

Again, good luck and lots of vibes 

Wyatt is darling and I hope you find him soon. Hope the following suggestions will help in your search. http://www.thecatsite.com/t/248019/tips-for-finding-a-lost-cat It is heartbreaking when this happens. Don't give up hope, I am certain Wyatt is nearby but may be too scared to venture out yet especially if there are other cats running about. He may be more concerned about them than anything. I hope he finds his way home very, very soon.

Thanks so much everyone for responding and helping me through this.

Here's the latest.

I've already been under my house (there is a 2-3 foot crawlspace) and some of the cats that frequent my property go under there...but I checked and not a thing was there. So I closed it off (since it's been wide open for a couple years now).

We walked the surrounding neighborhood at about 11:30 last night and were out there for about half an hour. It was foggy, dark and cold...only two cats from the neighborhood were seen (but not Wyatt)...we went about a 20 house radius and no luck.

I'm passing out more fliers today, door-to-door...so we'll see what happens with that. It's just a troubling time for me.

I have that "good feeling" that he's just out there and will be home eventually. It feels to me like it's the matter of "WHEN" not "IF". That's what my gut is telling me.

The negative side is that he's not here and there's a VOID. I feel for my other cat Orea, who is now at my feet, meowing and wandering the house. But does she sense Wyatt you think? I know she saw him get out that night.

I don't recall if I explained how this ALL HAPPENED in the first place.

It was last Friday, March 8th. We left our house at about 3:00 and were literally half a mile up the street at my grandparents home.

Between the hours of 3pm and 6pm...my house was broken into. The screen to the window (that was cracked open- which I always have done, since to air out the cat room where we house our cats when we're gone for periods of time) was cut (I'm guessing POINT OF ENTRY) and the back slider door was WIDE OPEN, both screen and glass door. My brother enters the home at about 6ish that night, notices our outside only cat "Baby Kitty" SITTING ON THE COUCH and dried up cat poop and a couple spots of her pee were all around (drying up, showing that it had been there for a while). Here's the KICKER.. NOTHING!! I MEAN NOTHING from the house was taken, touched or even appeared to be touched...YET, the cat room was completely SHUT CLOSED (We have two doors that enter from both sides to the cat room in our home).

So my brother calls me at around 6:11 (trust me, I remember the time because of you never forget little details when things like this occur) telling me "the house has been broken into, the screen to the cats' rooms is cut and window is wide open"..cat tree by the window and litter box are pushed away (obviously showing someone had to push those out of the way to GET IN. I rushed over and he also said "I CANNOT FIND WYATT, but Orea is still here!".

It was an empty feeling. But obvious Wyatt got out. I just feel bad because I wasn't here to stop it. He's an adventurous cat vs. Orea, who my brother would call an Anti-Social cat. Wyatt is scared of other people but seems to always be very curious and interested in the outside (peeping through the blinds, always there at the doors wherever he can see...always followed outside cats from inside the house, along the window sills, etc.) where Orea, could seem to care less.

So that explains that when Wyatt saw the opportunity to "GO"...he went.

So there's the story of HOW THIS ALL HAD HAPPENED.

NOW it's just the matter of "WHERE THE HECK IS WYATT?".

I've been talking with a Pet P.I. who's been very helpful who tells me that "Wyatt isn't far from me".

But as the days go on, it feels like it's just getting longer and I know I have to be patient, but that the same time...it's that eagerness to HAVE HIM HOME where I know he'll be safe, fed and happy.

I'm wondering if someone deliberately let Wyatt out.  It seems the only reason why someone would cut a hole in the screen, and yet not steal anything.  Are the cats visible from the street when they look out the window?

That was a thought that crossed my mind, but I don't see why? Why not both cats? But anyway, you can hardly see them from the street...you'd have to REALLY look hard. But yeah, it's now day 8 and nothing but what may be a sighting from a guy who got one of my fliers. I went in that general area around 3am last night, and saw what may have been him...but it's not a positive I.D. :-(

He's close and if possible you need to leave a way back into your home (by the way he got out) You can also set his cat litterpan outside and the smell will bring him in closer. There are people who own dogs who find cats that you can contact as well although not sure they are in your area.

I'd love to do that, but that's how my home was broken into in the first place...the screen was cut (the cut is still there since we have yet to replace the screen) but the window is now shut and locked.

I can't figure out a way to get him back in on his own...also we have an outside cat (who's been here for years) who roams and stay in our front driveway (under our car or in the bushes) and I'm not sure if that can will intervene Wyatt coming back to the house...unless he fights her (who knows).

So I should leave the litter out? Used or new?? I still have my other cat who's using the litter box (unless I get a separate cardboard box and cut it to make is shallow).

The dog idea is good...now..to find one, that's a toughie. 

used litter- not new you want his smell to bring him back and comfort him

Okay, should I just cut the bottom part of a cardboard box (shallow) since I don't have an extra cat litter box and throw in a little bit of his litter?? I can't crack open the window to let him in but I went and bought cat trap though...any ideas??

I had a feral kitten we found at 5 weeks old, he never really got tame.  (My husband swears it is because our then 2 and 3 yr old tried to use him as a wishbone once, and he never wanted near people again.)  He tolerated myself and my oldest son, positively hated my husband, and avoided the other 3 kids.  

In 2005, the husband was deployed, I had my 4 kids, plus I watched my neighbor's 4 kids about 90 hours a week.  At some point, Pepper slipped out of the house.  After a week of no sign of him, I bought a humane trap and started baiting it with tuna.  A friend that lived a street away said her kids saw him a few times in the field behind their house, but couldn't get near him.  I bought another trap and chained it to a road sign at the field, and kept it baited with tuna, as well.  I caught 5-6 cats, but none were Pepper.  After 3 weeks with no luck, and dealing with a devastated child (my delayed kiddo, even though Pepper didn't like him, my son was very attached to him), my husband told me to get him a kitten.

I contacted a lady who did rescue, and she had two kittens 3-5 weeks old, that mom had mastitis and couldn't nurse.  (I think it was mastitis, honestly don't remember, just know the lady who ran the rescue said she wouldn't nurse the kittens.)  I went and bought KMR, bottles, kitten food, etc, and drove 30 miles to get a kitten.  Brought Calypso home, I chose him because he was a long haired black/grey tabby like Pepper.  Left his brother there.  Next day, couldn't stand it, called rescue lady, and went and got Charley, too.  That night, I opened the front door for some reason, and Pepper was looking through the screen door back at me.

That's Pepper's story.

Rusty's story is a bit different, but it shows the power of a cat's homing beacon.  My mom and I are allergic to animals, my mom moreso than I when I was a teen.  We had a German exchange student my junior year of high school.  B went to the dentist one day, and came home with a huge stray orange tabby.  We named him Rusty, and kept him outside.  6 or so months later, I moved in with a friend for a while, and took Rusty with me.  The 2nd day at my friend's house, Rusty disappeared.  3-4 weeks later, my mom called, and said Rusty was back at her door, ready for dinner.  My friend's house was about 5 miles or so from my mom's.

So, don't give up hope.  Wyatt knows where home is, even being an indoor cat.  (Pepper was on indoor only cat.)  When he can, or when he's ready, he will probably come home.  I WOULD set the trap out, and keep it baited with maybe 1/5 to 1/4 can of tuna, the stinkier the better.  Keep the rest in the fridge for the next night.  Likely though, if he isn't skittish, when he comes home, he'll stay around and wait for you to come outside.  Best wishes to you, I know how devastating it is when one of our babies are missing

Well I bought a trap a few days ago and the first night,

I already caught two cats and a Possum with it's babies (that was crazy..the mother was mad for sure) but I   opened the rear door of the trap and let them out. So the first night, was the outside cat that we know well and has been here for years, the next night was another cat (which Wyatt actually was the most interested in it seemed) and then for the following night after that, NOTHING was trapped and then the Possum. But now I go and look out and see once again, nothing was trapped, door is still wide open.

I just hope I figure out where he is or hoping that maybe, like in most cases, he'll come back on his own. :-(

I really appreciate the help, advice and encouragement everyone! This friday, will mark the second week (14 days) since he's been gone..but for now, we're on Day 12.

It really feels like he's NOWHERE and all I keep seeing are the same neighborhood cats around BUT NOT HIM.

Like finding a needle in haystack it seems :-/

So sorry that you are still trying to find Wyatt. Again, and I know it is hard, but don't give up and don't give up on hope. He is there somewhere. This can be very emotionally consuming the worry but if you keep proactive that will help. I am sending loads and loads of vibes that Wyatt is caught very soon. :cross:

p.s. If you do catch other cats that are not TNRd, maybe see if you can find a place to get them neutered. Maybe contact that shelter for info. on a local TNR organization. That would be the best and you would be helping out so much by doing so.