Should I Still Be Hoping My Missing Cat Will Come Home?

Just want to say, I hope George comes home. What a beautiful cat.

Thank you everyone for your support and advice.

I've been putting out food and filming whoever comes to get it in a few different spots. The first place I tried had the same big tom cat and two smaller females every night. There were never any other cats there, I guess the tom would have chased George away if he showed up.

The next two places didn't get any cats at all. I tried every night for a week in each place, sprayed loads of fish sauce around and used some smelly tuna and blended chicken, but all I got was beetles and crows.

The next place I tried seems much more promising. It's a field next to a restaurant, with woods and farmland the other side. I think the restaurant staff must put leftovers out for the cats because there are always lots of them hanging around. So far I've got a couple of adult cats and three or four kittens on camera, different cats every night. I'm going to keep filming there, It's only a five minute walk from my house but I have to cross a main road to get there. Maybe if George got chased by something he might have crossed the road but be too scared to cross back.....? He's really wary of cars.

We had heavy rain last night so I decided to leave the camera in the kitchen to see if any cats other then mine come in at night.....and a lot of them do! Two of the strays that I feed, my neighbours cat Rufus and a little black and white kitten I'd never seen before. He must have been coming in to get the food for a while, he walked straight up to the bowls and started gobbling it down as if he owned the place. 

I'm off to buy more cat food and batteries for my camera now. I think I'm going to need them.

NEVER give up. A friend found her cat which she k
Lost in a car accident 4 hrs from ho.e (200 miles each way)a gear after she HD posted fliers and pAmphlets and called every animAl Ce she could find there. Vets,pet stores ,ie anti e have a new cat etc..., am in rescues, and you can set out a humane trap with George'fav food. That seems to work even for pet detectives. It is it that ling action I am sure it feels like an eternity. He might be across the street but curiously, cats may loose their smells and forget where home is until they are actually THERE, person ally,I would have a couple traps out.Watchable e unusual in your neighborhood
!! My thoughts are of hole to you and George!!

YES, I LOST MY MOLLY WHO WAS 8 YRS OLD, JUST VANISHED FROM MY APT COMPLEX AT THE TIME! I EVEN KEPT MY APT FOR AN EXTRA MONTH AFTER MOVING, HOPING SHE WOULD APPEAR. I KEPT ADDS IN PAPER. ONE DAY 3 MOS LATER AFTER SEARCHING ANIMAL CONTROL DAILY,I GOT A CALL FROM A TOWN 20 MIN AWAY! THE WOMEN SAID I THINK I HAVE YOUR CAT,I SAID WHERE DO YOU LIVE, ? TO MYSELF I AM THINKING THERE IS NO WAY,,SHE BROUGHT THE CAT OVER, AND OUT CAME MY MOLLY, I CRIED,,SOMEONE MUST HAVE PICKED HER UP AND TOOK HER! ANYWAY ,NEVER GIVE UP.....

Thank you so much.

I love hearing stories like these. I know that cats are amazingly adaptable and great survivors. Some of the feral cats I feed have disappeared for months at a time and then suddenly shown up again.

I know that if they can survive out there, George can too.

I'm not going to give up on him. He is too special to let go.

You know, I read your updates and just have to tell you I fall in love with you a little more every time! (NOT in a weird pervert way!!) You are very inspiring and I love anybody who loves cats as you do. I laughed thinking of all the cats you've been feeding in your kitchen. I always check in hoping to read that you found him and always so sad to see it's not the news I was hoping for. I know what you're going thru although thankfully I'm not missing any of mine at the moment. You'd be surprised how long a furkid can be missing and turn up much later than you'd think. When I got home from the hospital a few years back, my oldest cat, a little old lady 19 yo...weighs 5lbs soaking wet, was missing. My mom said she hadn't seen her in 10 days and never told me bc she didnt want to upset me in hospital But I sat outside in the yard and just bawled and called her name. I made a huge sign in my yard both sides with her picture and extra copies for people to take. Every morning and evening I'd sit in middle of yard and call her. I kept going out and calling her over and over and traveled many blocks. I walked around helplessly knowing if she was ok she'd come running at the sound of my voice especially since I was gone a month. All the neighbors knew her bc she'd stand at edge of driveway and greet dog walkers and such, and she has a cute little chirpy meow. They all knew Miss Muffet and found her adorable. 2 weeks later someone who knew someone who etc etc...heard somebody found a bedraggled little funny looking cat (she's a tortie and one ear is smaller than the other lol) They called me and said she looked like the picture their friend brought over and I made myself stay calm bc it might not be her. They brought her over and it was here!!! 3 weeks later someone finds my tiny old decrepit cat who I believed had to be dead. If anyone took her in they'd soon let her out...for a tiny little thing who chirps like a cricket...she can howl like a banshee...so I really had almost given up.

She was full of prickers and burrs and filthy and definitely lost weight but fine and gained the weight back quickly. Muffett is old and frail and yet here she made it back home.

I look forward to the day I get the email for update on this thread and when I click on it it is in capital letters...george is home!!!! ((I didnt' want to put it in caps here bc it might cause confusion...but you should bc it is very powerful to see it in all Caps

Ahhh who am I kidding. When Muffett was missing nothing like that made me feel better. I can't make you feel better and you are hanging in there very well anyway. But when he gets home I will want to see pix of the giant cat party that will ensue! Catnip for everyone!!

To clarify...10 days missing (while I was in hospital) PLUS the 2 weeks I looked for her...over 3 weeks missing and she's a very old girl. I know George has been gone longer but never lose hope! He's much younger too. Guess what! Muffett is still here and still the driveway diva <3

Hello eicanfly,

Thank you for your post, you really made me laugh. 

I'm glad to hear that Muffin made it back home, she's a tough old girl by the sound of things. There is definitely going to be a HUGE party when George comes home.

I'll be sure to let you know when he does.

Checking in to see if you have found your kitty yet?

No, I'm still looking for him. 

It's been six months now and still no sign of him.

I spoke to an animal communicator the other day who assured me that he is still alive and that someone is taking care of him. I'm just putting up posters in a wider and wider circle from my house in the hope that who ever is taking care of him sees one.

That stinks. I was hoping he was home in your arms.
I live in very rural Vermont and have a neutered male that has been missing for 2 months today. I've done all the posters mailings, flyers, walking,kitty buffets and game cameras. No positive sightings and I am so heartbroken. I've joined the missing cat assistance and they have been fantastic support with many ideas. The stories I've read about kitties missing and how they get home are remarkable.
I sure hope that you and I have one of those remarkable stories very soon.
My boy is an outdoor access cat that just vanished. Never been gone for more then 24 hours before.
A neighbor thinks she saw him 9 days after he disappeared late one night on her way home. Unfortunetly she didn't let me know until at least 12 hours later.
I'm staying positive and doing a lot of praying.
Good luck to you.
Heather

We seem to be in really similar situations. I live in a really rural part of Japan and although my boy would occasionally take off for 24 hours he's never been missing for longer than that.

I spent the summer doing the kitty buffet and trail camera at different spots about a half mile from my house. It's taken me four months to do a complete circle and there's been no sign of him. There are dozens of other stray cats around, every spot I left the camera at would get at least three of four coming every night for food. I only ever filmed cats though, no other predators or loose dogs, which was reassuring.

I think persistence is the only way to bring them home. And we're lucky to live in rural areas, right? Not so much traffic and plenty of mice and birds for them to catch. We have to remember that our boys are highly evolved little hunters and they'll probably be just fine until we manage to find them again.

Good luck with your search, I hope your cat comes home soon.

I've just been reading your post. I am so sad for you. I'd be desperate if one of my cats went missing. I only have house cats as it's impossible to let cats outside where I live. I truly hope your beautiful cat comes home. Sooner than later. My fingers are crossed I just don't know how to put the little signy things in.

I was so hoping George had made his way home to you.  Yet, please hold out hope that he will return.  My Patches went missing last summer for 5 months.  I was worried sick.  Yet, I had been unable to trap him and he was not neutered so I knew he was on his hormone driven walk about.  He did return and was here off and on all winter.  I was finally able to trap him the middle of March and have him neutered.  He has only returned 2x and not since April.  My heart is broken.  I have outdoor cameras to watch the activity of my other ferals and also to watch to see if he returns.  The cameras snap a series of 6 pictures whenever movement is detected and then emails me the pictures.  It's an awesome feature.  Yet, no Patches.  I have put fliers every where.  A few people had spotted him in May, but I have heard nothing since.  The animal communicator I use also assures me he is alive and getting food elsewhere.  He claims my area has too many cats and the territory lines are hard to cross this time of the year.  He would like to come back this winter for shelter and food, but just not now.  I hold out hope each and every day that he will come back to me.

Please George, come home!!!

Thanks ShadowsRescue,

I've been reading about Shadow and Patches on your other posts. I hope Patches comes home soon. 

George was born feral, I've had him since he was four months old. I think that cats that have outdoor access or have lived outside for a while do a pretty good job of taking care of themselves. The feral cats around here seem to do well. While I've been doing the kitty buffet and trail camera I've seen skinny little female that have not only managed to survive but have raised two or three kittens in the time that George has been gone. If they can survive then George, who was neutered, has had all his shots and weighed around 13 pounds when he went missing, can survive too.

I've spoken to three different animal communicators over the past six months and they've all said the same thing: George is alive and someone is taking care of him. All three said there is a man who feeds him, two of them said he was a fisherman. This makes sense as I live close to a huge lake. I've been all around the lake putting up posters in all the parking and fishing spots.

I just hope I get a call soon......

Stewball said:

I've just been reading your post. I am so sad for you. I'd be desperate if one of my cats went missing. I only have house cats as it's impossible to let cats outside where I live. I truly hope your beautiful cat comes home. Sooner than later. My fingers are crossed I just don't know how to put the little signy things in.

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You're lucky to be able to keep your cats indoors. I live in an old Japanese style house, the sliding windows at the back don't lock and the cats have learnt how to open them so it's impossible to keep them in. My dream is to buy a house with a big garden so I can put a cat-proof fence all around it and at least keep them close to home.

Norachan said:

 
Thanks ShadowsRescue,

I've been reading about Shadow and Patches on your other posts. I hope Patches comes home soon. 

George was born feral, I've had him since he was four months old. I think that cats that have outdoor access or have lived outside for a while do a pretty good job of taking care of themselves. The feral cats around here seem to do well. While I've been doing the kitty buffet and trail camera I've seen skinny little female that have not only managed to survive but have raised two or three kittens in the time that George has been gone. If they can survive then George, who was neutered, has had all his shots and weighed around 13 pounds when he went missing, can survive too.

I've spoken to three different animal communicators over the past six months and they've all said the same thing: George is alive and someone is taking care of him. All three said there is a man who feeds him, two of them said he was a fisherman. This makes sense as I live close to a huge lake. I've been all around the lake putting up posters in all the parking and fishing spots.

I just hope I get a call soon......

Click to expand...

I had an animal communicator describe a house that is within 1/2 mile from my house.  I had a feeling it was where Patches might be living as that was the direction he always left in as well as came from.  I have sent out 3 different fliers put in mail boxes of all these homes as well as all neighbors.  I did receive a few calls that he had been spotted, but no one knew where he might be living.  It was so frustrating to me that someone may be feeding and caring for him, but didn't have the courtesy to notify me. 

I know Patches is a wanderer.  The animal communicator I spoke with a few times before neutering him told me that he was not on board with neutering and if I neutered him, he would leave.  I decided to take the chance anyway because I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do.  His wandering just didn't stop, but his hormones and ability to reproduce did!  I find that I am ok if he doesn't return as long as he is being well cared for.  My last session with the animal communicator told me that he was getting food, but he wanted me to know that I would be sad to see him as he is quite skinny and not fed as well as he was with me.  He was worried to come back as I have my hands full with 4 others.  Yet, he knows if winter sets in and he is cold and hungry that I will do anything for him. 

I hope you can find the fisherman.  Have you put signs with pictures around the area?  Hopefully we both will have good news soon.

Hi ShadowsRescue,

That must be frustrating to think that Patches is so close and yet hasn't come home. Strange that whoever is feeding him hasn't checked to see if anyone is looking for him.

I always report any newbies that show up to be fed to City Hall, just in case they are a lost pet. No one ever claims them, but it doesn't do any harm.

(And I like to keep City Hall busy, make them work for all that residents tax they make me pay.)

I think part of the reason George left may have been because I was so busy trying to spay the young females and take care of this year's stray kittens, but what can you do? Once one cat starts coming to be fed the others soon realise there is a free meal to be had and I can't just ignore them. Maybe Patches will head home when it starts getting colder. He'll need the extra calories and his mind will be on food, rather than roaming around looking for eligible girl kitties.

Prayers and vibes from California that your precious boy returns to you It is likely that George is being cared for by another family, perhaps an older child or young teen whom he feels really needs the care and attentions of a cat. Or he could be enjoying living on the wild side and will come back when winter sets in.  I have a MaineCoon who loves the outdoor life as well as children - he kept going off to the neighbors or the great outdoors until I found a caretaker couple who have a toddler daughter who adores the cat.

As for returning kitties, I have many stories.  The most remarkable is about a calico cat with very distinctive markings who stayed with me for 2 weeks along with her kittymom and peoplemom. The couple divorced and the wife (the peoplemom) kept the kitties for years.  then the peoplemom remarried and moved out of state, rehoming her cats here in our town.  About 10 years later, the calico appeared on my front door step, emaciated but joyful to see me!!!    I called the ex-husband who had remarried a woman with 2 preteen daughters and he came out and got the cat.  He was amazed that it was indeed she, and she immediately recognized him! His new family took her home and the cat lived to be about 18.  What is extremely amazing is that I live 10 miles out of town and the elderly cat had to navigate very wild country, through desert and cattle pastures filled with coyotes, cougar, snakes, hawks, owls, etc.  No one but God and she knows how long it took her to make the journey, nor why she needed to, but kitty-guardian angels lit her path to home

Thanks for the good wishes catsknowme. Yes, I hope that someone is caring for him.

I miss him a lot but the animal communicator said that he was drawn to this person, so maybe George found someone who needed a cat to love and is basking in all that attention.

It's kind of frustrating though, every year I take in stray kittens, get them spayed or neutered and try to find homes for them but no matter how friendly and well house trained they are no one ever wants one. I usually end up keeping them myself or they join the colony outside. In three years I've only managed to re-home one kitten and he lives next door so is here pretty much all the time anyway.

Maybe I should print out new posters with George's picture on and have it say "Reward, plus kitten, for any information leading to the recovery of ....."

I've heard lots of stories about cat's who make it home after long journeys. I haven't given up hope that he'll show up again one day.