Cocoa is Missing :(

We have no idea how, but Cocoa managed to slip out of the house today evidently.  She is not inside, it's way past dinner time and she is highly food motivated and would have come out by now if hiding inside.  The only other time we thought she got out for hours, she turned up indoors but, that time there had been a reason for her being so upset.  Nothing happened today to make her want to ball up and hide, and my BF says he did go outside to put out the garbage earlier but, absolutely did not see her go past him.  I know the last time I saw her, was before I left to do grocery shopping around 1pm.  I got home around 2:30ish or so - and didn't think anything was amiss at that point - figured she was napping somewhere.  About an hour went by and I was going to take a nap myself when I realized she wasn't around.

First, he thought she may have gone into the attic because he did open that door for a few moments, but she isn't up there either.

It's now been 5 hours since anyone can remember seeing her for certain.  It is getting dark out, and colder here (NJ), supposed to be in the high 40's tonight.  I've put a litter box, my pillow case, a bowl of kibble on the front porch and on the back steps, more kibble, her blankie with a fancy box she likes to hide in.  My BF has been out on and off looking for her in the near neighborhood and right now he's out again with her favorite toy which makes chirping noises - we figured she might respond to that, was worth a shot.

We put an ad on Craigs List and, also there is a new website called Next Door which is for local neighbors to join; sort of like a neighborhood watch/meet/greet kind of thing.  I posted she was missing there also and with 24 people active in my immediate area, I'm hoping someone might see her.  

Being it's Sunday night really stinks.  And, he is starting a new job tomorrow morning - awful timing, or he would have been here all day to deal with this if she doesn't return.  I certainly can't be home; was home sick nearly all of last week.  

Obviously, we are incredibly distraught.  I just don't know what else we can do right now - there isn't anywhere to run off flyers nearby on a Sunday night.  I'm trying hard not to break down and I'm angry, and well, you all know how it goes.

So, if anyone is in NJ, Rahway area, please keep an eye out for our little love bug.  She's indoors only now and I just don't know if she can find her way home if she ran off on some momentary adventure.  She had no collar on - both of our cats always managed to pull out of them and we never got around to doing the microchip - she was scheduled to be done at her next vet visit, which was coming up in the next month or so

Not sure what else we can do right now.  Just venting.  And hoping for her safe return.

Ok she's found.

She WAS in the attic.

I was in the living room, my BF on the porch.  All of a sudden our other cat Casper, perks up his ears, and looks up at the staircase wide eyed.  I look at him and say "Casper! Do you hear Cocoa?"  I didn't see her.  I walked over to the stairs and she comes scampering down them.  He must have heard her just barely above us, in the room where the attic stairs are (it's a walk up attic).  Weird thing is I had been up there several times as had my BF.  The last time up there, I finally gave up, took away the food I'd left on the steps, shut the attic door (or mostly shut) and that was that.  She must have managed to get the door open herself, which I'm impressed by because it's kind of heavy.  Or maybe I left it open more than I thought.  

Whatever the case, good job Casper for sounding the alarm.  Told my BF she was inside and he didn't believe me at first.  

I swear this one is going to be the death of us.  She is sly and quiet.  We will be microchipping her for sure.  And, I think making her suffer with a collar.

Also, made her suffer the indignity of having a spray bath with Pet Head Blueberry scented pet shampoo, and a good brush out.  She had cobwebs sticking to her cataloons

So glad to hear Cocoa is safe and sound. I wonder what she was doing up there that whole time.

Me too.  I'm assuming:

a) Exploring (which worries me as the attic is not finished, barely a floor and our a/c unit is housed up there.

b) Sleeping

c) Hiding, too scared to move.

What's strange is my BF went up there a few times, even with a flashlight.  She didn't make a peep and she is known for being very vocal and usually answering when called, to some degree.  And, I stood at the bottom of the door later on for quite a while sweet talking up the stairs and brought food also.  Nothing.  

So, I'm going with B.  I just think she got up there at first, got interested in whatever, and settled in.  What concerns me is she's acting kind of strange this morning, almost like she thinks I'm going to do something bad to her - although she was playing and ate fine last night.  I went to pick her up and she kind of cowered on the floor.  

Who knows, maybe she just needs more time to get over her big bad adventure.

I love happy endings.