Urgent advice needed cat gone what to do.

Hello everyone new here looking for some advice thank you. Long story short a couple of years ago a cat litter was in my apt complex parking lot. The parking lot sat adjacent to woods. I was one of a few tenants whom fed and found homes for three out of four kittens. The last one remained and I continued to care for it. I believe he has some Siamese in him. He spent  July 2009 thru Aug 2010 outdoors. I provided him food and shelter outside in Michigan winter.

This cat bonded with me we would hike daily through the fields. He fetched like a dog would and listened well to my commands. I move to another apt in Aug 2010 and took him with me. He worked out well there indoors although I was on the second floor and had a balcony he would go out daily and sit on the railing. Never jumped off. So I move out this past July when I bought a house 38 miles N of where I was situated at. Sasha seemed to enjoy the large space he now had. 

In this area as most areas there are a lot of feral cats running around. Sasha took a notice right away. Almost daily 24/7 running from window to window to observe the cats. Then he started howling/yowling quite loudly which started in late Aug. By Oct he started spraying. My next door neighbor feeds a lot of feral cats off her back porch. I have no problem with that. So I knew right away Sasha had to be neutered because it just hadn't been done yet. And he wanted some female action.

In this town there is only one veterinarian. I made the appointment for neutering in Nov for this coming Thursday. Which brings me back to what happened at Midnight this past Thursday. The temperature was a balmy 62 in Michigan at that time. I had opened a window that was screened to get fresh air. No problem I thought, my windows had been opened quite often through summer or since I moved here. Sasha would like to perch in the window sill. I took a shower.

Right when i was done drying off I heard an unusually crashing/ripping noise. I knew something was up as I then heard what sounded like a cat fight at my next door neighbors home. Sure enough Sasha was gone the screen completely ripped dangling in the wind. I quickly got dressed and by the time I got out there a black cat was on top of neighbors privacy fence. Sasha saw me as I called out to him and darted off two houses past mine in the opposite direction. I didn't chase after him but casually walked down to him. He was between the houses and I started to walk towards him. Sasha ducked under the fence and headed towards the back of this yard.

I went home got a flashlight and cut through the neighbor's yard who feeds the cats. Sasha was next door perched up on this guys firewood. I kept calling for him he wouldn't come. I should have just hopped the fence but I didn't know this guy, didn't want to trespass, didn't know if he had a dog etc. Also thinking I would just push Sasha away further. So  I went back home. I stayed up to 6am calling him through my window. I kept shining my flashlight through the windows into this yard and his eyes lit up.

So all day Thursday I kept calling for him no luck. Thursday evening around 10pm he was in my next door neighbors yard (cat feeder). So I slowly walked toward the back of her yard near the shed where he was at. Calling out for him. As I approached he slowly sauntered off behind the shed into the neighbors backyard on the next street behind us. Again I didn't chase him backed off and went home. I continued to call him hourly through my window.

So Friday cold front moving in. The temperature around 19 degrees 8p.m. I looked out my back door and Sasha was on my back deck. He was going for the dry food I had laid out. I opened up my door called for him he looked at me and darted off to the front of my house. It doesn't look like he got any food. Later around 1a.m I believe I saw Sasha now across my street. The time it took me to grab shoes and jacket and head out he was gone. That's the last I've seen him.

It is now 3a.m Sunday. I didn't see Sasha all day Saturday. I'm beginning to worry. It's now 8 degrees here. Every night I've been out looking for him. Saturday I drove around the neighborhood during the afternoon and at night. I drove around from 11:30p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday morning looking for him> It's cold no luck at all. But before I left the dry food was full on my back porch and when I cam back a sizable portion was gone. Could it have been Sasha I don't know as other cats are around and so is a pesky possum. 

So I guess my next step is to put up flyers and an ad in the newspaper. I love the cat I want him back. I realize he should have been neutered a long time ago. But I have my own health problems fighting chronic Lyme disease, and it's not easy getting around.

So how long will this cat be able to have no food and water? That's a big question. Will he come back? Who knows. He could get hit by a car, a predator attack, rotten human animal hater etc.

I know he can survive a winter as he already has done so. But he had shelter, daily food water, and he had time to develop a thick winter fur coat back then. What do you think the cold is doing to him especially no food water. Why did he run away from me when he was on my back porch? What is going on with him? Is it hormones? Do you think I will get him back? I'm new in this neighborhood as well as Sasha never being outdoors here. Do cat's have a good sense of direction as to where there home is? I have sprinkled his used cat litter in spots around yard and driveway to alert him. Also leaving out food and water, but water is blocked ice after hours.

I want him back!

Any answers will be greatly appreciated on what to do. Thank you for reading I know this is long.

Karl 

Wow 17 readers no advice well thanks for reading.

Hi, I don't think I can be of much help because I have never had this happen to me. Maybe put some of your unwashed clothes on the porch so he will smell your sent along with more food and water. You can buy water dishes that are heated.  Get a live trap and try to trap him in it. These can be rented at an equipment rental place.  I wish you good luck. I can only imagine to pain you are going through having lost your cat buddy.

You may find some tips that will help here: Tips for finding a lost cat Are there any shelters or rescue groups nearby that you could borrow or rent a trap from?

The first issue is getting your cat found and returned to you. 

- Some cats will actually hide very close to home so I would look all around your house and nearby and call for him. 

- set food out for him.

- Call for him at his regular meal times.

- Consider searching after dark with a flashlight, he may be more active the and the flashlight will reflect in his eyes if he is there.

- He isn't neutered so he may be more likely to wander.

- Ring the doorbell of every neighbor in the vacinity and ask them to watch out for him.  Bring fliers with you that include a picture, in color, and include your phone number.

- Call EVERY local shelter and rescue group you can find.  One way to find them is by going to petfinder.com and in the "shelters and rescues' tab put in your zip code.

Hopefully in time you will get him back.  If you do I would really urge you to get him neutered.  Unneutered cats want to wander, will cause females to become pregnant, and may develop medical problems down the line.  Also it would be good to get him microchipped.

Does he have a collar with an ID tag?

Good luck!

I'm sorry this has happened and hope you manage to get him back.  From what you describe I think it may well be necessary for you to try trapping.  As others have said, you may be able to borrow a trap from a local rescue group or shelter, and then start putting food out and watching for him so you can trap.  This may not be easy for you as I think you have to continually monitor the trap in order to capture him.  You should then neuter as soon as you can or he is likely to continue with the spraying and wandering.

Okay, first of all as I am sure you already know, it happened because he is not neutered.

No matter how much he loves you and how attached the 2 of you are, his hormones and drive is to breed.

There are obviously unspayed females somewhere around there, and all the boys know it!

He will not come back to you unless his food source is cut off. He is NOT lost.

As long as he is able to find food he will stay outside because he knows he is more or less stuck inside and as I said, he has an enormous drive and will for a good 3 weeks after his neutering.

Do NOT leave food out, and ask if the neighbor will assist in helping get him back by not leaving food out too. He can feed his cats but pull the food afterwards, watching that your cat does not come to eat.

His instincts are survival, and breeding. Close in strength but survival is first still. Which means food, and he knows he will get it from you.

Trust, he will come if there is no more food, it may even take a day or 2 without, but he will come. Make him eat inside when he does. Then get his butt neutered

I agree with Catwoman and retract what I said about leaving food out.  What I meant to say had I been more careful was to only leave food out when it can be supervised and at those times when he's used to eating to see if he approaches it and if he does you might be able to remove the food and lure him inside.  Maybe catwoman has some thoughts on this....

Thank you catwoman, stephenq, jcat, Mishicats, and M servant for all responses. I just put another 10 miles on my car driving around the neighborhood. No luck nothing. It is a bit warmer at 25 degrees compared to 8 this morning. So catwoman you believe even though I'm new to the area (6 mos) he is not lost? Do cats just have that radar instinct to know where home is? I guess they probably go by smell, And so what I did was spread a lot of his used litter around the front and back yard thinking he may smell it.

On the food issue, back on Wednesday I did have this discussion with my neighbor to pull the food in after her's had been fed. My thinking was like yours that he would revert to feral behavior as he was in the past, just coming around for the food and leaving. But the problem is he's been out  now 4 days. Cold weather has set in. And I believe that cats actually shiver to keep themselves warm. Which burns calories and hunger sets in, plus water is probably more important. So now I think I probably have to set some food an water out. I don't want him to die. Problem is I have possums who luv cat food plus all the other ferals. . So I have to decide what to do there.

My thinking is also to buy a trap at home depot, along with a video monitoring system that will hook up to my phone and computer. Put the camera above back door, also maybe try a baby monitor but don't know how long a battery would last in the cold. The city doesn't have a animal control, nor does the county. No budget. Thats part of why so many ferals, along with irresponsible owners like myself who didn't neuter there cat. I new better, and I've learned. My first cat and it boggles my mind this cat just ripped through the screen like Swiss cheese. I'm now buying pet-screen to prevent this from happening again. Of course he will be neutered if I can get him again.

I haven't seen him since Friday on my porch, and he ran away when I tried to open the door. Why? Even when he was wild cat his first year all i had to do was walk in my apt parking lot and he would come. In his mind does getting some female action override his thought process? Just crazy.

Thank you all any answers I appreciate and will keep you updated.

KA 

Believe he will definitely NOT starve to death, he will hold out until his tummy speaks louder than his hormones do.

Don't give in and put food out, I know it's hard because you love him, but this is the only way to get him to come to you.

He is also able to catch mice if he wanted, but if his food source which he is so used to is gone, he will come home.

You asked why he ran away, think of it from his point of view, if he lets you take him in before he is ready, he knows he will be stuck inside, and he has some serious hormones driving his thinking.

Before, he didn't have his freedom taken when he was living outside.

You can trap him as well, using tuna, and if so be sure to cover the trap immediately once he is trapped inside so he will calm down. They can really do some bodily harm to themselves in that trap.

Don't rethink leaving food out, he will not starve to death, honestly.

Swiss cheese screen, that tells you just how strong their instinct to breed really is! It runs their entire existence until they are neutered and can actually enjoy life.

Oh I also meant to reassure you, he is NOT lost! 6 months is plenty of time to become fully acclimated to the home.

Smells and sound familiarity guides their way.

I took care of a feral cat for almost 9 months.  He lived outside on my deck with another feral.  They had a wonderful shelter, feeding stations and plenty of love and attention.  He warmed up to me and after 4 months with me I was able to pet and brush him.  He was still very skittish.  He might have possibly been an owned cat at one time, but reverted to feral behavior after being on his own for so long.  My first feral I had done TNR on, but when I was able to borrow a trap, cold weather had set in.  I was very inexperienced and decided it would be a bad idea to trap him in the winter.  I was worried he wouldn't return or get sick.  When warmer weather came I tried to trap him.  I had noticed that he had been disappearing for days at a time before returning to eat.  Little did I know that with the warm weather, his hormones were going crazy.  I set the trap a few nights, but no luck.  In fact, he disappeared.  I was certain he was dead.  He was gone for 5 months.  I was worried sick.  Through research and talking with others I discovered that he left because he was not neutered.  His hormones directed him.  He had no regards for food or shelter only finding a mate over and over.  I was so upset with myself.  He did return 5 months later and he was so skinny.  This time I was able to trap him and do the right thing for him. 

I have camera that I use on my deck to check the comings and goings of my ferals as well as to keep an eye on other humans that happen into my yard.  I have wireless outdoor Foscam.  They work well as long as it's not bitter cold.  They get a little flaky when it gets near zero or above 90.  Yet I love them.  You can set them to record all night or record and send emails on motion. 

I hope your boy comes home soon.  A trap is a great idea.  Once he comes home please make an appointment for a neuter!

Thank You shadow rescues, that is what I plan to do today get a outdoor camera. Still nothing to report as this is now day 5. You start to lose hope and think he will not return. But I'm not giving up and today I plan on passing out door to door flyers. Hopefully my high reward will give me some leads.

Another problem is our first snowfall last night about 4 inches. I know Sasha has spent one winter outdoors so he knows what this stuff is. The hard part is he has a charcoal white coat and it will make him blend into the environment better.

So day 5 without food and water, unless he found another food source. Which will make it even more difficult to catch him.

Hey catwoman707 I sent you a PM, had a questions to ask you.

KA

ksa84, do not give up.  Your cat will have survival skills and know how to find shelter.  He is being driven by his hormones but he will be able to find basic food and when he gets more hungry he will come back to tried and tested sources that keep him going - and that is you.  Most of his needs for water will come from his food and food is what will drive him back once the hunger is stronger than his hormone messages.  Use your time learning from the people here who have experience with ferals and trapping, and be ready for when your boy shows.

Still nothing no where to be found. I've driven over 50 miles in five days, and walked about 5 around the neighborhood. I took out an add with his picture today in the local paper. Passed out 100 flyers have more to pass out going door to door around neighborhood 2 mile perimeter.

It's bitter cold 10 degrees wind chill -3. I know the cat probably can handle the cold as he was out the winter his first year. I just worry about no food and water. I see the other ferals come over to neighbors yard pretty much daily. Why my cat didn't hang around them I don't know or maybe he is...

I move to this house in July, does anyone think that he may find his way back to my old apartment around 35 miles away? I've heard of this but how common? But then again he was indoors at the apt for 3 years.

KA

The chance of you finding him are nearly zero. He is not going to be out and about just walking along the sidewalks or out where people will see him easily.

He will be coming out when it's dark mainly.

No, he wouldn't go back to the old place, why? You are not there, he knows where you are, he won't get lost, he is simply not ready to come back home. He is not starving either, believe me, if he is not eating someplace else then he is catching and eating mice.

If he were starving, he would come back to you, where he knows there is food, despite his urge to wander and mate. Survival which first and foremost is food, and if/when he needs food, he will come.

I do know how anxious you feel, but the fact is, he is a survivor. That there are other outside/ferals around tells me he is not in danger of predators, the only enemy is the road. But, he should have some street smarts about him as it is not unfamiliar for him to exist outdoors.

He will come to you, don't make yourself crazy. I know it's hard to be patient, you can buy or borrow a trap and start setting it at night, where you would leave food, but watch it carefully. Never leave it unattended.

Use tuna to attract. Likely every outdoor cat in the area will come!

No I understand that completely. Cat are nocturnal by nature. I am out when it gets dark about now 5:30p.m. and have been looking up to 5am everyday since he has been missing. Not straight through obviously. He's no where near my yard and I don't believe on my block. I don't believe he has been back to my yard since Friday night when he darted off from me on my back porch. I believe he has crossed streets into a wide open city.

The other ferals star coming around about now 5:30pm because its dark. I set out dry food and a bucket of warm water. I changed every two hours because of ice. The ferals eat it. I don't see him at all checking frequently. Again the bitter cold I believe has to make him hungry enough to try and come home. Unless he has found food elsewhere from another cat feeder. I really thought we had a bond and he'd be home by now.

But I guess reality is as more time goes by it's less likely he will return. So these possibility exists as to where he is:

1) Out chasing females, although the bitter cold might curtail this activity.

2) He is hurt, trapped, or deceased. (hopefully this didn't happen)

3) Someone has taking him in. ( Seems not likely as I don't see him coming up to strangers, maybe if he was super hungry)

4) He's just plain lost.

I'm at my wits end. I'm just sitting waiting for a phone call from the flyer. I did consult with a Pet Detective, who is about 100 miles away and uses a trained bloodhound to recover missing pets. That may be happening by Thursday-Friday we have to talk price as that can get expensive. 

For now it suck's the not knowing part.

Thanks,

KA

Of course it does, the not knowing part is the worst, by far

Although # 2 is always a possibility, it is probably pretty remote. He is a survivor, remember this. The only chance would be if he were hit by a car, and I just don't think so, because I so strongly believe he is up to # 1.

Of course it will only delay his return if he found another food source, plus there are always mice...

I don't see him going to a stranger and being taken inside either. He is on a mission.

While I don't think this is going to be very likely since there are other feral/outdoor cats, is there any chance he may get picked up by animal control and taken to a shelter?

I know he is not microchipped.

Are you able to go online and report him missing? I know here we have Petfinders.

Well we have no animal control in this city. I did put in a lookout at the county Humane Society. I've talked to people walking there dogs, cops who see me pounding the pavement, stores etc etc. I have ads in newspapers coming out today. I have a lot more flyers to pass out. Today is day 6 since he's been out and four days since I saw him on my porch Friday. I cant find this cat anywhere its like he just vanished.

This has been the worst day. I've been exhausted searching in the cold. I don't know what to do or where to go next.I started leaving dry food and water on my back deck. All the other ferals my neighbor feeds are eating it. He hasn't been around. Every feral cat I've seen in the last 5 days (10) are the exact number since I moved in, They are here or feeding next door daily. They never miss.But he's gone it makes no sense. Why wouldn't he be hanging around them? Looking for females.

He's never been out in a city before row after row of houses. My first apartment in 2009 when he was a kitten was surrounded by train tracks and acres and acres of woods that he learned by walking with me daily. Ever since he's been born I've seen this cat daily up into the day he left. It's driving me absolutely crazy. This cat was one of a kind, I know we all feel like that about are pets. But Sasha he would act like a dog would. Fetch, run after me, I would tell him to stop climb that tree or pole and he would. I use to let him sleep in my car the winter of 2009, so I've backed my car out of the garage and cracked the window.  Hoping he will jump in. ( My old landlord use to threaten to evict me).  My house is so quiet. Sasha had those loud vocal tones verbalization. Sometimes it could frustrate you being around that but boy do I miss it now.  

Does anyone think he might be picking up the scents of all the feral cats around my yard and be to afraid to come around? Is he alive is he dead? Does someone have him? Wouldn't you think he could find his way back?The grieving has started and I fill a ton of grief for opening that window last Wednesday.

KA

Update day 8 just over a week and nothing. It's like he vanished into thin air. I continue to walk the streets. Last night was a brutal 1 degree wind chill -8. Hope he is alive and finding food/water. All the other feral cats my neighbor feeds come around daily so they manage the cold, of course food helps them get through.

So here's what I've done and maybe other people can use this if they don't know about it. The USPS has a service called Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM). Create your own postcard and have the post office deliver it for you. This is cheaper than the postcard companies who usually have a minimum order of 500-1000 cards.  You can map out a target area, use demographic data (e.g. age, household income, and size) to select a delivery route, choose a mailing drop off date.

So from my house address I've taking a 4 -5 mile parameter circle and every house with a postal address will be receiving my post card. I have a printer making me 1,450 post cards basically with the same missing flyer I created last week with a picture. It helps me because in this weather its hard to walk more then a few blocks.

I also am in touch with a pet detective this past week.  She is a certified MAR Technician, and has been featured on some local newscasts rescuing cats with a trained dog and other equipment. So she is about 70 miles away. But this past week has been really colder then usual. The dog gets cold especially her feet. So unable to bring the dog here. The good news is that Tuesday and Thursday of next week a warm front should take us in the 30-40 degree range, and she has agreed to come out. By that time we will be in the 2 week 14 day range and hoping if he's still alive this dog can pick up my cats scent. Will see sounds desperate I know., but time is critical.

Crazy thing about my newspaper ad that started yesterday. Right above my add for a lost Siamese cat was an ad that said found beautiful Persian/Siamese cat male. I had high hopes because this cat had testicles like my Sasha. But when I called I was told that they had found this cat about 5 weeks ago, so it wasn't mine unless he somehow got caught up in a time warp.

Ok enough now hopefully someone might respond to my questions on last post near bottom.

KA