lost cat-Heartbroken & missing my old cat

My cat is a 16 year old Maine coon, Ive had him since he was a kitten and he's an indoor/outdoor cat..meaning he sits in the garden a few hours a day and then comes in, he has done this everyday for 16 years and never left the garden. Exactly 1 week ago today he just disappeared. I have searched our house high and low in every possible spot (even got on the roof)..i have contacted every shelter, put up posters everywhere in my neighborhood and beyond, craigslist, facebook, walked around the neighborhoor everyday, drove in circles around the area all day..i dont know what else to do, i miss him so much all i do is cry. I know he is old..online it says Maine coon cats live 12-15 years and he's 16 so i know technically he's elderly but i never really ever thought about it, he still plays and eats well and was not sick at all. He's not a cat that would ever go anywhere he stays close to home, he's not that friendly to other people or pets, he just loves me, and goes where ever i go.  Some people say that old cats go away to die, but i dont believe it. I just want some more time to spoil him and for him to die at home one day. i cant stand the thought of him out there lost, alone cold and hungry. its just breaking my heart. i keep thinking i can hear meowing and keep finding cats that are not him. Nobody else seems to care, to them he's "just a cat" ive even been told "big deal go get a new cat, there free at the humane society" as if he is replaceable. He's been with me everyday for 16 years. he's family.  

Oh SheShe, I'm so sorry to hear this. 

I know exactly how you feel, one of my cats has been missing for over 10 months now. Of course, it's so much more than just a cat. You have to be a cat person to understand that, other people just don't get it.

Have you thought of hiring a pet detective? They use dogs to look for missing cats. It's only been a week so they should be able to pick up your cats trail.

Good luck, I really hope you find him.

Well that's a sad story, sorry to hear this and what you are feeling everyday.

As I was reading your post about him, I was thinking, he may have left to go off and die, as this is very true and what cat's will do naturally, as dying is natural to them. They don't worry about leaving us behind, or feel sorry for themselves like people do, thinking they want to stay around as long as they can because they will miss us, etc.

When they believe the time is coming, this is what they will do quite often.

However, it seems to me, even if a cat is going to die from old age, you would still have seen something. Slowing down, sleeping all the time, perhaps loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, something that you would see is happening to him.

If you really think about it, has anything recently changed in his actions/behavior?

A week is a long time for a 16 yr old cat to stay away for other reasons, they are old and lose interest in wandering off, and live their lives out being pampered and fat, warm comfy cats.

I hate to be bringing this news to you, but I don't want to sugar-coat it, if this is infact what has happened.

By the way, despite what others say to you about "he's just a cat, or get another one", you will NEVER hear that here, we are all big cat lovers and have cats as family members who we adore as much as our kids.

Sorry for you and for kitty.

One last note I can mention. I once had a cat, who at 17 yrs old, did the very same thing. If I hadn't found him 4 days later and skin and bones from not eating or drinking, he would have surely died.

He was well hidden in my next door neighbors backyard, deep under a bush, surled up and waiting to die. It was obvious. I was not going to allow this of course without trying to help him, or at least have him painlessly euthanized, but as it turned out, he had signs of a milf virus, got well again and lived abother 3 years, until he did actually die of old age when it was really his time, rather than when he THOUGHT it might have been.

Cats are curious, different thinking creatures, that's for sure.

Hugs. 

Very sad story, I'm so sorry that those around you aren't showing compassion for your situation. Here, we all know he's family.

I am so very sorry that your sweet boy is missing.  Have you been able to leave out some really strong smelling cat food?  I know that if you leave it outside at night, other critters might get into it, but he might come back home looking for food.  There are also trail cameras you can buy to catch motion as well as surveillance cameras.  Pet detectives and animal communicators also assist in helping to find lost pets. 

My thoughts are with you. 

We all understand how you feel.  You just want to know he is safe!  If he never left the garden, I would treat his missing as if he is an indoor only cat.  Indoor only cats that get out behave very differently from indoor/outdoor cats - those that have a larger territory than just your garden.

My guess is that your boy is close - within a couple of houses.  Can you go door to door to all your nearest neighbors and ask them to look in sheds, garages, under decks etc.  Indoor cats tend to hide and won't come even when their owners call for them. 

Put out his litter box - a blanket if he used one, and something worn with your smell on it.  These familiar scents may lead him home.

Go outside very late (or early) in the morning when everything is very still...between 1 and 3 am if you can.  Call to him - the sound of your voice will carry much farther without traffic noise.  Stay still and wait patiently to see if he there is any response or movement.

Keep the posters up....don't give up.  There are miracles every day - even for cats missing longer than yours.

we are all hoping for good news....

I'm new to this wonderful site. Im so sorry to hear this heartbreaking news. Just tonight my poor Amber of 20 years went out for her garden stroll before bed and she's disappeared. She was suffering with terrible arthritis and she's very frail. I desperate with worry. I've looked everywhere! I just want her to appear at the back door. I've just lost my father very recently and Amber was my comfort. Now I'm devastated :-(

It's just horrible when your pets go missing. I'm sorry you have to go through this heartbreak, not knowing where & how they are. Especially as they are old & never wander.
I have been fortunate in that area. Only one of my cats went missing, if it could actually be called that because I - well no, her sister found her on the road a couple of hours after. Mindy was 16, had never gone near the road before, so something must have caught her attention to the point she must have gone onto the road & been hit. Thankfully death was instant going by her head injury.
I pray you find your cats soon.

lucspy said:

I'm new to this wonderful site. Im so sorry to hear this heartbreaking news. Just tonight my poor Amber of 20 years went out for her garden stroll before bed and she's disappeared. She was suffering with terrible arthritis and she's very frail. I desperate with worry. I've looked everywhere! I just want her to appear at the back door. I've just lost my father very recently and Amber was my comfort. Now I'm devastated :-(

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This is worrisome due to her age and her physical state now, that she wandered off, as often times cats will believe it is their time to go, and find a hidey hole and hang out waiting.

If she doesn't come back tonight I would set out tmrw morning to find her.

Under bushes, in any hiding spot you see, she wouldn't be far, not more than a house or 2 away from home.

I once had a cat do this, but it wasn't his time although he thought it was. It took me 2 days to find him, sure enough he was in the next door neighbor's backyard under a bush just waiting, now dehydrated and super skinny looking.

I hauled his butt to the vet and got on antibiotics, he lived another 4 years until he was about 20.