Cat lost for several weeks...need advice.

Three weeks ago my cat ripped a window screen and escaped through it about three weeks ago. didnt seem him for about 10 days and rheb woke up one say and he was sneaking back into my yard. I went out to try and get him back and he bolted through a hole in the fence in the back yard. Haven't seen him sense. I have had cat traps set up for about two weeks. Have caught everything but him. Has anyone had a cat come back after this long? He is a very skittish cat. Afraid of everything. I rescued him from being a very sickly feral...nursed him back to health for 5 months. Muss him so much...any advice?

Hi there, welcome to tcs!

This cat is not neutered is he?

This is your explanation on why, and he is out roaming around looking to mate.

The fact that he is skittish isn't what's keeping him away, as long as he is hormone driven and not neutered, he will not stand for being locked up indoors only.

He will likely come back eventually, but not only will this keep happening, but ALL the unneutered males are out doing the very same thing, and are constantly fighting, serious, ugly, vicious fighting, they are bitten which will be infected and abcess, fighting males go for the face/eyes and fight with intentions of doing great harm, and also are the main spreaders of fiv and felv.

Do your friend the biggest favor you can, get his butt neutered asap It will change his life for the good.

He is neutered. All my animals are.

catluver79 said:

He is neutered. All my animals are.

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I am VERY glad to hear that!! Good job

Unfortunately some male cats will still do the same, although it's certainly alot safer for them when they are neutered.

I never knew this before, that they will still sometimes want to go out prowling with the other boys, it's like they don't want to miss out on the action, yet are not going to participate.

I had a cat who taught me this, he was neutered when I adopted him.

There were neighbors across the street who had quite a few cats, and a few were not spayed. (yeah I know!)

But once in a while, on warmer nights I would hear cat calling, yeowling, etc. and my cat would start getting all goofy, insisting I let him out. (I liked him IN at night)

When I refused once, he promptly backed up to the refridgerator and sprayed it!! Who do you think won THAT one?! He did. Nearly tossed him out.

Guess he showed me who's boss!

He would go and be gone for a week at a time, not gone far, right in the immediate area, but refused to come in until he was good and ready.

Hopefully you don't live near busy streets or anyplace dangerous for him to be out.

This is the only reason a cat will tear a screen to get out.

I hope he shows up soon, I know you must be worried.

He is not lost, just looks that way to you, I know.

Something you CAN do to at least see that he is still around and is okay, but won't necessarily get him back in the house is, set a paper plate out in the yard with tuna, after it's dark though, but hopefully near a light source so you will be able to see who is there eating it.

3 nights, and you will have seen him. It brings out every cat in the neighborhood! He is likely eating someplace else too to be able to stay away so long, which doesn't help matters for you getting him to come home to eat.

Very worried. He was an indoor only cat for the past year. Im concerned since he was never outside before since he was a baby and never where I live now that he wont know where home is. I live close to one major road which scares me. I have been watching the road..I dont think hes been hit.

Of course you're worried, that's sad! Not knowing where your baby is can be so scary too.

Rest assured, he is definitely not lost.

After a year, he knows every sound around, his nose is very familiar with every smell, no hun, he is definitely not lost. Just know that.

Cats don't go by familiar sights, it's all about sounds and smells.

I have a trap with tuna in the yard. Noone has gone near it. I know several people in our neighborhood feed cats. We have several "neighborhood" cats. Should I keep trying to trap him? Not sure why he ran from me when he saw

..me. he looked terrified.

I'm sure it's not that he is terrified by seeing you but more like noooo.....I don't wanna go back inside.

The biggest issue that will prevent him coming back is he is getting food elsewhere. Why would he come back before he is ready, right?

The trap with tuna, for one, a trap must always be sprayed down with a household cleaner like 409 or other completely and hosed off well in between uses.

A cat who was trapped before will leave smells of adrenaline and fear, and no way in hell the next cat will get in it, other than maybe a young kitten.

Plus, the tuna gets old smelling fast so it needs fresh often. Be sure the trap is set at least along the side of a house or garage, better yet is in bushes, just so long as it is on level/stable ground, or if a cat goes to walk in and it tips slightly, that's enough to make him not go in as well.

I know it's hurtful that he is staying away, after you nursed him back to health and all, but try not to take it personal, it's not you, it's just a cat's natural way.

Thank you. I have not been spraying down the traps. I will do that. I do replace the tuna or cat food 3 to 4 times a day. Would catnip spray helpb at all? Sorry for all the questions, im just worried about the area we live in. Lots of traffic and other cats and aggressive dogs. I dont want to get my gossip he will come back if he will not after so much time.

catluver79 said:

Thank you. I have not been spraying down the traps. I will do that. I do replace the tuna or cat food 3 to 4 times a day. Would catnip spray helpb at all? Sorry for all the questions, im just worried about the area we live in. Lots of traffic and other cats and aggressive dogs. I dont want to get my gossip he will come back if he will not after so much time.

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Don't apologize for asking questions, that's why we're here!!

I doubt the catnip spray will help entice him to go in the trap, shoot the problem is how he is able to eat no problem, so why bother going home until he is ready, right? 

I do think that the trap being cleaned of smells will help, hopefully not every other cat around but him! 

If you know the neighbors who feed, maybe you can ask them to keep an eye out and let you know when they see him? At least it will help ease your mind that something bad has happened to him.

It would REALLY be great if they would not leave food out so he eats it too, and he will have to come home to eat, but that's probably asking alot of them.

I have talked to all the neighbors.. they have a flyer with his picture and my phone number and know to look out for him. No sightings yet. What do you think the chances are of him coming back.

I do think there's a good chance, hard for me to tell due to the surroundings, streets etc. but high chance he will return to you when he's ready.

Still no sign of him. Anything else I can do? I feel so helpless just waiting here for him.

I know how hard the waiting is, it might be some time before he shows too.

Especially one who you have a great attachment to.

Sending good vibes your way for his safe and speedy return!!  

If I were you put lost signs with his name breed date of birth a picture your phone number and name in mailboxes of homes around yours- your neighborhood and the neighborhood over. Also call your vet and local animal shelters as if found by someone those be the two places he may be brought to.

Nevermind to first part above as you said you already did that. But call around places still

I hate waiting. Im just worried he's hurt or something because no one has seen a trace of him.

I have done that. Posters to neighbors and all the businesses in the area that would allow me. Also visited all of the animal shelters, called all of the area vets. He is also microchips so if he shows up anywhere or is brought in he will be scanned.

So I did a mass 8-9?il today to te neighborhood where the cat escaped into and have two calls that people have seen my cat two and three houses down from the yard back to back with mine. I went tonight and saw a cat but so much skinnier to the point I dont know its him for sure. How much weight could a cat lose outside in about a month? Could he go from About 15 lbs to 8-9?