Bobby escaped; I am so worried

On May 6th, I moved 93 miles, to the house where I was born and raised.  I moved with 4 dogs and 7 cats.

May 6th was a very hot day; I went through the house and opened windows, the cats remained in their carriers while the movers were here emptying the truck.  Eventually, I did open the carriers.

On my way to bed, I noticed that I had not opened the one window which has a cat hammock on the sill.  I thought the cats would enjoy that overnight, so I opened it and went to bed.  I did not notice that the screen on that window was UP. 

Have you left out anything with his scent on it such as blankets or even something that smells like you.  Also scatter about some of the cat litter.  When you bait the trap what are you using?  You want something irresistable.  Something very strong smelling such as tuna, sardines, mackeral, salmon.  He may be very trap wary.  Have you alerted your neighors and put up fliers?  Is he microchipped?  What about local vet offices or humane societies.  Here is an article on finding lost pets.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/248019/tips-for-finding-a-lost-cat

http://www.missingpetpartnership.org/recovery-tips/lost-cat-behavior/

Also have you posted on facebook or a local missing pet forum.  Where I live we have petfbi.com where you can post lost and found cats.

I hope he returns soon. 

Bait - what are you using.  -- canned salmon, canned tuna, canned some cat food, some Temptations

Alerted neighbors.  -- yes

Microchipped.  -- no.

Posted on FB.  No, but  I HAVE posted on craigslist, both Lost and Found, and PETS.

You did give me a few more ideas to work into what I am doing, thanks!

I can certainly relate to being worried about your furbabay.  It will be two weeks at about midnight Sunday night to Monday morning that my kitty, Shadow, went missing and have done what you have, except the trap setting and food.  We have so many neighborhood cats that people let roam at all times of day and seems that if I set out food others would get to it before she would and the same goes for them going into trap settings as well.  Am not trying to make excuses, but with her being on a special diet after her having a UTI, I'm leary of putting out that kind of food to bring her home and I don't have any kind of cans of food (tuna and the like) to put out either (she's always been a picky eater with her moist food, but she did pretty good with the prescription diet on both moist and dry).  Shadow is quite skittish so I have no idea where she could be hiding out at and I could be out calling her and she's just watching me and not coming.  I've hoped that if someone does take her in that they will get her checked out and for her microchip and if they don't, I just hope that she is well taken care of.  I've left out different towels and other items with scents of home in hopes she'll pick that up and come back.  But all suggestions that people have given are great ones and what was suggested to me as well.

I hope your Bobby comes home soon!  Will be sending extra positive thoughts he returns soon!

Update Sunday morning:  I had put up posters Thursday evening; Saturday about noon someone called, Bobby has been hiding in the woods behind her house, she is feeding him.  She used to do TNR, so she knew this had to be a lost cat as she'd not seen him before.  Once she saw my posters, she knew she had to keep him in the area.  Initially, this  he was eating the dropped seed from her bird feeder, so she knew this cat was in trouble.  She put out food -- he ran when she was out there -- but he promptly returned and ate . . . and ate . . . and ate.  She'd only had him in her yard the past 3 or 4 days, so we don't know how he survived the first 3 weeks.  She is about 1/2 mile from my new place.

I have the trap set in her back yard, refresh the 'bait' morning and evening.  I have to take the trap in at night as she has a skunk and a 'possum living under her shed about 10 feet from where she is feeding Bobby.  I picked up the trap about 10 PM on Sat -- the first day it was out there -- and set my alarm, put it back about 5:30 this morning.  Something - Bobby? - did get in the trap and eat the bait and walk out once, don't know why the trap didn't close.  We've both gone over the trap, tested it, seems fine.  This is the same trap I already caught 2 neighbors' cats, so it should work.  On Sat I also had a pet bed with Bobby's scent on it next to the trap -- she saw him sit on the bed about 9 PM Sat and phoned me, but he'd gone by the time I arrived, so I've not seen him. 

Please pray I get this boy back in, and soon!  Thank you.

This is very good news.  Try placing something that smells like him and/or you inside the trap as well as the food.  I would have the owner start to feed him in the trap.  Just leave it there, but have her unset for a day or two.  Then reset it and hopefully he goes right inside.

You will be in my thoughts.

FOUND & HOME!!!!

I had a phone call at 5:30 this morning, the woman said Bobby was IN THE TRAP!  I went down and brought him home, released him in a bedroom with litter boxes, food and water, cat tree, and one other cat (Ebony refused to come out lol).  So he has some time to adjust to being inside, and with other cats. 

Thank you for all the prayers!

Such good news!!  I am so happy that Bobby is home safe and sound!!  Give him lots of hugs and kisses.

Great news.  

Thank you.  Prayers DO work!

He has been sleeping ALL DAY.  Guess he didn't sleep much while he was awol.

So glad you got home him back. I bet he is exhausted!