My cat ran away from the Vet clinic

Hello everybody, this ended up being a long post, but please bear with me, I really need help. We have two cats, both of whom were adopted from our street when they were 6 months old. They are brothers, both ginger tabby. They have been with us for 1,5 years. One of them was sick from the beginning (gum infection) so we took him to the vet a few times. However, a few months after neutering, he started to lose weight, and wasn't energetic, so we took him to the vet again, and it turned out to be something serious (they are still not sure what is was, it wasn't leukemia or kidney infection, they thought maybe toxoplasmosis). We took him to the vet twice a day for 5 weeks. He was finally okay, his blood results were good, he started to eat etc. However, due to these vet visits, he developed some sort of timidity, and even going to the vet for routine checks became traumatic for him. He even started to hide in our apartment, especially when both my husband and I approached to him at the same time. Anyway, last week, his parasite shot was due, and when we took him to the vet, he discovered that his gum infection reappeared, so we took him to the vet for 4 times. The last time we took him was Monday, and it was the day his parasite shot was going to be given. Unfortunately, the clinic door was open and when the vet was about to give him the shot, he ran away. My husband saw him running towards our apartment's direction. But since then there is no sign of him. By the way, the clinic is 5 minutes away on foot from our apartment, pretty much a strait route, but there is an intersection near the clinic. My husband last spotted him just before he approached the intersection, but bot the vet and my husband think that he must have been through it with that speed. We have been searching for him day and night, with his toys and food on our hands, made posters and put all around our neighborhood. I assume he is very afraid right now and hiding away somewhere. I wanted to ask whether anybody knows when do they stop hiding and start to come out to search for water and food? I should add that we live in Istanbul, where there are a lot of street cats and dogs, as well as cars. I am so worried that he will be injured by a cat or a dog or a car. Because it is summer and it is hot, I am also worried that he won't have access to water. There are some food and water containers around, put by the neighbors for street animals, but not on every corner of course.  I read stories where timid cats like mine hide for too long that can lead to dehydration. Dehydration lead to kidney damage; kidney damage can lead to kidney failure and death. Is that true??. Do you know anything about that? Is there anything else that can be done? Because he is too timid, are we looking for him too early, and feeling hopeless too early?

Om my goodness. My heart goes out yo you and your poor, scared boy. I can't answer your specific questions, but do bear in mind that cats in his situation will often be most active at dawn and dusk. Remember, you found him on the streets, so he does know what to do.

It's way too soon to give up hope. Focus your searching at dawn/dusk. You may well have a better chance of finding him then. I've had cats return after a month or more, and others here have had similar reunions after that time span, or even longer.

Hopefully some others will chime in with more advice.

Hang in there.

Thank you very much for your reply Columbine. We have been searching at dawn and now will do it at dusk too.

:cross: that you find him soon

I am sorry for you and your fur baby. I have a kitten just a year old and l don't think any cat could be more timed than her  when she hides she gets her food and drink in the middle of the night and when its quiet so l was thinking that your cat would be in the area were its the quietest. Leave as much water as you can ,in different area in food containers would be good  When you get your food  use the container and dot them about..

I am sure he will be back, cats have gone back to owners from  a long way away, there plucky little creatures, will be thinking about you and your kitty,

Jilly

Thank you for your good wishes and advise Jilly. There are some food and water containers scattered around in our neighborhood but I was just thinking the same today, a few more can not hurt.. I will certainly put more..

If you can, check around the Vet clinic, under bushes and sheds, things like that. Also try looking around your house, he may very well made his way home and is too timid to come out of hiding. It might also help if you could leave a shirt or something of his, which he could smell outside of your home, that might help him find his way home.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Hope your cat is found safely soon!

I am sending prayers for your cat to find his way home, and for comfort, hope and encouragement for your family during this time of distress!  You might try putting a little of his used cat litter outside, near your home, to remind him of which direction to approach. Sometimes, when a panicked cat runs blindly, they scurry through unfamiliar territory which includes other cats and possibly dogs, so it takes them longer to make their way back home.

Please keep us updated!   susan

Cats often want to explore their area, so something I would do is call all of your local shelters and give them a description to see if they've found him, or if they haven't that they'll let you know if they do. Maybe leave some catnip on the ground near your apartment. If you live in a house, put it on your driveway and near your door; it might be messy but it could attract him. If you live in an actual apartment in a large building, sprinkle some on your doormat (if you have one) and if your neighbors and apartment company is ok with it, then put some on the stairs leading to your door and around the building. Hopefully the wind won't blow it away.

If he's not attracted to catnip, then try some treats instead.

Of course, don't put too much of either because it would make a big mess and would be hard to clean it up; it could also cost a lot depending on the prices at your local PetCo, PetSmart, or other store.

I pray and hope that you find him soon!

I'm not sure about the wisdom of catnip in an area with a lot of feral cats - you could end up with every cat in the neighbourhood!

I think I've read somewhere here that putting out a little used cat litter can help - it kind of acts like a marker saying 'this is home'. Might be worth a try.

Thank you all for your support and advise, it really gives me hope. I put a worn t-shirt (with some of his fur I gathered from the carpet and couch) and hung it on a tree in front of our apartment, together with his favorite toy. I put his food container there too. I also put water containers around the neighborhood just in case he comes out.. Keep searching day and night..

:cross: that he comes home soon. You're in my thoughts.

I wish for nothing more than that you and your kitty find your way back to each other! It's obvious how much you care for this cat, with the commitment you've shown to his care. My heart hurts for your family and I'm sending good thoughts to you! Columbine I remember a thread about another advisor's missing cat @Norachan ? And I recall there were some very imformative articles about missing pets, anyway to track those down??

Yes, @Norachan had a very long thread here [thread="260588"]​[/thread] Her story didn't have a happy ending, but shadowsrescue had Hampton return after six months, and others have had similar happy reunions.

Cats can be very amazing.  I had one cat go missing only to return after 5 months and then leave again only to never return.  Yet, my latest, Hampton was gone after TNR release for 6 months.  He just showed back up.  Don't give up hope. 

Also not sure if it is something you would want to consider, but there are animal communicators that might help you find him.  I have used one numerous times.  I know finding lost animals is difficult and some AC's don't do work that involves lost pets.  Yet others it is their speciality. 

I hope you find your kitty soon.  You are in my thoughts.

Thank you very much for the thread, even though that cute George the cat didn't return, the links provided in that forum helped a lot. Animal communicator is a good idea, however, living in Istanbul makes it difficult to find one. We have soooo many cats and dogs on streets that the neighbors think that I am crazy to look for a cat like this. They just don't understand.. It will be one week tomorrow since he went missing.. Hearing stories of cats returning 6 months later gives me tremendous hope. All I wish that my ginger Lokum (means "Turkish delight") gets over his timidity and manages to survive..

My friend's cat was missing for weeks on end. They did find him scared and thin, but they did find him. I will hope for the same for you.

I've just remembered - I had a cat go missing for six weeks when I was a kid. He found his way home - skinny but none the worse apart from that. Hope your boy comes home soon

Thank you Columbine! 6 weeks is also a long time. Sooner he returns is better of course, but I will not lose hope.