Lost cat -PLEASE HELP-

Norachan

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
32,669
Purraise
32,856
Location
Mount Fuji, Japan


I know how you feel! It is the worst thing in the world to have a pet lost out there somewhere.

I haven't used a pet detective myself, but I've heard of people having good results from them. Call around and ask exactly what they do. The good ones will put out trail cameras and bait to get pictures of any animals in the area. Some have sniffer dogs specially trained to locate cats. Keep some of his bedding in a sealed plastic bag so that the scent is still strong.

Don't worry about the cold. As long as he can get out of the wind and the rain he'll be able to keep himself warm. One of my cats went missing for a month in February, when we had blizzards and minus 20 C nights. She managed to find shelter and even made her way to the house of a lady who feeds feral cats so we were eventually able to bring her home.

There is a feral cat in this area that comes round nearly every day, but refuses to come in. He's survived at least 3 winters outside. Cats are very resourceful.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #22

moisthippo

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Messages
17
Purraise
3
What are the chances of him coming back? Give it to me straight. Its -4 C outside right now, and about 2 cm of wet snow/Ice. He was already kinda skinny as it was and we don't think he's even coming around. We left food out the last couple of days and 2 days in a row it was eatin, but the last time I saw it was another cat. I'm going to aquire a humane trap and hope to God that my baby returns. It's been 6 days now. [emoji]128557[/emoji][emoji]128557[/emoji]
 

Norachan

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
32,669
Purraise
32,856
Location
Mount Fuji, Japan
I still think you have every chance of finding him again. Do you have a Go-pro or a trail camera? Something that you could leave on over night to film whatever comes around to eat?

Are there any other people in your area who feed stray cats? Cats are amazingly good at finding food, even in urban areas. If he's not coming round to your place to eat he could have moved further off and found another food source.

You need to make sure as many people as possible know there is a missing cat out there. Put posters up on bus stops, near school entrances (kids are great at spotting animals, particularly younger kids) post office notice boards, near supermarkets and pet stores.

People who have a cat of their own will know how you feel so will look out for a lost cat.

Please don't give up.

This is Sophie. She was missing for over 4 weeks in February. I live on Mount Fuji, it's well below freezing here in the winter. She walked through the snow for over three miles, followed some other cats to the home of a lady who feeds ferals and stayed there until the lady could get close enough to read my phone number on her collar.


Twinkle. She managed to get out of our cat enclosure and was lost in the woods for six weeks. I spent hours searching for her every day. Sunday morning she managed to climb back in to the enclosure on her own. She's very skinny, but she survived and found her way home.


They are both tiny little girl cats who have been with me since they were kittens, but they knew what to do.

Please don't give up yet, it's still early days.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #24

moisthippo

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Messages
17
Purraise
3
@Norachan,
Thanks for the hope!
We're staying positive.
Is there a good chance he will come home without search? We literally can't find him, it's actually kinda funny. Hide and seek champion! [emoji]128514[/emoji][emoji]128557[/emoji]
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #25

moisthippo

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Messages
17
Purraise
3
UPDATE: we got two calls last night saying that they seen a cat that meets the description of my cat pretty well. But, the the place they said they seen him is around 2-3 blocks away. We immediately went to go look for him around there but we didn't see anything. Apparently there are a lot of cats in that area. Even if we see the cat, the chances of us catching him are extreamly low. I thought he wouldn't be going that far? The location is kinda near a plaza with a bunch of takeout restaurants. This is heart breaking.
 

Norachan

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
32,669
Purraise
32,856
Location
Mount Fuji, Japan
Did you get in touch with a pet detective yet? Now that you know where other cats are hanging out it would be a good idea to keep looking for your cat in that area.

Pet Detectives will have humane traps and motion triggered cameras. That will be the easiest way to get him back.

Fingers crossed that it's really him.

 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #27

moisthippo

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Messages
17
Purraise
3
Honestly, I hope it's not him! If it is, the chances of us grabbing him are sooo slim. He is a very pretty cat...not to mention the amount of $$ we paid for him, we are now worried that someone is gunna somehow get him and keep him. Remember...he doesn't have a collar on. [emoji]128557[/emoji]
 
Last edited:

ginny

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
2,668
Purraise
713
You could set a trap out at that place and hope to catch him.  It's worth a shot.  
 

Norachan

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
32,669
Purraise
32,856
Location
Mount Fuji, Japan
Honestly, I hope it's not him! If it is, the chances of us grabbing him are sooo slim. He is a very pretty cat...not to mention the amount of $$ we paid for him, we are now worried that someone is gunna somehow get him and keep him. Remember...he doesn't have a collar on. [emoji]128557[/emoji]
If he is shy and skittish with you the chances of someone else being able to pick him up are very slim. And he is chipped, so you will be able to prove he is yours.

If it was me I would go there just as the restaurants are closing and sit in the car in a place where you can see the back of the restaurants. Where the trash is left at the end of the day. That's probably what is attracting the cats to the area. Sit there and wait to see if he shows up.

If you catch sight of him I suggest you either buy or rent a humane trap. You don't have to bait it with food, as this will attract all the other strays. You could put some of your clothing or his bedding in there so that he will go in to check it out. There are ways you can rig traps if you are trying to catch one specific cat when there are a lot of others in the area.

My vet rents out traps. Maybe your vet does too? Or if there are any TNR groups in your area they might let you borrow one.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #30

moisthippo

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Messages
17
Purraise
3
Day 9! We're tottaly out of things to try and are just waiting and praying to god that our baby comes home to us. Let's all hope he's coming in our direction and not farther out.
 

Norachan

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
32,669
Purraise
32,856
Location
Mount Fuji, Japan
What happens if he comes home in the middle of the night or when everyone is out? Is there a cat door or any way he can get in the house? Do you have a shed or garage that you could leave open for him with his bedding in it?

Cats find their way by smell rather than by vision. Have you left his litter box outside? You could try making a scent trail for him. You can use the dust from your vacuum cleaner or litter from his box. I've heard of someone cutting up their unwashed jogging clothes into little pieces and making a trail with that.

How long does it take you to walk to the place you think he was seen? I suggest you walk backwards and forwards between your house and this place. look out for anything that might prevent him from coming home. A busy road, for example, or a yard with a dog in it. Think about the safest route for him to take and make a trail along that route.

I still think you should wait out at the restaurants and try to trap him. There is every chance of him coming home but you have to put as much effort as possible into bringing him home. Just because something doesn't work the first time you try it that doesn't mean it won't work the tenth or twentieth time you try.

Just don't give up. The more you try the better his chances of survival are.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #32

moisthippo

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Messages
17
Purraise
3
DAY 12!!! WE SAW OUR KITTY!!! He was about 20-30 houses away from us, not near the plaza. He looks a bit skinny but nothing too bad. Someone called this morning and told us where he was and we immediately went to go look, and it was him! Only problem now it actually catching him...we are going to go purchase a humane trap and set it up in a ladies backyard where he was seen last. Hope to God we catch him!!!
 

catapault

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
3,597
Purraise
9,293
Hip hip hooray! How encouraging. Paws crossed for a successful capture and return home.
 

Norachan

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
32,669
Purraise
32,856
Location
Mount Fuji, Japan
That's wonderful!



If the lady wouldn't mind maybe you could leave some of his bedding or a piece of clothing you have worn in her backyard with some food for him. He's more likely to stick around like that and will be easier to trap.

Good luck with the trapping. Let us know if you need any advice.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #35

moisthippo

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Messages
17
Purraise
3
DAY 13!!!!! HES HOME! He came home, all by himeself!!!last night we made a trail of our other cat pee and poo in hopes he'll follow it back, and it worked!!!
Thanks to everyone that gave me hope, you guys are he best and I am so great full for you guys.

THANKS!!!
 

Norachan

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
32,669
Purraise
32,856
Location
Mount Fuji, Japan
DAY 13!!!!! HES HOME! He came home, all by himeself!!!last night we made a trail of our other cat pee and poo in hopes he'll follow it back, and it worked!!!
Thanks to everyone that gave me hope, you guys are he best and I am so great full for you guys.

THANKS!!!
That's wonderful news!



I'm so glad he's back. What a clever boy for finding his own way like that. Now that he is home, can we see some more pictures of him?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #38

moisthippo

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Messages
17
Purraise
3
That's wonderful news!

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

I'm so glad he's back. What a clever boy for finding his own way like that. Now that he is home, can we see some more pictures of him?
Of course I'll send some pictures tommorow! He's just really tired right now and is sleeping with my mother(which is really rare since he is usually scared of everything). We're going to bring him to the vet tommorow!
I'll keep you posted.
 

Norachan

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
32,669
Purraise
32,856
Location
Mount Fuji, Japan
Of course I'll send some pictures tommorow! He's just really tired right now and is sleeping with my mother(which is really rare since he is usually scared of everything). We're going to bring him to the vet tommorow!
I'll keep you posted.
That sounds about right. For the first few days Twinkle was home all she wanted to do was eat and sleep. She wouldn't let you leave her alone for a minute! Had to be either sitting on you or being carried around by you. I couldn't even take a shower until my husband came home from work and could take over snuggling her.



Hope everything goes well at the vets.
 

the guy

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jan 7, 2017
Messages
1
Purraise
1
Leave a trail of food up to your house. Do not put food in the road though, you don't want anyones cat to end up injured.

Also cats are usually out and about at night when it's most quite so this is when you might see ur cat walking around. So get your tourch and start looking late at night (I found my cat around 1:30am). The tourch will help you see shiny eyes.

In the day time ur cat might find a nice hiding place to sleep so check any tiny spaces or under trees in between bins, under ledges, neighbours front and back gardens etc.

For me, late night time was successful where there were no cars around.

Good luck and have faith x
 
Top