Sparrow didn't came home last night

Lyzzie

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I hoped that I never would have to post in this section, but here I am.

Background :

When we adopted him on July 2015, we were told he was never asking to go outside, but was still able to. His foster family had a large backyard, very well fenced.

Of course, as soon as he settled with us, the only thing he wanted was going outside. He was there as soon as you opened a window, and got out through the front door a lot of times.

With a lot of patience, we were able to get him to sit next to the door and let us go in or out without him going outside by giving him treats. At the beginning of last summer, he began to want to be let outside again. So I bought him a harness and a leash, and once he was accustomed to it, outside we went. And he loved it. But even with long walks twice times a day, he still wanted to be outside more. He was so determined that he learned how to open the front door when it was not locked. And it's a hard door to open, our relatives can't even open or close it properly half the time.

Anyway, we were being really careful, and ignoring him when he clawed at the door, and he calmed down a bit.

And then we began to foster. He was very gracious about it, but by Kitty n°2 and 3 (we had them at the same time), he was anxious to go out again. They went to their forever home, and I rescued Shadow. He was barely accustomed to her that we fostered Medley and Moby. And they're staying.

So he went from indoor-outdoor cat with lots of room in a multi cats house, to strictly indoor only cat in a little apartment, to inside-supervised outside time in a multi cats little apartment.

He was always tolerating of the other cats, but lately he began to be aggressive with the cats, and then with me (not SO John, I don't know why).

So I "let John talk me into" letting Sparrow outside unsupervised. I cried a lot, but I didn't see any other solutions. The Feliway didn't work on Sparrow, he was more aggressive with it than without. I can't buy Spirit Essences here in France, even on Amazon the prices are outrageous.

So I bought him a nice safe collar, and a medal engraved with his name, the fact that he is identified, the name of our street, and our land line number.

And off he went, twice a day. Once in the morning, and once in the evening, after rush hours, and we always feed him after he's back. He always came back within 2 hours, 2 1/2 at most.

We did have a scare when he didn't came home one morning, and I found him in the bushes across the road, directly in front of our window. He was limping, which is why I believe he didn't came home on his own. But he did respond to my calls and started meowing right away, and came towards me. It was in the afternoon. He's perfectly fine now, he didn't want to go outside for two days, but as soon as he was felling better, he wanted out again.

Tonight we let him out at 6.30 PM. I was expecting him back around 7.30 or 8, but he didn't came home.

I consider that he's been missing since 6:30 PM on Tuesday, last night for me. It's now 4:00 AM on Wednesday, and he's still not here.

We went and looked for him 4 times since 9PM, with a flashlight, called his name and shook his bag of treats, but no luck. I went again an hour ago, nothing.

i can't keep a window open for him because the other three cats could get out too. I did put dry food in the windowsill outside, and I can see it from where I sit, which is why I'm staying up all night to monitor. I'm passed the panic stage, but I would just need some support right now. John is not overly concerned, which is making me really really angry, especially considering the limping incident.

Thanks for reading this far, I had a lot on my mind.
 
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kittyluv387

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Well its still early so theres a good chance he'll be back. I can understand your worry though. You're afraid something might have happened to him. Hope he goes home soon.
 
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Lyzzie

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Thanks @kittyluv387. He's still missing. I asked the neighbors, and he was seen on Tuesday night at around 7.30PM, right next to the house. The same neighbor has a big garage, and he let me look around and call for Sparrow, but nothing. It happened to the neighbor before, a cat was hiding in his garage, took two days to get her out. So he offered to put food dishes for tonight, and see if it's eaten tomorrow morning. Great idea, so that's done.

I did put alerts on two dedicated sites, and on a dedicated page on FB. I alerted my vet, the city pound, and I-CAD, which is the National Registry for Carnivores in France, so they know he's missing. He is identified, so if someone run the number, I will get a call.

We are also going Mc Gyver and trying to rig our webcam to film outside the windowsill at night. And the webcam has a motion detection program!! I couldn't believe it! No night vision, but the street is lit at night, so we hope that's going to be enough. Although if he come and eat, I don't understand why he wouldn't just come home. Anyway, whish us luck!
 
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kittyluv387

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Yes goodluck! Its good news that he was spotted at least. Cats just like playing outside sometimes. Mine are alwayd trying to get out. >
 
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Lyzzie

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So no news on the Sparrow front. We did catch a white cat on the camera, and a kibble stealing bird... We put flyers everywhere. The kibbles inside the neighbor's garage haven't been touched. I was really hoping he was in there. I was planning on using litter to try and make a trail for him, but no dice, my other three cats have worms, so I'm not going to spread it.

He was last spotted and Monday night, before he disappeared. I didn't get any new information for now. It's "only" been 4 days, so I'm trying not to worry too much. Our working theory is that he's trapped somewhere. We're trying to get into all the neighbor's yards and garages, which is going to be easier now that it's the week-end.
 
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di and bob

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The chances are he was chased further away from home than he can manage. I would walk the neighborhoods, further and further, leaving posters as you go. Cats are remarkable survivors, he will do what he has to to survive. My heart goes out to you, I know the NOT knowing is the worst. Post him on the radio too, in the lost and found pets, many people listen to that. I just wanted to give you some hope, my outside cat has disappeared for a week at a time several times, and he's made his way back. I'll pray that your little one finds his way back to you, please keep us posted. 
 
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Lyzzie

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I got a phone call two hours ago, Sparrow was spotted this morning, 300 meters from our house. We went there right away, but it's late afternoon and we didn't saw or heard him. And now we're just back from the same place after another call. An old lady saw him on his roof and told her neighbor, so she called. When we got there, she kept insisting that there was a cat, but we couldn't see one. Turn out she thought some metal sheets and leaves on her roof were a cat. I'm so disappointed right now.

Anyway, the sighting from this morning seems legit, so we're going there tonight. We will make an odor trail from there back to the house if we can't find him. Wish us luck again!
 

lily paddy

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Yes please let it be Sparrow!  Come home Sparrow let us see u.. sending find Sparrow vibes.. i have been following and hoping 
 

betsygee

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That's very hopeful.  Sending lots of  
 you'll be able to get him home!  
 
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Lyzzie

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Well, we didn't saw or heard him. But we did leave an odor trail. I hope it works. Anyway, we will go there again tomorrow, we need to expand the search perimeter and post more flyers.
 
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Lyzzie

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OH MY GOSH IT WORKED!!! HE'S HOME!

He came back this morning! The scent trail worked!!!


He was famished, and ate lots of kibbles, and a can of FF. He's sleeping right now, he must be exhausted. He has some injuries on his head and neck, I can't get a very good look, but it's all crusted. I did a tent test, and he's a little dehydrated. But it's nothing major, and he's home! Thanks you thank you, all of you, for the vibes and everything, and for the idea of making a scent trail!!! We're so happy
 

lily paddy

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OMGoodness!!! I am so happy!! It is 6:57 here and this is the first place i looked!! Happy Dance!!!!!! !
  
 

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I'm so happy to read this news!  That's wonderful--what a relief.  
   Now keep that boy inside!   
 
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Lyzzie

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I'm so happy to read this news!  That's wonderful--what a relief.  
   Now keep that boy inside!   
We're going to do our best, the problem was his increasing aggressiveness towards the other cats, and then myself. We're going to work on that, giving him more pet time, finding places just for him to own. That's going to be a challenge, but I won't let him outside again if I can help it.
 

betsygee

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I'm so happy to read this news!  That's wonderful--what a relief.  
   Now keep that boy inside!   
We're going to do our best, the problem was his increasing aggressiveness towards the other cats, and then myself. We're going to work on that, giving him more pet time, finding places just for him to own. That's going to be a challenge, but I won't let him outside again if I can help it.
I understand.  We're working on getting our three indoor/outdoor cats to be indoor only.  We've got one especially who just loves going outside.  Rico cries, and picks fights with the others, and gets really restless when he can't go out.  We do let him out in the afternoon sometimes--fortunately, he's VERY food oriented so he never stays out for long--he doesn't want to miss dinner!  He doesn't go far, either, so usually we can shake a treat bag and he'll come running back in.  I'm also giving him more play time indoors and today in fact I'm going to buy some calming treats to give him at night to see if that will help him settle down a bit.

Good luck with Sparrow, I know what a challenge it can be.  
   I'm just very happy for you that he's home.  
 
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Lyzzie

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I understand.  We're working on getting our three indoor/outdoor cats to be indoor only.  We've got one especially who just loves going outside.  Rico cries, and picks fights with the others, and gets really restless when he can't go out.  We do let him out in the afternoon sometimes--fortunately, he's VERY food oriented so he never stays out for long--he doesn't want to miss dinner!  He doesn't go far, either, so usually we can shake a treat bag and he'll come running back in.  I'm also giving him more play time indoors and today in fact I'm going to buy some calming treats to give him at night to see if that will help him settle down a bit.

Good luck with Sparrow, I know what a challenge it can be.  
   I'm just very happy for you that he's home.  
Sparrow is the same way as Rico. He will pass his frustrations on the other cats if they're anywhere near him. And before he went missing, it was on us, hence the letting him outside unsupervised. He's never gone more than 2 hours. And we were giving him his meal AFTER he went outside. He's also food oriented...

We're having a hard time playing with him. Nothing interest him more than 5 seconds. I have some rescue Remedy that I give him multiple times a day, when he's too restless. I'm not sure it's working.

I'm looking for calming treats, but can't find any! Can anyone tell me if it's something I can find in Europe? I'm in France BTW.

I was desperate this morning, so I gave him his little catnip cushion toy. It usually makes him playful, but also a little aggressive. Well, I think we're onto something! He played with the cushion, and the feather ball I gave him. Shadow even went right next to him, and he didn't say or do anything. But when he "came down", he growled at her. I still think it's progress. I need to find good quality catnip, and use that to make him play. Hopefully it will help.

@betsygee How's Rico and the others are doing?
 

betsygee

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I understand.  We're working on getting our three indoor/outdoor cats to be indoor only.  We've got one especially who just loves going outside.  Rico cries, and picks fights with the others, and gets really restless when he can't go out.  We do let him out in the afternoon sometimes--fortunately, he's VERY food oriented so he never stays out for long--he doesn't want to miss dinner!  He doesn't go far, either, so usually we can shake a treat bag and he'll come running back in.  I'm also giving him more play time indoors and today in fact I'm going to buy some calming treats to give him at night to see if that will help him settle down a bit.

Good luck with Sparrow, I know what a challenge it can be.  
   I'm just very happy for you that he's home.  
Sparrow is the same way as Rico. He will pass his frustrations on the other cats if they're anywhere near him. And before he went missing, it was on us, hence the letting him outside unsupervised. He's never gone more than 2 hours. And we were giving him his meal AFTER he went outside. He's also food oriented...

We're having a hard time playing with him. Nothing interest him more than 5 seconds. I have some rescue Remedy that I give him multiple times a day, when he's too restless. I'm not sure it's working.

I'm looking for calming treats, but can't find any! Can anyone tell me if it's something I can find in Europe? I'm in France BTW.

I was desperate this morning, so I gave him his little catnip cushion toy. It usually makes him playful, but also a little aggressive. Well, I think we're onto something! He played with the cushion, and the feather ball I gave him. Shadow even went right next to him, and he didn't say or do anything. But when he "came down", he growled at her. I still think it's progress. I need to find good quality catnip, and use that to make him play. Hopefully it will help.

@betsygee How's Rico and the others are doing?
Glad to hear he likes the catnip toy.  Rico loves "DaBird" type toys, anything on a string, so we use that a lot with him.  It turns out he doesn't like the calming treats.  
    Fortunately, it's been raining the past few days so he hasn't wanted to go out much.  
  
 
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