Cat's been gone for about 3 days...

Hello all,

New to the forum so wanted to say hello to everyone and thanks for being here, first and foremost.

The reason I joined is that we've been taking care of a cat for something like 3-4 months. We first met this cat when going on walks in the evenings. On the far side of our neighborhood, houses are being built and this cat was hanging around those sites. I would try to coax him to walk along with us back home, but eventually he'd stop and take a seat and wouldn't really go any further. "Okay", I thought. "See you next time." and we finished our walk.

One day I came home from work, and the cat is now sitting under our front porch. He's very friendly and we'd pet him and started feeding him warm milk from a bowl. He'd then go hang out under the front porch some more, presumably to stay warm/dry. 

Over the next few days (maybe week or two), this evolved into buying a food and water bowl (primitive auto-feeders) and bringing an old plastic house with pet pillows over from my parents' house for him to sleep in (we had a cat adopt us in a similar fashion there more than 10-15 years ago so figured he seemed to enjoy it, why not our new friend?), buying a flea/tick collar for him, etc. I moved him to the back of the house under a larger deck to keep him and his food dry and he seemed to really take to it. He'd go in the house when he wasn't eating or laying in the sun in the yard. Sometimes he'd come to the door and meow and I'd let him in for a little bit. Then we'd put him back out before bed and he'd head back into his house. 

It got bitter cold here in early January and I let him stay in our downstairs bathroom. Moved his food and water indoors and he found the little cubby-holes to the left and right of the shower and would hop in one to rest when he wasn't eating. I'd let him out during the day when it was warmer and he'd come back in at night. We did this for about 3-5 days and then it got warm enough for him to stay outside, so we went back to that. 

Several weeks ago, I noticed that his food was disappearing faster than it should (like.... waaay faster). I put a camera outside to monitor his bowl and found a possum eating from it. Did a little research and learned to bring his food bowl in at night. Problem solved. In the next couple of days, possum was gone - hasn't been seen since. Then about a week and a half ago, I noticed the neighbor's dog terrorizing (barking at) the cat (who would run up a tree) and even eating from his dish. So my next move was to move the cat up onto the deck instead of underneath. He took to this as well and would live out there just like he did underneath (this was 1/28). No more dog problems and bonus - I can leave the dish out all night because possums can't climb steps! Score!

Then a few days later, he just left. He was out there on Wednesday (2/1) morning (I left the camera out there to keep an eye on him) and he left for about 36 hours. Thursday night rolled around and he was back. This wasn't unusual for the aforementioned cat at my parents' house to do so I just thought it was normal. The camera captured him coming out of his house, eating and drinking, and going back in. He did this until about 5am on Friday morning and I, nor the camera, haven't seen him since (so all day Friday, all day Saturday, all Day Sunday, into today). So I guess we just went past 72 hours without so much as a meow.

He's never strayed far from the house (not since we started caring for him) and would often meow at the door when he wanted to come inside. During the day when the sun was out, he'd usually go find a warm spot in the sun and lay, occasionally coming back to his food/water and getting a bite or a drink. He hasn't done that any since he first left (2/1). When he came back Wednesday/Thursday, it just seemed like it was for a bite to eat and a rest and then just up and gone again.

Just wondering if this is normal and what the likelihood he comes back at all are. I've gone outside and called for him every day (like I've done in the past and he usually comes running) but nothing. Starting to think he's moved on. Not sure to where or why, but I can't find him. I drove around the neighborhood on my drive home a couple of times just glancing for him, but never did see him. So impossible to know where he went, I'm afraid.

Any thoughts?

You could try walking around your neighborhood and calling for him when its really quiet outside so in case he's trapped/locked in somewhere or injured you will be able to hear him meow. From my experiences cats won't cry unless they hear you calling for them.

 If he was not neutered, the chances are that he has gone to a female. The problem with this is they also find huge feral toms that beat them up, and may even chase them so far they get lost. I've had my feral tom disappear for up to two weeks before, so don't give up hope. Even if he was neutered he could have been chased a distance, and it will take him a while to find his way back.  He amy still show up, so hang posters, go on drives and look for him, it wouldn't hurt. Make sure you check with your local humane society, he may be there if someone trapped him and brought him in. I'll pray for his safe return, keep us posted!

I wondered if a lady friend may have been the cause for the change in behavior. Do they come back in that case? Should I put his stuff back downstairs where he'd gotten used to it or do you think he remembers it being upstairs?

I'm probably ascribing too many human traits to a cat but just not sure how they behave.

Look who showed up to eat last night. I let him in for a bit and so far, he's sticking to the house again, so we'll see!

He kind of looks likes he's a calico. I think only 1 in every 3000 calico kittys are male.

danni88 said:

He kind of looks likes he's a calico. I think only 1 in every 3000 calico kittys are male.

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Actually this is a bicolor brown tabby. Not uncommon in my experience

IndyJones said:

Actually this is a bicolor brown tabby. Not uncommon in my experience

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Thats why I said kind of

OP if he disappears in the future try a Facebook or twitter post. You'll reach more people this way.

Also make sure he wears a collar this way a neighbor won't take him to the shelter thinking he's homeless.

The best way to keep him home is to be sure he is neutered.  This will greatly reduce his wandering as well as prevent him from getting into territorial fights.  The safest place for him is also inside.  He seems so very content inside.  

I agree with shadows. Indoors is the safest place for kitties. He will adapt with time. My Hector was born and spent most of her youth on the street. She soon got the idea indoors was better than harassing the local cats and eating from rubbish bins.

I wish I could keep him inside, but I've got allergic family members. He does have a collar on (actually two - a  flea/tick collar and then a red one with a bell on it). There's no identifying information (name, address, etc.) on it but I did have the same thought - at least people would know he has a home.

I do need to make an appointment with a vet to get him neutered and just to get him looked at. I'm not entirely sure how he'll handle the car ride. I don't have anything to transport him in and I hate for him to take off scared as soon as the door to either the car or whatever he's in is opened. That and we're being a little cautious with money as we're expecting our firstborn any day and she's going to have more medical bills than usual. Would such a vet visit be expensive?

Tempus said:

 
I wish I could keep him inside, but I've got allergic family members. He does have a collar on (actually two - a  flea/tick collar and then a red one with a bell on it). There's no identifying information (name, address, etc.) on it but I did have the same thought - at least people would know he has a home.

I do need to make an appointment with a vet to get him neutered and just to get him looked at. I'm not entirely sure how he'll handle the car ride. I don't have anything to transport him in and I hate for him to take off scared as soon as the door to either the car or whatever he's in is opened. That and we're being a little cautious with money as we're expecting our firstborn any day and she's going to have more medical bills than usual. Would such a vet visit be expensive?

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I am not sure where you are located, but I use low cost spay/neuter clinics.  For a male the cost is $45 which includes a rabies shot.  Also there are vouchers available for those with financial needs.  You can call around and ask for vouchers or discounts.  

Yet it is a must that you have him in a carrier to transport.  Most vets will not see a cat if they are not properly secured.  Do you know anyone who has a cat and you could borrow their carrier?

Since you are taking care of this cat by providing him with food and shelter, you are now the owner of this cat.  The most responsible thing to do is to have him neuter.  If not you will be dealing with a cat that will wander for months and appear back to you with wounds that could be life threatening.  Neutering is an absolute must.  Also it is very irresponsible to allow him to impregnant females in the area and contribute to the ever growing cat population.  This may sound harsh, but it is the very very sad reality of our world today.  There are millions and millions of stray and feral cats wandering.  The population keeps growing and growing because owners to not spay/neuter.  Bringing more unwanted cats into this world is very sad.  

Here are a few articles on spay/neuter as well as one on affording vet care

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/why-you-should-spay-and-neuter-your-cats

http://www.animalrescuecoalition.org/SpayNeuterEducation.aspx

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/no-money-for-vet-care-how-to-find-help-and-save-your-cats-life

You should look into spay / neuter clinics like ShadowRescue mentioned, it is considerably cheaper than a vet. As for no identifying information (name, address, etc.) if you can save on the neuter than go to the vet for an ID Chip. I got all four of my cats ID Chipped so I never have to worry about them getting outside and losing the collar.

I'll definitely take a look into the clinics. Do they do other basic services as well? I've seen/heard a lot of people mention de-worming.

Actually, looks like our local humane society will do the following for fairly cheap:

Cats:

• Spay $55
• Neuter $55
• Feral cats $25 (Includes rabies vaccination – ear tip required)
• Distemper (FVRCP) $15
• Leukemia $15
• FIV/FeLV Test $19
• Rabies $15
• Microchip $20 (free registration)
• Frontline Plus:  $40 – 3 month supply

So could do the neuter and microchip for $75. Not sure what the "$25 feral cats" thing covers.

I would assume it means that the spay/neuter and rabies shot is $25.  Yet your cat is not a feral cat as he can be handled.  Most humane societies or low cost spay/neuter clinics require a feral cat to be in a humane trap.  

If you are going to keep him outside, you might consider the ear tip as it is the universal sign the cat has been neutered.  It will prevent him from being trapped in the future.  You can deworm him, but once again if he is living outside, the worming would need to be done frequently.  Most clinics will require a rabies vaccine.  

So really, $90 for a neuter, chip, and rabies vaccine. I don't see anything about the ear tip so assuming that's covered in one of those three.

The ear tip should be free.  Yet since the cat is technically not feral, but instead a stray, they may not do the ear tip unless you ask.  If you tell them it's a stray that you care for on your property, they should do the ear tip.  If you could get a humane trap, you could qualify the cat as feral.  Many clinics don't distinguish too much between feral/stray.  They are just happy you are getting them spayed/neutered.  

Since he is technically your cat you don't need to have the ear clipped. That is for hard to handle cats. Just attach the tag to his collar and you should be good. My Hector had her ear clipped and it got infected.