My baby girl is missing!! Please help or encouraging stories!!

My baby girl has been missing for 4 days (possibly in heat). I am so distraught, upset and have done nothing but cry while searching. I bottle fed her from 3 days old. She was born feral but the mother left her on my porch because she was infested with maggots. She pulled through and had a rough start. She had a minor heart problem (not on meds) so vet opted to not spay until she was a bit older. She just went into her first heat about a month ago. She is familiar with outdoors and absolutely loved being outside although I was trying to make her an inside cat but she is the world's best escape artist. She has fit though a window cracked not even the length of my pinky, she bites the door lock and tries to turn the door knob with her paws (even locked me out once), bolts out the door etc. This time she bit a hole in the screen when I had to open the window when I burnt something. When she went into heat a month ago She was very suttle about it and nearly didn't noticed until the end so she may possibly be in heat. There are small patches of woods on either side of my house. She prefers across from me. The woods behind me are where the strays stay and come to my porch at night to eat. There have been a few cats disappear near the area although I don't know much of the circumstances. One was an intact male that the owner said was sick prior to his disappearance. To my knowledge and to most other they don't believe coyote live here. I highly doubt a car accident as the heavier traffic road is further away plus she never really ventured towards that way.

Please, anyone have any encouring stories or would anyone know if a female in heat would stay gone this long?? There is a tom cat that I regularly feed but have not seen her with him. There is another Tom cat as well but have not seen him like 2 days before she went missing. There are a few others that have ventured this way in the past to hang out with the other ferals that live in the street behind me. One actually showed up to eat the day after she went missing. I dunno. I am helpless at this point and fear I will never see her previous face again. She has never been gone for more than 12 hours and that wasn't even typical. I miss her dearly. Would a unsoayed female do this?? She is timid of people so that is most likely out of the question. I hope no one nearby is hurting or trapping the cats or something. I dunno what to think or do. Please help me. The majority of the neighbors are not cat "haters" but actually do not seem to really care and are not very helpful. Thank you. There was one lady that swears as soon as I left to the store , she saw my cat with another cat near the window she escaped from (which is left open for her) but I feel she would have came home by now. There are some younger strays about 5 to 6 month old and look similar to my baby but she swore that she knew the difference and described her build compared to the other kittens. I dunno. Or she is saying this to make less upset?? I dunno why would she not come home if it was her?? Any experience with a unspayed female disappearing for this long??

I'm so sorry your girl is missing! My previous cat was an outdoor/indoor cat and was missing for 5 days once. I had searched the entire neighborhood calling her name and looking all over for her but came up with nothing. On day 5 my mom helped me search and had retraced my steps on a dirt road that I hadn't gotten to search very well and my dear girl was trapped in an abandoned house and couldn't get back out from where she had gotten in from. Is it possible that there's a garage or shed or somewhere in your neighborhood where your cat could've gotten stuck? I have no experience with cats in heat so I can't help with that part but it's possible your kitty may be inside somewhere without a way to get back out. 

I hope you find her soon or she comes back home to you. 

I feel sorry to hear that, try to search over the place once again. Check on the areas where she usually plays and hides. Maybe she has played with the stray cat due to boredom. I hope that you will be able to find her. 

There's nothing wrong if you'll ask your neighbor for help. 

It would be not unusual at all to have an unaltered female come into heat and disappear for up to a week., or even longer. I would walk around those wooded areas and keep your eye out for those tom cats, they keep very close to a female in heat, so go look at any cats that seem to be gathering any where. Listen for birds calling a warning, I have found many of my strayed cats by following that sound..... where birds are yelling there is usually a cat. Walk around any sheds or closed garages like was mentioned above, I just locked two of my own in the garden shed for a few hours, it is very easy to lock up a hidden cat. Put up posters or get on your local buy and sell program on the radio, it is free and many people listen to these, especially retired people who are more alert to happenings in the neighborhood because they are home more. Please ask the vet if spaying is possible as soon as possible now, having kittens and going through the breeding and birthing process is just as hard on her as spaying, those toms can be nasty. I'll pray that you find your sweet little girl, I have a feeling you will. All the luck!

I'm sorry she's missing. I hope she comes home soon safe and sound. 

@Di and Bob  is right. If she's intact and in heat, she's likely out looking for a date with mr. right now.

Cats in heat are some of the best escape artists of all time.

Keep looking. Put something that has a familiar smell on it on the porch or near the house. It may draw her back. You can put an ad on your local Craigslist under the lost and found section or the pets section. I'd set up a separate email just for that if you go that route. 

If she is just out looking for a date, she may wander back home when she realizes the menu there is better than what she can find out on her own. When she makes it back home, please consider spaying her sooner rather than later. If you need assistance finding a low/no cost spay service near you, let us know what area you are in (closest bigger city) and we will try to help you find something. Good luck and don't lose hope. Cats that wander off come home all the time. 

Thanks everyone. I have been searching everywhere on foot in the middle of the night because I feel she would come out at night more when it is quiet. I have look during the day as well where I can see better. I'm going to check again the places she possibly could get locked into. And yes if she comes home she is getting spayed immediately because being pregnant and birthing kittens is way worse than a surgery. I should have brought her in 3 wks ago when she had her first but didn't because of my schedule. Her appointment was today and I had to cancel

What worried me the most is I have seen the feral Tom cat around hanging near my house and she is no where to be seen. There is another feral tom but have not seen him either like a day Or 2 before she disappeared. There waald another Tom cat that wondered up out of the blue that I haven't seen in 6 months but she wasn't with him to my knowledge.

And Do and Bob. That is very clever about the bird noise. I didn't even think of that!

Thanks everyone. It is day 5 now and I am losing hope. Of course I wont be giving up but I just wish I could see her precious face. I miss her so much.

Gizmobius said:

I'm so sorry your girl is missing! My previous cat was an outdoor/indoor cat and was missing for 5 days once. I had searched the entire neighborhood calling her name and looking all over for her but came up with nothing. On day 5 my mom helped me search and had retraced my steps on a dirt road that I hadn't gotten to search very well and my dear girl was trapped in an abandoned house and couldn't get back out from where she had gotten in from. Is it possible that there's a garage or shed or somewhere in your neighborhood where your cat could've gotten stuck? I have no experience with cats in heat so I can't help with that part but it's possible your kitty may be inside somewhere without a way to get back out. 

I hope you find her soon or she comes back home to you. :heart4:

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Hi sorry I am not sure to writing on the forums, only reading. How far away was your kitty from your home where she was trapped? And do you know if she often traveled that direction. I am so happy you found her. I pray I find her or she comes home. It is day 5 for me and losing hope

There are some suggestions in this article that may help you.  I hope your little girl comes back.  

jjc1140 said:

Hi sorry I am not sure to writing on the forums, only reading. How far away was your kitty from your home where she was trapped? And do you know if she often traveled that direction. I am so happy you found her. I pray I find her or she comes home. It is day 5 for me and losing hope

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My cat was very very close and was practically trapped right across the street from me. She was so close she probably could've heard me calling for her all the time. I was very lucky to have found her. I know what it's like to start losing hope but don't give up! The suggestion about following the bird noise is a really good tip so make sure to try that too! I really, really hope you find her.

One thing you can do is get three large plastic tubs and three humane small animal traps. Cut holes in the side of the tubs, put her favorite food in the traps, and place the tubs over them. Place one close to your house, one in the woods right behind your house and one further out in the woods.
You might get lucky and trap her. Your probably going to trap other things too like additional kittys and maybe a stray possum or two so make sure to check them often and release the free loading food stealers and reset the trap.

  The worry and the not-knowing is a terrible experience. I have seen feral females disappear for weeks and the reappear pregnant. I don' t know if it's because the toms bully the females and the females run into unfamiliar territory or if instinctively, the  females  seek unrelated males apart from their own colony.  Try to keep faith - it sounds like your area is a place that is fairly cat-friendly; I hope that you can find some allies to help you TNR those community cats in your area, all friends of ferals need more help, whether financially or with "boots on the ground".

Everyone thank you so much for giving me some kind of hope because I just found her !!! 6 days later, a little worse for wear but otherwise okay. She is injured slightly missing a little fur above her nose and a little scab. Lost a little weight but really looks good for being outside and under a shed for 6 days. I honestly didn't think she would be in that side because she tended to play across from me but I remember another Tom cat that lived on the street behind and he just came wondering up out out of the blue the day after she went missing. I had checked there the last 2 nights but never really went far into the woods just called and listened. Today I went through the patch of woods to the other side that led me to a fence and a junky yard with a shed and some other junk basically that I didn't even knew existed around here. I saw a Tom cat run by that hangs around my house so i just well maybe she is somewhere near. I called for her several times but didn't here anything. I went to leave and Then something told me to walk back for a few minute longer. I walked to the other side and called again and then heard a faint meow that suddenly grew to a cry of help. It was my baby!!! My little Aria. I thought I was seeing things for a minute. I had to jump the fence to get her and she latched on to me even while I jumped the fence with her all the way home. She seemed frightened and like she had a rough 6 nights.

@catsknowme

I think you are right. I think some of the toms are mean to them because she looked like she was hurt in her face. She may have seeked out another Tom cat that direction which is quite interesting when there was one nearby. Funny thing is she has NEVER liked him and I realize that may change when they go in heat but I believe she may have went that way intentionally for a different male. Or like you said I guess they could have easily chased her that direction and very interesting he was stalking her there too. Had I not see him go by though I may not have stuck around as long in that area.

Anyhow, it's after 5 here but will be calling the vet office first thing in the morning!! I believe I am going to look into gps collars for all my cats in case they escape again or something happens. This was the most agonizing 6 days of my life that felt like 6 years and though with a happy ending it may have not went this way. She did seem like she was in "feral" mode at first because of how she was acting. Had I not bottle fed this baby from birth she may have never cried for help and continued to hide in silence.

Thank you everyone for all your kind words and advice. I truly appreciate it and truly helped me have hope and continue searching. I was begin,ing to think the worst such as a coyote or something. Thank you all so much!!

I'm so very happy for you!  

It sounds like she's had quite the ordeal.  She'll need lots of extra love and treats for a while, and to be kept indoors until she forgets about this scary episode.  

But cats are resilient creatures, and she'll be so relieved to be home wth her furmummy.  

I hadn't realised that you had started this thread, and I've only just seen it this instant.  It's ace to read that Aria is safely back home.  

She will probably need the morning after pill or cat equivalent but you can discuss that with your vet tomorrow. 

Welcome home, Wittle Aria.    

So happy to hear you've found her!  

Yes, Brian007. I think I talked with you on someone else's forum too lol. I read the forums often but haven't really wrote much or made my own in quite awhile so sorry if I was all over the place lol. Thank you for all your advice. She was not spayed yet because she had a heart defect that the vet said she would grow out of hopefully by a year so he wanted to wait and spay her. She went into heat for the first time about a month ago and we rechecked her heart and all was really well but she was still in heat. I honestly did not realize how soon they go back into heat. Her appt was yesterday in which I had to cancel because she was still missing so when I call tomorrow I'm sure they will be happy I found her.

And thank you everyone else!! Everyone here all gave me such great ideas and advice and most likely may have never found it without it so I appreciate it dearly.

She is my [emoji]10084[/emoji].

Thank you everyone for all your support, kind words, hope and advice. It honestly helped bring her home.

Gizmobius said:

So happy to hear you've found her! :heart4:  

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Thank you so happy!!!

jjc1140 said:

Everyone thank you so much for giving me some kind of hope because I just found her !!! 6 days later, a little worse for wear but otherwise okay. She is injured slightly missing a little fur above her nose and a little scab. Lost a little weight but really looks good for being outside and under a shed for 6 days. I honestly didn't think she would be in that side because she tended to play across from me but I remember another Tom cat that lived on the street behind and he just came wondering up out out of the blue the day after she went missing. I had checked there the last 2 nights but never really went far into the woods just called and listened. Today I went through the patch of woods to the other side that led me to a fence and a junky yard with a shed and some other junk basically that I didn't even knew existed around here. I saw a Tom cat run by that hangs around my house so i just well maybe she is somewhere near. I called for her several times but didn't here anything. I went to leave and Then something told me to walk back for a few minute longer. I walked to the other side and called again and then heard a faint meow that suddenly grew to a cry of help. It was my baby!!! My little Aria. I thought I was seeing things for a minute. I had to jump the fence to get her and she latched on to me even while I jumped the fence with her all the way home. She seemed frightened and like she had a rough 6 nights.

@catsknowme

I think you are right. I think some of the toms are mean to them because she looked like she was hurt in her face. She may have seeked out another Tom cat that direction which is quite interesting when there was one nearby. Funny thing is she has NEVER liked him and I realize that may change when they go in heat but I believe she may have went that way intentionally for a different male. Or like you said I guess they could have easily chased her that direction and very interesting he was stalking her there too. Had I not see him go by though I may not have stuck around as long in that area.

Anyhow, it's after 5 here but will be calling the vet office first thing in the morning!! I believe I am going to look into gps collars for all my cats in case they escape again or something happens. This was the most agonizing 6 days of my life that felt like 6 years and though with a happy ending it may have not went this way. She did seem like she was in "feral" mode at first because of how she was acting. Had I not bottle fed this baby from birth she may have never cried for help and continued to hide in silence.

Thank you everyone for all your kind words and advice. I truly appreciate it and truly helped me have hope and continue searching. I was begin,ing to think the worst such as a coyote or something. Thank you all so much!!

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I'm so glad that she's home safe and sound now. She must be so happy to be back with you.

            CELEBRATING YOUR WONDERFUL NEWS!! & thank you God for answered prayers   Thank you for the happy update

Just seeing this. What great news! I'm so happy your baby is home again.