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My cat is missing; I could use some good thoughts/prayers

Posted: Feb 9, 2010

I could use some positive thoughts and advice, and since I work at home as an MT, and I'm antisocial (by necessity, almost), you ladies and gents are the closest thing I have to friends and coworkers.

Our beloved cat slipped out on Friday night and we're worried because a heavy storm and cold is on the way. My husband and I are in Chicago.

Since I was the dummy who let the cat slip out (I didn't even know she was gone until morning) it's been pretty unbearable in our household. The cat and my husband were very close. We joke about how much she loves her "daddy."

I know cats better than my husband, and I'm fairly convinced that if the cat wants to survive she can and will. He thinks the storm will be the death of her. We had a sighting of her Saturday night by a neighbor across the alley, but nothing since then. We posted color pictures of her on a poster all around the neighborhood, and we've been going out at night and during the day calling her name. We've left cat food in the alley, which got eaten by some critter, but not necessarily the cat. I've called animal hospitals, animal shelters, etc.

Is there anything else we can or should be doing to find our cat? Cats survive during tough winter nights, right?

Thanks so much for listening to me ramble

;

CATS!! - Ellie

[ In Reply To ..]
I know how you feel. I had 2 cats, one for 19 years and one for 17. Anyway, the 17 year old was an inside/outside cat and used to climb trees and not be able to get down!! One time he was gone for a month and I though he was dead, but one day there he was at my back door, walking around in circles. I ran him to the vet, she did not think he would live through the night, potassium level was almost nothing. She stayed up with him all night and she called me first thing in the morning and told me to come get him, he was doing great. Anyway, cats are able to look out for themselves, they can find a warm place to hold up. They have that instinct to hunt even if they are indoor cats and can find things to eat. I grew up in Milwaukee and know how the winters are. I do know just how you feel, and being isolated it is sometimes hard to find people "on the outside" to talk to. Thoughts and prayers to you, I think your pet will turn up, it might take some time. Let us know, okay? By the way, Chicago is one of my favorite places.

Have you thought of a live trap? - Happy MT Robin

[ In Reply To ..]
You might be able to rent a live trap from your local animal shelter, or they could direct you to where you might be able to get one. Bait it with the food and you might get your girl back. You might catch something else, too, but you just have to keep an eye on it.

I'll say a prayer to St. Francis and St. Anthony for you. Good luck.

The snow may make it hard . . . - SoCal MT

[ In Reply To ..]
for kitty to find a scent and be able to identify "home." If you have kitty's scratching post, a toy, blanket, anything with kitty or home scent (even your robe, for example), put it outside the door or window where she got out, and then leave the door or window slightly open (I know, it's cold, but this will really help).

We did this for two of our cats. One had slipped out an upstairs window onto the roof and disappeared. He was gone for more than a day, and then there he was with mud up to his shoulders and soaking wet . . . right on the window sill just inside the open window.

The other time, we put the scratching post by the open sliding glass door, and our kitty came back after a couple days.

I wish I had known this when I accidently let my 17-year-old kitty out. I searched for weeks. Kids said they had seen her, etc. But she never came home. :(

Good luck with your kitty. I hope she comes back soon.

missing kitty - spitfire

[ In Reply To ..]
Am so sorry about your baby. I have 3 right. My oldest is 8 years and very, very occasionally slips out. When she does,I panic. The idea of something with your scent or hers does work. some piece of clothing or a favorite toy. One of her "daddy's" socks also worked on mine. So does luring her with some of her favorite food. Mine happens to like frozen yogurt(yes,even in snow she can find it). I would try those as bait

Will send up 911 prayers for your little one. I know exactly how you feel. Let us know.

Yes :) - CatMandu

[ In Reply To ..]
My cat is an inside/outside cat. Mostly, she just goes out to do her business and comes in, somewhat like a dog. lol Anyway, right around Thanksgiving she went out and never came back. Days and then weeks went by and I had called and called for her, put up missing ads, Nothing. It became snowy and very cold, sleeting and winter nastiness and I just knew she was done for, probably injured or something and couldn't get home and I couldn't find her. I was beside myself.

It was the middle of January and I happened to have my TV muted about 6:15 at night. I was working and I just had the TV on for the movement I guess. I heard this frantic meowing at my back door and it was HER!! I couldn't believe it. She ran in and went right to her food bowl (I have 2 other cats, Persians with no interest in going outside.) and downed almost the whole thing in between coming to me for pets and loves. She was so thin and emaciated. My theory is someone had had their shed door open, as it was sunny and nice when she went missing, and they inadvertently locked her inside. My vet said she had obviously eaten mice or bugs to stay alive or she never would have made it. A good deworming and a bag of IV fluids later and she's happy and healthy and very rarely wants outside now.

So yes, to answer your question, cats can survive nasty weather under the right circumstances.

Cats wanting to go outside - MDI/trans MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I am curious about one thing. My daughter recent moved from an apt. to a house, and her oldest cat Cleo now sits by the doors in the house, even goes to the door when someone comes in and goes out, and now wants outside. In the apt. my daughter had a fenced in balcony and she used to like to go outside and sun herself and just sit there during the day, and my daughter would leave the door open just enough for her to come back in. In the house she sits on the windowsill. Since being in the house she has gotten more energy, is more playful, but she has attacked the other cat, Blue, and has become very "testy." I don't know, but I think she is a little bit anxious, and still wants that balcony to go out onto. Right now the porch is not closed in and my daughter thinks she will run away if she lets her out. The other cat is part Siamese, and never, ever wants out. Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!

Cats don't do well with change. - Happy MT Robin

[ In Reply To ..]
I haven't moved in over a decade, but the last time I did it was quite a while before all of the cats settled down and really got used to their surroundings. You didn't say how long ago your daughter had moved, or how long she and Cleo had been in the apartment. I have a feeling you're right about letting Cleo out and she'd try to head back "home." She's so used to being able to sun herself, though, that she's really missing that and that's where the testiness is coming from. She feels cooped up. If the attacking of the other cat is really bad and continues, your daughter might want to consider an anti-anxiety medication for the short term until Cleo gets really used to her new surroundings. It's not something I'd want to do long term, but for the short term, until she can get the porch closed in, it might be helpful.

thank you - angelface46

[ In Reply To ..]
My daughter, grandson and her fiance' had lived in the apt. for over 5 years before they moved into a house...that's a long time for Cleo, and as I said she did have the porch to go to. I agree with your assessment. Thanks so much! Also, Cleo sleeps at night and is up all day, and the other cat, Blue, sleeps all day and is up all night! The part-Siamese cat is Blue, and she never wants to go anywhere near the doors or outside.

Ginger - please let us know if she comes home - see message

[ In Reply To ..]
We have an indoor cat. My dad has a bunch of cats and sometimes none of them want to come in.

P.S. - I can't expressive enough that I know exactly how you must feel.

Cats do survive through winters. They are very resourceful.

but please, please let us know. I will be sending HUGE prayers your way.

Thanks so much for the kind words and prayers. - Ginger

[ In Reply To ..]
We got a huge snowstorm last night. We were out last night calling her name. It just felt really futile, though.

My mom knows someone who has humane traps, and I think that may be the next step. I'd have to ask the neighbors if it's Ok to set it up in their yard. I think that might be the best place. It's where she was last seen. I look around it, and I think it's a place where a cat might hide. Lots of warm and dry places. Our yard is full of concrete.

I've been googling pet psychics and I'm actually thinking of hiring one to try to tune into my cat. It feels a little desperate, but that's the way I feel.

missing cat - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm so sorry your baby is missing! We had an indoor cat (she's no longer with us) get out once, and she was probably gone for a month. We thought she was lost or taken. She finally came back, meowing at the same door she got out of. This was a declawed, never-been-outside, Himalayan cat, without much "cat" sense at all...I don't know how she made it, what she ate, or where she went! So, don't give up hope. She can definitely survive the weather.

On another note, yesterday, a few hours after reading your post, I went downstairs and my front door was wide open! My daughter had gone to a friend's house and left it open, and she had been gone for at least an hour by the time I found it. I totally panicked, having just heard your story! Fortunately, my two girls must not have liked the cold air and/or snow, because they didn't even take one step out the door (I would have seen their prints in the snow), but I almost had heart attack!

I'm wishing for the safe return of your kitty!

Our cat's back! - Ginger

[ In Reply To ..]
Our cat is back. Last night, our landlady called us at 9:44 and told us our cat was in her garage, and there she was. She looks absolutely no worse for wear--maybe she's lost a pound or two, but otherwise fine.

Thanks for all your kind words earlier in the week. They really helped at the time.

Cat found its way home. - Ginger

[ In Reply To ..]
Oh, our landlady lives next door to us, so the cat somehow knew where to come home. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

Thanks, again.

So relieved for you! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I've thought about you often the last few days. I have 2 kitties and love them dearly! I would absolutely panic if one were missing.

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