New cat gone AWOL :-(

LittleLauz

I have had my new cat for 18 days, he is 18months old.
I let him out into the garden yesterday and he was only out a few mins and kept popping in and out, so I let him out this morning and was watching him through the window just walking around and sniffing the garden, but now he's gone!!
I can't see him in any of the neighbours gardens and I've walked around the back of the houses and can't see him there either.
It's only been about an hour but I'm so worried he's not going to come home :-(
do you think he'll come home?

gambit27

He'll come home my cat is 3 years old, and we didn't let him out for the first couple of years we had him, he'll go out for half an hour, pop back in, and go straight out again. BUT he does sometimes wander off for a few hours at a time, but always comes back. My neighbour next door's cat goes off for days at a time and comes back quite happily. I wouldn't worry too much, I'm sure he'll be home soon.

KiKi

Try not to worry - this is a whole new adventure and he's probably exploring! He might stay out for the day, but when he's hungry he'll come home.

I understand how worried you are, though - I've had mine 10 years and I still worry if they're out for longer than an hour! But cats have a great sense of 'home' and direction. Just go out every hour or so and shake the biscuit box or something to remind him of where home is!

KiKi

LittleLauz

I just wish I hadn't let him out now, but he was clearly bored as he was wandering around meowing constantly but very affectionate and always comes when he's called.... Except for now!!
Just can't believe how attatched I am to this little furry boy!
He hasn't had breakfast so hopefully he'll come home for something to eat soon, I feel sick with worry that he's gone forever!! :-(
I've gotta go to work from 12 til 9 too so I'm gonna be worrying about him at work all day, I just hope he'll be fast asleep on the bed when I come home!!

HollyF

He'll be back in no time I remember when we first let our cat out, we were freaking out when we couldn't see it anymore. But cats are clever, they remember where they've come from. Plus, he will get hungry soon and knows where he can get food easily Don't panic. It's normal behaviour for any cat, especially a young one with a new area to explore!

gambit27

Yep, agree with the others, we didn't let our cat out the first 2 years (he was the runt of a litter, and we had him from 2 weeks old) so we are very protective of him. But like yours, he was desperate to get out, and my eldest used to panic if he wasn't home within the hour and go out searching for him. Your wee one will be absolutely fine. Our's comes back every so often, think just to check we're still here, but I have started letting him out when I go to the shops or to pick the kids up and he generally just sits on the porch waiting for us to come home. Not been as brave to leave him out while I'm at work as yet, but I will one day

Your cat will probably just be exploring his new territory, found some new cats to play with, or a squirrel to chase. Our cat goes off with the cat next door at times, he 'chaps the door' for ours to go out, it's so cute lol.

Having said that, if I shake the biscuit box, 9 times out of 10 he comes bounding back home for them!

rising_from_the_ashes

Keeping my fingers crossed for you, I'm sure he'll be waiting when you get home.

KiKi

Yes, please update us, OP.

rising_from_the_ashes

If he's going to be out regularly when you're not there, ensure there's somewhere he can go if the weather changes and where he can feel safe and secure.

I picked up an old dog kennel that a neighbour was throwing out, have put an old bit of carpet & old duvet in. My big cat frequently stays out during the day and when I get home he's usually tucked up in there, safe, warm & dry - he used to be a horror for going in peoples garages if it started raining but luckily this seems to have stopped this!

LittleLauz

He's not home and his food is still untouched :-(
I'm sure he's not coming home now, I'm devasted and can't stop crying.
I feel so guilty, that he's probably lost, hungry and scared and it's all my fault :-(
I shouldn'tve let him out so soon.

Murtle

If you are at home, sit outside in the garden tomorrow and call out every now and again. Hopefully he'll come home.

Have you a photo of him that you can add to a missing cat poster and leaflet your neighbours?

there are a few rescue sites with members that will help you looks

http://animallifelineuk.org/ is one but there are others.

Hope he comes home soon

Mxxxx