My cat is missing

laurad85

Hi everyone, i am in a terrible mess as my beloved cat Ozzy has not come home.

I last saw him at 9.30 last night when he came in and i gave him a few cat treats. He comes in evey night around 10.30ish and put himself straight to bed up stairs but didnt show up. I keep him in at night as i am terrified something like this will happen.

He usually only sticks to the surrounding gardens and houses so i went out and shook his biscuits but there was no sign of him. I got up in the night and went walking the streets and drove around and have been out 6-7 times today. I have looked up and down the main road to see if i can see his body but there was nothing. I have put up posters and written 20 letters to our neighbours asking them to look in their garages etc and have also contacted the local vets and contacted the microchipping people. Does anyone have any other ideas of what i can do? In the back of my mind i know cats wonder off and i should give it more time but i lost my mum last month and am dreading him dying too.

Thank you,
Laura

KiKi

Sorry to hear that, Laura.

I keep my two in at night, too - I'm a paranoid mum with them, and they're not allowed out after 1900 since one of them fell down a drain shaft! I had firemen out at 0200!

He may have just wandered off for a bit, seeing as the nights are quite warm, or found himself somewhere where he's stuck. Perhaps you could actually knock on your neighbours' doors tomorrow, as most people are likely to be in, and ask them if they can check their sheds whilst you're there?

I'd be frantic, too, but don't forget that cats usually find their way home (much easier to say than believe, I know). They sometimes have odd behaviour, esp if they're on heat, or thinking about mating!

Just keep doing what you're doing, calling and shaking biscuits, and maybe go to the next block across the roads from you, in case he crossed a road and needs some help finding his way back. I totally understand that you're in a terrible mess; I'd be exactly the same.

Chin up, and update us.
KiKi

missmontana

Has he been "done"? He may have wondered off looking for lurve... One of my cats has just re-appeared after a couple nights of not being home, looking at her claws I think she may have been shut in a shed somewhere. Only problem this time of year when everyone is doing the gardens, try not to worry too much, the usually come home soon enough x

laurad85

Thank you for your replies. Yeah he has been neutered and is really friendly, if anyone walks past he rolls over on his belly to get a belly rub. I am hoping he is in someones shed or garage and will go knocking on doors tomorrow.

Thank you again,

Laura

rising_from_the_ashes

Awww Laura, hugs from me - really sorry to hear about your mum. Both mine are locked in at night as paranoid about foxes and lots of cats around so would hate their to be a big fight during the night.

My big cat went missing for 3 days a couple of years ago & I was beside myself with worry (it was my fault - it was a lovely sunny day so wasn't worried that he was out & about when I went out but it there was a TORRENTIAL rain storm). I knew he'd probably hidden in someone's garage/shed and, sure enough, that's where he was - I have an old dog kennel in the garden for the cats to use when I'm out but I hadn't realised that the roof had started to leak ........ no wonder he went somewhere else to hide!

I had already been in the garage he'd been in but he must've been sleeping and not heard us - he eventually staggered out and wondered what all the fuss was about!


Do you have a local store / post office? You could ask if you could put a card up in the window & some of them have a notice board etc.

Keeping everything crossed for you.

missmontana

Maybe he's got his paws under someone elses table...

tazzy2010_2

Hey Laura,

My cat went missing two years ago and came back 2 days later so I know how you feel. They say one of the things you can do is empty the contents of your vacuum cleaner into your back garden as cat may have got lost chasing a mouse etc, this helps them pick up the sent of home apparently. Good luck xx

caledonian_princess

Oh hugs Laura, my boy is inclined to wander from time to time and I get really stressed and upset about it. He's always turned up after a few days though, I hope yours does too.

gettingready

One of mine, the only one that goes out, the ginger George gave us a fright today as he was in the back communal garden and suddenly started screaming like mad - me and my daughter run barefoot to the garden, he was being chased by a big black cat into bushes and took us ages to shuhhhhhhhh the other cat and to convince george to come up to us....

Really feel for you, hope yours comes back home soon... big HUGS

spookylukey

Lots of hints & tips here.... http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/in...pic,305.0.html

Hope he comes home soon.

Advice if you have lost your cat:-

Here are a few things to try:

1. Posters, Posters, Posters with picture and details with contact number.....hand out to neighbours and anyone you see. Put up in local shops, pubs and supermarkets. Stick to all local lamp posts. (If it rains go and collect them and replace however it's best to put posters in plastic wallets so if it rains they don't go all soggy - the neighbours and council don’t mind you putting them up so much that way). Also put one in your and friends cars - it amazing how many people see them this way. Make smaller flyers and push through every letterbox on your streets and the surrounding area. It is a good idea to offer a reward … of course this doesn’t have to be money … a box of cho-colates or a bunch of flowers is just as good.

2. Knock on doors and ask neighbours to check their sheds and garages WHILE YOU WAIT … it's surprising how many people say they will check but as soon as the door is closed they forget. Knock on 10 doors either side of your house on both sides of the street.

3. Check to see if there are any empty buildings for sale in the area. If there are it is worth checking with the estate agent in case they have shown someone round and shut the cat in. Also it is worth checking places where there may be builders in refurbishing a property in case the cat has got under the floorboards or in a cavity wall etc.

4. Look our for any abandoned vehicles, empty or semi-empty skips in case the cat has got in and can't get out.

5. Contact / check any community buildings where functions are held such as church halls, community halls etc. - in case your cat could be shut in a cupboard or toilet.

Please NOTE: The only authorised people who can break into a building if no one can be found to open it are the RSPCA but they are
not always co-operative. Even the police and fire brigade need RSPCA permission.

6. Register him lost at all vets/catteries/rescue homes within a 20mile radius. Follow the link and click on the map to find rescues in your area http://www.catchat.org/adoption/index.html

7. Leave food out and a toy of his.

8. Leave out an unwashed item of your clothing.

9. Put the contents of your hoover bag on your garden - it’s full of smells that they will recognise and if doesn’t bring him directly to your door will at least hopefully keep him in the area. Alternatively if you have a litter tray that has used put some of the used litter on the garden as this will have familiar smells in it.

10. Contact the local fire brigade and see if they have had to rescue any stuck cats.

11. Ask the local children to look - they are great for knowing all the local hidey-holes and love helping. Also have a word with your local post-person and milk man if there is one that delivers in your area. Also try and enlist the help of people walking dogs as they tend to go “off road” in the fields and parks.

12. Ask the local radio station to announce he’s missing and give out a contact number

13. Put an advert in the local paper

14. Contact your local environmental services dept (bin men) they keep a log of all animals picked on the roadside ... I know this is not a pleasant call to make and hopefully it will come back as negative.

15. Go out after dark when it is quieter with a friend / partner and walk round the local area gently calling every so often (give him a chance to answer you). Keep talking as you walk round that way if he is in the area he will hear you.

16. When you talk to vets and rescues, ask them about any known local feral colonies and where they are based. If Kitty has been missing for more than a few days s/he might have wandered further afield and might be “hanging round” near a colony for security (safety in numbers) and company. If vets/rescues know locations of colonies, these might be useful to get some ideas of where to start looking.

17. If you have Pet Insurance check your policy to see if they will assist with advertising costs or reward costs for a lost cat. Some policies cover as much as £1000 of local advertising and upto £500 reward.

18. Email the lost poster to all the people you know who live in the area and ask them to forward to others they know. This is a quick way to get your poster circulated.

19. IMPORTANT - if your pet is microchipped contact your chipping company straight away and let them know your pet is missing and check all your details are uptodate and correct. This will ensure that if found you are reunited with your little one as quickly as possible.

20. Use the local groups for your area that are on social networks (facebook / bebo / myspace / etc). Local politicians, sports clubs, etc. all have Facebook presences.

21. Try downloading a "meow" ringtone to your phone and when you are walking round play the ringtone .... you may find you start to attract lots a feline friends so please be very careful if you are near roads ... cats and cars are not a good mix. Ringtone here: http://www.zedge.net/ringtones/0-0-1...s&sug-search=0


Finally have a look at these other sites - they are all EXCELLENT

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk

http://www.catchat.org/forum.html

http://www.mymoggy.com/ contact Sue at mymoggy.

http://thehovel.com/bb/index.php?f=2...ost&order=DESC

http://nationalpetregister.org

http://www.soyouhavelostyourcat.co.uk/#1

http://www.petsearchuk.co.uk/lost_and_found_pets.php

http://www.amissingpet.co.uk/lostandfound.html

http://www.animalsearchuk.co.uk

http://pet-rescue.org.uk/forums/index.php?showforum=447

http://www.lostmycat.org/index.php

http://www.animalrescuers.co.uk/html/lostfound.html

http://www.foundandlostpets.co.uk/

http://www.petsmiles.com/v1/found.php

http://www.reportlostpets.co.uk/


Also don't forget to check ad websites, such as.....

www.friday-ad.co.uk

www.adtrader.co.uk

www.uk.freeads.net

www.classifieds.co.uk

and also your local rescue shelter/s websites too!


Good luck and stay positive.

Hopefully your little one has just got itself shut in a shed somewhere.


And finally ……. IMPORTANT NOTE: When you get your furbabe back remember to remove ALL the posters and inform all vets / rescues / websites etc that they are home.

SnowyOwl_2

Don't take this as an upsetting thing to say...but if there is no body then he will be safe. You have already done lots to try and find him. You'll have better success on the royal wedding day as more people will be around and so sheds, windows etc will be opened, and he'll get disturbed wherever he is. Try not to worry, he knows where home is and who is kindest to him, and he'll be back.

I know how sick you must be feeling...I did exactly the same when one of my cats went missing, I drove around and even asked two soldiers who were out walking if they'd seen a big ginger cat. They looked at me like I was bonkers. Big ginger came back safe and sound when it got a bit too chilly for him.