Sad news... (*Update - Not quite so sad anymore)

[Ree]

So, if you haven't seen my little message in the "Dear..." thread, I have some sad news.
My kitty has gone missing.

I am not laying blame, but someone left a window open and there was a hole in the screen.

We think he got outside.

I have been sick about it since I found out on Saturday that the person had been hiding the fact about the window from me. (If she had told me about the window, she would have had to admit to how the screen got damaged...but we won't go there.)

I just thought he was hiding in the house again, because my BIL was visiting and I think he freaked him out a bit.

By delaying the news to me by over 12 hours, she made it really hard to find him.
He had only been missing less than an hour when she came home, but she didn't tell me her window was open.

I had asked for all bedroom doors to be closed to minimize hiding spots, but neither daughter bothered to close their door. When I noticed the doors were open, I figured he was hiding in there somewhere and would come out over night.

I may have noticed the open window...I don't recall, but I certainly didn't know until the next day that there was a hole in it, nor just how badly damaged the screen was.

I really don't recall noticing the open window, though.

Gatekeeper has given me lots of tips to try and lure him back or to find him.

Please keep Harper in your prayers that he will come back safely.

I have barely slept since Friday night and I cry at the drop of a hat.
My chest is sore and my stomach is sick, and I can't eat.

I finally had something to fill the void, and was less sad and lonesome.

It's like feeling the loss all over again, and now I have another hole in my heart.

[DesignFox]

I'm sorry Ree. I hope your kitty comes back safely. :hug:

[blas]

I'm so sorry Ree! You and your kitty are in my thoughts!

[Pedersen]

I'm not enough of a cat person to give any ideas on how to lure him back. All I can provide is hopes and prayers that he will.

And those you now have.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I've never had to lure a cat back, so I have no advice, either. My first kitty was an outdoor cat (he was a stray so we never made him indoor-only) and the current kitties don't go out. The girl wouldn't go out if you paid her; the boy has gotten out a few times but never gets far before he freezes as if to say "What now?"

I hope he's just exploring and comes home soon.

[The Gatekeeper]

*sniff*

You know my thoughts.

*sniff*

[ArcticChicken]

I'm sorry about your kitty.

I don't have any tips for luring him back, but don't give up hope.

My kitty went missing for three weeks over the summer, but we got her back, a little skinnier, but otherwise none the worse for wear.

I hope you find him soon.

[Megg]

The only thing I can think of is to put a can of tuna or something on the porch, but that may attract other friends.

I am sure your kitty is fine, and hope he's home soon! :hug:

[taurinejunkie]

I'm not a cat person. Or a dog person. Or a non-exotic pet person.

Still, I hope he comes back, and comes back fine. :hug:

[MadMike]

I lost a cat the same way once. Just when I gave her up for lost, one of the neighbors found her hiding under his porch. She was filthy and hungry, but she was OK. She didn't like me giving her a bath, but she got over it.

I'll keep everything crossed for you.

[SengaKitty]

Oh Ree honey I'm sorry to hear your fur baby's gone missing! Put some fliers up and notify the local vets and pounds that he's missing. Give them pictures and a phone number they can call you at. Also I'd follow any tips that were given on luring him back. I hope he comes home soon sweety! You're in my thoughts and prayers

[Plaidman]

Hey don't worry! right before our blizzard, when we had like three feet of snow, (Which hasn't happened here for 40 odd years!) we had one of our cats get out and gone.

The the snow hit.

We didn't seen him for like, three or four days. I was worried sick. I was the last one who opened the door before he disappeared, and he must have ran out during that time.

But then he came walking up to the door meowing his ass off.

Just keep and ear or eye out, and he'll come back.

[Amethyst Hunter]

:( I hope you get your kitty back safely. :hug:

[RootedPhoenix]

:hug: I'll be praying that you kitty comes home.

[iradney]

I'm sure Harper will come home. He gets loves and foods there.
*HUGS*

[Der Cute]

Bittybit did that to me once. She escaped and ran away for 3 days. I was worried sick that she had been hit, stolen or had just...gone.

I called and called, even left mushy food can out for her. She didn't show up for 3 days. A neighbor cat brought her home. She came running in, went straight to food, and potty, then went to bed. Slept for 12 hours! Poor girl was tired.

I think Harper will be home soon. He needs your loves too.

Cutenoob

[strawbabies]

Ree, I'm so sorry about your kitty being missing.

I hate to say this, but I think someone needs to be punished (severely) for damaging the screen, leaving the door open, and (most of all) not being up front with you that the kitty was gone.

[Rapscallion]

Any news?

Rapscallion

[Cat]

YOur poor kitty, and poor you....I hope your kitty comes home to you soon

[The Gatekeeper]

Regarding punishing the screen ripper...it won't accomplish anything. I have had cat's that have just snuck by me. It happens, they escape. IT REALLY REALLY SUCKS! But it happens.

Trust me, if you think I'm being to easy on the screen ripper. Ree and Raps will attest to the fact that I do not suffer stupid easily. As dumb a way for this situation to happen, it has happened, and the screen ripper didn't mean for it.

However what I'd like to do, is force SR to get off their ass, and help distribute posters/flyers etc and help look for Harper. This is why I am doing my level best not to get in my car, drive the 4 hours to Ree's house, drag the SR out by their hair and put them to work looking for the cat.

See guys, I do have a filter! :wave:

[Chazzie]

My advice on getting a cat to return home is not only their food on the porch, but also to take a walk. That way you spread your scent around and they can follow it home.

Good luck. I really hope your cat comes back soon!

[MadMike]

My advice on getting a cat to return home is not only their food on the porch, but also to take a walk. That way you spread your scent around and they can follow it home.


That reminds me of another time one of my cats went missing. This was back before the township passed a law against letting your cats run around loose, so back then, they were outside a lot. One of them vanished, and was missing for days. I walked around, looked all over the place, asked around, nothing. Then one day, for lack of any better ideas, I started calling to him. I thought I heard a faint meow, so I called some more. That time I was certain I heard it. I kept calling, and he kept answering, until I finally found where it was coming from. He was locked in my one neighbor's garage. Apparently it was left open, and he wandered in, and then the neighbor shut the door not knowing he was in there. I got the neighbor to let him out, and I took him home and gave him some food and some love.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I"m sorry, Ree, I've had this happen and it's awful. Keep calling the local shelters. You're in my thoughts. :(

[Fire_on_High]

Check in the early morning. Most cats seem to be quite awake between 4 and 7 am, at least in my experience, and that was roughly the time we found our little escapee squalling under my car the time he bolted out the door.

[Sonoma]

During the same snowstorm that Plaidman makes reference to, I was kitty-sitting for some friends, when they were out of town for 10 days. The day they left, their younger cat snuck out of the house. They put food out, but because of the snow, I wasn't able to get out there for 5 days. They had known the roads were bad, so the inside kitty had plenty of food, but the outside cat would have to fend for himself for a while. The entire time they were gone, I never did see the outside cat, but the day they came home, as soon as he saw their car in front of the house, he came running up, yelling at them, at the top of his lungs.

Here's hoping your baby comes home soon, it's a horrible feeling not knowing where they are.

[Ree]

My biggest worry is that he really wasn't here long enough to bond.

He was a stray when Gatekeeper found him, so if he's gone back home anywhere, my fear is that it won't be to me.

He really seemed too timid to stray, but he did it once, obviously.

There had been signs of tracks, so I was feeling better about things.
Then I heard that there are a lot of strays in this area.

I am going to use a live animal trap to see if I can get him.
I set it out the other night and had tied it off so it wouldn't spring at first, as that was what I was told to do, so the cat could get used to it.
My tie didn't hold, and I accidentally caught a cat, but it wasn't Harper.

I walked the neighbourhood for an hour after I got off work last night.
I walk pretty much every day, looking for him.
Again, I had a cat ho showed interest in me, but it wasn't mine. :(

I have flyers out, and I've called the vets, the shelter, and animal control.
Next step is an ad in next week's local paper.

[RootedPhoenix]

Oh, Ree. :( :hug: I'm sorry you haven't found him yet. I will keep praying.

[The Gatekeeper]

*resisting urge to get in car and drive to the other end of the lake*

HAARRRPPPEERRR!!!!!!
Get your fuzzy, tailless ass home to your new mommy now!

And now you have a glimpse of what's inside my head...well that and the clowns.

[Plaidman]

And now you have a glimpse of what's inside my head...well that and the clowns.

Why so serious? At least they put a smile on that.

[Seshat]

Actually go to the shelter, vet & animal control and look at the cats. The shelter staff will be doing their best, but they may not recognise your cat from the description.

Leave a photograph with them, as well. If Harper has tags or a microchip, leave the tag and microchip numbers.

If Harper hasn't come home yet, he's probably lost. Keep walking around and calling him, and try different paths or longer walks.

I'm so sorry to hear about this on top of everything else you've been dealing with. You have my sympathy.

[Bagboy]

Maybe the cats just out exploring his new turf? My two cats would do this, usually freaking my mother out to no end. They'd go for a few days, then voilà! They'd be back at our house.

[The Gatekeeper]

It's been over a week. I don't think he's lost, exactly. I suspect he's exploring, but he's a bit nervous so he's sort of hiding.

That's best case scenario, and what I'm going to keep telling meself. I think Ree is trying to focus on that too!

[Ree]

Still no sign of him.

Things have been very sad. :(

Thank goodness for good friends like Gatekeeper. She keeps me from going stark raving insane.

[Rapscallion]

I keep thinking of him. No joy from posters?

Raspcallion

[The Gatekeeper]

It's like he vanished.

[Mikkel]

Don't lose hope yet, my cat have been gone several times for over a week and my sisters cat was gone for more than two months one time (and she (the cat) came home with kittens too :p).
Go on calling and walking the neighbourhood, he can't get in on his own so he will probably hide somewhere close to your home when he decides to come home. I will hope for good news soon, I know the lump in the stomach and the trouble falling asleep, when your cat is missing, much too well.

[Ree]

Keep your fingers crossed!!!

There may have been a sighting.

My neighbour across the street saw a large cat with white legs and a grey body, with NO TAIL coming out of his shed and running across under the neighbour's deck.

I went looking, but didn't see him yet.

I am going to put the live trap in their yard and see what happens.

Keep praying. Thanks.

[Peppergirl]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, Ree.

Please keep us posted.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Glad there seems to be some more hope than last time I checked in on this thread. I hope he falls into your trap... (why am I picturing a large hole covered in leaves?)

[The Gatekeeper]

I've spoken to Ree, and we've come up with a plan of action, so hopefully he'll be home in the next day or so.

It's the same trap you would use to trap squirrels or raccoons. Ree is not digging holes in her neighbours yard and camaflouging it. Mind you it does make for a rather amusing mental picture :lol:

[RootedPhoenix]

*chortles about mental image*
*happy dances about sighting* I hope you get your kitty back, Ree.

I'll continue praying.

[Ree]

Ree is not digging holes in her neighbours yard and camaflouging it. Only because they have small children running around. :p

[The Gatekeeper]

Yeah? So? What's the problem with that? Unless you ran out of sharpened wooden spikes...no that would be bad for kitty.

[SengaKitty]

Oh Ree I've got my fingers crossed for you honey!

[Ree]

I noticed my neighbours are keeping a really close eye out.

This morning, I saw their oldest boy come out and look over the fence into their backyard and he went running back into the house. Then, I saw the father come out and go looking into the original shed where he saw the cat before, and around another small shed on their property, just in case.

It's nice to know I at least have a whole lot of eyes looking out over there, since I didn't exactly get a lot of help on the homefront. :(

Every time I go to the window to look across to their yard, my granddaughter starts calling the kitty and trying to make the "chucking" noise that I was told to do to get the cat's attention. :lol: (She's so smart.)

[Broomjockey]

Mind you it does make for a rather amusing mental picture :lol:

I've got a better mental image. Ree sitting under a camoflauge tarp, clutching a string tied to a stick, which is holding a box up, with a big sign that says "FREE KITTY FOOD HERE!" and an arrow pointing to the box. I also hear something about a 'wascawy wabbit.' :lol:

I'm still holding hope too, Ree. This latest sighting is a good sign :)

[BookstoreEscapee]

It's the same trap you would use to trap squirrels or raccoons. Ree is not digging holes in her neighbours yard and camaflouging it. Mind you it does make for a rather amusing mental picture :lol:

I didn't think she was ... any cat worth his claws would climb right out, anyway :p...my alternate scenario was a net covered in leaves with some sort of spring mechanism...


Every time I go to the window to look across to their yard, my granddaughter starts calling the kitty and trying to make the "chucking" noise that I was told to do to get the cat's attention. :lol: (She's so smart.)

Aw, that's so cute!

[The Gatekeeper]

I've got a better mental image. Ree sitting under a camoflauge tarp, clutching a string tied to a stick, which is holding a box up, with a big sign that says "FREE KITTY FOOD HERE!" and an arrow pointing to the box. I also hear something about a 'wascawy wabbit.' :lol:

I'm still holding hope too, Ree. This latest sighting is a good sign :)

O.k. yup, you win.

As long as the tarp isn't pink camo.

[draggar]

I haven't read though the whole post so sorry if it's already been suggested but have you considered live traps to try to catch the kitty? I'm sure animal control might let you borrow one or two.

Put some food in it and maybe her favorite toy or some clothes with your scent on them and leave it where you last saw the kitty - especially if people are having sigtings.

[Broomjockey]

As long as the tarp isn't pink camo.

Nope. That trick never works.

[Ree]

UPDATE -

I just saw him myself about a half hour ago or so.

I looked out my window and saw movement across the street and up a few houses, and realized it was a cat.
I went outside and called to Harper and did the chucking noise, and he came down and stood, looking at me for a minute and then just turned and walked across the street into another yard.

I was not only in my nightgown, and it's freezing outside, but I was alone with the baby, and couldn't leave her to go after him right then.

I woke up my foster daughter and asked her to watch the baby, then I dressed and took the dish of smelly salmon cat food and a packet of treats and went exploring, but the little bugger had hidden himself again in that short a time. (Less than 10 minutes.)

There was a light dusting of snow, but not enough to track where he might have gone, sadly.

I plan to keep trying.
At least I know for myself that it's him, and he's safe.

[sms001]

yay!!!!!! :party:

[Camry178]

That is definitely great news. He'll be home soon, he's just been exploring. :)

[DesignFox]

Glad to hear he seems to be doing well out there. I hope you get him home soon!

[Rapscallion]

Oh yes, we have progress.

Rapscallion

[draggar]

That's excellent news!

[BookstoreEscapee]

Yay! Hopefully he'll figure out that it's much cozier inside...

Our first cat was a stray who showed up in our driveway one day, and refused to be scared off. After a few days my mom started feeding him a bit, and he gradually worked his way into the house. He eventually started living in the house, and became an indoor/outdoor cat. After a few weeks my mom noticed he wasn't eating a lot of the time, and eventually figured out that the next-door neighbors were also feeding him. I know your neighbors are keeping an eye out for him, but maybe someone on the next block or somewhere is feeding him?

[iradney]

Fear not, Ree. He'll come home. I mean, yeah, he can hunt for himself and whatnot, but there's no Ree outsides to give him loves!!

[Ree]

I left flyers with his picture and my phone number all around that block on both sides, so, hopefully, if someone has been harbouring him, they will know he belongs to me now, and will give me a call.

[draggar]

Ree - when you get the kitty back (it's extremely important to think positive!) - I'd suggest getting her microchipped. You can get your own kit or have a vet do it. Getting your own kit is about $60 (includes registration) and having a vet do it (the injection) is usualy under $100.

[Mikkel]

Ree - when you get the kitty back (it's extremely important to think positive!) - I'd suggest getting her microchipped. You can get your own kit or have a vet do it. Getting your own kit is about $60 (includes registration) and having a vet do it (the injection) is usualy under $100.

But the microchip can only be detected by a shelter or a vet, do vets use ear tattoos in US? Anybody can see them and look them up on the internet. In Denmark it's on http://dansk-katteregister.dk .
My cats are outdoor cats, I use this (http://www.loc8tor.co.uk/) to find them when I want them home. I don't know if it will help Ree, probably the collar will have slipped off or the batteries died before the cat has a chance to flee again, but, damn, I can find their collars at least :lol:.

Congratulations, to know that the cat lives and look well is great, now you only have to catch him. See if he sniffs around at the window where he got out, you may just have to open that window and call or rattle his dish.

[BookstoreEscapee]

But the microchip can only be detected by a shelter or a vet, do vets use ear tattoos in US? Anybody can see them and look them up on the internet. In Denmark it's on http://dansk-katteregister.dk .

Ree's in Canada, but I have heard of tattoos in the US. Pablo had a chip on his shoulder (ha) but it never had to be used (which is good since the info in it was outdated for at least the last 3 years). I don't know if a lot of people would think to look for a tattoo, though.

[draggar]

I haven't heard of tattooing cats but many imported dogs (and ones that need that verification).

True, too, only vets and shelters can scan but normally if you find an animal that you are thinking about keeping - don't you bring it to the vet?

The issue with locator devices is that it is something that is on them and cats can remove collars etc.. microchips are injected into them (usually between the shoulders). No way to remove this etc..

[MadMike]

I'm glad to hear he's OK. Hopefully you'll get him back in the house soon.

I left flyers with his picture and my phone number all around that block on both sides, so, hopefully, if someone has been harbouring him, they will know he belongs to me now, and will give me a call.

I was thinking it was quite possible that he found a second home. Back when our cats were still allowed outside (they passed a law against it back in '97), my one cat apparently adopted a second family whose house had a fireplace. She's always come back smelling like smoke, and I don't think it was cigarette smoke because that smells different from a fireplace.

[RootedPhoenix]

*happy dances at sighting!* I hope Harper comes home soon.

[Mikkel]

True, too, only vets and shelters can scan but normally if you find an animal that you are thinking about keeping - don't you bring it to the vet?
I would, but many would just feed a stray and wouldn't go to a vet if there was nothing wrong with the animal. Here in Denmark, at least, it's known that cats often are ear tattooed, most people would look in the ears of a stray.

The issue with locator devices is that it is something that is on them and cats can remove collars etc.. microchips are injected into them (usually between the shoulders). No way to remove this etc..
Yes, I don't say that a locator can be used instead of a chip, the advantage of the locator is that I can just take a walk and find the cat, or at least find the place where he slipped the collar. The locator will beep when I'm about 30 meters from the cat, whether I can see him or not.

She's always come back smelling like smoke, and I don't think it was cigarette smoke because that smells different from a fireplace.

My cats frequently smell of wood smoke too, I've always thought it was because they run on my neighbours roofs and catch the smell from the chimneys

[Eric the Grey]

Glad to read a positive update Ree. Keep your spirits up, which shouldn't be too difficult, since you know he's safe right now.

*crosses fingers*

I know how it is. My baby (4 years old, but still the youngest and smallest of my two) got out last summer and spend most of the day outside. Luckily she didn't go too far, and I found her that evening when she came home to meow at the fence. She let me pick her up and hold her for a long time. She was shaking the whole time, poor thing.

Best of luck.


:cool: Eric the Grey

[Evil Queen]

Ree - when you get the kitty back (it's extremely important to think positive!) - I'd suggest getting her microchipped. You can get your own kit or have a vet do it. Getting your own kit is about $60 (includes registration) and having a vet do it (the injection) is usualy under $100.

Wow, that's expensive. I haven't seen it cost more then $15.

Good luck catching the kitten Ree!