my cat has been missing for 2 weeks

[buzz2400]

My cat has been missing since 9/8. He never really ventures far. We want to keep believing that he is lost and not eaten by a coyote. Does anyone have any real stories about their cats coming home after a few weeks or months. Also what did you do besides the usual posting of flyers, calling animal controls, vets, rescue groups, posting on petfinder.com. We live on the border of three towns so I have to call three of everything. Any help or encouragement will be so much appreciated.

 

[lisajl]

I have a story. Quite a few years ago our cat Molly disappeared. To make matters worse, she was an epileptic. I was sick for 2 1/2 weeks looking for her. We put the word out to everyone. I had so many weird people calling me, it was ridiculous! She was a torti and some guy said, "I got yer cat at my house, she is black and white, right?" Ummm..no...lots of calls like that with people trying to unload their own cats(I think).
So anyway, our neighbor found her on his porch. He knew we were looking for her, she had been there for a few days. I ran up and hugged him when I saw him with Molly. She was so skinny and scared. I am sure she had quite a few seizures while she was away.
I wish you luck in finding your kitty. Keep looking, don't give up hope yet.

 

[Darcy03231]

We had a cat disappear for over 6 months when I was young. He came home fat and healthy. We think someone took him and kept him as a house cat. When he was finally able to "escape" he came home.

 

[koolaidmoms]

My cat Sammy was very old, 16 years old, and he sneaked out one night when one of the kids had the door open. He had only been out a handful of times before and generally stayed in the two -three house area.

We did all the things you did posters, e-mail neighborhood groups in our area, call vets, animal control and an ad in the local paper. We asked neighbors to check under their porches, in their garages and the local "cat ladies" to keep an eye out for him. After 10 days I was heart broken.

We figured that his time had come and he had gone to be alone to die. I cried and prayed every night for him hoping that he knew he was loved and wanted and that my heart was broken that I thought he died alone.

Three weeks after he left a neighborhood child came to my door and said, "I think your cat is on my porch." We went over and it was him. We think he got spooked by a car or dog and ran across the street and did not know how to get home.

To you and your cat. I hope he comes back soon.

 

[mamacatnv]

My Aunts cat spent almost a month in the neighbors garage. It was not attached to their house and used for storage. We figure Sammy went in one day when the neighbor was doing yard work and got trapped. He was skinnier and thirsty but other than that no worse for wear.

However, and I hate to say it but I live in a coyote prone area. Cats that go missing have never come back.

 

[luvmylatte]

Don't lose hope. My cat was missing for 4 yrs. My husband was driving to the store one day and he looked out the window and saw a cat that looked very much like Muffy (my cat). Well, he stopped called to her and she was skittish, but when we went back to the house that night to talk to the people there they told us that she had come to their house 4yrs ago and was an outdoor cat who came around for food. They told us to take her back and I am happy to sya that my Muffy has been with us again for 2 yrs. now. She is very affectionate and always looks for attention. She is 17 yrs. old.

 

[laurie31]

We had a cat show up at our house on Christmas Eve. The cat looked well-fed and healthy, and the cat had a collar with his name, address, and phone number. We figured anyone who would put a tag with their contact info on their cat must love it very much.

(and for the record, we don't have such tags on our cats - they will not wear collars, we have tried. They are also indoor cats, but as we all know, doors open and cats move fast. We still love our cats very much. I just meant that we knew anyone who would take that step would certainly want the cat back).

Anyway, we called the number and got no answer. We presumed the owners must be out of town for the holidays. The next day WE went out of town, and when we came back, the cat was gone. We figured it went home.

In March, the cat was back. Again we tried the number; it turned out to be a bookstore. They said they hadn't had this number very long, but that's why no one answered on Christmas. So we googled the address and it was about 10 miles away (we were amazed that a cat could come so far, across several major highways, and still look so healthy). We drove to the house and the people were THRILLED. They said their cat had been missing for over a YEAR. They had given up hope. I still get all warm and fuzzy thinking about it.

So, OP, put up those posters and post notices in places like vet's offices, WalMarts, grocery stores, whereever lots of people go, and put them further away than you think you need to. Hopefully your kittie is out there safe and will come back to you.

 

[Carys]

We had a cat disappear for over 6 months when I was young. He came home fat and healthy. We think someone took him and kept him as a house cat. When he was finally able to "escape" he came home.

We had a cat disappear for about half a year, he came back one morning skinny, muscled and covered in oil like someone on a jailbreak - we think he got taken too but managed to find his way home like a little champion.

OP, don't give up hope!!

 

[Rafiki31]

I hat a cat that made a nest in my garage and he looked like a pet, clean and cute. We fed him for over two months, and he used a litter box and slept in a bed we made him. We could not get him to come near us. I put a "found" add in the paper and no one called. Eventually we found his owners, via a flyer at the local 7-11. When i called them, they came over immediately and as soon as he heard their voice he ran right over to them. It was a happy reunion! They send us xmas cards with their kids and cats on it.

 

[DarthKTrava]

I wish you luck in finding your kitty. About 7 yrs ago, a cat I had named Cleo disappeared for about 3 weeks. She came back, smelling of icky cigarette smoke. So someone had her in their house.

Recently I lost my muted Tortie, Rose and a neighbor lost her cat around the same time.

 

[kim929]

It was about 5 yrs ago out cat Midnight went out and never came back. It was the coldest 2 weeks in RI where it hardly reach 5 degrees. We posted signs, the kids went to a few neighbors houses, nobody saw her. We went to the shelter, gave them a pic, called daily to see if any cat came in matching her, nope. Then one night, my dh's ex was dropping the children off and this cat just walked up to the car and jumped in, it was midnight. She had been gone almost 3 weeks. Heres hoping you have a happy ending.

 

[3boymthr]

When I was young I lived on a farm where we had many cats. We had a calico go missing after getting sideswiped by a car. (And please no lectures about the indoor cat thing - she had hundreds of acres to roam - we had a neighbor across the street and then no neighbors for more than half mile in either direction; at the time it was not a heavily traveled road). We saw it happen but she ran into the woods and didn't come home. We searched the woods for her but couldn't find her so assumed the worst had happened. After three weeks she came home. She was thin and had to have surgery to repair her leg but she went on to live several more years after that.

We also had another cat that disappeared. She liked to climb the side of the house and peek in the windows and meow until we paid attention to her. One day she wasn't there. We looked/asked around but had no luck finding her. After months of not seeing her suddenly at dinner one night there was this little head peeking in the kitchen window. Like PPs we thought she might have been in someone's house. She was very very hungry and very very thin so we were more inclined think she might have gotten stuck in someone's shed or basement or barn.

 

[disneyhand]

My Sister In Law had a house cat that escaped when someone came to her door. The cat was gone for weeks, sorry I can't remember how many as this was years ago.
She put flyers up and looked every where, no luck. She lived in a huge condo development and would walk through it calling for the cat.
Anyway weeks later someone heard faint mewing in an outside common wall. They notified my SIL (from the info on the flyer!) and to make a long story short, they had to make an opening in the wall so my SIL could reach in and get the cat out. The cat was hungry, thirsty and skinny, but quickly recovered.
I never heard what happened with fixing the wall after the rescue, but it turns out the cat got in the wall while some repair work was being done. The cat got into the wall during the construction, then the wall was sealed up and the cat couldn't get out again.

Good luck with your search!

 

[buzz2400]

Thank you everyone for responding. I just needed some encouragement. I always think the worst and I am trying very hard to keep thinking positive. I am planning on going door to door this weekend and just seeing if anyone just took him in thinking he didn't have a home. Thanks again.

 

[Shmily1]

My friend from work's cat got out and was missing for 6 weeks. She is declawed and came home skinny and needing some medical attention, but has been happily back home with her "mama" for about 2 years. No telling where they go when they get out, but it seems they usually come back. Keep the faith that yours will too!

 

[robinb]

I hope your kitty comes home soon! One of my kitties was lost for about 2 months. He left a kitten and came back a cat, LOL! My neighbor's cat was also gone for about 4-6 weeks before he made it back home.

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

Bless your heart! We had a cat once that was missing for a couple of weeks and suddenly he was home. This happened to my sister a few years ago too and her cat was older.

Don't give up hope yet, I will praying for a safe return.