[Closed] Cats been gone for 2 days, how long before I start worrying?

or maybe shut in a neighbors garage

I assume you've already asked all your neighbours?

I'd phone the vets and shelters now to be honest.

I'd call the shelters now - let them know to keep an eye out for him - is he chipped?

Judging by our own cats there's a good chance that he has got in somewhere and has been locked in - might be worth printing up some flyers and putting them through letter boxes in your street and those on either side.

Good luck, hope he turns up soon.

I assume you've already asked all your neighbours?

Not yet, will do tonight

I'd call the shelters now - let them know to keep an eye out for him - is he chipped?

Just called one shelter and no sign of him, and yes he is chipped.

Going to call all the local vets this afternoon.

Come Home Frankie!!!
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Awww, hope he's just trapped in someones house/garage somewhere. I'd be worrying after 1 night TBH - in decades of owning cats we only had one go missing for 2 days once.

Good luck with this one, if it's any comfort at all ours would go missing for 4 - 5 days at a time around this time of year because the baby bunny hunting season has just opened. We'd occasionally catch a sight of her belting across the playing field across from our house in full pursuit of dinner.

She would always come back after a few days, usually filthy but happy to be back. In my experience she'd always come in exactly 30seconds after you've put some nice clean white bed linen on the bed. Oh how we laughed as she trampled her filthy paws all over it....

It's spring. He's probably doing what all boy cats like to do...

One of ours once wandered back in - as if nothing had ever happened - 18 months after he left

Cats will be cats. If you live in a heavily populated area with busy roads, I can understand your concern. But I have had cats go missing for 5 days. Your comfort should come from the time of year and the weather. After months of cold weather, he is probably just out enjoying himself.

Good luck though.

Organic355

I would put posters up NOW.

Mention the Street you live in, if Frankie has a chip fitted, give them a call, some good advice here:

[url= http://www.catchat.org/lost.html ]http://www.catchat.org/lost.html[/url]

We went throught the same thing at the weekend, we lost our daughters new 10 month old kitten for two days!

We put notes through all our neighbour doors, some 80 odd flyers, plus signs on all the lamp posts on all the surround streets.

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We had lots of calls.

We heard him crying on Monday night at 2am in the morning to get in!

Fully fed, smelt of purfume, my guess is he was locked in somewhere.

Hopefully Frankie will do the same and find his way home soon.

Our cat buggered off for about 4 days a week or two ago - def something about this time of year - he's a boy as well. Had rung round all the vets/rescue centres etc, been round all our neighbours and were just about to make some posters. Came home and he was sat on the table looking pretty well fed and groomed - I reckon the cheeky ****er was in some old lady's house getting pampered.

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Our cat disappeard for a while, he was in the neighbours Transit van. Left them a couple of gifts too.

It's spring. He's probably doing what all boy cats like to do...

Hes been neutered!

Neutered tom - I'd be worried.

un-neutered, less so

Mine's been neutered too. I seem to remember he went missing for a few days at a similar time last year.

Cats are rubbish. Get a dog..........Or a Llama.

You'd better check spacemonkey's shed!

Hope he comes back, Are kitten is 7 months old now and has never been out and thats the way its staying but I hope you find him.. When he come's back then just keep him in so it doesnt happen again

Neutered or not, cats still go for a wander - especially this time of year. Remember also that cats have no loyalty to you whatsover - you are a mere slave. Most cats in poplulated areas will have a few hangout places where they get fed and fussed over.

Hope he turns up soon.

Still no sign of him, and not in neighbors garages 🙁

just done some posters.

Longest my boy Macleash has been away has been is about 9 days. He seems to do it once or twice a year.

So, yes be a bit worried, but also be aware that boy cats do wander and he'll probably just turn up in a day or two as if nothing has happened.

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I get worried if it's more than 6 hours 😐 This time of year does seem to make a difference - I've been having a lot of trouble getting one of mine in. Even though I know he's hungry he's been staying out much longer, I suspect it's the sudden warm weather we've been having - he's been grounded for a few days now.........cause I can't go to bed til the little ****er's in !

If you do any more posters, I would offer a reward - it will make kids more interested in looking for him.

Good luck.

Are kitten is 7 months old now and has never been out and thats the way its staying

That's just cruelty for an animal that is used to having a large territory and walking about in it. I know someone else who keeps their cats in, they seem to think they're happy but anyone looking from the outside in can see they're climbing the walls and desperate just to get out and have a little fun even though they've known nothing else since birth.

Any news?

That's just cruelty for an animal that is used to having a large territory and walking about in it.

I agree - cats love stalking around outside.

I thought Cats owned the Humans and trained them to feed them and look after them as and when they decide to go back to that particular slave .....

Far to many bees and other things to chase about at the moment.

I think thats how ours got into trouble.

organic355 - another thought, check with your Postie too, also have you had any delivery vans recently, when I worked the vans, I had a extra delivery to return back to his home once 😉

Hope he comes back soon...

UPDATE!!! he's back!!!!!

I am away on business but the wife and the inlaws went out looking for hours today and put up loads of posters.
Didnt find anything so the wife went back out after tea. Went back to the spot we found him a few weeks ago and there he was stalking rabbits!!!

He's totally fine and has a pot belly (rabbit not worms I hope), still didn't stop him devouring 2 packets of whiskas and a tin of tuna fish though!!

In his usual spot on his puffee sleeping it off, until next time I guess? And will I get as worried next time? Of course!!! :-))

Ps thanks for all the support and advice!

God knows what I will be like when ihave kids!!!

Nice one!

My sister lost her cat for 5 days - then he sauntered back.

That's just cruelty for an animal that is used to having a large territory and walking about in it.
I agree - cats love stalking around outside.

if you look on US cat forums (I was searching for advice on a cat issue I had at the time) they are very down on cats being allowed out - they regard it as being cruel and dangerous for the cat, and seem to spend loads building runs and stuff for them

very odd

Good news!
Ours keep coming back with a big belly but still nag for more food when they get in too!

Result!

Thank God for that.

Personally, I thought he'd gone to Hollywood.........

Not Hollywood, but if you could see him now frankie would be most definitely saying "RELAX" 🙂

Pleased to hear he's back. I'll tell you my story now! We had a tabby which was a bit feral, lived in the house but was even more independent than most cats. Anyway she went missing for 4 nights then finally appeared...with a rabbit snare around her middle! We cut it off & took her to the vet who checked her out & said she seemed ok, a few days later she was laid in the sun & my dad noticed a problem, the skin round her stomach had split wide open! Back to the vet again, he couldn't even stitch the wound as it was dead skin from being tightly snared so he bandaged her up as best he could & gave us some powder to sprinkle on. She made a full recovery but ever since then she'd have your hand off if you tried to tickle her belly!
Talk about nine lives, that was one out the way. She was 18 when she died.

Yay. That is all.

well that's a hearty sigh of relief in the BigG household. Always glad to hear of a safe return. The perfect excuse for a dram and a cigar. I salute you and your errant moggy.

G

Change the cats name to Sharki.

That's just cruelty for an animal that is used to having a large territory and walking about in it. I know someone else who keeps their cats in, they seem to think they're happy but anyone looking from the outside in can see they're climbing the walls and desperate just to get out and have a little fun even though they've known nothing else since birth

Cruelty.. Not sure about that, I live on a main road and the fact that some little chav in his mum's Clio going to fast isn't going to stop and my twin girls pet get stuck under the wheels, and would you leave £400 on the street for the same little chav to pick up and take home, I don't think so, so with that in mind he can stay in and be safe, loved and not flat!!! NICE

"Change the cats name to Sharki."

I don't get it?

Fergal sharki?

"Change the cats name to Sharki."

I don't get it?

Fergal sharki?

"Change the cats name to Sharki."

I don't get it?

Fergal sharki?

The joys of posting from a phone on a train!!!^^

is 3 times enough?

Cruelty.. Not sure about that, I live on a main road and the fact that some little chav in his mum's Clio going to fast isn't going to stop and my twin girls pet get stuck under the wheels, and would you leave £400 on the street for the same little chav to pick up and take home, I don't think so, so with that in mind he can stay in and be safe, loved and not flat!!! NICE

It's not a toy, it's an animal. Animals have needs. A nice warm flat is not one of them. Maybe you should have thought twice about paying £400 for a cat when you live near a main road. If you can't provide it with the correct environment you shouldn't have one. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I genuinely disagree with keeping cats in, even if it is in misplaced protectiveness.

I have to agree it is wrong to keep cats trapped in houses and flats. I used to cat sit for 3 such cats and they would sit in the windows longing to go out. When the owner moved to a 'safer' area they were finally allowed into the garden and were ecstatic. After that, they would wait by the door each morning crying to be let out. The trouble is, humans can play music, watch TV, read etc. but even then we get house-bored. Thing how much worse it is for a cat that needs scents and sounds and interaction with other cats. Sometimes you can destroy something from trying to be too kind and caring and from loving it too much.

Re USA cat owners - it is apparently common for cats claws to be removed to protect the furniture from scratches. This was suggested to someone by a visiting American at a meeting in this country and there was very, very, shocked and stony silence all around the table...!

The joys of having a house cat. Our cat has never ever ever ventured more than 50yds from our house in 14yrs. She will play in the garden and stalk the fence. She may even venture out when we are playing outside but always near the house.

I must admit to not showing her much affection but its always me who she comes to at night when i take my stinking socks off and she cuddles in to warm my feet whilst i watch telly. Its always me who finds his clothes covered in cat hair because she has sneaked into my wardobe to cuddle my clothes. I dont buy this cats dont love their owners thing. One of my neighbours actually tried to tempt my cat away. We found her trying to entice my cat into her house with tasty titbits. My cat looked at her as though she were scum, turned and walked back in the house 🙂

Cruelty.. Not sure about that, I live on a main road and the fact that some little chav in his mum's Clio going to fast isn't going to stop and my twin girls pet get stuck under the wheels, and would you leave £400 on the street for the same little chav to pick up and take home, I don't think so, so with that in mind he can stay in and be safe, loved and not flat!!! NICE

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My cat looked at her as though she were scum, turned and walked back in the house

LOL class, cats are great at doing that. We humans know our place 😉

Hers the little bugger, relaxing last night after his adventures!!!!
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Woo!

I do like a happy ending 🙂

if you look on US cat forums (I was searching for advice on a cat issue I had at the time) they are very down on cats being allowed out - they regard it as being cruel and dangerous for the cat, and seem to spend loads building runs and stuff for them

Tis true. They are convinced that any cat let outside will be instantly flattened. My wife wanted to keep an indoor cat but I would not have it. We live in a cul-de-sac which backs onto another cul-de-sac which in turn is near a dual carriageway - about 1/4 mile away. It's within cats territories in theory but there are loads of other cats there too, and a great big area of woodland full of bunnies on THIS side of the road. So I thought he'd be safe. My wife was terrified for him, and even suggested getting him de-clawed which made me sick to my stomach.

He's been fine for three years now, and seeing him really loving his life as an outside cat has mellowed my wife a lot. Cats in the US (in my experience) are often wretched messed up little things, which I suspect could be due to their incarceration.

On the subject of feline road safety though, I do have a theory. I saw loads and loads of dead cats by the roadside when cycling in the US, and I don't think I've ever seen one here. So I wonder if the cat population being predominantly outside here over the years has led to natural selection of road-safe cats?

Pleased to hear you got your cat back !!

Re de-clawing - it's not so bad - I had to keep my cat in for a couple of months when housesitting. She hated it and took her revenge on the furniture so I clipped her claws. It's like cutting fingernails really doesn't hurt them at all. And she likes cuddles and any contact so let me do it. The claws fall out routinely anyway I find them around the house and in her basket.

However you do need to let them grow back before they go outside as they can't defend themselves.

Cats are b@stards and dont give a second thought for those who love them and look after them. Bit like teenagers in that respect.

lol @ bigyinn - fortunately our tweenager is developing emotionally and loves to be affectionate with them... don't think they're so keen but that's the price they have to pay for a warm house, food, water

Hels - you are clipping claws, that's ok. De-clawing means amputating the ends of their toes at the last knuckle.....

And btw those claws you find lying around are the outer layers of claws which renew from the inside a bit like snakes skin.. not the actual claws falling out. It's why they scratch trees and posts and whatnot - it sharpens their claws by encouraging the dull outer layers to fall off.

Re de-clawing - it's not so bad - I had to keep my cat in for a couple of months when housesitting. She hated it and took her revenge on the furniture so I clipped her claws. It's like cutting fingernails really doesn't hurt them at all. And she likes cuddles and any contact so let me do it. The claws fall out routinely anyway I find them around the house and in her basket.

However you do need to let them grow back before they go outside as they can't defend themselves.

I could be wrong, but what they are talking about is in the States they are removing the whole nail, so it never grows back.

[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onychectomy ]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onychectomy[/url]

Wow, I did not know it was illegal in the UK. It's not removing the whole nail, it's removing the entire end of the toe. Like some chopping off the ends of all your fingers to suit themselves.

cats do love their owners - mine are like babies sometimes with me (and there is plenty of food in the bowel so they are not looking to get fed)

I'm moving out soon (separating from wife) - I'm going to miss those little buggers 😥

There is a cat round here that will sit back well away from the main road, and won't cross until it is clear 🙂 Sits there for several minutes sometimes as its a busy two lane one way system.

Since he got run over, ours sits on the pavement and looks both ways before crossing the road now!

Glad he's back - they do like to wander. Independent little blighters.

Glad to hear your cat mad it home. happy ending 🙂

Though, I can't believe the attitude of UK cat owners to letting their pet roam the countryside decimating the local wildlife (and don't kid yourself, that's exactly what he/she will be up to a lot of the time!). Back home in Oz, if a cat is out in the wild it's normally considered feral and fair game for a shot from the .22 sorry to say... I've taken out a fair few myself, in truth I don't think I've ever shot a pet, certainly not one with a collar, but who knows really?

Glad yours came back too.

Back home in Oz, if a cat is out in the wild it's normally considered feral and fair game for a shot from the .22

Savages. Why shoot them, they only hunt rats and birds don't they? 😐

My cat is far too lazy to catch anything.

Savages. Why shoot them, they only hunt rats and birds don't they?

You're joking right??

smokey brings back squirrels and stashes them in the cellar for future eating...

Thing is psychle, there's always been cat-type carnivores in the British Isles, so the native prey animals have some knowledge about how to avoid them (quolls in Australia aren't really on the same level)
Anyway, everybody knows that Fluffy and Tigger (etc) only go after guilty animals that deserve to die 🙂

You're joking right??

Nope, what harm do they do?

In Australia, grum, cats are rather too efficient predators for the local wildbirds and marsupials.

Fair enough - my cat could certainly never be described as an efficient predator, and my old cats only ever killed rats and occasionally rabbits.

One of our Siamese dissapeared for three weeks once. I had done everything I could and eventually got round to cancelling his insurance. Two days later I got a call from a vet 4 miles across the city. He had plotted himself around a particular street and just decided to stay, seems some of the locals started feeding him and he was happy enough. Eventually someone must have thought he had an owner somewhet and took him to the vets who called me. Needless to say I was over the moon.

My cat was a fairly good birder, but on the other hand, in doing so she saved many innocent insects from their murderous unforgiving beaks...

(I'm learning by her example and am off on a mission to save countless millions of marine zooplankton... yes, I'm off to kill a blue whale) 🙂

(I'm learning by her example and am off on a mission to save countless millions of marine zooplankton... yes, I'm off to kill a blue whale) 🙂

😆

Yuck no - didn't know that ! De-clawing bad, claw clipping OK, I have it now.

My cat can't spend 5 minutes inside at the moment, I think territory wars are kicking off. I have the vet on standby, and my big bottle of squirty water for when I have to join in. Have to say I quite enjoy driving out the barbarian invaders.

We have 2 house cats. One is an aging lady who had access to the outdoors but didn't really like it, she prefers to curl up in little hiding places. The other is a young male from a rescue centre. He'd been hit by a car and had shattered his pelvis. He dragged himself off the road and was taken to the vet. The owner was located but refused to admit it was there's as they didn't want the extensive bill. He also lost a large patch of fur on his back from burns - either from the exhaust or friction from being dragged. The vet said he should be a house cat for his own safety, firstly as he wasn't fast on his feet (he couldn't walk for 3 months but made a full recovery in this area) and secondly because he has a high chance of skin cancer due to the bald patch, or being victimised apparently, as he looks a bit odd. Being the sucker I am we took him in 🙂 he's a bit of a shitbag tbh, scratching the leather sofa! But he has his moments

Glad he's back - they are a nightmare when they decide to do this.

It does settle down <i>eventually</i>, and this time of year is perfect for a young, fit male cat to be wandering about, neutered or otherwise. He'll have been asleep in the sun somewhere safe for most of his time out tho' - you know what they are like.

😉

My neighbours and I have a kinda conspiracy to limit the speed of 'new' drivers: It's odd how some people don't seem to be able to park very well at all outside their houses of an evening, or don't secure their garden timmings very well, so a stuff just seems to fall out of the boot on the way to the recycling centre and into the road - stranger still is why nobody picks it up for ages.

I know what you mean re drivers - I live in a 20mph zone too.

Not sure if I would get away with leaving shite on the roads to slow them down tho ! Perhaps a few dead dogs might do it.