My kitty is missing! I fear the worst.

[Wcross]

He ran out the door last night when I let the dogs out. I live in a rural area and I fear a critter got him or one of my own dogs (even though they have lived as a group for the past six months). I haven't found any trace of remains in the immediate area but if a coyotee got him there would be nothing close by. (I have seen coyote's in the area) Also, the dogs were going nuts last night howling and barking for a while last night, I am thinking it was due to a coyote in the area.
How long should I keep looking for him before I have to assume the worst? His twin brother has been sitting by the front door all morning watching and waiting for his return.

One thing is for sure, I am going to be doing some coyote hunting tonight.

[auntAgonist]

1. I hope your cat comes home!!

I fear for my Rogue every time I open the door. He makes a run for it. I've tried leashing him and taking him out in the snow to show him just how cold it is, but he still has that wanderlust.

good luck!!

[Jersey Devil]

47. I had a cat who left for 2 years and then came in like nothing happened

He was a cat who went out (fixed) and one day he never came home. We looked all over for him but never found him. About two years later he came trotting in the kitchen door like nothing happened, looked for his bowl (another cat was using it), ate, drank, then took a nap and stayed for the rest of his life.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. Oh no!!!!!!!!!!

Kitty prayer vibes your way!

[paula777]

3. He could be hiding ... keep calling him ... the first couple of days

a cat goes missing is crucial. As times goes by they can wander further and further away if they are lost. CALL him, walk the area, do it NOW. I am talking from experience

[Wcross]

4. I will do so....

I walked the treeline this morning calling out to him and brought along all six of the dogs (they have a knack for spotting animals). I didn't see anything. I am lucky in that I don't have any neighbors so I won't be worried about looking foolish yelling out "here kitty". He has gotten out before but always came back within a couple of hours- its been 18 hours right now.

[paula777]

6. I'm so sorry .... it's so terrifying. I really hope you find him!

[barb162]

5. put some food out altho I fear you will attract the coyote. Perhaps

a better idea would be to put something of his or YOURS outside with YOUR scent so he knows and can smell where he lives and comes back. He can be up a tree or elsewhere hiding and afraid to come back because of the coyote.

They can easily be gone over a week so don't give up. Depending on the wind direction put some scented clothes of yours around your property so he knows where he lives.

[Wcross]

7. THANKS!

I hadn't thought of that. I will put some stuff out that he has slept on.
I WANT to attract the coyote though, I am off to the sporting goods store to buy a "wounded rabbit" call and a red lens cover for my spotlight. I fear if it did eat the cat, it will be back and try to take one of my other pets. (the other kitty is a homebody and has never really liked the outside).

[commander bunnypants]

8. man

good luck and hope kitty comes home

CB

[ET Awful]

9. Oh no! I hope he comes home safe :(

Poor guy :cry:

[barb162]

10. also I don't know if you have a sherriff or police dept nearby or vets

or a humane society or what but someone could have picked up your cat and your cat could be sitting in one of those places right now. You probably want to call these places and tell them the description of your cat or better yet give a picture. Please let me or us know what happens.

[Baja Margie]

11. Tales of Coyotes

Did you hear the coyote, you can usually hear them yipping. When we lived out in the country, Tabby the atomic kitten (because she was huge) was attacked by a coyote, and got away. She had dragged herself up the embankment and I thought for sure she was a goner. Get this, she clamped down so hard on the guy that she (this is gross) ripped her teeth and part of her gums out. She did recover.

On a brighter note, sometimes Emily stays away for days, then returns. Bandit used to drive me crazy staying away on hunting sprees when he was younger. Your kitty might be in a hunting mode. Let us know what happens.

[Wcross]

12. He is a little hunter

He is always catching mice and that type of stuff. He is only about 8 months old so maybe he is just being a cat. (I hope).
I didn't hear a coyote last night but have seen them around. I think the only reason my dogs haven't been attacked is they run in a pack of six so a coyote would probably avoid the trouble.

[Baja Margie]

22. I don't think coyotes attack dogs, but I might be wrong.

Maybe a tiny dog. They will always just about yip, what that is,is that they are calling their pack over when they scavenging.


Come home kitty !

[MADem]

13. Look VERY CLOSE TO YOUR HOUSE

I had an indoor cat go missing for two days--the little fart scampered around in the yard and back woods, then hid under the deck for a couple of days, whilst I was searching far and wide in vain. If you have any bushes, a low deck or porch, cellar window wells, and so on, those are attractive hiding places for a cat trying to avoid a coyote. Don't overlook these spots. Get down low, and think like a cat!

Also, if your roof is accessible, the little tiger might be up there....

Good luck, it's a hellish feeling, I know.

[sleepyhead]

21. Yes, runaway cats tend to stay close to home.

Unlike dogs, who just take off and run, cats do tend to find a nearby place and settle in there. Often after a short while, they will just mysteriously appear (they are very good at hiding in plain sight). Keep looking in your immediate vicinity. And good luck.

[Renew Deal]

14. Don't forget to check the local pound and/or shelters.

Also check neighbors.

[HEAVYHEART]

15. Go for a walk

Sometimes, my indoor/outdoor cat would be gone for a few days. I'd go out for a walk in my neighborhood calling out his name and he eventually comes out of nowhere and follows me home. Try it.. I hope you find your cat soon. :hug:

[noonwitch]

16. Do you have an electric can opener?

Stand on your porch and turn it on. Sometimes that sound will bring the kitty home.

[Patiod]

18. My SO bangs her bowl with a fork

Works better than me yelling "Little! Little!"

[giant_robot]

19. LOL.

That used to work on the cat my mom had when I was a kid. Nowadays, catfood comes in pop-top cans. That's why my cat comes running when I open a can of Cambell's tomato soup.

[Patiod]

17. What a scary feeling

Hope you find the kitty. They are pretty tough little creatures for their size.

I know I shouldn't let the Little out - she stays away from the street, but I worry about the feral cat colony that lives in the back of the property and things like AIDS and leukemia (had to bring her to the vet after she got into a fight with one of them). But it's a small apartment, and a big wide property, and she lays in front of the door at the bottom of the stairs and cries....

[ekhunter]

20. same thing happened to my cat. he was missing for about a week.

one morning he was waiting by the door to get in. if your cat has his claws he should be ok in the outdoors for a while. hope he finds you soon.

[Wcross]

23. He has his claws....

I would never alter nature to fit my needs. So what if the furniture takes a beating?

[ekhunter]

24. so at least he will be able to climb a tree if he is in any danger.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

25. Good luck! I hope kitty returns

You must feel so agonized and terrified right now. My cats and I will send positive vibes your way.

[curse10]

26. My kitty escaped a couple months ago

we live in Boston, not a rural area, and it was super scary. He finally came back late that night. Hungry, but otherwise okay.

Cats have an amazing ability to find their way home.

[motely36]

27. When I was a kid, we had an indoor cat go missing

He disappeared for about a month. Then one day he just showed up. We let him in the house and his mother swatted him across the nose and walked away. It was the funniest thing.

I hope your cat shows up soon. A missing pet can be a hard thing :)

[Wcross]

28. He came HOME!

He came runing in with the dogs this morning. I guess I was worried about nothing? I haven't had a cat before and wasn't aware that they go off for that long. I thank you all for the advice and thoughts!

[Bridget Burke]

29. Congratulations!

No, you weren't worried "for nothing." Coyotes are definitely a danger in some areas.

[GreenPartyVoter]

30. Phew! Me, I keep mine in all the time because I have lost too many

over the years.

*hugs*

------------------------------------------------------
Election reform can help save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[Wcross]

32. I try to keep them in.....

but these little critters are quick!

[GreenPartyVoter]

33. Yes, they are. Esp when you have doggies going in and out and the speed

of molasses.

------------------------------------------------------
Election reform can help save this country!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[11 Bravo]

31. Thank goodness! I was afraid Bill Frist might have paid you a visit.

n/t

[Patiod]

34. (OT) How weird is it to be a first-time cat owner

after years and years of dogs?

It took A LOT of getting used to. They don't come when they're called! Also, why can't they stay on the floor where they belong, like the dachshund does?

I even called the vet's office once and said I thought something was wrong with her because she was hopping sideways with her back hunched up and her tail puffed out - could it be epilepsy? The receptionist laughed and said "you've never had a cat before, have you?"

[Wcross]

36. Oh boy, the crazy cat shuffle!

It has been weird. The day I found the guys at the side of the road I brought them home thinking the dogs would kill them. To my suprise the dogs really like them. I have also found that cats make some odd sounds for no reason. Oh, playtime is always 2am and its loud.

[Cuban_Liberal]

43. Guilty as charged.

I'd never had a cat, until Paddy and I moved in together. Boy, does it take some getting used to.

:)

[barb162]

44. and what was she looking at at the time she was doing this? The dog?

Actually a lot of cats come when they hear a catfood can opening. Whenever I wanted this one cat to come to me, I took a teaspoon and banged it lightly on a cat food can.

[Lisa0825]

35. I'm happy for you!!!

When my kitty was missing for just a few hours, I was in tears!

[Wcross]

37. He was gone for 36 hours!

I was just about to give up on him. Imagine my suprise when he re-appeared.

[liontamer]

39. yay!!!

you weren't worried for nothing. better luck keeping him indoors next time

[barb162]

41. I am so glad!! But let me tell you, I hope you don't let the cat out

anymore because coyotes WILL kill cats. The other thing is, when cats get scared and start running sometimes they will run so far they lose the scent of their house and that is when they really get lost. As in lost for good. But I am SO DARN HAPPY FOR YOU and YOUR KITTY. Please give that pussycat a hug for me.

[yardwork]

42. I'm so happy!

My cats used to go off on a toot every spring and fall.

[LisaM]

45. Yay!

I was scrolling down and it was like reading a story. I'm so glad he's back!

[paula777]

38. I am so happy you found your boy .... whew

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

40. I'm so happy - good news for a change!!

I'll bet you're giving him lots of extra hugs today!

[CornField]

46. Our cat went on a vacation for more than six months

We had just moved to our current home and the cat got out the back door. (That was October.) Throughout the winter my daughter kept saying that she and her friends saw the cat here or there. Honestly, we didn't believe her.

Then, in May of the next year, we came home and our cat was sitting on the front steps, wanting inside. She was thin and had some really horrible hair issues, but overall still healthy.

Cats are pretty remarkable. Best wishes.

[RagingInMiami]

48. I think Miss Kitty had your kitty