and has been for a week !
back story: I am on extended holiday in Germany, visiting my brother. A very reliable friend of mine has weekday cat sitting duties (including staying overnight) and my mother had weekends because she works and has all sorts of after work meetings. I also had a back up sitter.
My mother just called me and let me know that the cat ran away a week ago ! She had swapped duties with my friend because she was going away for a weekend. Pixel loves to roll on the concrete step, and I told her to let him, and then put him back in the apt. when he walked to the grass. Apparently, she was in a hurry, because she tried to pick him up while he was still rolling, he hissed, scratched, and took off. She hung up before I could get the full story, but I think she left shortly after that to be somewhere.
She told me she’s staying there at night and sleeping downstairs, but I don’t think she’d hear the cat if she was asleep, and there is no one there during the day.
I just don’t know what I can do …
That sucks. I know you’re feeling pretty helpless right about now. If I was your mom, I wouldn’t have told you till you came home. (and I’d be searching high and low for the kitty.) Can Pixel handle himself outdoors?
One time my boyfriend and I were cat-sitting for his mom and the cat ran away. It was gone for about a week when his mom came to visit to try to find her cat. She walked around the neighborhood, calling the cat’s name “Mango” and crying. I felt so bad for her. Then that night she set some food out on the windowsill and slept with the window open. I’ll be damned if that cat didn’t show up that night, she just jumped up on the windowsill and started to eat. The crunching of the kibbles woke up his mom, and she called the cat and the cat came inside. I believe that if she hadn’t come to stay with us and look for the cat, Mango probably would have never come back.
On the other hand, when I was little our cat disappeared for 8 days straight and just showed up one day, a little skinnier but no worse for wear.
I suggest that your cat-sitter leave out kibbles for your cat and also to go around the neighborhood calling the cat’s name. Very likely the cat is hiding nearby and is afraid to approach the stranger. She may come out of hiding when it’s safe to eat some kibbles. A trap might work too. My roommate lost her cat and rented a trap and caught her cat after about two nights. Best of luck to you.
He’s a pretty smart cat, but he’s used to being indoors.
He’s let himself out a couple of times (by opening a sliding screen door with his monkey paws), but he came back early the next morning one time, and just after midnight the second time.
My mom told me she’s sleeping over and staying downstairs, but I don’t think she’d hear him if she was asleep.
I am a little pissed at her for not telling me sooner, so I could try to arrange for someone to be there when she has to work.
What I’m worried about now is: what if he came home a few times and wasn’t able to get in ??
One thing that’s worked for me before was leave the front door open when someone is home*.
One of mine came waltzing back in after few hours.
Good luck. 
*If you have no other animals you are trying to keep in or out and feel safe doing it.
no other animals. Pixel was an only cat and insisted on keeping it that way. i’ve told my mother to keep the sliding glass door in back open a couple of inches (with a stick in the track so it won’t open further) even when no one is there and just crack the screen (he escaped by opening same screen door a couple of times) so hopefully, he will let himself back in.
I am also trying to arrange for more coverage of the homefront, but i’m still worried sick. He’s a dark cat and people drive much too fast on the local roads …
thanks for your sympathy and support and letting me vent.