# One of my cats is missing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 12, 2009, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290 "2009-11-12T06:26:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/1 "2009-11-12T06:26:26Z")
The little boy, Declan, is missing. He’s not in the house anywhere, so he must have slipped outside this morning when I left. I just noticed an hour ago and have spent the last hour cyring and looking for him. It’s not that cold, so he should be ok in terms of that. I am just afraid he won’t come home, that he is lost. He is a young, neutered male. Declan is one of my links to Rick. We kept him because of Rick’s diagnosis, so he could be of comfort to us. This year has been so hard. I cna’t stand to lose more. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/2 "2009-11-12T06:54:41Z")
Make “missing” posters and plaster them every place you can. Put up notices everywhere you can think of. Four years ago, my 18-year-old disappeared, and it took me almost 3 weeks to get him back. He had lost a lot of weight, but was otherwise healthy, and lived to be over 20. Don’t give up. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/3 "2009-11-12T07:38:16Z")
Oh no! ☹ I’m so sorry to hear that, but I hope you find him soon! Hang in there (and don’t hesitate to put up posters, as **panache45** says!), and with any luck he’ll turn up before too long and none the worse for wear. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/4 "2009-11-12T07:42:39Z")
I had this happen to me recently. One of our cats got out in the morning. Our other cats never leave the back yard, even when left out all day. I figured this one was no different, so I said screw it and left him out there. Hours later, I forgot I had left him out, so I went out there expecting to find him hanging out in the back yard. Nope. He was gone. I wandered the neighborhood calling his name for 4 hours… up and down every street several times. I peeked into as many back yards as I could, calling his name. I sat in my back yard and called his name over and over. Nothing. My wife was pissed and we were both sad. We went to make lost signs to post around. Just before starting to post the signs, we went to check the back yard one more time. He was just sitting there as if nothing had happened. He was a little dirty with some cobwebs, so he must have been hanging out under the neighbor’s house. He probably heard me calling his name and decided to ignore me because his little adventure was more interesting. Hope it turns out for you. Hopefully, he is on a little adventure, gets hungry, and comes home. ---
**Author:** ![meenie7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@meenie7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meenie7)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/5 "2009-11-12T08:20:26Z")
Oh no ☹ I really hope he comes home soon, but (even though I know it’s super hard) try not to panic – one of our kitties was gone once for nine days, in the middle of winter (with one of those days featuring an 18-inch snowfall) and he came home, no worse for wear, and is still with us. I hope Declan is also just fine, and that you don’t have to wait that long to see him again. ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/6 "2009-11-12T10:37:09Z")
> [@meenie7](#): > > Oh no ☹ > > I really hope he comes home soon, So do I. Check the local vets and shelters, a neutered and tame cat will probably find someone to ask for food and if that someone is responsible they will try to find the owners. One of my cats once left for 16 days, she returned thin but healthy. I’m sure your cat will return too. Is he chipped or tattooed? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/7 "2009-11-12T11:47:17Z")
Cat’s are pretty resilient. No need to worry too much yet. Here’s hoping he finds his way home soon! Someone just posted this advice on my local Craigslist/pets: > [@](#): > > As soon as you find out your kitty is missing, put food out near your house to keep your cat near you (they usually don’t wander far if not spooked). Call the Humane’s Society or a rescue group, see if they have a live trap you can rent or borrow. If they do not have one, TSC-Tractor Supply Company (Hanover, PA) has them for sale. Use Wendy’s chicken or KFC chicken as bait. For some reason, they love it. Put “ALOT” of flyers out. On the flyers, put the kitty’s name and where it was lost. Put as much info on it as you can. Pictures help. Put the flyers in a clear plastic sleeve (you can get them at Walmart or any office supply store, put the flyer in, then flip the open side so it is on the bottom and tape the bottom shut), so if you are posting them on poles this way they will not get wet. Put the flyers in mailboxes. The more people know, the better chance you will get a call that they have seen your kitty. As time goes on and your kitty has not come home, put the flyers out farther as your kitty might have travelled farther away from your home. Check everyday where you put your flyers, people have a tendency of tearing them down. If you get a trap, do not leave it alone. If possible sit in your car while watching it. Cats are known to not show their face during the day so you have a better chance of spotting it during the evening. Put an Ad in the paper about your lost pet. Call all the vets around you and also the SPCA & Humane’s Society every day. Even if they say they will call you, still call them (Due to the SPCA & Humane’s Society get so many animals in). Check their website. If someone finds your kitty, they might not drop it off at the humane’s society around you if the person does not live around your area. I know Carroll County Humane’s Society has received animals from Baltimore County. They have a website they update everyday with pictures of the animals that were turned in. Check Craigslist under Pets as someone might have found your pet and are searching for you. If you are pro-active, you have a better chance of getting it back. I hope this helps you reunite with your furry family. > > Someone also passed some information that I want to pass along to you that might help you find your pet (I don’t receive any $$ recommending anyone, I am just passing information on to other people that might be able to help them). > > [Findtoto.com](http://Findtoto.com) (calls people for you) > > [petamberalert.com](http://petamberalert.com) - sends flyers to all vet clinics, shelters, etc in a 50 mile radius. > > [www.dogsfindingdogs.com](http://www.dogsfindingdogs.com/) - They will track cats & dogs. > > - For family’s that have lost their pet and it has been awhile. Please please please check out all Humane Society’s, SPCA’s website (not just your area) (daily!) as they update their websites and your pet could possibly be there. \* ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/8 "2009-11-12T12:51:52Z")
No Declan this morning. I left the garage open in hopes of luring him back. Walked around the neighborhood with no luck. Now I am going out again to put flyers on mailboxes. I hate this. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/9 "2009-11-12T13:03:52Z")
Found! Limping. Taking him to vet asap. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/10 "2009-11-12T13:08:26Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Found! Limping. Taking him to vet asap. Hooray! Here’s hoping the limp is a minor thing. ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/11 "2009-11-12T13:19:46Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Found! Limping. Taking him to vet asap. Glad you found him! ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/12 "2009-11-12T13:40:08Z")
So glad you found him! My Angel went missing for a few days…we thought she’d gotten out, though that was improbable…we live on the top floor of the house, and the cats aren’t allowed downstairs. Searched, did flyers…turned out she had gotten down in the basement and just hid. She’s usually a talker, and klutzy, and we were down the basement several times and she never made a peep. Once a day in the early morning my mom would hear meowing, but thought it was coming from outside her window. Finally she meowed when I was around…but that was three days! The basement stairs are open…she cold have come up anytime for food or water, but she didn’t. She’s not the brightest bulb on the tree, but she’s cute. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/13 "2009-11-12T13:48:37Z")
**Brynda** - I’m glad you found him! I was going to offer to come over and help you look. What did the vet say? StG ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/14 "2009-11-12T14:04:53Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Found! Hooray. Poor kitty, let’s hear what the vet say. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/15 "2009-11-12T14:26:22Z")
Back from the vet. He has tiny puncture wounds consistent with cat fights. He got a pain med shot (lucky cat) and anti-biotic shot to prevent abcess. Otherwise, he seems fine. I am sooo relieved. St G, if he hadn’t gone missing at midnight, I would have taken you up on that offer. Luckily, jsgoddess was still up, so at least I had someone to worry with. But looking for a black cat in the dark is the very definition of futility. I think he has learned his lesson about slipping out. He is now in kitty rehab (bathroom to segregate him from his hissing sisters, canned food, fresh water, soft beach towel). ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/16 "2009-11-12T14:38:51Z")
Don’t be so sure. My indoor kitty recently escaped and was gone for a week, and he clearly did NOT have a rollicking good time. When we got him back he was skinny, dehydrated, exhausted, and clearly traumatized. For three days after he came home, he wanted nothing other than to sleep, and preferably to be held while he did. He was so tired he wouldn’t even get down on the floor to eat or drink, I literally held cups of water for him to drink from in my lap for days. For the past week, every time I open the door, he tries to run out. Cats are not smart. I’m glad your Declan is home! ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/17 "2009-11-12T15:24:08Z")
I’m so glad Declan came home! I almost cried when I read your OP. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/18 "2009-11-12T15:37:52Z")
I’m so glad he’s back! Watch that wound carefully. One of my cats got bit by a dog (she got in the middle of a dog spat) and despite immediate vet care the puncture wound abcessed and she was in real danger. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/19 "2009-11-12T19:06:18Z")
I will definitely watch him and his wound closely. It was such an awful feeling worrying about him. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290/20 "2009-11-12T20:23:17Z")
That’s a relief! Good to hear there was a happy ending. Give the lucky kitty a hug and a belly rub for me! 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-my-cats-is-missing/517290.md?page=2)