My cat is lost and I feel awful

All,

I can't think real clearly right now because one of my cats is lost, and I'm getting very worried.  She's been missing once before, when some local college students thought she was a stray and took her home with them over Thanksgiving Break.  Now she's missing again, and the kids are all leaving town for the summer.  I was upbeat earlier today - she'd been gone less than 24 hours, and I posted signs, but the more time that passes, the more worried and sad I am that someone's taken her out of town and I'll never see her again.

I've gone all through the neighbor calling and watching all the windows I pass to see if she leaps up into one from inside, but no luck.  I've called outside everyone's garages and storage sheds - the other cat got herself locked in the neighbor's garage overnight once, so I always check for that.

I'm also afraid, with all the kids moving, that in her love for people, my cat wandered into an open apartment as folks were moving out and they didn't see her and locked her in a vacant apartment.  I have visions of her starving to death or dying of thirst close by, and I don't know where she is to rescue her.

I don't think the dog warden got her because she went missing yesterday evening, and they don't come around at night.

So I'm sinking fast and just not feeling real chipper over the thought of really having lost her for good.  The only consolation is that I'm not yet catastrophizing into envisioning her caught in a trap out in the woods and starving, etc., but it's bound to come if no one responds to my signs soon.

Pray that someone sends her home.  She really is a sweet, friendly, wonderful thing, and I need her in my life.

percycat

Percy

No sinking now, I have a firm grip on your anchor.  Our cats have gone missing, one for 3 days and then all of a sudden she was back.  So don't give up hope.

I understand how you feel as I love my pets and they are part of the family but don't give up.  I will say prayers for the return of your sweet cat.

Warm hugs to you.
Luvs
Kitt

Percy,

I'm so sorry that your cat is lost.  I've got a dog and would be devastated if he went missing.  Have you heard anything today?  You hang in there and try not to think the worst.  Keep us posted!

Percy

Saw your post and really felt for you. I have all my fingers and toes crossed that she will turn up. I have always had cats and currently my 3 little babies are not living with me so I know how you feel but thinking good thoughts for you.

As others have said they often wander off and then just turn up as if nothing has happened so hopefully she may do this. Do not give up just yet, they can be very mischievous little devils sometimes. One of my previous cats went missing for 3 days and turned up fine as if everything was normal.

Try your best not to think the worst yet. Also, is she microchipped, did she have her name and your details on her on a collar or anything.

Thinking of you and please keep us updated.

Take care

Honey Bee
(actually Honey Bee is the name of one of my cats)

Post Edited (Honey Bee) : 5/9/2008 3:16:05 AM (GMT-6)

Hey Percy Cat,

I am hoping your kitty is home by now too.  I have cats and a dog and they are family to me so I know how you are feeling.  I had to put one of my dogs to sleep in November and I cried for days as she was truly my special friend and had helped me on many days when I was down.  I love the one dog we have left but she has always been more my hubbies although she likes to take a nap with me..............

My prayers are with you and pets are such wonderful therapy.

Hugs
Kitt

Thanks all for the kind wishes.

She's not back yet, and I really feel that one of the local college students took her home when they moved out for the summer. She adores people and knows more of my neighbors than I do, so she's quite engaging and would be tempting to adopt if you thought she was homeless.

My last effort will be to contact the landlords of two nearby apartment complexes and see if they'll send flyers to all their tenants' homes (I'll pay). My nextdoor neighbor also suggested that I check the local rescue shelters to see if someone turned her in - I had thought of the public dog catcher/pound, but not private shelters.

I feel guilty because I hadn't put her collar on her yet this spring, and I haven't had either of them microchipped. I never did the chips because so few people in this area think about checking for that when they find a stray, and I didn't expect it to do much good. But in all my "what if" thinking, I've thought that if she crawled into someone's car and they somehow (?!) didn't notice until miles down the road, that if she escaped somewhere far away and was taken to a shelter, the chip would help bring her home.

I haven't given up hope yet, but it's fading. I'll keep you all posted, and thanks for you concern.

percycat

Percy,

Our cat did the same thing...............don't beat yourself up over the collar.  We are in the country and our cats roam down the line and play but they head for home most of the time before it is dark so they can get into their beds and food.

Good idea to check with tennants in the buildings as well as the flyer.

Bless you
Kitt

Percy, I had to tell you a funny story that was heartwrenching at the time. I went on vacation for a couple of weeks and asked my friends to check in with my two cats. One of them got out and went missing for three weeks. I was a basket case during those three weeks - put up posters, contacted the ASCPA, you name it. Wouldn't you know, I got a call randomly one afternoon from a nice lady on the other side of town: "Do you have a cat that's been hanging around eating my dog's leftovers all week? He's getting fat."

Of course, it was my beloved kitty. He is still with me now, five years after that incident. I hope you get a happy surprise from this...the lovely and safe return of your kitty. Please keep us updated.

Hi percycat

That sounds more positive from you which is good to hear even though your beloved little cat is not home. As I mentioned before they are funny little things and we often do not know where they are going or where they have been.

They are little 'tarts' (if you know what I mean) when they want to be and are quite happy to have more than one home if they are being fed and fussed in more than one place.

I know it would break your heart if she does not come back to you but it is highly likely she is living with someone else as you say and getting very well fed on it. They have no loyalty sometimes!! What do they say, you do not own a cat, they own you, that is so true in my experience.

Keep positive don't give up on her and big hugs.

Honey Bee

PS. Just dropped in quickly but I did notice you had kindly replied to my last post, off to bed now as late in Oz but will respond tomorrow.

Dear Percy

Don't give up................I am praying for your kitty to safely return to you.

I have pictures in my mind  of the college kids spoiling your kitty

Bushels of Hugs
Kitt