[Closed] Indoor cat has escaped

Good on him. Cats are not meant to be prisoners. Maybe he is with some people who will let him be a cat. Be happy for him !

As helpful responses go, that is amazingly STW...

Perhaps got startled by something and scarpered - one of ours did that when it was attacked by a dog, returned a day later.

Sounds like you're doing all the obvious things.

We had a new to us cat and kept him in for the requisite 6 weeks to make him think of our house as home.

Let him out for a 'taster' and he promptly disappeared for 36 hours.

Anxiety levels were high.

He did come back. Leave some food by the back door if there's not too many foxes or other cats in the neighbourhood and keep an eye out.

He's a bloke cat. He'll turn up after he's had an explore, put it about a bit, had a scrap, then got hungry. Normally its 2 or 3 days.

The only thing you need to worry about is there being a house nearby that can provide better /more regular food, or more attention than you. If so the mercenary little bastard will just move in there, and you'll have been forgotten about in the blink of an eye.

We went on holiday for a week, with our neighbours feeding our three, came back, and one of them had moved in 5 doors down. He mosey's back from time to time to annoy the other two. They're shameless, I tell you. Shameless!

A friends cat went missing for a day. Was found in the back of a kitchen draw.

I kind of agree with hels (I suspect the comment being tongue in cheek 😉 ), not that I condemn people for keeping house cats "locked up", but just that I've always been reluctant to get a cat if it means I have to keep them in the house. More related to living next to a busy road and would be worried about letting them out, but I wouldn't want make a cat house bound. Might be because I grew up with a cat that was a semi-outdoor cat. Wanted out and roamed about, but generally wanted back in for comfort. Would have gone crazy though if it couldn't get out.

To be fair some rescue cats are timid or have suffered abuse or neglect in the past such that they are always going to be house bound.

Why do some people think its OK to keep a cat indoors ?

It doesn't seem natural.

If you find it, how do you think it will feel about being locked up again now its had a taste of freedom ?

It'll be taking a shit in my garden. Guaranteed.

Why do some people think its OK to keep a cat indoors ?

It doesn't seem natural.

If you find it, how do you think it will feel about being locked up again now its had a taste of freedom

There's nothing particularly natural about keeping a domestic cat indoors or out. Certainly not that natural when an introduced non-native predator is massacring the local wildlife. Outdoor cats can also be more stressed than indoor ones if they are fighting and losing over territory with other more dominant cats. It's not a given thing that they live happy, carefree lives out in the garden.

The second point is very valid though. Now the male cat has had a prowl around some new territory, he'll be calling to go out all the time, so isn't really an indoor cat any more.

Ours never show any inclination to go out.

EDIT: Anyhow, as my earlier comment about your first response has gone missing presumably because of bad words, I reckon he'll be back, and you're doing the right thing getting folk to check sheds etc.

Why do some people think its OK to keep a cat indoors ?

Why not start another thread .. I'm not particularly interested in peoples views about indoor cats

It'll be taking a shit in my garden. Guaranteed.

If it's anywhere near Bearnecessities,[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/free-sharpgrit-sand-leeds ] it'll be shitting in his sand.[/url]

I know this is extraordinarily unhelpful, but don't pets have to be chipped or something? Can it be tracked?

Register your mssing cat with Animal Search - www.animalsearchuk.co.uk

1 of our cats went missing and was found a few streets away via that website.

What defines an indoor cat? A friend had two of these. Boy they didn't like anyone but him! My Aunt had three rare Pedigree's, unfortunately two were run over. It is possible that some breeds have been bred for many generations into a lack of outdoor ability. That's another topic though.

OP this topic might not go the way you want. I can understand your current anxiety but a cat I'd like a dog in certain regards. Hope you have a positive outcome on this though.

Why do some people think its OK to keep a cat indoors ?

some breeds are just not very streetsmart and perhaps need to be protected from themselves.

my older british short hair is just not very bright - I am still waiting for him to show that he can pull a door open with his paw - rather than trying to get his head through the gap, which obviously won't work unless the dorr is fairly ajar.

I let him out in the garden every day. all day until a 10pm curfew.

Every few months he makes a break for it and gets over the fence but then is stuck on the other side of the fence and I have to lower a makeshift ladder over the fence and wait for him to climb back.

He then generally won't try again for a few months, having scared himself.

After once excusion one morning he then slept until 7pm as he was so exhausted from the experience.

Not sure how the kitten is going to pan out yet, I think she is a bit smarter.

Both of ours did a runner when we let them out for the first time. Got the first back after 3 weeks and the second after 6 weeks. They had both been taken to the local vet by their "new owners" to get them chipped to keep them. As binners said they are shameless.
Anyway, make sure you let the vets in the area know, it worked for us.

I take it the cat is chipped ?

Contact the nearest RSPCA/Blue Cross and vets with pictures and the chip number.

Ask neighbours to check their sheds, cats can get locked in when the lawnmower gets put back.

I take it the cat is chipped

Yes he is chipped.

I Appreciate the helpful responses.

I know this is extraordinarily unhelpful, but don't pets have to be chipped or something? Can it be tracked?

Cat Nav?

I'm feline now might not be the best time for puns.

Do you have pet insurance? They will generally cough up for a reward, one of ours went awol and we had posters up offering a reward that eventually got answered. Really didn't think the cat would have gone as far as she did.

Kind of hope our other one would take an excursion, little sod has taken to spraying around the house.

Around here people tie Lost notices to lamp-posts. But the local fried chicken shack does a good line in urban rabbit.

Free Willy.

You'll have to call it Willy when it comes back...

Fit a cat flap. It'll come back when it's ready.

Cat Nav?

I've missed your posts recently perchy. Have you been on holiday or have I just not been paying attention?

I've been on an intensive two week residential cat abduction course.

It was hard work, but it's paying off now. 😉

One of our house cats escaped not long back and was found hiding under a car not far away. He'd gone over a large wall and couldn't get back the way he had gone and because he didn't know the area couldn't figure out a way around.

Most cats will generally be able to find their way back when they want to, he may be locked up in someones house or shed so mail dropping the neighbours will help.

We now let them all out and have fitted a cat flap, they're a lot happier and generally less stressed now apart from when the bin lorries come, they really don't like those.

I know this is extraordinarily unhelpful, but don't pets have to be chipped or something? Can it be tracked?

Chipping is a means of identification, it's not a GPS.

I did warn it was extraordinarily unhelpful.

As an aside, I assume you can get GPS trackers for pets? Although powering them could be an issue.

You cant own a cat, you only ever feed it.

Fit a cat flap and it will decide where it wants to live.

As an aside, I assume you can get GPS trackers for pets? Although powering them could be an issue.

Daughter has had her cat fitted with a device that enables her to track its live movements on street mapping via her phone.

The act of thinking about opening a pack of Dreamies,has my cat at my feet drooling, no matter which part of his vast empire he's at.Hope it turns up.

If he has a favourite blanket or similar that he lies on, hang it on the washing line as the smell will attract him.

Best time to look is on a night, when it's quiet and you might hear him. As he isn't used to being outside, the busy day time may well be too much for him and he will be hiding.

Hope you get him back.

fitted with a device that enables her to track its live movements on street mapping

Am I the only one wondering where this device gets is power and imagining a cat with a USB socket somewhere so you can charge it? 🙂

"Yes dear, just putting the cat on charge!"

I've seen goldfish with more smarts than our british shorthair.
She is very much an indoor cat...not sure she knows shes is a cat as she is crap at it, stupid thing cant even meow. All she can do is sleep, eat, poo and molt.

Pete - c'mon, you know fine well I'm a bimbo! I went to hers for lunch and she was glued to her phone, zoomed in and saw exactly what street the cat was [s]sh!tting in[/s] loitering in. There's a chip in the collar presumably.

Other cat went missing, after 24 hours daughter wandered the streets and found a stiffie by the side of the road hence this tracker device or whatever it's called.

after 24 hours daughter wandered the streets and found a stiffie by the side of the road

We've all been there.

sparkyrhino - Member

The act of thinking about opening a pack of Dreamies,has my cat at my feet drooling, no matter which part of his vast empire he's at.Hope it turns up.

Our old girl has decided to retire herself from independent outdoors exploring. She'll come out if we are out but not venture more than a few yards from us or the back door. At 18 and deaf as a post I think she is entitled to a bit of protection. On Saturday we were out but left a window open. She jumped out then couldn't jump back. When we came back we found her making a hell of a racket at the back door in the full afternoon sun trying to get back in. Super heated and once inside flopped on her side for hours - I thought she could be a gonner. A bit sad considering what an outside independent girl she used to be but she's had a good life and still seems content until she gets out of her comfort zone.

I hope your cat makes it's way home.

after 24 hours daughter wandered the streets and found a stiffie by the side of the road

No words needed. Ace 😀

"Why do some people think its OK to keep a cat indoors ?"

A friend has two cats in a small flat on the 12th floor of a tower block. They have never known anything but that flat. He wonders why they have behavioural problems, and shit everywhere but in their litter tray (including in his bed! 😆 ). There's no reason for people to keep pets other than for vanity, but his form of ownership is more cruel than most, in my opinion. A neighbour has a lovely 'house cat', which has full access to outside, but prefers it indoors especially in cold/wet weather.

Given that ACAB (All Cats Are Bastards), I think it should be law for all cats to wear bels, to warn small creatures and wild birds. Too many cats are causing environmental damage. 🙁

We've all been there.

No words needed. Ace

She was inconsolable, unable to get her head around that whilst the cat had obviously been run over it was the 'leaving it at the side of the road like a piece of rubbish' that really got to her.

Any news yet?

There's no reason for people to keep pets other than for vanity

*not really our cat. It just turned up. It is it's own cat.

Our cats have jobs. They just don't do them....

Any news yet?

Nothing so far. Just distributed leaflets to the surrounding houses asking them to check gardens , garages etc.

If he was going to appear I'd guess it would be during the evening / night time.

She was inconsolable, unable to get her head around that whilst the cat had obviously been run over it was the 'leaving it at the side of the road like a piece of rubbish' that really got to her.

Sadly, to many folk it's "just a cat," as evidenced by some of the shitty comments on this thread.

I totally get that some people don't like cats / dogs / rats / spiders / etc etc, but that doesn't excuse the complete lack of empathy that some show towards fellow human beings around the loss of their beloved animals.

I recently read something about putting their litter tray outside so that they can pick up the smell (presumably if it's dirty litter it's better).

Not much that you can do. I came across a dead Westie at the kerbside (we also had a Westie at the time). I rang the nearest vet and they said 'can you bring it in so we can scan it for a chip'? I replied no chance. Id already felt round it's collar for contact details and well you don't need me to draw you a picture as to why?

Any big trees near your house?

Our cat went missing for a few days once and we spent days scouring the streets looking for it. We eventually heard some mewing and discovered it about 30 ft up a huge tree. Ended up having to call the fire brigade as had no means of getting to the cat and it wasn't coming down in a hurry.

Cats know where the food and treats are. I have no doubt it will turn up at the window before long.

Took a friend's older cat when she had to move. The little devil ran off after 1 day. It came back 2 days later hungry. They are pretty good at making their way home when they know you hold all the dreamies.

Admittedly we've only had 11 cats so far, but yet to find one that isn't fine with being kept indoors. Three or four have gone out on leads a bit, only one was really keen on it. Most of them came to us as outdoor cats BTW.

We take ours out for a drive sometimes...

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Stand outside your house with an empty tin can and rattle the can with a spoon until the moggie appears.

Go out for a wander at night with torches and shine them into bushes, etc until the moggie appears.

The torch thing works ^^, as fairly obviously their eyes illuminate. Just no guaranteeing its your cat tho'

When our latest cat was younger we tried to keep him in, but he'd literally barge through your legs and race through the door. Push his way through gaps in windows etc. It was like colditz, ultimately he was much happier with his freedom. Now he spends 80% of his time outside, in the garden, in the graveyard opposite and shi##ing in paulosoxo's garden.
He's much happier and healthier for it.

Good luck with tonight's quest.

There's no reason for people to keep pets other than for vanity

One of our cats - the tiny little slinky one - is like all four horsemen of the apocalypse rolled into one, to the local rodent population. A furry angel of death!

Mind you -,The other one - massive fat idle bastard that he is, couldn't catch a bloody cold

we take ours out for a drive sometimes

Mates of ours have got a camper van. They're away in it most weekend. Their cat always goes with them. She'll wander off a good distance from the van, wherever they are, but always comes back. It's never gone missing. It follows them down to the shops as well though, sits outside waiting for them, then trundles back with them.

I'm sure it thinks it's a dog.

As for house cats. Some cats just aren't arsed about going outside. When I first met Mrs Binners she had one that had absolutely no interest in going outdoors. It was an absolutely bloody enormous Maine Coon - like a small lion - so I'm sure the local small furry animal population, and any passing antelopes, were eternally grateful.

Had a cat that used to go for walks with us, one day it followed us halfway down Worcester race course from Barborne. Got home no cat, then girlfriend went out to call for it, no sign of it. About 9 that night the daft thing still hasn't appeared. Off I go back to where we last saw her. It's pissing down with rain, I call "Sonic" and this missile comes flying out of the allotments launches itself at me and sits on my shoulder all the way home. She didn't go as far as that again.

A friend has a cat called the Pigster who used to walk miles with him and the dogs on the downs above Lamborn.

Hope the missing one gets home safe.

PeterPoddy - Member
Am I the only one wondering where this device gets is power and imagining a cat with a USB socket somewhere so you can charge it?

"Yes dear, just putting the cat on charge!"

Wireless charging plate with something warm underneath. Car will sleep on it and charge at the same time 😀

As for indoor cat discussion, well it's relevant as that's why it's done a runner. Cat that goes out sometimes or a lot has gotten used to where it lives and where it gets the best feed, so will return. They also know their neighbourhood and possibly quite a wide area. Some males are known to roam a lot and can even find their way back from miles away when house moving. Indoor cat could just plain be lost.

Hopefully it's not far and you can encourage it back with food though. As said, it's experienced the big wide world now so keeping indoors may be tricky. Unless it's utterly scared of it out there.

Other thing to say is check all kinds of weird hiding places in the house. Though if it's hungry it would appear, unless it's stuck somewhere. Should hear noises or meowing though.

might be worth checking your sock drawers...

Might be redundant in these days of combo-boilers but have you checked the airing cupboard / any radiant heat sources? Known many a naughty kitty go missing & turn up in the airing cupboard! Good luck finding him / her 😀

Don't worry about him. Unless you live in Australia, he's going to be just fine.

I looked into the tracking options and the best I could find I *think* works like this...

You fit a key fob type thing to the cats collar (they make them for tracking keys) and download an app to your phone. The key fob doesn't need power to send a signal as it works within the blue tooth radius of your phone. Great for keys in the house, but not much good for cats.

However it also works if other people have the app on their phone, so if the fob is picked up on someone else's app, you get the location / trail sent to your phone while ever it is in range of any active app.

I could see how it would work in a crowded city centre, but must be very hit and miss for cats out and about in the 'burbs.

However I may have misunderstood the whole concept...

If there's no power it's probably NFC rather than Bluetooth (which needs power). That depends on having NFC in the phone. Range is usually very short also, like a couple of inches.

A more powerful reader can read over a wider range. Like security alarms in shops which trigger off the tags in items.

Would need various reader points stuck around the house in areas cat would have to pass through.

Thanks for the good luck messages. Thanks for the link disco_stu .. I've put an ad on.
Nothing to report unfortunately.
I was out again last night, rattling his food tin, walking the neighbourhood with a torch. Checking the tree's etc.
I left some litter in the back garden and some food on the bench in the front garden. That hasn't been touched.
I initially thought he'd be close by. Now I'm fearing he's gone too far to find his way back.

It is possible that he has climbed into a vehicle.

I think that is how Jasmine came to us - she turned up at our back door in a small village, hungry and not chipped. She spent 13 wonderful years with us.

That said, keep checking as there a greater chance that he has gotten himself locked into a shed or garage.

Good luck.

Any news?

Any news?

Thanks but Sadly no. Had a few phone calls of sightings of a black cat in the road but its turned out to be a smaller one thst lives around here. Still it's nice to know people the note of the leaflets we have put through.

I've put more leaflets out today to a couple of streets further out.

His unwashed blanket is on the washing line, there's food and litter in the garden but no sign of him whatsoever.

The first night I was sure he'd be back. Now not so .. The doubts are setting in 🙁

Hope your cat comes back, ours has done this before. It's never nice waiting, but it could be in a garden shed waiting for the weekend when someone next goes in it. Smokey disappeared one Saturday and turned up the next Saturday, this was a possible explanation but we never knew for sure...

Thanks ... If he wasn't an indoors cat I wouldn't be so worried about him being away for a few nights.
As an indoor cat tho he doesn't have his bearings... Would he find it more difficult to get back if he got too far away? I just don't know.
Plus There's other cats in the road so they'll have their territories I'd assume ... There's 2 next door which could prevent him coming back ..
Feeling absolutely gutted right now. Again, appreciate the replies and clearly there's more than just me and my family hoping for a safe return

Try not too worry too much yet. Our cat turns up every day for his tucker and often spends most of the day in bed. He went missing last year and after 3 or 4 days I went out with posters etc as my wife was going out of her head. The little bugger just roamed back in after 8 days, a bit hungry but with his usual couldn't give a f attitude!

As others have said, he's probably locked in someone's shed or garage. I've had cats go missing for a week and have also known friends cats do the same. They come back the following weekend or a few days later a bit thinner and so very, very happy to be home. It's nothing that a couple of tins of tuna and a load of cuddles doesn't put right.

I've got my fingers crossed for a happy outcome for you.

I'm sure he will find his way back - the little beast.

Most has been said.
Leaflet and don't be frightened of going quite a way with them. Remind people to check garages and sheds -it i's possible that people are on their hols.
Call all the local vet's and also the local council animal control.
Put food out, rattle food tins/dishes and wander the streets calling too (I caught a swine of a cold in December years ago calling for one)
See if you can borrow or buy an animal trap (the humane kind!) and bait it with their favorite food - there is a very good chance the cat is close but lurking and to scared to come back -one of my exe's cats MO was escape at fits opportunity (I suspect yelling "freeeeeeeeedoooooom! ") and then once 6 feet from the door/fence decide they didn't want adventure but have the wind up them too much to come back.

All that has gotten a dozen or so cats back (some multiple times) some after 3 weeks on the lam. Hunger will usually bring them back tho it may take a few days as people will feed them (our old British short hair spent 6 days out of 7 with neighbours a street away)

I had one friend get one of his back after a year when the adoptive owner took him to the vet due to this "lump" on the cats belly and the cat was scanned and the microchip pinged. Turns out the cat was just fat and the woman had just been overfeeding him for 12 months!

He's back!!!!! 🙂

😀

😀

picture please.

Excellent news - you must be so happy.

Did you find him, or did he come home on his own ?

I guess he is now grounded until he's old enough to vote ?

Awesome. How is he?