Lost cat in rural/farm area

snowynight

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Hi all,

I have been searching for my lost indoor cat for basically 48 hours straight and am running out of ideas. Temperatures are as low as 17f/-8c at night and today it is snowing lightly with about 4in of snow forecasted.

She is 1.5 years old, spayed, and has never been outside before.

I have 4 neighbours each about 1/2 a mile away and the snow is about 2ft deep so I think it's unlikely she would have gone there. I am on an old farm property with lots of abandoned outbuildings, piles of junk, trees, etc. I have looked everywhere I can get in to or fit my phone camera in to and haven't found her but have found a few strays (that I have already seen around the property). I believe all the strays are unspayed females.

I haven't put up signs because of the distance from my neighbours but I am thinking about slipping a lost cat notice in their mailboxes.

I have been leaving food out for her and watching the window or hanging out outside waiting for her all night. I've also left out some blankets she sleeps on, a box with a blanket, some dirty laundry, her litterbox. The strays are coming for the food but no sign of my cat. I think she is probably scared of the other cats (and everything else) and don't know how I can get her home.

The door has been open wide enough for her to slip through since she went missing.

I have read so many articles telling me to get out there and look for her and I am so tired after 48 hours but feel so guilty stopping looking for a second.
 
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snowynight

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Thank you. Yes yesterday I left a loop of a podcast I've been listening to on outside all day and night. I've been listening to it pretty much non stop for the past 2 weeks so I hope shes familiar with it.

I tried reading aloud outside last night but only lasted for about an hour because of the temperature. I will try to record myself reading or speaking to play tonight.

I'm almost feeling guilty now that I've searched too much and scared her away from any of the close by hiding spots. :(
 

Jem

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Is she a climber in the home? Have you been looking up in the trees? Most of the time indoor cats don't go very far so she is most likely still close by. Are there any "hard to access for human" loft type spaces in any of the out buildings you have? She could have weaseled her way into a high up corner.
When you're out at night (in case you haven't tried this yet) bring a flashlight with you to shine around so you can see her eyes in the darkness.
You do need you rest, so hopefully you can get some. Cats tend to be more active at dusk and dawn, so perhaps you can rest at the "off peak" times?
Perhaps you could set up a bunch of boxes around the home with hay or towels in them as little makeshift shelters. she may be attracted to the boxes more than whatever tree or bush she might be in/under. You could also place boxes with "stuffing" in each of your out buildings as well. You could waterproof the part that's on the ground by taping a piece of a garbage bag on it, and try to obviously keep them out of where snow may fall or drift. Either put the box on it's side with it open, or cut a hole in it if you tape it shut.

Keeping my fingers crossed you find her soon!!!
 
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snowynight

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Thank you Jem. Yes I've been out with the flashlight and haven't seen anything in the trees. She isn't much of a climber but last time she got out for 30 seconds she ran underneath a tree.

The outbuildings are full of hard to access spaces but I'm trying my best to get into them or record a video with my phone and flash on to see the reflection of eyes. My worry is that the strays have already 'claimed' all the good spaces so shes had to go further or hide somewhere smaller.

On the porch I have a box with one of her favourite blankets in it set up for her but I will try to these up in the outbuildings too. I have the box laying on its side but your idea to cut a hole might be better for warmth. Hopefully she will smell her own scent and mine and remember she has a home to come back to.
 

Jem

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One of our cats got out once, and after hours of searching we found him pressed up, in a corner of our house where the porch sticks out from the house, half buried by leaves and cobwebs. The thing is, we walked by that area of house multiple times, calling him and shaking his treats (which he NEVER refused to come for before). He was so well camouflaged by the leaves due to his coloring, and never made a peep. My only extra advice while searching would be to comb the area inch by inch, rather the "scan" the areas trying to cover more ground. He was only about 10 feet away from the window with the ripped screen he escaped from, and it still took us over 4 hours to find him the little bugger!
Don't lose hope, I would bet she's not far.
 
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snowynight

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Thanks again Jem. I took your advice and had a better look at a couple spots I didn't have the best look at yesterday. Unfortunately no luck but also no sign of the strays. Hopefully they will stay away for a few days and allow her to come back.

There is one outbuilding that I know is a cat hangout but I cant get into it because of the snow and ice buildup. If shes in there she at least has shelter and I think I will start feeding her/the strays in there. It's one of the further buildings from my house so encouraging the strays to stay in there seems like a good idea.

I don't think she knows her name that well and doesn't get too excited over treats/food so I don't really know what will attract her. We have little conversations so I'm hoping just me talking will help and I'm shaking food/treats too.
 
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snowynight

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The snow has been here for months so its a bit hard. I didn't think she would be able to walk on it but I just noticed the dogs can walk in some spots without leaving prints... uh oh this widens my search area considerably... The strays follow the same worn paths so I hope she has been doing the same...
 

jefferd18

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The snow has been here for months so its a bit hard. I didn't think she would be able to walk on it but I just noticed the dogs can walk in some spots without leaving prints... uh oh this widens my search area considerably... The strays follow the same worn paths so I hope she has been doing the same...

Someone brought this up on a thread of mine about a lost cat, so I will pass the suggestion onto you. Can you give one of the dogs something of hers, something to sniff, and then take him out to see if he can find her?

Also, cats attract cats, so I would keep on putting food out for the strays.
 
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snowynight

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Thank you jeffard. I did try getting the the dogs to look for her but I don't think they know how. I'll give it another try tonight though. They all get on well so I've been watching the dogs in the yard and checking anywhere they seem interested in.

I will keep feeding the strays on the porch then! I'm guessing/hoping shes found a great spot to hide in and is working up the confidence to come out.

Thank you too Tik cat's mum! In the reading that I've done up to around 22 days is a 'normal' amount of time for them to be gone for... I would really like her home now though! :catlove:

While writing this two strays ran by the window which has somehow given me a bit more hope. It's unusual to see them out during the day so I tried to look into where they might have come from but no sign of my girl.
 
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snowynight

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I've just returned from picking up some tuna and other treats to leave out for everyone tonight. She is still missing but I'm feeling a bit better now that I've had a little time away from the situation.

Would it be a good idea to leave a trail of tuna water from the spots I think she may be hiding leading to the door? Or am I asking for trouble from other wildlife? There are coyotes nearby but I haven't seen them on the property since the dogs have started keeping watch.
 

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Hi. Just saw your thread. I don't know about the tuna, but if you are rested some now, I would bundle up and take a chair and sit outside with a bag/can of cat treats/food and shake it while calling to her. It is highly likely she is hiding very nearby and perhaps will come out if she hears you. It is unfortunate, but you really need to stay for quite awhile in one place, as it could take her some time to feel OK to come out of hiding and come to you. If she is comfortable with your dogs, then keep them out there with you, to keep the coyotes away.
Much luck and hope.
 
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snowynight

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Thanks for your reply FeebysOwner.

I will try that tonight when I set up the 'kitty buffet'. It's going to be a cold night tonight so I'm not sure how long I can last. I tried the same last night but didn't want to wear any fabrics that make too much noise so the wind was cutting right through my 5 layers. If she is still missing tomorrow night its supposed to be a bit warmer.

Thinking about my long night tonight a lot of the stress has returned... The rest of my family is away right now but will be back on Tuesday to help with the search if she's not back by then.

Since cats are more active in the dark should I be leaving off the porch light to make her feel more comfortable?
 

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If you go outside and walking a nd calling her, stop every couple of steps and wait several minutes. Cats are naturally cautious. Particularly an indoor cat. She may take sometime for her to come to you./ Good luck
 
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snowynight

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Thanks ArchyCat. I have been worried that my walking around in the crunchy snow will scare her away. It should be a little bit dampened tonight since there is been 2-3 inches of fresh snow. I don't know.. for some reason I don't think I'm going to be able to get her out of hiding by calling for her. She never really responds to us calling for her inside. It makes me a bit worried because this seems to be the method most people have the best luck with. That, and just waiting until she makes her own way home. I bought enough supplies for about 2 weeks of very well stocked kitty buffets. She is a pretty big eater so I'm thinking this could be the most promising method.
 
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snowynight

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Haha I didn't even think of that. I've been keeping all 3 lights on, do you think it could be better to just have one? I think I can see nearly as well with just the one.

Does anyone have any experience with traps? Another thread I am reading strongly recommends them. I think with all the strays around that's all I'm going to catch and I will be releasing them in the same spot... probably to be caught again. I'm also a bit worried about trapping them at night in the cold and leaving out there for a couple hours before I realize they are trapped.

My cat has gotten out twice before but both times has come back in basically immediately running at light speed through the door she just left from so I'm hopeful she does want to come back inside and the trap isn't necessary?
 

FeebysOwner

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Brave the cold nights for at least of couple of days before considering a trap. I think you are right, in that you would be catching and releasing strays more than likely. Plus, if one of the strays is caught in the trap, would that make her less likely to come out to get food? And, I don't blame you about worrying about the cold if the trap is fairly exposed.

It may have been mentioned and I missed it - have you thought about setting some cameras up outside, just to see if you might spot her on one of them overnight?
 

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