New Fur Baby Run Off And Gone Missing!

Hi all,
I’m really new to this website so please be aware.

I’m in need of some advice because I can’t stop thinking of my cat.

Long story short on Wednesday night I rehomed a beautiful black cat about 10 miles away from me and drove him home.
He clearly wasn’t enjoying the cat carrier as he meowed the whole way home and also pooped in it!!

Anyway 5 hours after bringing him to ours he started to come out of his shell a bit but was clearly still scared. He stayed by the window in the living room most of the time.

Thursday morning he started eating! He had used the litter tray for a wee and I think he was starting to like us as he has jumped up onto my other half and started purring.

Then 12pm hit, my partner went out to work on his car and thought the cat was safe with me upstairs. Me not knowing the front door was open let him roam around upstairs.

Then seconds later he ran down the stairs and straight out the front door!!

Now I know you’re supposed to keep cats inside homes for at least 2 weeks minimum to let them get used to us and the smell of the home so that they can return home.
Cole just ran straight out and we tried to follow him quickly but he sprinted off and was nowhere to be seen.

Now it’s Sunday evening and like the rest of the days this week I can’t stop thinking about about him and hoping he’s not dehydrated or hungry or hurt!

I have tried pretty much everything other forums have said etc and I don’t know what else to do. I’ve had people say put his litter outside which I have, then people say no don’t do that because it will attract ferrals. I’ve hung out dirty washing, put some smelly food outside, and nothing has worked. I think it’s because he doesn’t know our scent yet and I’m pretty sure the other cats around the neighbourhood are eating the food.

I have hung posters out, posted them, put him up on social media. I’ve contacted local vets and rescues and still nothing!
It’s like he got scared and vanished.
I’ve contacted his previous owners incase he someone manages to get back there (even though it’s a 15 min drive!)

Does anyone know what else I can do? I have searched high and low all around where I live and hoped he will come back but it all seems useless right now.

Some specs about him.
He’s neutered, previous owners aren’t sure about microchip, he is 4, usually an outdoor cat at his old home. He has half a tail that was amputated due to an accident years ago so I have put this on all the posters to try and make people take a second look.

Thanks for reading, please send advice! I feel so down and so awful about him getting out and really want him to come home.
Thanks in advance,
Jess.

Hi! Have you checked by walking around and knocking on doors, and also put up posters, around the area where he came from originally? (in addition to talking to the other owners, I mean)

Jessandkitty said:

I’ve contacted local vets and rescues and still nothing!

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Jessandkitty said:

I have searched high and low all around where I live and hoped he will come back but it all seems useless right now.

Click to expand...

Keep checking daily

Knock on doors around your area, and inbetween your home and his old home with posters so that people can see what he looks like and/or leave a poster under their welcome mat

Just in case, here are websites that can be useful in case there's one or two you haven't used yet;

Nextdoor . com
pet harbor
lost my doggie (for cats too)
paw boost
Your state lost and found pets - facebook as well as your local neighborhood facebook lost and found page
helping lost pets
craigslist lost and found

Hi. In addition to Furballsmom 's suggestions, the only things I can think of are:

Talk to all the neighbors directly, and ask them to check sheds/under porches/bushes/etc. in their yards in case he is hiding out there scared out of his mind. Places that are higher up are also locations to consider. And, at night, a flashlight is helpful, as you might catch his eyes glowing in the light. Look not only down but up.

Go out at AT LEAST EVERY dusk/dawn and sit outside with a can/bag of food/treats, shake them and call his name. You need to stay in one place for at least 1/2 hour at a time, in order to allow him time to get to you.

Putting a litter box outside, and anything else that has his smell - and/or yours - is not such a bad idea.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease - so repeatedly contact all the vet's offices, rescue centers, shelters, SPCA offices, etc. that you have provided flyers to. Won't hurt to bug your neighbor's repeatedly as well.

I am guessing that he is nearby, not knowing how to go to his old home. But, just in case, you need to look at what it would take for a cat to travel from your place to his old home, and expand your flyers/contact information.

If the old owners aren't sure about microchipping, ask them to re-check where they adopted him from - many rescue/adoption centers REQUIRE microchipping AND registration. If nothing comes of that, at least his distinctive tail should help.

FeebysOwner said:

Hi. In addition to Furballsmom 's suggestions, the only things I can think of are:

Talk to all the neighbors directly, and ask them to check sheds/under porches/bushes/etc. in their yards in case he is hiding out there scared out of his mind. Places that are higher up are also locations to consider. And, at night, a flashlight is helpful, as you might catch his eyes glowing in the light. Look not only down but up.

Go out at AT LEAST EVERY dusk/dawn and sit outside with a can/bag of food/treats, shake them and call his name. You need to stay in one place for at least 1/2 hour at a time, in order to allow him time to get to you.

Putting a litter box outside, and anything else that has his smell - and/or yours - is not such a bad idea.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease - so repeatedly contact all the vet's offices, rescue centers, shelters, SPCA offices, etc. that you have provided flyers to. Won't hurt to bug your neighbor's repeatedly as well.

I am guessing that he is nearby, not knowing how to go to his old home. But, just in case, you need to look at what it would take for a cat to travel from your place to his old home, and expand your flyers/contact information.

If the old owners aren't sure about microchipping, ask them to re-check where they adopted him from - many rescue/adoption center REQUIRE microchipping AND registration. If nothing comes of that, at least his distinctive tail should help.

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Thank you for the advice, I will do more of this tomorrow after work. The guilt of going to bed and knowing he’s outside is awful. Fingers crossed he hasn’t gone too far away.

From Feeby to your kitty (did I miss his name?) - Paw to paw.

Keep us posted!

He was named Cole by previous owners! Thank you very much x

Hi! I just wanted to double-check that you saw my post above?
Here's one more that may have useful tips;

Help! My Cat Is Lost!

Have you checked with his previous home? He may have found his way back there.

It is possible that he is trying to return to his previous home, animals have been known to cross entire states to get back to familiar territory.

Furballsmom said:

Hi! I just wanted to double-check that you saw my post above?
Here's one more that may have useful tips;

Help! My Cat Is Lost!

Click to expand...

Sorry I didn’t until now! Thank you for the advice! I live in the UK and have contacted all organisations that I can think of. Just really want him home I have been out for a few hours today looking for him and I saw about 4 black cats, all with long tales though

Furballsmom said:

Hi! I just wanted to double-check that you saw my post above?
Here's one more that may have useful tips;

Help! My Cat Is Lost!

Click to expand...

Talien said:

It is possible that he is trying to return to his previous home, animals have been known to cross entire states to get back to familiar territory.

Click to expand...

Someone said to me he is potentially trying to find his way back. I don’t know how big states can get too, but his old home is 10 miles from here.

ailish said:

Have you checked with his previous home? He may have found his way back there.

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I have contacted them. I might take a slow drive back there tomorrow and just check to see if he is trying to get back. Poor baby

Cole is still missing 6 days by the morning. I feel awful :’(

Jessandkitty said:

Someone said to me he is potentially trying to find his way back. I don’t know how big states can get too, but his old home is 10 miles from here.

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A Cat can cover 10 miles in just a couple days, if it's been 6 days he'd probably have been there by now if that's what he was doing. Keep checking around where you live and see if you can find him.

Talien said:

A Cat can cover 10 miles in just a couple days, if it's been 6 days he'd probably have been there by now if that's what he was doing. Keep checking around where you live and see if you can find him.

Click to expand...

Wow I didn’t know this. Okay It’s 6 days tomorrow so I’ll take a drive around his old neighbourhood tomorrow as well as around here. Thank you

Have you checked places where he might have gotten trapped?