So Stormy took off on us 30 days ago today. Every single day since then at various times of the night and day at various spots around the property and down the road, we have called and called and whistled for him with no response from that or from the poster or craig's list ad. Calling and visiting the neighbors has produced nothing, either.
We live out away from other people around woods and fields. I'm wondering if he just can't hear us and that's why he's not responding. My bf and I performed a test last night with him at the end of the drive and me at the house. I had him let me know when he called for Stormy and I'd step outside and listen to see if I could hear him. I just barely could make out something, but not that it was Stormy being called. That was 1/4 mile away. I know cats have very good hearing, but, and this is probably going to sound crazy....I'm wondering if I got a megaphone or a loud bell or something to ring that might travel better through all the trees and rolling hills around here. I'm afraid though, that he won't associate a bell with us calling him since we never used one before and I certainly don't want to scare him any more since I know he'll already be on super alert out there the way it is. The distortion of the megaphone might work against me.
You guys, I've even gone so far as to look up megaphones on amazon and you can get them for around $10-$15. I'm kind of scared of what the neighbors might think of me doing this, if they can hear it as far away as they are, but I'm not a patient person when it comes to things like this. Sitting and waiting or doing what we've been doing is not working and though I've been told by a couple of people that they've known cats to be gone a long time, and it's sometimes in their nature, I still don't like it and feel like I should do SOMETHING. I've even considered buying a live trap and trying to trap him, but it would take me a month or longer of moving it around the property and surrounding land every few days trying to catch him, while releasing all the other wildlife I know I would catch.
I already had an animal communicator tell me that he had passed or was out of body or whatever, but I don't (or don't want to) believe her. I think he's still out there and I'm willing to do all kinds of crazy things (clearly) to get him back.
Has anyone ever resorted to such drastic/crazy measures or have any other ideas on how to get an indoor/outdoor loved and well cared for country kitty who is a 1 year old neutered male and has no history or reason to be gone for so long, back? There were no animals, people or things going on to create an environment that he'd want to escape from, either. He just apparently decided one afternoon to go on an adventure after never even really leaving the yard. The other cats don't even seem to notice or miss him. They all got along, too. He was a mello, but happy go lucky cat that loved all the other animals and just kind of did his own thing around everybody. He also was adventurous and a very good hunter, so that part doesn't really worry me. So many things go through your head though as to a reason why he wouldn't be back. Any advice or words of encouragement from those that have had cats go missing so long would be greatly appreciated as I ponder a bell, a megaphone or just a stiff drink.
We live out away from other people around woods and fields. I'm wondering if he just can't hear us and that's why he's not responding. My bf and I performed a test last night with him at the end of the drive and me at the house. I had him let me know when he called for Stormy and I'd step outside and listen to see if I could hear him. I just barely could make out something, but not that it was Stormy being called. That was 1/4 mile away. I know cats have very good hearing, but, and this is probably going to sound crazy....I'm wondering if I got a megaphone or a loud bell or something to ring that might travel better through all the trees and rolling hills around here. I'm afraid though, that he won't associate a bell with us calling him since we never used one before and I certainly don't want to scare him any more since I know he'll already be on super alert out there the way it is. The distortion of the megaphone might work against me.
You guys, I've even gone so far as to look up megaphones on amazon and you can get them for around $10-$15. I'm kind of scared of what the neighbors might think of me doing this, if they can hear it as far away as they are, but I'm not a patient person when it comes to things like this. Sitting and waiting or doing what we've been doing is not working and though I've been told by a couple of people that they've known cats to be gone a long time, and it's sometimes in their nature, I still don't like it and feel like I should do SOMETHING. I've even considered buying a live trap and trying to trap him, but it would take me a month or longer of moving it around the property and surrounding land every few days trying to catch him, while releasing all the other wildlife I know I would catch.
I already had an animal communicator tell me that he had passed or was out of body or whatever, but I don't (or don't want to) believe her. I think he's still out there and I'm willing to do all kinds of crazy things (clearly) to get him back.
Has anyone ever resorted to such drastic/crazy measures or have any other ideas on how to get an indoor/outdoor loved and well cared for country kitty who is a 1 year old neutered male and has no history or reason to be gone for so long, back? There were no animals, people or things going on to create an environment that he'd want to escape from, either. He just apparently decided one afternoon to go on an adventure after never even really leaving the yard. The other cats don't even seem to notice or miss him. They all got along, too. He was a mello, but happy go lucky cat that loved all the other animals and just kind of did his own thing around everybody. He also was adventurous and a very good hunter, so that part doesn't really worry me. So many things go through your head though as to a reason why he wouldn't be back. Any advice or words of encouragement from those that have had cats go missing so long would be greatly appreciated as I ponder a bell, a megaphone or just a stiff drink.