Best Friendsâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji] Animal Radio recently interviewed Kat Albrecht, author of The Lost Pet Chronicles, and she gave some very good advice on finding a lost cat:Originally Posted by Heidiho
My 2 year old fixed inside male cat got out, this is his first experience with the outside world, he has been missing for 3 days, will he return?
Thanks for the words. Yes, it explains well what happened with our Muskis, a shy, strickly indoor tom-cat (russian blue). He fled during vet-examination in the veterinarys house. The vet let us search through his house. Of course, it is a little unpleasant to look EVERYWHERE in others house, so we didnt look exactly everywhere. But we did searched as well we could. And the house was clean and neat I must say.Originally Posted by TNR1
A displaced cat (and also an injured or sick cat) will hide and they will be silent. So walking around and calling the cat’s name doesn’t work.
What that cat does is to look for the first place where she can hide, and she will stay there.
We’ve actually recovered lots of cats by treating them like ferals and setting a humane trap. These cats will sit there and watch and even listen to their person calling, but they will usually not respond.
Belissima....welcome to the cat site...perhaps in Spain cats have less issues with being indoors/outdoors..but here in the United States it is actually FAR SAFER for them to be indoors only. Please remember that this board has members from different countries with different policies and that what is considered the standard in one country is not the standard in another. I live in Virginia and most rescue groups here recommend and some even require a cat remain indoors. Cats may want to be outdoors...but as the individuals who are charged with ensuring they live a good life, we must take into account the risks of predators, diseases, poisoning, potential to be run over and other considerations.Originally Posted by Belissima
I am glad you found him. This is one disadvantage of keeping a cat prisoner in a house, which is of course totally against their instincts, WHEN they do get out, they are totally disoriented, and so scared they go into hiding for days.
My Bella has always been allowed to roam, she knows her house, her garden, which she adores, and her immediate neighbourhood, so the problem you experienced will never arise.
Again...I think it is important to respect the decisions of the individuals on this site. Many people (even outside the USA) have chosen indoor only lifestyles for their cats. We all must make the decision that is in the best interest of our cats. For those of us that do have predators, diseases and traffic issues....we must take into account the risks of an outdoor lifestyle.Originally Posted by Belissima
Thanks for your welcome. Different strokes for different folks I guess. Here NOBODY keeps their cat prisoner indoors, and many would be astonished that that is a standard practice in the US and other places.
In my neighbourhood there is little traffic hazard, no natural predators to cats, they are all neutered, so there are not many fights, and vaccinated against cat disease.
My Bella is happiest outdoors, in the summer the door is left open and she comes and goes at will, and she just hates wet days when she has to stay in.
Those aren't the only dangers to cats. There are plenty of sick and twisted people that would think nothing of harming or killing a cat.Originally Posted by Belissima
In my neighbourhood there is little traffic hazard, no natural predators to cats, they are all neutered, so there are not many fights, and vaccinated against cat disease.
Noelle..from where I live, I would agree with you regarding the dangers that cats face here from being indoors/outdoors. However just as I would ask Belissima to respect those other members who have chosen to keep their cats indoors only, I would also ask that we respect Belissima's decision regarding her own cat. I personally have never been to Spain, but it sounds like Belissima lives in a location where cats having indoor/outdoor access is the norm. It also sounds like the cats there do not face several of the dangers that cats in my location face.Originally Posted by Noelle&Oliver
Those aren't the only dangers to cats. There are plenty of sick and twisted people that would think nothing of harming or killing a cat.
Plus, they can get parasites from critters they eat or fleas/ticks from the outside environment.
Heidi...I'm glad Napoleon is back indoors.Originally Posted by Heidiho
My Napoleon was not a fat cat, and now he is really skinny. I still can't believe what I've been through with this, and he is acting his ole self again, lol, I am so happy. Thanks Heidi
Noelle..those are very good points.Belissima is free to do whatever she choose with her cat(s), as well as everyone else here on the site. I simply listed other reasons, that she did not mention, as to why a person would keep their cat(s) inside.