How Do I Get My Escaped Kitties Back?

[Kwik]

We’ve tried sitting out but she won’t emerge if anyone is around. Thinking of trying to find something window height I can use as a platform so she can actually sit in front of the window and eat. Maybe then she’ll stick around long enough for us to open the window and let her in.

Thats where she got out,right? I like that idea- how high up is the window? Got 2 ladders or something you can use like horses to lie a piece of plywood across or a plank or something that would look inviting to a cat?
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Do your windows open up or slide across?

 

[DungeonMaster]

Thats where she got out,right? I like that idea- how high up is the window? Got 2 ladders or something you can use like horses to lie a piece of plywood across or a plank or something that would look inviting to a cat?
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Do your windows open up or slide across?

The window is on the ground floor, so the horses idea would work or a tote bin could work, too. If she feels like she’s lounging in the window, that might make her feel safer.

I just don’t want her feeling scared of her home because of the trap incident.

 

[Kwik]

The window is on the ground floor, so the horses idea would work or a tote bin could work, too. If she feels like she’s lounging in the window, that might make her feel safer.

I just don’t want her feeling scared of her home because of the trap incident.

Well she'd be afraid of a trap- will not associate a trap to home.....she's not wandering off in search of her territory,she's following her own scent to " home" only she's unfamiliar with entrance/exit and doesn't know what to do or where to go

If she went through your door she'd follow her scent back to the door- they really don't understand what a house is and you can go around to find another entrance unless they pick up their own scent - it's like she fell from the sky

When I walk my Sami for example- we always leave through the front door,we walk around the bldg to get to the clubhouse,we pass by the back of my unit,there's a back door and a back window,Sami has no idea that's where he came from,he wouldn't even know the window next to that door is where "home " is unless of course it was open and he got the scent of all the other cats he lives with....if you could put items outside with his scent it might help lead her back in---- litter box ,get some poop of hers,a clump of urine next to the house,they mark their territory thst way,it's a strong scent

 

[DungeonMaster]

I have no idea where she'd hiding out, but I've got dirty laundry strung all over the yard and made a table.
I uploaded some pictures in case anyone is interested in what she looks like and what I've been up to: So tired today. Took a nap after only sleeping for five hours over the past three days.

 

[DungeonMaster]

Filled out the form for Found by Phone from the Dogs Finding Dogs website, as it says they help find cats, too. So far no one has gotten back to me. The message I got when I tried to call them directed me to the form, but I might just leave a message tomorrow. Hoping for some professional advice since I can't afford the $300(ish) it seems to cost to actually get a tracker dog out, and I'm so rural that they probably don't come out here anyway. I hope they get back to me.

I hope she's still in the area and hasn't run off further. I read that indoor cats usually don't do that when they get outside, but anecdotal evidence says they sometimes do.

 

[Kwik]

Filled out the form for Found by Phone from the Dogs Finding Dogs website, as it says they help find cats, too. So far no one has gotten back to me. The message I got when I tried to call them directed me to the form, but I might just leave a message tomorrow. Hoping for some professional advice since I can't afford the $300(ish) it seems to cost to actually get a tracker dog out, and I'm so rural that they probably don't come out here anyway. I hope they get back to me.

I hope she's still in the area and hasn't run off further. I read that indoor cats usually don't do that when they get outside, but anecdotal evidence says they sometimes do.

There's just no way of knowing what happens once they find themselves outside - we hope, we pray,we do everything possible and don't give up

She's absolutely beautiful -

 

[catwanderer]

aw man, that's rough about the trap not quite working right. But it's a good sign she was around the area again! Don't lose hope, with all those yummy smells and familiar things around I bet she'll come back to investigate again soon. Sending good vibes your way!

 

[DungeonMaster]

aw man, that's rough about the trap not quite working right. But it's a good sign she was around the area again! Don't lose hope, with all those yummy smells and familiar things around I bet she'll come back to investigate again soon. Sending good vibes your way!

Thanks. I’m hoping it was her last night and not a rabbit. There was just regular cat food in that trap last night and I don’t know if a curious rabbit would maybe crawl inside. I really hope it was her.

 

[DungeonMaster]

So far no sign of her.

 

[Kwik]

Thanks. I’m hoping it was her last night and not a rabbit. There was just regular cat food in that trap last night and I don’t know if a curious rabbit would maybe crawl inside. I really hope it was her.

The worst thing for rabbits are fats n protein and yet they'll get into just about anything- you'd think the little herbivores would know better!
I trapped some cats this weekend and several times rats tripped the mechanism and and iguana.....went through quite a bit of tuna

I'm waiting to hear your girl is home safe with great expectation.....Is it pretty safe out there,in the way of predators?

 

[DungeonMaster]

The worst thing for rabbits are fats n protein and yet they'll get into just about anything- you'd think the little herbivores would know better!
I trapped some cats this weekend and several times rats tripped the mechanism and and iguana.....went through quite a bit of tuna

I'm waiting to hear your girl is home safe with great expectation.....Is it pretty safe out there,in the way of predators?

I heard some coyotes in the distance the other night and we have an occasional hawk (but we have so many crows they do a good job of chasing out hawks and eagles when they come), but I live up north, so nothing venomous.

Before switching to indoor only, I used to have cats that would go in and out as a kid. They went all over the place without trouble, so I’m fairly certain she’s safe in that way.

Hoping she comes back soon. I’ve been throwing up all day from worry and my mom is struggling harder than even when her mom passed. She just keeps asking me to get her baby back.

At this point, I would do anything to find her. If I go outside and actually see her, she’ll run, so I’m hoping one of my four traps actually gets tripped or her food up on the table gets eaten so I know she’s still okay and around. I’m just so sick, I can’t stand it.

Raining now, so I have to get the food off the table or it’ll get ruined. Going out with my night vision thing to see if I catch a glimpse of her.

 

[Kwik]

I heard some coyotes in the distance the other night and we have an occasional hawk (but we have so many crows they do a good job of chasing out hawks and eagles when they come), but I live up north, so nothing venomous.

Before switching to indoor only, I used to have cats that would go in and out as a kid. They went all over the place without trouble, so I’m fairly certain she’s safe in that way.

Hoping she comes back soon. I’ve been throwing up all day from worry and my mom is struggling harder than even when her mom passed. She just keeps asking me to get her baby back.

At this point, I would do anything to find her. If I go outside and actually see her, she’ll run, so I’m hoping one of my four traps actually gets tripped or her food up on the table gets eaten so I know she’s still okay and around. I’m just so sick, I can’t stand it.

Raining now, so I have to get the food off the table or it’ll get ruined. Going out with my night vision thing to see if I catch a glimpse of her.

I was really hoping it wouldn't rain- maybe it'll get her into your garage out there?

I'm sorry your so sick ,I'd be too,I understand completely.... Your poor Mom,I'm sure its killing you even more because of your compassion for her

 

[DungeonMaster]

I was really hoping it wouldn't rain- maybe it'll get her into your garage out there?

I'm sorry your so sick ,I'd be too,I understand completely.... Your poor Mom,I'm sure its killing you even more because of your compassion for her

Didn’t see her, but she might well be hiding still, traumatized by the trap incident. If that was her, would it spook her enough to run blind somewhere? I can’t imagine it would but she hasn’t acted herself since she got out. I figured that if it was her, she’d have run back to wherever she’s hiding out and will stay there until she works up the courage to come back.

I made up some fliers and I think I’ll alert a few more neighbors just to be sure. I don’t believe she’d leave my property because there are so many hiding places, but she’s doing her best not to make herself known to us and I want to be sure people know she’s out there. I don’t know if they’ll see her, as she’s an excellent hider.

 

[DungeonMaster]

No traps triggered yet.

 

[Kwik]

No traps triggered yet.

Maybe just before dawn

 

[DungeonMaster]

Maybe just before dawn

I hope so! I put two traps inside buildings because of the rain but nothing yet.

 

[Kwik]

Perhaps it might be a good idea to see if she will come in the building for food,not in the trap? Since the trap triggered she might be spooked and wander further looking for food - If you could get her to eat in the building comfortably then you might be able to do Hansel /Gretal breadcrumbs to lead her home?

How was she at feeding time in the house,did she come running dinner time - eat once,twice a day ?

Rain bothers me because I worry about the scent..... I'm starting to think reliable food source might keep her returning specific time..... they certainly have great hearing so if you used to day " time to eat" or whatever at feeding times be sure to do that .... try to keep an eye on when (if) the food is eaten..... it's an idea that might be worth trying

 

[DungeonMaster]

Perhaps it might be a good idea to see if she will come in the building for food,not in the trap? Since the trap triggered she might be spooked and wander further looking for food - If you could get her to eat in the building comfortably then you might be able to do Hansel /Gretal breadcrumbs to lead her home?

How was she at feeding time in the house,did she come running dinner time - eat once,twice a day ?

Rain bothers me because I worry about the scent..... I'm starting to think reliable food source might keep her returning specific time..... they certainly have great hearing so if you used to day " time to eat" or whatever at feeding times be sure to do that .... try to keep an eye on when (if) the food is eaten..... it's an idea that might be worth trying

No idea if this is wishful thinking or not but one of the traps had the blanket pulled off of it and was triggered. I wonder if she wanted the food and triggered it while trying to get to it another way or if something else happened. Either way, I set the food outside of it to see if she eats it.

 

[DungeonMaster]

I hope she does, as that means it’s really her and not my imagination.

 

[Kwik]

I hope she does, as that means it’s really her and not my imagination.

Yeah,exactly- I think it might be good to give her a reliable food source for right now as I'm afraid if she did trigger that trap she may not go in it again( yet) --- if she does start eating you can lead her into the unset trap so nothing happens....

However ,she's friendly and loves your Mom so if she gets comfortable enough to eat at a specific time and hang around msybe your Mom can just pick her up ?????