About where you think my cat might be. I haven't been able to find her for almost 24 hours. I am really upset about it - can't eat, can't sleep. Sorry this is SO long. 
Emma is about 5 years old and was a totally indoor cat for the first 4 years. At my boyfriend's absolute insistence we started letting Emma outside some on the patio. Things mostly went pretty well. I can almost always see her and can usually chase her back inside when I'm ready for her to come in. Emma does not have a collar and is not chipped - in spite of being a mostly indoor cat she is kinda wild. Terrified of strangers, cars, other cats, won't let me pick her up easily.
Sunday morning she went outside and a few minutes later I couldn't find her. When I went outside she was at the next townhouse down and I went over there to get her. She freaked out and the closer I got the more she ran away. I didn't think too much about it - went back inside, looked out the back yard again and now she's a couple of townhouses away on the short brick wall that separates each house. I rattled the treat bag, opened a can of tuna and as I would get closer she kept going away. So I backed off. I looked out there and she was just crying and crying and her tail was HUGE. I thought maybe there was another cat or something but I didn't chase her - didn't want to run her off.
Then I saw her jump off the brick wall and thought she was headed back home. I didn't think too much about it - thought she'll come home right now. Suddenly it was 5 hours later and she wasn't home. I started to really worry. I looked and looked and called and rattled the treat bag, etc. She usually will RACE to me for treats. I went to the neighbors several houses on either side and at the house 2 doors down - where she'd been making the loud crying - the guy said "Oh yes she was here. She ran in my patio door, FREAKED out and ran back out." He said I'm an animal lover and she comes here alot (doubtful I think). He said she left toward your house.
So I haven't made signs yet but I've gone to almost every neighbor, showed the picture to alot of them, left my name and number with some, went in many of their back yards to look for Emma, called and called, more treat bag, opened a can of tuna, went to the apartment complex behind me, etc. And nothing.
When I saw the neighbor at about 9pm I mentioned I was still looking and worried. And I said all the things I'd done to find Emma and he made a kinda odd statement "Well I'm being open and honest with you" and acted kinda cross or mean. Hmmm Really?? And why would you be otherwise? Why would he make a point to say that? I got to wondering if he shut Emma in his house. That seems far fetched to me but still I wonder. And I thought I saw her come towards my house after the time he said she was in his house and left in a hurry towards my house.
Still no Emma. I think it's most likely that she is terrified and hiding. And I know most cats hide near by. But she's never spent more than an hour outside never mind a whole day and night. She must be hungry by now. I'm sleeping next to the back door and it is ajar and I put some tuna outside in a bowl.
Your thoughts? Is it unlikely that she's shut in the neighbor's house? What should I do now?
If you've read this far, THANK YOU.
Emma is about 5 years old and was a totally indoor cat for the first 4 years. At my boyfriend's absolute insistence we started letting Emma outside some on the patio. Things mostly went pretty well. I can almost always see her and can usually chase her back inside when I'm ready for her to come in. Emma does not have a collar and is not chipped - in spite of being a mostly indoor cat she is kinda wild. Terrified of strangers, cars, other cats, won't let me pick her up easily.
Sunday morning she went outside and a few minutes later I couldn't find her. When I went outside she was at the next townhouse down and I went over there to get her. She freaked out and the closer I got the more she ran away. I didn't think too much about it - went back inside, looked out the back yard again and now she's a couple of townhouses away on the short brick wall that separates each house. I rattled the treat bag, opened a can of tuna and as I would get closer she kept going away. So I backed off. I looked out there and she was just crying and crying and her tail was HUGE. I thought maybe there was another cat or something but I didn't chase her - didn't want to run her off.
Then I saw her jump off the brick wall and thought she was headed back home. I didn't think too much about it - thought she'll come home right now. Suddenly it was 5 hours later and she wasn't home. I started to really worry. I looked and looked and called and rattled the treat bag, etc. She usually will RACE to me for treats. I went to the neighbors several houses on either side and at the house 2 doors down - where she'd been making the loud crying - the guy said "Oh yes she was here. She ran in my patio door, FREAKED out and ran back out." He said I'm an animal lover and she comes here alot (doubtful I think). He said she left toward your house.
So I haven't made signs yet but I've gone to almost every neighbor, showed the picture to alot of them, left my name and number with some, went in many of their back yards to look for Emma, called and called, more treat bag, opened a can of tuna, went to the apartment complex behind me, etc. And nothing.
When I saw the neighbor at about 9pm I mentioned I was still looking and worried. And I said all the things I'd done to find Emma and he made a kinda odd statement "Well I'm being open and honest with you" and acted kinda cross or mean. Hmmm Really?? And why would you be otherwise? Why would he make a point to say that? I got to wondering if he shut Emma in his house. That seems far fetched to me but still I wonder. And I thought I saw her come towards my house after the time he said she was in his house and left in a hurry towards my house.
Still no Emma. I think it's most likely that she is terrified and hiding. And I know most cats hide near by. But she's never spent more than an hour outside never mind a whole day and night. She must be hungry by now. I'm sleeping next to the back door and it is ajar and I put some tuna outside in a bowl.
Your thoughts? Is it unlikely that she's shut in the neighbor's house? What should I do now?
If you've read this far, THANK YOU.
Please DO keep her indoor's only - better for you mental health and no more sleepless night's :lol3: I could never let my cat's outdoor's - I know all too well the danger's that lurk out there 
