Help me!!! (kitten, male, food, stray)

[AaronK]

Okay, my problem is that I have lost my indoor cat. The other day, we had people come over to install some appliances with us in the house. They were here for about an hour, coming in and out the front door. My female calico cat, Nicky, got out the front door without anyone really noticing. She has disappeared since now for three days.

She is an indoor cat, and not used to the outdoors. She has also been spayed, but still has her front claws. What is the best way to go about looking for her? Anyone else every been in a similar situation? We've called animal control to see if anyone has turned her in, nothing yet.

She is very small, and looks like a kitten even though she is four years old. Is it possible a kid might have taken her home around here? Or is it possible that she doesn't know how to get home? I've heard cats are good at coming home. Any advice on how to go about looking for her? I'm really upset that we can't find her, I would love to be able to find her but I'm losing hope.

[spoiledkitties]

Put up posters. Knock on your neighbors doors. Maybe someone found her wandering and think someone will come looking. Hopefully she is tagged, tattoo'd or microchiped...can you call your local animal control? Try a shelter. If someone picked your kitty up maybe they left a number at one of them. If she likes treats and comes to the sound of a shaking pounce can or treat bag...walk around the home shaking it calling her name. She may just be in hiding if she is scared

[AaronK]

Unfortunately, none of the cats are tagged or have collars. We don't use them because they are indoor cats, and only go outside when we are watching them carefully.

We have done door to door, but I'm going to do more this week. How far will a cat walk away from their home? Someone told me about four blocks.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Put up posters at the closeby groceries, convenience stores, etc. This is why all my indoor cats are microchipped, as I'm sure you will do when she comes home, After living about 2 weeks in a place, cats get thier "home" locator re-set (actually believed to be a way of sensing magnetic lines of the earth) and can find their way home. Kepp calling animal control and ask about dead animals picked up - sorry to be so upsetting, but they may have gotten her. Good luck with the search, more than likely she is just fine!

[Hanna B.]

Also call local vets...they might know something.

Chances are she's holed up somewhere close by and she may be afraid to come out. Cats are very patient and I personally know people who have found their cats very close to home after they have been missing for days. A few tips:

Go out at night when things are very quiet - like 2-3 AM. Call for the cat and listen. Having her favorite treat and shaking the bag may help. Look for spots a cat could hide - under porches, closed garages, hidey holes. A live trap baited with smelly food may get her in (this is how a friend of mine got her cat back after it jumped out of her car while she was visiting people at a trailer park. Residents of the park saw the cat all the time but no one could catch it. The trap worked like a charm but she got a stray cat in there first).

[AaronK]

Oh my gosh, she actually came home tonight. I was laying in bed, trying to fall asleep when I kept hearing this meow. I thought it was one of my other cats, and when I went downstairs to look it was her at the back door. She went missing on Thursday, finally shows up Sunday night.

When she came in the house, she was extremely dirty. Dirt everywhere. She was also very hungry, and very scared. Jumpy at every little thing. I don't know what she went through but I thought cats new there way back home pretty well.

I'm just glad she's home safe now.

Edit-Also want to thank everyone for the advice. I'm glad I didn't have to go through the trouble, but I was very well going to.

[Hanna B.]

Glad to hear she's back!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Such good news! So glad for you. Love her a little extra - OK a lot extra!

[open minded]

That is the best news! My heart was breaking as I read your first post and I had to scroll down and see if she came home. I have 2 indoor cats and I would panic if they got out and could not be found. Whew! Glad she is safe again.

[dragonfly0428]

Good for you! DON'T FORGET THAT MICROCHIP!!!!