HELP PLEASE! Questions re: behavior of lost cat

[Maxwell Smarts]

Hi~ We have an approx. 1 year old male neutered indoor kitten/cat named Max that accidentally got out of the house. He had a safety collar on at the time of disapperance but no tag. He is a very timid cat, gets easily scared by noises and has always disliked being outside (he'd panic). We were afraid of him being outside due to his easily scared nature and we quickly tried catching him to get him indoors, Max panicked and took off running. He has been gone for approx. 9 days. We're heartbroken. We have looked for him every day and/or night since he has been gone and we call him routinely from our house hoping he will find his way back. We are so worried about him due to Max being so scared of being outdoors; he has a very weak meow, has only hissed when he plays, and overall is very submissive (won't paw at a door if he wants out, he just lays down and waits to be let out, he always lays down when playing with our other cat etc.). Because of his timid nature (hides when company is over) I think it is highly unlikely he will let a stranger approach him. We live in town and there are many cats in this neigborhood, stray and domestic. Several people have reported seeing a orange taby cat but we have no idea if it's ours or one of the many other cats in our neighborhood. The weather has not been the most cooperative, every couple days it seems to rain. We have put up flyers, gone door to door in our neighborhood, shook his toys to make familiar noises, put our other cat Bailey outside at night hoping to attract him back, put food out at night, their dirty litter (hoping his and Bailey's smell would help him find home), we checked the area shelters and vet. Max has never been very food oriented, never begged for food etc. so I think he could maybe go awhile without food. We miss him terribly and are so worried about him
Any recommendatioons, comments, responses are sooooo welcomed!!

Questions: Because of his timid personality, is he likely to not even come to us as the owners even though we walk the neighborhood and call him?

Are his homing instincts just as good as a cat who has been outside before?

Is he likely to come home on his own?

By walking or driving around the neighborhood, does this confuse him on orienting himself or smelling/finding his way home?

Are their certain nights that are better at seeing cats out and about (i.e full moon nights etc.)?

How likely is it that he is still in the neighborhood hiding out?

I had read that an Acme dog whistle works for calling cats, is this so?

What more can we do to bring him home?

Thanks for any help!!!!!!

[Traci]

Unfortunately, the only thing you can do is what you've been doing. Continue to check the shelter every day, do a physical check because shelters do NOT keep tabs on lost pets and they do not check new arrivals to see if they may be lost pets who've been reported. Call all vets in your area, even take a picture and place in their lobbies. Post flyers in at least a 1-2 mile radius of your home. You can ask neighborhood children to join in the search (offer a small reward), children are adept at getting into small places, being able to look in areas an adult can't. They are also motivated when offered a reward.

You said people have reported a tabby in your area, but you don't know if he is yours, are you leaving a contact number with these people to call you?

You can also try borrowing a safe hav-a-heart trap from your local shelter, placing it near your home and put inside some tuna or salmon to entice, in the event kitty is nearby, but be prepared you might trap someone else's pet, so you MUST be able to check the trap very frequently (not to mention weather elements)

Some cats don't venture very far away from home, so the first thing I would do is try getting your neighborhood kids involved in the search and don't give up. Place a lost and found ad in your local newspapers too, these are usually free, but you have to renew the ad every other day or so, depending on the paper's requirements. Offer a reward in the ad, and be very descriptive about your kitty, include *beep* (and neutered if applicable), age, approx size, colors and unique markings, and be sure to mention his safety color and what color it is, etc. Include the area of your home (last seen near....)

Here's hoping he will come home soon, whatever you do, do not give up!

[MA]

A couple of things you can do:

Take an old tee shirt and put it on and sweat in it, really do a workout, get it wringing wet. Take it off and cut it in long strips. Take the strips outside, and hang them around the area- in a sort of directional making sure they are hanging where the wind blows.

Look for him in the wee hours of the morning- 2:00 -3:00 is best. Make a tape recording of your can opener opening up a can of food, and play that as you walk around outside (your neighbors might hate you in the morning) but it is very effective to bring home lost ones.

Take his litter pan, and set it outside, take the soiled litter and sprinkle it around the area so the scent carries to him.

Talk to the people who walk your street- mailmen, kids on skateboards, mothers pushing babies, anyone that walks. Make up fliers and put them up at eye level any place you can think of- but don't leave them in people's mailboxes, you could get in big trouble for doing that.

If you go to www.meowhoo.com and look up Specialized Pet Service, and then Lost Pet Information and Services and scroll down to Sherlock Bones listing- he has a very informative e-book you can download for a small cost that gives excellent advice on how to find a lost pet. Plus you can call him on the phone and he is really nice, and he will talk to you about some things to try as well.

Good luck, been there, done that and I hope it turns out for the best-

[Pat S.]

I would leave dry cat food and water outside (I'm sure you're doing this), and, if you can close up any other pets inside the house, I would open the back door during the night. It's a big risk, I know, but if your cat finds the food outside the door, and is able to come to the open door, it will recognize home.


Years ago my neighbor's inside cat got out when nobody was looking. They assumed that it happened when they took the new puppy out for a walk. This cat was declawed and had never been outside, even on the porch.

She was gone three weeks with no sightings. One night, I saw her eating dry cat food on my patio. I called my neighbors, but the cat was so terrified, she ran from them and was gone several more days.

I suggested leaving the back door open, and that night, she came into the house and meowed at their bedroom door.

I hope you have a good outcome. I can imagine how afraid you feel for your baby.

[bridget]

garages and sheds......especially sheds (they may be opened infrequently and a kitty could be trapped in there for days without anyone knwoing). Also check any motor homes or campers. And please DO go to your shelter in person....an "Orange tabby" could describe several cats that might be housed at the shelter and DO check you local vets offices in person.

The best of luck finding your kitty. I know how upsetting and scary this is for you.

(((HUGS)))

bridget

[LisaLisa]

My Smokey got out of the house shortly after I moved here to CT. He was also declawed and I was mortified. I found out in this area, found cats are typically taken to vet offices (including the ER vet) in addition to the shelter. So, it may be helpful for you to find out if this occurs in your area too. Needless to say, I called all the vet offices and sent them flyers with a picture. I called every few days to see if any new found kitties were brought in. There my be other places, groups in your area that tend for lost pets. The vet offices were a great resource of information for me.

I also kept food out, walked around the neighbor in the morning and evening juggling a box that contained dry food calling out to him telling him it was time to eat. I also had flyers in hand and asked everyone in the area if they saw him. There were construction workers of Spanish descent in the area, so I had flyers made in Spanish. I sat outside in the back on his favorite blanket (his scent was on this) with his toys with bells. I knew my parents feed him ham and kielbasi (we won't go there) but he liked these food and these had a very strong scent.

I saw him near the back of my house around day 6 and he ran away. On day 7, he came right to me--go figure. I guess he was ready..

Keep doing what you are and take the advice given to your post...he may be very close to home..

Please keep us posted and don't give up!!!

[Tina B and crew]

I'm so sorry your cat went missing I don't have anymore advice...sounds like you are doing most everything you should be and others have given sound advice. I do hope and pray your kitty comes home soon. It always makes me sad to think of poor kitties out there wandering around and lost Max come home!!

(((Hugs)))