My cat is lost

[Hawkgirl]

There is a certain subset of people who love to be the first to deliver bad news.  They think they are performing a duty no one else will, plus it sort of immortalizes them (in their eyes).  Don't be too hard on them.  They mean well, in a twisted selfish way. 

I'm not hard on them at all...I thank them for calling..and tell them to keep an eye out and to call back if they see her.  I am hopeful that I will get a call that says "we have her"..

I just read to put litter outside and that they can smell it from far away...I will try that tonight in the front and in the back of the house....

[JLO]

I'm not hard on them at all...I thank them for calling..and tell them to keep an eye out and to call back if they see her.  I am hopeful that I will get a call that says "we have her"..

I just read to put litter outside and that they can smell it from far away...I will try that tonight in the front and in the back of the house....

Here, kitty kitty........

I have a good feeling also about her return.  Leaving the garage door open with food and water is a great idea.  Maybe some kindhearted soul took in what they thought was a stray and just haven't heard about her being a lost cat who already has a home.

I can just imagine your agony. 

I've always had cats.  We have two now and they are old - almost 20 - Indoor/outdoor cats at their whim.  We live rural, so lots of things could get them, but they are apparently are lucky (or smarter than I give them credit for, lol)

I know they cannot live too much longer, and it will break my heart, just like the last two that lived almost that long.

[Lord Undies]

Here, kitty kitty........

I have a good feeling also about her return.  Leaving the garage door open with food and water is a great idea.  Maybe some kindhearted soul took in what they thought was a stray and just haven't heard about her being a lost cat who already has a home.

I can just imagine your agony. 

I've always had cats.  We have two now and they are old - almost 20 - Indoor/outdoor cats at their whim.  We live rural, so lots of things could get them, but they are apparently are lucky (or smarter than I give them credit for, lol)

I know they cannot live too much longer, and it will break my heart, just like the last two that lived almost that long.

I have and ID/OD cat who is 22 now.  One day I was outside on our porch feeding her when an elderly lady came up my sidewalk.  She had been out looking for her "Princess" and she was so glad I had found her.  I had to explain to her that the cat's name was Pumpkin and she was my cat and she was about 18 years old.  The lady said, "I've been letting that little b*tch sleep with me!".  Pumpkin has had several dual homes through the years.  She always comes back though.

[Hawkgirl]

I have and ID/OD cat who is 22 now.  One day I was outside on our porch feeding her when an elderly lady came up my sidewalk.  She had been out looking for her "Princess" and she was so glad I had found her.  I had to explain to her that the cat's name was Pumpkin and she was my cat and she was about 18 years old.  The lady said, "I've been letting that little b*tch sleep with me!".  Pumpkin has had several dual homes through the years.  She always comes back though.

omg...that is so funny!

[Tucker]

I have and ID/OD cat who is 22 now.  One day I was outside on our porch feeding her when an elderly lady came up my sidewalk.  She had been out looking for her "Princess" and she was so glad I had found her.  I had to explain to her that the cat's name was Pumpkin and she was my cat and she was about 18 years old.  The lady said, "I've been letting that little b*tch sleep with me!".  Pumpkin has had several dual homes through the years.  She always comes back though.

Thanks for the laugh. It was needed.

[Red October]

I have no doubt your cat knows where to go when his tummy starts talking.  Best wishes to you.  I'm sorry you have to go through this.    

My own Mr. Jingles used to be a stray, and he always turned up like clockwork on our porch twice a day.  Occasionally he would be gone for a couple of days straight and my wife would get worried... but then he would turn up out of the blue all scratched up from fighting other strays.  The food we were setting out attracted the other cats, and neither hell nor high water would chase Jingles out of his territory.  His leg would be all cut up and bloody, he would have scrathes and bite marks on his head and above his eye.  His left eye doen't open all the way now, giving him a gangster Lucky Luciano look which totally suits him.  Anyway, we had to start bringing Jingles in for the night and he would eat, sleep, receive some nursing, and in the morning yowl like crazy to go back outside, knowing full good and well trouble lurked out there.  He didn't care one bit.  Eventually we had to shell out the money to have him neutered and get him all his shots because we couldn't stand him getting in fights and coming home hurt every night.  He's now happy and spoiled, and no longer yowls to go out.  But every now and then I'll catch him gazing out the window, thinking about outside.  

[Hawkgirl]

I have no doubt your cat knows where to go when his tummy starts talking.  Best wishes to you.  I'm sorry you have to go through this.    

My own Mr. Jingles used to be a stray, and he always turned up like clockwork on our porch twice a day.  Occasionally he would be gone for a couple of days straight and my wife would get worried... but then he would turn up out of the blue all scratched up from fighting other strays.  The food we were setting out attracted the other cats, and neither hell nor high water would chase Jingles out of his territory.  His leg would be all cut up and bloody, he would have scrathes and bite marks on his head and above his eye.  His left eye doen't open all the way now, giving him a gangster Lucky Luciano look which totally suits him.  Anyway, we had to start bringing Jingles in for the night and he would eat, sleep, receive some nursing, and in the morning yowl like crazy to go back outside, knowing full good and well trouble lurked out there.  He didn't care one bit.  Eventually we had to shell out the money to have him neutered and get him all his shots because we couldn't stand him getting in fights and coming home hurt every night.  He's now happy and spoiled, and no longer yowls to go out.  But every now and then I'll catch him gazing out the window, thinking about outside.  

Great story, thanks for sharing.   Cats rock.

[BlueStateSaint]

Our Oreo is six now.  We got her when she was nine months, from my sister who had rescued her from neglect.  Took Oreo (who already knew her name at nine months old) about ten minutes to take over.  Oreo's a "Double Stuff" now, and she yearns to go outside from time to time, but she stays inside--and appreciates it.  She's warm, well-fed, dry, and loved.  The Heiress absolutely loves her.  Oreo's a tad indifferent about Ellen, though . . .

I'd put out a can of tuna if I had to locate Oreo from the outside.  She loves that stuff.

[debk]

I can't believe I forgot to tell you... ...take one of your worn sleep shirts or a t-shirt or something that smells like you and something that smells like the baby....and put them just inside the garage door.

We put worn t-shirts from both of us on the porch and on the front porch (good thing the neighbors can't see the front porch!! looked like we had left the dirty laundry out!)...

Like someone mentioned about the cats having a fine sense of smell....we were told, they would be able to "smell" us from the used t-shirts and it would help her to find her way home....

I was willing to try anything to get her home.

[BlueStateSaint]

I can't believe I forgot to tell you... ...take one of your worn sleep shirts or a t-shirt or something that smells like you and something that smells like the baby....and put them just inside the garage door.

We put worn t-shirts from both of us on the porch and on the front porch (good thing the neighbors can't see the front porch!! looked like we had left the dirty laundry out!)...

Like someone mentioned about the cats having a fine sense of smell....we were told, they would be able to "smell" us from the used t-shirts and it would help her to find her way home....

I was willing to try anything to get her home.

This one sounds like a winner.

[Hawkgirl]

I can't believe I forgot to tell you... ...take one of your worn sleep shirts or a t-shirt or something that smells like you and something that smells like the baby....and put them just inside the garage door.

We put worn t-shirts from both of us on the porch and on the front porch (good thing the neighbors can't see the front porch!! looked like we had left the dirty laundry out!)...

Like someone mentioned about the cats having a fine sense of smell....we were told, they would be able to "smell" us from the used t-shirts and it would help her to find her way home....

I was willing to try anything to get her home.

Ok...I'll try that...I threw litter around the backyard and frontyard, nothing yet...but I think the kitten adopted me now...she's been in the garage again eating the food...she must know what time I get home because within 15 minutes of my arrival...she's in my garage.  Or maybe it's a he..?

[The Village Idiot]

Ok...I'll try that...I threw litter around the backyard and frontyard, nothing yet...but I think the kitten adopted me now...she's been in the garage again eating the food...she must know what time I get home because within 15 minutes of my arrival...she's in my garage.  Or maybe it's a he..?

Sounds like you might soon have 2 cats.

[debk]

Ok...I'll try that...I threw litter around the backyard and frontyard, nothing yet...but I think the kitten adopted me now...she's been in the garage again eating the food...she must know what time I get home because within 15 minutes of my arrival...she's in my garage.  Or maybe it's a he..?

You need to keep it....especially if it's a tiny kitten. Probably got dumped on the side of the road...

We didn't throw any litter about....don't know if it would have made a difference with all the woods and woods animals about.

[Chris_]

You need to keep it....especially if it's a tiny kitten. Probably got dumped on the side of the road...

We didn't throw any litter about....don't know if it would have made a difference with all the woods and woods animals about.

If you adopt a stray kitten, be sure to have a vet test it for feline leukemia......especially if you have other cats, as it is highly contagious.....

doc

[Hawkgirl]

You need to keep it....especially if it's a tiny kitten. Probably got dumped on the side of the road...

We didn't throw any litter about....don't know if it would have made a difference with all the woods and woods animals about.

I read about the litter trick in an article.

Of course I'd keep the kitten...but everytime I make a move towards it, it runs out of the garage....My plan is to move the food plate deeper and deeper into the garage until I can shut the garage door remotely before it has a chance to escape.  It won't be easy to get her and I don't have or want to buy a trap.  Any suggestions?

[The Village Idiot]

Taming a feral cat might be tough. I'd guess its probably better to start with a kitten.

[Hawkgirl]

Taming a feral cat might be tough. I'd guess its probably better to start with a kitten.

Yeah, that's what I've been told....but now that I'm feeding her...it will be hard to stop...I'm the type that will keep buying food for it, even if I never see it close up.  The old cat lady that feeds the strays...that will be me. :innocent:

[Hawkgirl]

BTW....this is her with my daughter a few months ago..

[The Village Idiot]

Very cute!

[Hawkgirl]

Very cute!

Thanks....this is my second calico..they are fun to have...my last one looked exactly the same and passed at 17 years old.  They are goofy, fun, energetic and VERY vocal.
My first was Tiffany and this is Steffany....In those 17 years, I had 2 cats and I never lost either of them...they never ventured away from the house...If Steffany doesn't return in a month...I will probably adopt another....I can't see myself pet-less and I want my daughter to develop a love for animals as well.  Steffany  was a special cat though....she loved to play fetch..and she was better than dogs at it.  Calico's are VERY smart cats.

[debk]

Our escape artist was a feral cat, and she was a couple of months old when we got her. She had been fostered.

She and her sister were my daughter's and they lived with her for about 8 months, when she moved back home with them. We already had 3 sisters we adopted from the shelter....yes, it was a cat house!

Cleo never socialized well with our three and Jazzy was very skittish. Until we gave Cleo to a friend of my son's a couple of years ago. Cleo is very happy at the friend's where she is an "only".

Jazzy turned into a totally different cat. She's a lap cat, wants lots of attention, and will do anything to get petted. She likes to be held like a baby so she can rest her head on your shoulder, or will lay on lap, chest, legs forever. She gets along great with the other 3 since her sister left, and all 4 seemed immediately happier after Cleo left. She doesn't seem able to purr....just kind of wheezes like an asthmatic. But given the chance she will escape!

[Chris]

I had a former roomate that adopted a feral cat.  Nasty critter.

[debk]

I had a former roomate that adopted a feral cat.  Nasty critter.

I think it depends on how old they are when you get one. Jazz and Cleo were pretty teeny when found and were still with their mother.

I wouldn't take an older one.


Hey Chris, did you hear about the woman that was arrested here, Thursday?...that had 76 dogs in her house? It was horrible. They had to put 20 some down yesterday because they were in such bad shape. The shelter called in vets and vet techs from all over town, and a bunch went from the vet school too. People that were trying to collect the animals and get them to the shelter, were in tears.....

[Chris]

I didn't hear about her, but that kind of story shows up frequently around here.  I think there was a woman in Smithfield (south of Franklin) that was arrested for neglecting to take care of the dogs she was supposedly breeding.

[BlueStateSaint]

We just had a woman arrested around here--Schenectady sounds right--who had 62 cats.  Three had to be put down.  The other 59 are up for adoption.