My cat is lost...

[Ripley]

I know everyone (including me!) is watching the convention..

But my Zeldar is an indoor kitty (12 yrs old, not sick, but a little slow lately) who goes out in the garden with me and hangs out. I left him out there alone for awhile and when I started looking for him it started raining. I knew he'd come running to the porch when the thunder hit..

he's no where around.

I'm really sick about this. He is an indoor cat and cannot defend himself if stuck out there. He's too old to just "wander off" but he's too young to just have gone off and died. He's never been gone for this long in this neighborhood...

[eaprez]

1. perhaps the storm just scared him and he's hiding.

[Ripley]

9. I thought that too...

but it has been hours and he does not do well outside..

[eaprez]

15. which probably only serves to frighten him more.

Do you have a garage you could crack open for him?
Put some food out for him -- something really odorous :)
My indoor cat got out once through a basement window my son left open.
Was gone for three days.
I was worried sick about him.
It was winter time, he had no claws....
I left the garage door open a bit and left some food and one night I heard him....opened the door and he came running.
He was noticably thinner, but fine.

[Ripley]

21. Thanks for the tip...

I already have the garage door cracked open ...but now I'll put food out there.

[lancdem]

2. Could he be hiding under something else

to escape the rain?

[theivoryqueen]

3. a cat of mine once wandered off for several days and finally came home

It is highly possible he is hiding from the rain and will come home after it dries out a bit.

[Ripley]

13. I hope you are right!

But this neighborhood is death to outdoor cats...

[lcooksey]

24. A friend had that happen, too

One of her two cats got out and was gone for 3 days. But she came back, safe and sound.

Good luck. I hope your cat makes it safe home.

[KalicoKitty]

4. Oh, how sad...

I do hope he returns soon!

I also am wathcing the convention. Sure was good to see Al and Tipper!

I will pray for your kitty's safe return!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. Do your neighbors leave their garages or basement doors open?

he could have been startled and ran into one of these spaces to hide.

[Ripley]

16. Yes, that is my hope...he ran into a garage and is waiting to

come home...cause he is a scaredy cat. He is a indoor front declawed cat that will not do well outside here where my neigbors dogs have killed cats.

I am sick.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

25. I'll say a prayer for him!

:hug:

[Ripley]

28. Thank you.

I needed that.

[eaprez]

17. WOW - pretty kitties.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

26. Thanks, they're my handsome boys!

;-)

[Lautremont]

6. They always come back in two to three days.

Biking randomly up and down local alleys and lanes works (this is how I found my last lost cat), and when you do find him, you'll be surprised at how close he was the whole time.

If you start making posters, make them witty and funny - these get responses. "Come back Zeldar! All is forgiven!" and "Got Zeldar?" are my two suggestions.

[umtalal]

7. Oh, I am so sad. I am sure Zeldar will be back, Just keep listening to his

meows. Don't worry he will show up. Can you leave his favorite food outside?

[chookie]

8. Don't lose hope!

He's is very likely to be near by -- and hiding very successfully.

Keep looking for him -- and let him hear you. Go out again and again and again, and keep calling him. Be sure you will be able to hear him tonight when he comes home (turn A/C off, etc) and sleep in the house near the garden if you can.

Bait him with a can of his favorite food.

Enlist all the neighbors in looking for him.

As he was used to go out in the garden, he probably has a sense about how to return there.

[chookie]

10. Don't lose hope!

He's is very likely to be near by -- and hiding very successfully.

Keep looking for him -- and let him hear you. Go out again and again and again, and keep calling him. Be sure you will be able to hear him tonight when he comes home (turn A/C off, etc) and sleep in the house near the garden if you can.

Bait him with a can of his favorite food.

Enlist all the neighbors in looking for him.

As he was used to go out in the garden, he probably has a sense about how to return there.

Give him a big kiss from his Aunt Chookie when he comes home.

[chookie]

19. more tips

The point is, look in EVERY nook and cranny. Don't assume that your pet would never crawl into some tiny space.


Go to each house in the area where your pet was lost and talk to the residents. Write down a description of your lost pet and your phone number and leave it with them. Leave it attached to their door if they are not home.

Make some noise while you walk around the neighborhood! Animals can hear you from great distances.

*

Have all your family members call the pet's name.
*

If your pet has a favorite "squeaky toy" bring it along and use it to help you make familiar noises.
*


Carry a box of your pet's favorite biscuits, chews, or other treats and rattle it loudly while calling your pet's name.
*

Make any other noise that your pet is familiar with.
*

It's also important to stop regularly, be quiet, and listen for your pet to make a noise in reply.

Bring a powerful flashlight (even during daylight hours) for checking in dark spaces.

Place strong-scented articles outside your home to attract your pet. Animals find their way by scent as well as sound.

*
Place some of your dirty clothes outdoors. Sweaty gym socks and jogging suits are great for this!

more at
http://www.petrescue.com/library/find-pet.htm

[Ready4Change]

11. Most likely

Found a nice spot shaded from the rain, and is waiting for it to stop before venturing out again. Good chance he's in sight of you as you've been calling, and is amused at how wet you got.

I assume you are living in a fairly urban type area. If you live "out there" with coyotes and such, another option starts being viable. Sorry if so.

[Ripley]

18. You have got my kitty nailed...he likes to do that..

watch me look for him! But this is different. He's been gone for hours and the neigborhood is not friendly.

[Ready4Change]

27. Don't give up hope.

Especially as long as it's raining. I'd expect him to show up at his regular dinner time, next morning at the latest. If he'd done this before I'd give hime several days.

I forgot if you checked with neighbors or not. He could have gone there when the rain started and "his" door didn't open. Any door in a storm and all that.

[Pale Blue Dot]

12. This happened to us about a year ago.

Aurora got outside without us realizing it, and then we went away for 2 days.

When we got home, we called for her, visited animal shelters, and cried ourselves to sleep.

Finally, on the third night, I had an idea. I went out on the porch and opened a can of cat food. Aurora was home in less than 2 minutes. :D

Try this, Ripley. Good luck to you. I know how hard this can be. :hug:

[Mara Steele]

14. I'm so sorry, that's really scary

We once lost our 15 year old kitty in a snowstorm for 3-4 days... We were sure she'd froze but then, she returned when the storm cleared, mewing and hungry at the back door.

She was with us for a full year and 1/2 after that (until she had a stroke and died in a matter of days at the age of 16...)

Cats are remarkable survivors...

I'm sure Zeldar is going to turn up OK. :hug:

[Ripley]

20. Thanks to all of you and your stories...

I feel better, sort of.

I'll let you know if I find my boy. I feel stupid about this because it hasn't even been 24 hours, but damn that is death to cats around here, and I have never had him missing more than 5-6 hours.

I can't lose him now.

[umtalal]

22. You won't. n/t

[jukes]

23. Ripley

i'm so sorry. i know you must be shattered over this.

my best guess is he's hunkered down, frightened by the storm, in good shelter & will come straight home when the storm is over.

best of luck in his return.

[flamingyouth]

29. I'm sorry to hear this

come home soon, Ripley! :hi:

[GhostThatWalks]

30. Same thing happened to me two weeks ago.

edited for spelling.
Went to my mom's house for 2 days and when I got back to my dads he was gone. I know how you fell. It really sux.

[Ripley]

31. THE STUPID FREAKING ZELDAR RETURNS!

I'm listening to Bill Clinton talk about how John Kerry said "Send Me" and I see a shadow move on my porch...

The little guy is soaking wet and trying to lick himself dry, no prob.

He doesn't seem to be injured, just soaked to the bone.

Thanks yall for helping me through what I thought was going to be a bad ending!

Another happy DU ending. :D

[SoCalDem]

32. Yay!!.. Give hin a warm bath

He's probably very cold.. A warm bath, and then snuggle him with a couple of beach towels to dry him.. If he's not too skittish, a hair dryer would help..:)

He probably was scared... I am thrilled that you got him back :)

[amerikat]

33. I love happy endings

Welcome home Zeldar.:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

[GoneOffShore]

34. Huzzah!!!!

We have two indoor cats and they never get out.
If they did they would surely die as they are totally dumb.
Cute, but dumb.
Katie actually growls at loud noises.
Congratulations on getting Zeldar back.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

35. Oh, this is such good news!

I was just getting ready to send out a prayer for Zeldar's safe return, but kept scrolling down and read that the prodigal cat had already returned. Yippee skippee!!!

[Cybergata]

37. YEAHHHHH!

I'm glad your baby is back.

:hippie:

[Pale Blue Dot]

38. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Excellent news. Cats do this to torture us. You do know that they are completely in control, right? :D

[Cybergata]

36. Sit out in the yard with his favorite food.

I have had my cat disappear after he sneaks out the door way too many times. Most of the time he is hiding from me, just because he likes being outside. I keep catnip in a food jar that makes a snap noise when I open it. I sit on the porch, open the jar, and before I know it he comes running. Opening a can of cat food works almost as well.


I hope you find your kitty.

:hippie: