my cat has dissappeared!

Question
I am so distressed! Perhaps you can help me. I have been feeding an outside cat I inherited when I moved into my home for almost 11 years. My neighbors tell me that Tiger came around after hurricane andrew in 1993. So I am assuming she is or was at least 14 years old. She ate fine until about a week ago I noticed she wasn't eating all her food but I thought it had to do with the fact that she never really liked the new cat food I had changed her to as much. ( But she had been eating it although not as much for the last month or so).Then Tues and Wed I noticed she had not touched hardly any of her food so Wednesday night I fed her canned food which she loved. Thursday she did not come to the french doors as normal to beg for food (this is a cat that used to bang her head on the door becuase she loved to eat all day), so I went looking for her in the yard that evening and found her looking like she was walking slower and she looked thinner to me. So I fed her again the wet food, although it took some coaxing to get her to eat enough. That was the last time I saw her. It has been two days and two nights and this is a cat who rarely left my back yard, she did not like other cats etc. I have had a raccon in my yard and a possum (due to her not eating her food it attracted them) but I haven't seen them since I put the food away. I have called her name and looked all over the yard and asked neighbors if they have seen her (everyone knew her). I live on a quite dead end street and there have been no sights of a car running over a cat, so I am at a lost. Given the fact that she was at least 14 years old, I think probably more like 15 or 16, and the fact that in the last few days she stopped eating her dry food, that she went somewhere to die? I have no idea where she could have gone. Thank you for your help! Kate

Answer
Kate,

I am really hoping that your outdoor "adopted" cat turns up....It is possible though that she became ill and went somewhere to lick her wounds or even die...It is in a cat's nature to hide the fact that they are ill, sometimes the best signs are things like behavioral changes or loss of appetite. I am sorry to hear about Tiger and I truly hope that you find her alive and well...You could try looking for Tiger under porches and sheds and in people's garages, you may find her. Maybe she will be ready to give up the outdoor life in exchange for a pampered existance in your home...Good luck, I would appreciate if you keep me posted...Let me know if you find her....I am willing to offer support and advice on an ongoing basis, so please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns...