Runaway Cats

Question
Hello,
I have six cats and all of them at one time or another have gone away for a night or two, and usually come back in the morning.  Right now, my youngest cat is missing and has been gone for three days. My question is, how far will a cat travel and do they sometimes decide to just sleep somewhere outside and come back when they feel like it? She is two years old but small for her age compared to all of my other cats when they were her age.  I am also worried if some other animal might have scarred her up a tree. Last time she went missing she was up a tree and it took me a long time to get her down. I have seen her climb down a tree and I'm sure she can, but I'm worried that she is scarred to come down due to another animal. Do you have any thoughts on these possibilities?

Answer
Nicholas,

There are always risks at letting cats out of doors.  Normally, when cats go missing, they stay fairly close to home.

As to the possibilities, yes there are the dangers: people, predators, automobiles.  It is also possible someone may have taken her in.  It is possible she is up in a tree frightened to come down, although, when they get hungry enough, cats usually do come down.

So, you need to be patient and see if she comes back shortly.

You can post lost cat notices (with a description and, if possible, a picture) and see if anyone in the neighborhood has seen her.  One trouble with looking for a lost cat is they are very good at getting hiding and can be right under your nose without you seeing them.

Please let me know if she returns.

Best regards... Norm.