my cat run off in the middle of the night!

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

The other night i opened my bedroom window as it had been a hot day. My youngest cat, who is less than a year old has come in heat and managed to get into our bedroom and escape thru the window. This was sunday night/ early hours of monday morning. Its now tuesday morning 9.30am and i havent seen her since. is this commmon to dissapear like this? she hasnt come home for food or anything.

i have left the kitchen window wide open so if she returns she can jump in. but should i out some food and water outside?

we live in a quiet village with a lot of farms surrounding us, im worried she might have eaten rat poison etc.

please help

rob
ANSWER: Hi Rob,

Yes, I would get dry food and water out right away and freshen it every night before dark.  Sounds like she could have wandered since she's in heat and maybe back when she's PG.  Listen too in your neighborhood for "cat sounds", as they seem to scream and yell alot when it's mating season and it get's loud.  You may be able to hear about where she's at and go have a look.

Does your village have a shelter where you can check for her, and also do they write down the road pickup's?  This is an awful list to look at, but not knowing is harder than knowing!  

Please let me know if you do see her come back, but if not get the food and water out so she can stop by and keep herself going!  Also check around for where you can rent a humane trap in case we have to begin to trap her back.

Let me know if you need any information ok?

Thanks,
Debbie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks debbie,

our village doesnt have any shelters unfortunately.

its now wednesday so i will walk around the village tonight with the hope of hearing her (and not getting a tug from the old bill - villagers get a bit anxious when people start walking around in the middle of the night!)

i have put the dry food out as from tuesday morning with water. i will give her until this following monday before putting posters up. thankyou for your advice

rob

Answer
Hi Rob,

No shelters?  Where do they take lost animals that other people find?  LOL Everywhere people get nervous when they see us "cat folks" walking about in the wee hours :-)

Depending on the personality of your cat (the friendlier, the more likely someone may see her in the second or third week missing - the more shy of a cat, people may not see it for several weeks.  But the flyers are one great tool, as you are only 1 person looking while your flyers must project a way to intice many others to get involved.  

Post the largest reward you want to pay in HUGE letters (paid upon a verified lead that helps return cat to owner) to intice many other folks to look for you.  Under shrubs, up trees in their yards... If your cat was mostly indoor only, she is NOT more than 5 houses away - very close rather than miles away.

If you need a place to get a humane trap, there is a website (ACES - Animal Care Equipment & Services), where you can order the best humane cat traps on the www (in my humble opinion).  I like model #36 because it's large and roomy for all size cats and long enough for them not to be able to sneak back out before the trip door shuts!

As you can see on my who am I page - You can use dog crates as traps (flea markets, ebay sells these, etc...).  But except when trapping with a dog crate, someone must be on the other end of the long rope watching the cats go in and out to eat, then pull the cage shut on the cat they want to capture.  

Rob, every spot 6" and bigger (PERHAPS SMALLER FOR LITTLE KITTIES) is a potential place for her to hide.  Drainage ditches, under heavy shrubs, up trees.  

I'm thinking about you and your lost one, please let me know what you see and find when out looking or if you need more info on getting some type of trap set down.

Thank you,
Debbie