Where is my cat?

Question

My cat has been missing for over 36 hours. He is an outside cat, but he is never gone for very long at all... in fact he never leaves the yard. My worry, is that a falcon or hawk got him - they have killed 2 rabbits already TODAY. He is not a tiny cat, but is able to fight things off pretty well... Where do injured/scared animals go? I have checked under the deck and in all the trees and all that. The nights here are down in the twenties so I'm very worried about him!!

Answer 1

Check all the neighbors yards, get neighbors to help look, look in sewers, look under cars, and call the animal control to help look. Call local shelter to see if that got any new cats in during the last 36 hours. One of those could be yours.

Answer 2

Is he neutered? That's the first possibility.
Also, cats are known to have territories that extend over a mile. A lot of cats won't go that far, but some certainly will.
It's possible that some well meaning person took him in during the cold weather and has taken a liking to him. Did he have a collar or an implant chip?
Sometimes cats can be gone for days and then return. Some people think that cats cannot get lost but this is not true at all. Especially if it got chased by something into unfamiliar territory.
If I were you and he still isn't back by tomororow I would post up signs around the neighborhood and at all the local vets. Put a picture on them if you can. Also call the local Humane Society or animal shelter and give a description. Keep on them and call once everyday or two to make sure that they havent gotten your cat in and just forgot to call or something. Good luck. He might just show up.

Answer 3

Oh boy, I do hope you find the little guy. If he doesn't stray outside of the yard (that you know of), then try asking neighbors to keep an eye out for him. I understand your concerns regarding hawks, and it might certainly be possible.

On the other hand, cats are very resourceful and resilient; if he's hurt, but alive, perhaps he's holed up somewhere, nursing a wound (when I was a kid, I had a cat that had gotten into a fight with another cat, and he crawled under my front porch until he felt strong enough -- and when he was hungry).

Nevertheless, I suggest you call a local vet or cat clinic to see if they've had any reports of strays, and perhaps to get other clues as to how you can locate him.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I doubt that the falcons got the cat... if anything, the cat may have witnessed the falcon swooping and killing the rabbit and has been scared off. Or, the falcon may have tried to swoop down on the cat and realized its mistake right away. Either way, the cat will be really really spooked and stressed. Cats that are frightened will hide, waiting for the cover of darkness to move out. Keep calling him and maybe when he comes back you'll consider keeping him indoors and letting him out only when you can supervise him.

Answer 5

Check cars, yours & neighbors. They climb up into the engine from underneath. Check garages, basements & storage sheds. My cat got locked in my neighbors garage when she went exploring & he didn't know she was in there. Look under storage sheds. Don't forget to look up. Cats still climb trees & then can't figure out how to get down. Put up posters. Children are very observant, so ask the neighborhood children if they've seen him. Ask the police. Call all the shelters every few days. Call all the local vets. Put up posters. Good luck.

Answer 6

He may have just wandered off. Just be sure to put some food out for him. If able put a bed with a heating blanket, to keep him warm. I'm sure he will be ok. I had a cat that went missing for a week and came back, just fine. I hope this helps you out. Good luck!

Answer 7

More than likely he's gone to sew his oats, so to speak. I've had cats all of my life and have never had a male that didn't do this! I had one that stayed gone for 6 months! Unless he's hurt he will be back. When he does come back, make sure to have him checked thouroughly by a vet for feline lukimia, etc.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

call your local humane society and let them know he's missing. if he's over 6 pounds then i doubt a bird would have gotten him but that is a scary possibility.
good luck!
ps. when my cats are spooked they'll hide under odd things like in the undercarriage of a car or on my roof.

Answer 9

just because cats don't have to be on a leash doesn't mean we can just open the door and assume that all will be well. I'm surprised that you allowed your cat out knowing there was a very good possibility that your cat could have been killed by a hawk. shame on you.

Answer 10

try bushes or in a neighbors yard because he will be able to get warm. You shold probably call animal control to report it missing. Try to lour it to your house with it's favorite food.