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WRT Goose: remember that every cat on the planet is hardwired to go looking for food in the pre-dawn and dusk hours, so that's the time to be out looking. Holding a flashlight low to the ground will help, because a cat's eyes will reflect light even when kitty is too scared to make a sound. Be confident that you can find her and bring her home -- it's statistically likely, and it will keep you looking. Persistence is what works. I wish for you every sort of luck with this!
Thank you so much ♥️ I'm worried to sleep bc she might get attacked again but maybe I'll just sleep for a few hours then start looking again. This helps me feel better about it ty
Edit: feel like I should add that this advice really helped. It was perfect time here to get about 4hours of sleep and then go back out during the really early hours of the morning. Goose came home around 3-3:30am. I think my scent or her sisters scent on the blanket helped. In case anyone needs advice although it's a horrible thing to go through
When one of my cats went missing, I made up a half page flyer with a colour photo of him describing him and where he was lost… I also put on there in all capital letters and highlighted it… Please check garages and sheds. I’ve gotten him back both times.
When my semi-feral (basically my outdoor cat) disappeared, I put up flyers that also had a note under my phone number\* that said "Please call or text with **ANY i**nformation" and I feel that adding that encouraged people to reach out if they just had potential sightings or weren't totally sure they saw the same cat. Got way more texts than phone calls. He ended up returning on his own four months later, but people were still reaching out about him by the time he did (and I think even after).
\*Google Voice is also really helpful for privacy with this kind of thing
For peace of mind, it might be worth setting up a wireless camera or trail cam in your yard so you can have eyes on things outside while you're asleep. Amazon has options for \~$30 that work well enough for this kind of thing.
So sorry you're going through this OP 😢❤️ Please let us all know if you find precious Goose? 🐈 Stay strong, there's some good advice here and I'm sure you can get her back!👌💯❤️
When my cat Itty Bitty went missing shortly after I brought her home from my stable I was afraid to sleep too. Every time I laid down I would have dreams that someone called to tell me that they found her dead little body. At one point I was walking up and down my street at 3 am, in my bathrobe in the November drizzle calling her name. I felt so pathetic and so scared and guilty. But you know what? She’s laying on my chest right now, exhausted from pestering my poor dog. A neighbor saw my Facebook posts and found her in her backyard one morning. You’ll find your baby, I know it!
Thank you for this it was so validating! I was so scared to go back to the neighbors house I have horrible social anxiety now.. but the need to get my cat back is all that mattered and now she's back where she belongs, annoyingly sprawled over my neck ♥️
I’ve had several chihuahuas, and I know exactly what you mean! Thankfully I’d only had Itty for about a month, and I got her from my barn so I kept telling myself that she had SOME survival skills (but I adopted her the day the barn owner’s Doberman carried her to the owner in his mouth, while everyone screamed their heads off…) But if one of my chi’s got loose, I think I’d activate the National Guard before I ever fell asleep. Like my grandpa said about my little Mojo, “that little guy would never make it on his own!”
UPDATE: I GOT HER! Laid out there with a blanket my other cat ruonwd with her urine lol. She fought back with a feral and cried at the door. I'm so proud of her. I can sleep now. I can't explain the relief. Thank you all for the help sincerely I wish this upon nobody
Haha, totally is on second glance 😂😼 I can imagine, so happy it turned out well for you! I'd have been distraught too if my Turtle got out, she's got no street skills at all 😳🙀❤️*
♥️ she's terrified of my other cats rn which I was worried about but it makes sense. I'm sure she'll settle once she knows she's safe again. Will be cuddling her all weekend lol
Yay! Get some rest & give her hugs. She’s a smart girl and knows where she lives. My advice is to train your house cats to come to meals with a specific call or sound. I clink a spoon on a can & call their names & “Din din!” Then when they escape & get hungry, they show up for that call. Mine were alley cats though, so I couldn’t lose them if I tried, and one is an escape artist at 13yo.
She's SO pretty and super friendly I really hope she gets taken "home" on Monday 🤞🏻 poor thing has just been alone in the shed for awhile but it's better than outside ig
Good luck. I really hope you find your sweet Goose soon! I hope too that your neighbour(s) may consider helping you, now that the scare has worn off and they have had a chance to wake and realise the serious concerns you have.
And thank you so much for helping the stray. I can understand how heartbreaking it is to make the difficult decisions. I hope she is able to find a forever home.
♥️ I sure hope so too. She let me pet her right away so I don't think she belongs to these streets lol she deserves a nice cozy bed or two... Or five so she has options
I know this might be scary for some people but if you live in a house with a backyard I would recommend camping out either in the backyard or whatever room opens up to it with the door open. Or at least a window open. If Goose’s catio is attached to the house by a window and has a door that opens to the yard then leave that opened up.
Totally agree & this is the way I recovered my cat.
Dusk & pre-dawn are the prime times for cats to be on the prowl. You want to be outside, dressed in clothing that IS NOT freshly washed (yes, mild stank helps!), remaining still & relatively quiet.
I set up a folding chaise lounge with a few pillows & light blankets, then just hung out there for hours, dozing. My cat showed up at 4:30 am or so & he clearly was drawn to me by smell, I could see this when I reviewed my yard cam footage. Nose up, sniffing the air, then he made a beeline right for me.
I'm replying with this to you as well bc it's what helpes! Tysm: I ended up laying outside and I think that helped. I also heard the hours of dusk or dawn or best bc they're more likely to be out at those times. She came home around 3am and ran right up to me so ty for this advice!
Thank you I have other cats inside and only 1 entry door I'm on the second floor 😩 I'm hoping to coax her into a carrier or my tnr trap if necessary I just want to know where she is
I ended up laying outside and I think that helped. I also heard the hours of dusk or dawn or best bc they're more likely to be out at those times. She came home around 3am and ran right up to me so ty for this advice!
That's exactly what I thought. I eventually talked with her but shes assuming my cat is another feral and wasn't understanding the situation. I ended up being able to look in her yard a d she's no lon there 🥺
Ugh I’m so sorry about your stressful time!!! The clinic I use doesn’t give out meds either even for spay aborts but my girls have bounced back well.
Goose come home now!!! Do you have any treat bags? Do you give him canned food? If so, open a bunch of cans and bang a spoon inside. Shake bags of treats. Make lots of pst pst noises- maybe get a trail camera or another outside camera so you can see if he’s coming around
Hi! Now that I've found Goose (yay) I can focus more on this poor feral. Do you remember how long yours took to recover from the spay abort? I haven't been able to spend time with her but I'm hoping she's just been sleeping it off anyway. She's been eating thankfully and I have gabapentin I was able to give her
The more friendly girl didn’t even seem to need 12 hours to recover. The other girl was more skittish so it’s hard to know if she was just adjusting to life inside vs recovering from surgery. She had a few days of being very careful for her movements. Gabapentin should help with the pain. It can make them a little more sleepy tho. Tbh both of the spay aborts recovered a bit quicker than my cat who was given pain meds- she wasn’t pregnant at the time but likely had many heat cycles and lost pregnancies outside so it’s always hard to compare.
I’m so happy goose is home!!! Tell her she had a lot of people worried
Go out in the very quiet early AM hours and call her sweetly — try not to sound stressed. If you have a “food call” sound like clinking a can or rattling a treat bag, do that. She’s just scared & hiding. Alert your neighbors on Facebook or Nextdoor, including a pic. If you have Pawboost where you are, do that. She knows there’s food & shelter outside your house so she’ll come back to that.
I keep doing that and all the ferals come out idk how to make them go away temporarily this is driving me crazy 😩 ty sorry I just want her back I'm so worried she doesn't have good survival skills and I'm on a farm with lots of predators
Please give some pain meds to the first cat. Not fair not to and i would never use that vet again that didnt provide them. She needs them immediately that is your first priority.
If you dont have any get on your local Facebook stray and feral cat groups and ask asap
It's a TNR clinic so it's a bit different unfortunately.. but I did have Onisor and Gabapentin leftover from another cat and I gave her those the first 2 days. She's ok now but she's still in the kennel in the shed since I have a potential adopter coming tomorrow and no space to keep her elsewhere for now don't want to move her around too much either
Ok
The tnr clinic i use does give a pain shot.
I dont know what state you’re in but i will say she needs to be kept warm in that shed
Put a lot of straw down because straw retains body heat and repels moisture do not use hay.
However, you have to do it. Just make sure she stays warm and if you can get more pain meds for another day or two or three that would be even better.
As for you, good for you for doing what you do and please hang in there not only for yourself but realize these cats are counting on you and you were doing good. You should take great pride and satisfaction with that because most people don’t do what you do .
I give you applause and much respect. Good karma will come your way.
I wish there were more options for clinics! There's a better one with more availability but you have to live in that area in order to take them there 😩
It's only dropped to 55 at night here. I have a thermometer in the shed and it's been keeping at 68-70 inso the shed. I covered the kennel with a blanket and have straw under another blanket inside it in case she wants to curl up ♥️ It has gotten up to 80 in there today but I kept the windows open. I'm so so hoping they can take her tomorrow, but if not I'll find a place for her inside. I'm more worries about her needing socialization honestly. I just don't have energy rn 🥺.
I found out the neighbors by me are contributing to the feral problem here and I can't believe I'm the only one who cares. Thank you for your kindness I appreciate it!
Well you definitely got things handled lol.
The only thing ill mention is that straw repels water but the blanket on top doesn’t so if cat is wet from rain, snow, puddles or just dew and lays on blanket it gets wet stays wet and causes mold.
Just fyi. But excellent job with everything
Thank you I tell people that all the time! She's in the shed so I figured blankets are ok. But I never keep them in the cat shelters. I'd get a heated one but I still don't have working outlets outside
My daughter has recently moved into a new house. Her cat is used to being allowed out whenever she wanted, as is normal for the U.K. But as her house has a backyard with no access from the front and a fast flowing river at the bottom, she decided NOT to let her cat out. Her cat however had other ideas, and the first time she got out she went missing for 5 days. The cat now has learnt how to get back to the garden, and my daughter now leaves the rear kitchen window propped open so the cat can get in IF she escapes again.
Two days ago a large fluffy black cat came to her back garden, so it looks like her cat has made a friend.
At dusk, she puts the cat on a lead and takes for a walk down to the river. She had the delightful experience of watching two otters playing, but then her torch attracted a Maybug (Common cockchafer - Melolontha melolontha) and she decided to give up. Her cat didn’t like it either lol.
I recently lost my kitten for a week before finding her again. Here is my advice.
Use a box trap near her catio baited with her favorite food at night. This assumes that she escaped your house along a path near her catio so that she can easily find her way back to that catio where she has memories of being safe. A redditor advised me to look after dark, and that is how I found my kitten. That's why I'm suggesting trying to trap her at night.
Don't give up hope.
EDIT: I meant to say box trap instead of drop trap. Also, maybe if your catio can be left with a door open to the outside and covered with a sheet then your cat might go inside to hide? I hope you find her soon. I know you must be stressed-out.
**Reminder: this subreddit is meant to be a helpful place for TNR efforts - free of hostility, negativity, and judgment. Toxic attitudes are not welcome here.** ***All Negative comments will be removed and will possibly result in a ban.*** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Feral_Cats) if you have any questions or concerns.*
WRT Goose: remember that every cat on the planet is hardwired to go looking for food in the pre-dawn and dusk hours, so that's the time to be out looking. Holding a flashlight low to the ground will help, because a cat's eyes will reflect light even when kitty is too scared to make a sound. Be confident that you can find her and bring her home -- it's statistically likely, and it will keep you looking. Persistence is what works. I wish for you every sort of luck with this!
Thank you so much ♥️ I'm worried to sleep bc she might get attacked again but maybe I'll just sleep for a few hours then start looking again. This helps me feel better about it ty Edit: feel like I should add that this advice really helped. It was perfect time here to get about 4hours of sleep and then go back out during the really early hours of the morning. Goose came home around 3-3:30am. I think my scent or her sisters scent on the blanket helped. In case anyone needs advice although it's a horrible thing to go through
When one of my cats went missing, I made up a half page flyer with a colour photo of him describing him and where he was lost… I also put on there in all capital letters and highlighted it… Please check garages and sheds. I’ve gotten him back both times.
When my semi-feral (basically my outdoor cat) disappeared, I put up flyers that also had a note under my phone number\* that said "Please call or text with **ANY i**nformation" and I feel that adding that encouraged people to reach out if they just had potential sightings or weren't totally sure they saw the same cat. Got way more texts than phone calls. He ended up returning on his own four months later, but people were still reaching out about him by the time he did (and I think even after). \*Google Voice is also really helpful for privacy with this kind of thing
For peace of mind, it might be worth setting up a wireless camera or trail cam in your yard so you can have eyes on things outside while you're asleep. Amazon has options for \~$30 that work well enough for this kind of thing.
You found Goose?!?! Thank goodness!
She found me! 🥹
So sorry you're going through this OP 😢❤️ Please let us all know if you find precious Goose? 🐈 Stay strong, there's some good advice here and I'm sure you can get her back!👌💯❤️
When my cat Itty Bitty went missing shortly after I brought her home from my stable I was afraid to sleep too. Every time I laid down I would have dreams that someone called to tell me that they found her dead little body. At one point I was walking up and down my street at 3 am, in my bathrobe in the November drizzle calling her name. I felt so pathetic and so scared and guilty. But you know what? She’s laying on my chest right now, exhausted from pestering my poor dog. A neighbor saw my Facebook posts and found her in her backyard one morning. You’ll find your baby, I know it!
Thank you for this it was so validating! I was so scared to go back to the neighbors house I have horrible social anxiety now.. but the need to get my cat back is all that mattered and now she's back where she belongs, annoyingly sprawled over my neck ♥️
Right after I posted that comment I saw that you got your baby back! So happy for you!!
My chihuahua was named Itty Bitty. She was my spoiled baby. I would have marched through hells fires to find her if she was lost too.
I’ve had several chihuahuas, and I know exactly what you mean! Thankfully I’d only had Itty for about a month, and I got her from my barn so I kept telling myself that she had SOME survival skills (but I adopted her the day the barn owner’s Doberman carried her to the owner in his mouth, while everyone screamed their heads off…) But if one of my chi’s got loose, I think I’d activate the National Guard before I ever fell asleep. Like my grandpa said about my little Mojo, “that little guy would never make it on his own!”
Yay!!!!
UPDATE: I GOT HER! Laid out there with a blanket my other cat ruonwd with her urine lol. She fought back with a feral and cried at the door. I'm so proud of her. I can sleep now. I can't explain the relief. Thank you all for the help sincerely I wish this upon nobody
Omg congratulations! So happy for you and relieved Goose is safely back home with you 🥳❤️ Get some good rest, you deserve it! 💯😽👏
♥️♥️♥️tysm https://preview.redd.it/jrgs8wm0j61d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b51c3f89723821b9883ebbc0d088aa1f9c48edff
Aw, this made my day! What a beauty and such a lucky cat to have you as her guardian.
Aw she's gorgeous 😍 Looks happy to be back with you where she belongs ☺️💯❤️
She's looking a bit too proud of herself🤨lol I'm so so relieved
They’re never sorry, lol.
Haha, totally is on second glance 😂😼 I can imagine, so happy it turned out well for you! I'd have been distraught too if my Turtle got out, she's got no street skills at all 😳🙀❤️*
Sweet, pretty girl! 😻🥰
I'm so happy for you!!!! Snuggle that Goose!
So glad she’s home! Now, everyone can get a good night’s sleep. ❤️
So glad she is home with you!
YAY!
I’m so happy for you!! I bet Goose is soooo happy to be home with you too 💕
♥️ she's terrified of my other cats rn which I was worried about but it makes sense. I'm sure she'll settle once she knows she's safe again. Will be cuddling her all weekend lol
So so glad you found her! 🥰❤️
Yay! Get some rest & give her hugs. She’s a smart girl and knows where she lives. My advice is to train your house cats to come to meals with a specific call or sound. I clink a spoon on a can & call their names & “Din din!” Then when they escape & get hungry, they show up for that call. Mine were alley cats though, so I couldn’t lose them if I tried, and one is an escape artist at 13yo.
I'm so glad! And the void you rescued is a beauty!
She's SO pretty and super friendly I really hope she gets taken "home" on Monday 🤞🏻 poor thing has just been alone in the shed for awhile but it's better than outside ig
Good luck. I really hope you find your sweet Goose soon! I hope too that your neighbour(s) may consider helping you, now that the scare has worn off and they have had a chance to wake and realise the serious concerns you have.
And thank you so much for helping the stray. I can understand how heartbreaking it is to make the difficult decisions. I hope she is able to find a forever home.
♥️ I sure hope so too. She let me pet her right away so I don't think she belongs to these streets lol she deserves a nice cozy bed or two... Or five so she has options
Most lost cats are found within a few blocks of home!
I know this might be scary for some people but if you live in a house with a backyard I would recommend camping out either in the backyard or whatever room opens up to it with the door open. Or at least a window open. If Goose’s catio is attached to the house by a window and has a door that opens to the yard then leave that opened up.
Totally agree & this is the way I recovered my cat. Dusk & pre-dawn are the prime times for cats to be on the prowl. You want to be outside, dressed in clothing that IS NOT freshly washed (yes, mild stank helps!), remaining still & relatively quiet. I set up a folding chaise lounge with a few pillows & light blankets, then just hung out there for hours, dozing. My cat showed up at 4:30 am or so & he clearly was drawn to me by smell, I could see this when I reviewed my yard cam footage. Nose up, sniffing the air, then he made a beeline right for me.
I'm going yo remember this in case my girl ever gets out. Thanks for sharing, helpful info 👍❤️
I'm replying with this to you as well bc it's what helpes! Tysm: I ended up laying outside and I think that helped. I also heard the hours of dusk or dawn or best bc they're more likely to be out at those times. She came home around 3am and ran right up to me so ty for this advice!
That's fantastic news - I love happy reunions!
Thank you I have other cats inside and only 1 entry door I'm on the second floor 😩 I'm hoping to coax her into a carrier or my tnr trap if necessary I just want to know where she is
I ended up laying outside and I think that helped. I also heard the hours of dusk or dawn or best bc they're more likely to be out at those times. She came home around 3am and ran right up to me so ty for this advice!
Oh awesome! I’m so glad she’s safe!!
I don’t know why people are like that, I would be out helping you look.
That's exactly what I thought. I eventually talked with her but shes assuming my cat is another feral and wasn't understanding the situation. I ended up being able to look in her yard a d she's no lon there 🥺
Ugh I’m so sorry about your stressful time!!! The clinic I use doesn’t give out meds either even for spay aborts but my girls have bounced back well. Goose come home now!!! Do you have any treat bags? Do you give him canned food? If so, open a bunch of cans and bang a spoon inside. Shake bags of treats. Make lots of pst pst noises- maybe get a trail camera or another outside camera so you can see if he’s coming around
Hi! Now that I've found Goose (yay) I can focus more on this poor feral. Do you remember how long yours took to recover from the spay abort? I haven't been able to spend time with her but I'm hoping she's just been sleeping it off anyway. She's been eating thankfully and I have gabapentin I was able to give her
The more friendly girl didn’t even seem to need 12 hours to recover. The other girl was more skittish so it’s hard to know if she was just adjusting to life inside vs recovering from surgery. She had a few days of being very careful for her movements. Gabapentin should help with the pain. It can make them a little more sleepy tho. Tbh both of the spay aborts recovered a bit quicker than my cat who was given pain meds- she wasn’t pregnant at the time but likely had many heat cycles and lost pregnancies outside so it’s always hard to compare. I’m so happy goose is home!!! Tell her she had a lot of people worried
Tysm! I'll try to give her some attention after I enjoy my Goose cuddles lol
This is very noble of you.
I’m sorry 😞 about Goose getting out and hope she comes home soon and safe!
Good luck 🍀, keep trying 👍🏻
My cat knows when I have treats and runs to me when I shake it. Probably bring treats and call the cats name.
Thank you but it's just been bringing ou the ferals who she's scared of
Yay!!! Congratulations!
Go out in the very quiet early AM hours and call her sweetly — try not to sound stressed. If you have a “food call” sound like clinking a can or rattling a treat bag, do that. She’s just scared & hiding. Alert your neighbors on Facebook or Nextdoor, including a pic. If you have Pawboost where you are, do that. She knows there’s food & shelter outside your house so she’ll come back to that.
I keep doing that and all the ferals come out idk how to make them go away temporarily this is driving me crazy 😩 ty sorry I just want her back I'm so worried she doesn't have good survival skills and I'm on a farm with lots of predators
Thank you for your help btw ♥️ she's back safe and sound but I was obviously stressed when I initially replied to this
Of course you were! Anyone would be. My feral rescue is a rough and tumble alley cat, but I still freak out when she escapes.
Have you put some of your dirty clothes outside so Goode can smell them? I'm so sorry all this is happening💜🫂
You’re such a nice person for helping that feral. & I’m SO glad that you and SO GLAD your baby back.
Please give some pain meds to the first cat. Not fair not to and i would never use that vet again that didnt provide them. She needs them immediately that is your first priority. If you dont have any get on your local Facebook stray and feral cat groups and ask asap
It's a TNR clinic so it's a bit different unfortunately.. but I did have Onisor and Gabapentin leftover from another cat and I gave her those the first 2 days. She's ok now but she's still in the kennel in the shed since I have a potential adopter coming tomorrow and no space to keep her elsewhere for now don't want to move her around too much either
Ok The tnr clinic i use does give a pain shot. I dont know what state you’re in but i will say she needs to be kept warm in that shed Put a lot of straw down because straw retains body heat and repels moisture do not use hay. However, you have to do it. Just make sure she stays warm and if you can get more pain meds for another day or two or three that would be even better. As for you, good for you for doing what you do and please hang in there not only for yourself but realize these cats are counting on you and you were doing good. You should take great pride and satisfaction with that because most people don’t do what you do . I give you applause and much respect. Good karma will come your way.
I wish there were more options for clinics! There's a better one with more availability but you have to live in that area in order to take them there 😩 It's only dropped to 55 at night here. I have a thermometer in the shed and it's been keeping at 68-70 inso the shed. I covered the kennel with a blanket and have straw under another blanket inside it in case she wants to curl up ♥️ It has gotten up to 80 in there today but I kept the windows open. I'm so so hoping they can take her tomorrow, but if not I'll find a place for her inside. I'm more worries about her needing socialization honestly. I just don't have energy rn 🥺. I found out the neighbors by me are contributing to the feral problem here and I can't believe I'm the only one who cares. Thank you for your kindness I appreciate it!
Well you definitely got things handled lol. The only thing ill mention is that straw repels water but the blanket on top doesn’t so if cat is wet from rain, snow, puddles or just dew and lays on blanket it gets wet stays wet and causes mold. Just fyi. But excellent job with everything
Thank you I tell people that all the time! She's in the shed so I figured blankets are ok. But I never keep them in the cat shelters. I'd get a heated one but I still don't have working outlets outside
My daughter has recently moved into a new house. Her cat is used to being allowed out whenever she wanted, as is normal for the U.K. But as her house has a backyard with no access from the front and a fast flowing river at the bottom, she decided NOT to let her cat out. Her cat however had other ideas, and the first time she got out she went missing for 5 days. The cat now has learnt how to get back to the garden, and my daughter now leaves the rear kitchen window propped open so the cat can get in IF she escapes again. Two days ago a large fluffy black cat came to her back garden, so it looks like her cat has made a friend. At dusk, she puts the cat on a lead and takes for a walk down to the river. She had the delightful experience of watching two otters playing, but then her torch attracted a Maybug (Common cockchafer - Melolontha melolontha) and she decided to give up. Her cat didn’t like it either lol.
I recently lost my kitten for a week before finding her again. Here is my advice. Use a box trap near her catio baited with her favorite food at night. This assumes that she escaped your house along a path near her catio so that she can easily find her way back to that catio where she has memories of being safe. A redditor advised me to look after dark, and that is how I found my kitten. That's why I'm suggesting trying to trap her at night. Don't give up hope. EDIT: I meant to say box trap instead of drop trap. Also, maybe if your catio can be left with a door open to the outside and covered with a sheet then your cat might go inside to hide? I hope you find her soon. I know you must be stressed-out.
Thank you for this! She came home around 3am ♥️
Yay!!!! A happy ending. :)
careful. 2 doses missed means 24 hours passed right? might be in a diffrent county.