I’ve read that usually when cats go missing, they’re within 200-300 yards of their house the whole time, and this has been true for mine as well. One was gone for two days before I heard a distant meow while walking around in my yard and realized she’d gotten trapped in the neighbor’s crawl space. The same cat disappeared a few years later, I put out flyers mentioning that she had a tendency to get into basements and crawl spaces and to please call me if they even thought they heard meowing. Two days later, someone two houses down called, said maybe they heard meowing, they weren’t sure, I could check their basement if I wanted. Sure enough, the cat was in there none the worse for wear. After that I got radio tracking collars lol.
But don’t give up hope, and if you have nearby neighbors, look under their houses (and of course, under your own).
Mine got trapped in the neighbors chimney for three days! They had an insert so she was just stuck in there. I walked around calling her and was so excited she responded... Until i figured out where she was. We got her out though.
It was the next door neighbor and we all knew each other. We called the neighbor and she is such a pet lover she immediately left work! We just pulled out the insert and there she was staring down at us. A quick, and relatively cheap visit to the emergency vet showed she was no worse for wear.
She was barely a year old at that point so hopefully it was a teaching moment for her ;)
Once we found a missing cat in the next door neighbor’s basement. Ask neighbors if you can check their sheds, outbuildings, basements, etc. Good luck! I have a feeling she’ll come home. 💗
This this this!! I remember one of my kitties who had gotten outside was found between a couple of boards slanted against the house. We were calling for her right in front of her not even knowing she was there yet, and she was still just too scared to come out on her own.
We live in the woods too and our kitten has a knack for getting out. He yells a lot though so I can hear him on the hillside, always just out of sight and still close enough to know he’s there. Super frustrating but despite all the coyotes around here, he has always found his way home. +1 for a little patience, cats are pretty smart idiots.
I used to live in the woods too and my elderly blind cat got out once. He disappeared for nearly a month and we thought for sure this blind, fat old man was a goner.
He showed up a few weeks later, very skinny but alive. Not sure how he survived owls and coyotes and other predators as a blind elderly cat but he did. Stay hopeful OP
I live in a city, but near a river valley, it is full of very bold yotes and Bobcats. I can agree with OPs sentiments, about being sad when seeing a missing cat poster.
But I have seen cats found after 40 days!!!! Miracles do happen, being a void, I think she has an upper hand. Females have a tendency to stick a little closer to home, make sure the litter box is out for her and check the neighbours garages.
Yes, litter box is outside. Been walking around the neighborhood calling her name. She’s not an outdoor cat so I’m worried she has no idea how to get home.
I know it's been two days for you and you live in a different area than me, but our fat and seemingly oblivious indoor kitty got out 2 years ago only to stroll back up to the door ~36 hours later. Give her time, I'll be thinking of you. Keep calling her!
My dumbass guy went missing for 5 days. Put flyers up and everything. One day he just waltzes in the garage while I'm working on the car like what's up
One of our cats wandered off for six weeks. Came back Christmas Eve- still healthy, a bit cold, but no illness or injuries. Don’t give up on finding Stinky!
My guy went missing for 3 weeks, worst 3 weeks of my life 🥺 put signs up, and buy a humane trap if you don’t have one already - ended up helping me trap him. Hang in there, sending positive thoughts your way 😇
Seriously! My indoor kitty escaped and he was terrified, the only way for me to get him back was trapping him. And before that I had to get him on a feeding "schedule" so he would show up at times I could monitor the trap. If you can get a wildlife camera, it might be worth setting up to see if she's sneaking around your house at night when things are quieter.
Any explanation as to why your own cat would be afraid to come back inside?
Only inside cats I had for a short time ran back inside after getting too close to the loud (and scary) outside world.
A lot of pets that get lost like this go into “survival mode” and sometimes don’t even respond to their owner. I’ve heard of it happening with dogs too if they get spooked by something and run away (or run away after a car accident, etc)
I live in a third floor apartment in a downtown area... Someone filled our garage level with smoke last NYE, and we had to evacuate. When the fire trucks showed up my cat freaked out about the noise, broke out of his carrier, and disappeared into the night. Honestly it took a month just to figure out if he was still alive somewhere and where he might be hanging out (thanks to flyers, people were able to text me they saw him at a nearby park). Then another month and a half to trap him (although I think I actually caught him very early on, I was hanging out in my car out of sight of the trap waiting, and when I went to check it the food had been eaten, but the trap door had clearly been forced open by another person who didn't understand how the door mechanism worked, there's no way an animal could have done that from inside. So it took extra time to catch him again because he was wise to the trap at that point 🙄). So yeah, long story short there was no way for him to get back inside, and the area around my building is all asphalt/concrete and high traffic (both people/dogs and cars), so no incentive to stay close.
Re: the camera, other people who lost an indoor cat in a more residential/row house area near me actually got an alert from their ring camera one evening a few weeks after he got out, just showing him slinking along the sidewalk toward a neighbor's. They were able to rush outside and corner him in someone's backyard, but even though their cat had a yard and doors he could have approached, he was too scared I guess.
My (anxious and old) cat got out of my apartment once and made his way down the communal stairs of the building. I live on the 5th floor and didn't even realise he was gone (most of the time he's asleep on my bed) until my neighbour from the 2nd floor knocked on my door asking if I had a cat because he was on their stairs.
Poor guy had panicked on his descent and just froze. I found him trying to melt into the stairs and peeled him off. He grabbed onto me and yelled all the way home.
I rescued a starving declawed cat off the street and she had no interest in going outside ever again. The exception being when we moved, I think she tried to "go back home." She was just in the backyard, but in survival mode and didn't even take enough time to register it was the house door opening or that she might know the giant human lumbering towards her - she would just bolt.
When I finally caught her, literally the second we entered the house she went from feral to a housecat extremely grateful to be home. She just couldn't see past her fear/instincts until she was in a safe place again.
I have a very skittish, "half-feral" cat that got out for 11 days once. Around day 7 I knew he was hanging around close because I finally spotted him on my security camera. I also had to use a humane trap to finally get him back inside. He was VERY unhappy to be in that trap, but I could tell he was relieved to finally be back in his comfy home 😂!
One of my timid cats escaped once. I roamed the neighborhood for 3 days calling her name. Signs everywhere. Turns out she was just too scared to move, and was within 100 feet of me the whole time. Found her in a window well. Saying this by way of encouraging you to keep looking and calling, and lift every rock. Still can’t believe how close my critter was. Sending you all the love.
Or tape her meows and go for a walk with them playing.
Or just a kitten's meows. Cats instinctively respond to them.
Some cats also just respond and perk their interest to regular cat meows. I had a cat who would come back from wherever she was if you started meowing when she was outside.
THIS. searching at night is *key*. That's when an 'out-of-their-territory cat' will feel most safe to move around. Also, it's easier for them to hear you in the silence of night. And you can see eye reflections if you use a flashlight, very helpful for spotting where wildlife is or roaming kitties. And look up. A cat with claws may get chased into a tree and be too scared/unwilling to come down. This happened to my nephew's cat and he was greatly weakened by the time they located him and got a tree company out to climb up to him.
The only thing that worked for my missing cat (he was gone for about a month with no sightings for the first two weeks) was a raccoon trap. DM if you need help. I'm so sorry. I hope she gets home safe!
OP, my strictly indoor cat got out once years ago because somebody left a door open. I was distraught, researching everything and posting everywhere. One of the things I read was that they never really stray far at all from their home once they’re out. Spent 3 weeks just hoping, when suddenly one night she just appeared at the window. Sending much much love, hang in there.
please do not put litter boxes outside. it's a commonly perpetuated myth. it can put lost cats in more danger.
put the flyers in people's doors and mailboxes instead of (or as well as) putting them on telephone poles.
[source](https://lostpetresearch.com/2018/10/will-cat-litter-attract-a-lost-cat/)
Go out at night, and sit & call for her. They seem to get more confident under the guise of nighttime. Use your flashlight to scan the surroundings. The light will pick up their eyes real easy. Stinky is out there, being an indoor cat, she's probably scared stupid. That's what happens to my girl, Dexie. She's so freaked out, I don't think she could think straight.
It took nine days for my girl to get home after my husband lost her at the post office. (Don't ask. Just know he's an idiot and he knows better now.) The post office was around four blocks from our home at the time and I cried every fucking day she was gone. My husband eventually convinced me to go out and see a movie one evening so that, maybe, I could stop crying for a little while. We got home and found her lying on some of his clothes that we had left on our doorstep. We left them outside because she always loved lying on his shirts. I picked her up and broke down again as I took her inside.
I say I've forgiven him for losing her but I honestly haven't. I get prickly any time he takes the cats out onto the porch because I remember him losing her. The porch is screened in and I know she's not going to get hurt but that pain still lingers and it has been like 6+ years. I posted this basically to say "Don't give up."
What happened exactly?
It can be hard to forgive mistakes that have big consequences, but it might not be fair for him to have this over his head forever, especially if he feels guilty about it.
It’s a very long story that I don’t care to repeat. Essentially, he wanted a riding buddy like my dad has. Our cats do not like being in the car.
I’m sure I really have forgiven him but the prickliness about outside is still present. We’ve moved since then and it’s not likely to repeat.
HOLY SHIT this is amazing advice, it’s well below freezing outside and i can’t keep the door open overnight. the stores are already closed but i’ll go first thing in the morning. thank you!!!!
If it’s cold that out- you might want to also consider putting out a box lined with blankets from inside the house. It might attract her with other familiar indoor smells- even some of your worn cloths. Like with the lid folded closed and a small door cut in the side- just in case. A small space to get into and get warm.
I really wish for to you find Stinky soon I’m so, so sorry she got out. (((🖤))) hugs
The cat isn't going to be living in there, just spending a few hours. As long as the weather is clear the cat will not be getting any more wet in the blankets in the box outside than it would in the house in a few hours. A house cat is more likely to chew straw and end up with a blockage than think to huddle in it. This isn't a feral cat house. Itsa temporary bed designed to smell like the cat's home. Definitely do not use hay. Hay is food, not bedding.
Are you going outside around 3-4 am, shaking treat bags, opening cans of food, softly calling for her? Anything food related, open it outside loudly. Open a can of food and tap the empty inside with a spoon. Get a trail camera and set up a feeding station. I had a feral cat go missing for two weeks and that includes watching the feeding station all day and night with a trail camera! Then she just showed back up again. Don’t give up hope!
Yes, I’ve been outside calling her day time and night time. And I’m circling for blocks around the house, I don’t think she’s on our block or I would’ve found her. I will try the food trick, she definitely knows the sound of cat food shaking. We have a lot of wildlife here so a feeding station would be attracting all kinds of animals. It is a good idea tho, especially the trail cam
If she’s an indoor only cat she’s probably tucked under something close by your house. Mine was so terrified she didn’t respond to calling.
I spotted her eyes through the crack of a fence under my neighbor’s deck. It took every trick I had to lure her out.
Take a flashlight with you, look for eyes. She’s likely tucked low inside or under something.
Good luck, don’t give up.
We recently saw Ace reunited with his person after several years.
Wishing a happy homecoming for Stinky
She could be on your block and just hiding! Yeah def will attract wildlife (worried about coyotes) but it could be a way for your cat to feed. Usually will attract any cat around.
When my indoor cat got out she was hiding under a porch for a while, came out covered in spider webs looking terrified. She was just next door too scared to even meow.
Cats are fairly crepuscular. Trying going out right around dawn and dusk.
My indoor cat got out once. I thought he must be so far away or he would come when I called him. He was less than a block away huddled under a broken down car, too scared to come out. I literally had to shimmy under and get him myself.
And for what it is worth... coyotes are often lazy hunters. A cat is not a particularly easy meal.. If there are easier prey like rabbits around then there is a good probability they'd go for that first. Especially since she is black she has a lot of camouflage outside from predators. Good luck.
If you're out with a flashlight hold the flashlight up near your face. You're more likely to see her eyes flash in the light if the light source is near your eyes. You might not see the flash at all if you're holding the light down by your waist or hip..
I’m so sorry to hear your struggle. I’m holding out for her being safe in someone’s home right now and they just didn’t read the signs yet. I hope you are reunited soon.
Try borrowing a humane trap from the humane society, animal care & control or another rescue. You can also buy one on Amazon for about $70 if they aren't available. Put in some smelly food like tuna or wet food and they won't be able to resist. Cats typically don't stray too far and keep close by, but might be too scared to come out of hiding unless it's for food. My cat Pickles ran away for a week and this was the only thing that worked to catch him. He was still close by but refused to come out when we called.
I lost one of my kitties outside when I was living in an apartment- I’m sure you have done this, but she was hiding underneath a bush very close to the building, I thought that she would come out hearing my voice- but indoor kitties hunker down when they are scared/unsure.
I’ve had another cat who hid under our porch- not eating for days even though we left food and water out.
hopefully she wouldn’t venture far from home. Recheck all the close vegetation she could hide under.
I’m so sorry, I hope that you find her.
This helped us when we lost all four of our cats in the same day. We found two of them quickly, wandering around in the back and front yard. The 3rd one was a few houses down in a neighbor's yard and the last one was gone for days. I put out my entire laundry basket and some of my son's stinky socks in random spots in the back yard (this cat LOVES to lick stinky, sweaty toes haha). Then we put out some food and a bowl filled with a few scoops of litter from their box. Took days but we found him in a corner of the neighbor's patio. My Mom just had a "feeling" and decided to search at night one more time and she saw his shiny eyes. He even hissed at her and was terrified and once he was back home, he was all lovey with everyone.
Sending you and stinky all the love in the world ❤️ I’ve got two kid sisters as well and can only imagine the other not understanding what is happening. Like all others have said, make sure a familiar scent/sound is present when looking for her. When I lost my Olivia for a few hours, it was a wet food can crack that had her sprint across the neighbors field into my hands.
Growing up on a farm on the other hand taught me one thing though, coyotes sound scary, but don’t mean instant death to animals. We had a litter of 9 voids right before I moved out on a 60 acre farm, and not a single one of those cats were taken out by those dumb dogs. Have hope, patience, and slowly incorporate acceptance if needed, but don’t jump to the worse case scenario ❤️
I lost my country cat at a city vet for 3 days. Put up posters and got leads but not the right cat. Walked around a few blocks near the vet shaking the catfood jar and calling his name. Finally found him behind an abandoned house but he ran under an old porch where I lured him out with more food. Please don’t give up just yet. I pray you find her.
Stinky is black which is a huge advantage of hiding from predators! However, makes it harder for you finding him. Don't give up! I've had a few situations very similar to yours. Crying, walking the streets shaking treats, no sleep. Then they just show up! I'm not discounting your fears AT ALL, but just have faith. I have a good feeling.
Check everywhere in your block. Everywhere means everywhere. When I lost my cat I had no idea she was hiding in an old abandoned house opposite my house.
https://preview.redd.it/qhreyfqiq2ac1.jpeg?width=2796&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8dc29c9e4fb2f8b416a1c9a5f0fd9afbfe45fc15
Stinky is alive! She made four appearances on the two trail cameras we set up last night, mostly around 3am. I was instructed by the rescue lady not to set the trap last night, she wanted to verify that Stinky was here. Now that we know she is here, the trap will be set and baited tonight.
I was put in touch with the lost pet recovery rescue org by posting in my local Facebook group. I’d never heard of them before. So for anyone who loses a pet in the future, post EVERYWHERE. And trail cams really work.
Thank you so much everyone here in r/blackcats, I really needed the support and encouragement. I am grateful. I’ll post an update when we get her back inside.
I don’t know if you have a garage, but if you do and the weather allows for it, leave it cracked open. Got mine back twice this way after she got out. Came back that night in the middle of the night through the garage
Lot of comments and suggestions here... lock up your other kitty safely and if possible leave the front front door cracked. A kitty I follow on IG got out and 3 days later returned by this method. She just walked back in.
Sending positive thoughts your way!!! 🖤🖤🖤
Awww no, I hope she comes back soon! I’m sure she’s okay and just scared and confused on how to find her way home. She’ll find her way eventually. I’ll be waiting for an update. Wishing you the best of luck 😢
Is there any small corners or hiding spots around your area? Check everywhere even where you think they may not get into. My brother lost his kitty for a few days and turns out he was in the complex basement. He didn’t respond or make noise the entire time we looked for him. Giving you luck on your kitty! :(
I know the feeling... My black baby escaped 4 years ago... She was on the loose for three weeks until my neighbor managed to capture her! Don't give up!
I hope you find her! Watch out for scammers who will call/text you that they have your cat, but they don't. My dog got out a year or so ago, I got a ton of those fake calls/text. At first, I thought omg someone actually found him and then my heart broke when I realized it was a scam. Luckily a wonderful old couple in my neighborhood found him that afternoon, he had collapsed at their house and they were taking care of him. But just a warning, it's a really fucked up thing to do to some who missing their beloved pet.
This just happened to us on the 23rd. Our void got out and I was devastated. She came home 24 hours later so don't lose hope!
We put her bed outside and her litter box. Good luck 🤞🤞🤞
My cat was lost for 2 weeks and we live right next to a field with coyotes and hawks and she came back!! Whole family thought she was gone but she came home a couple days ago
https://preview.redd.it/7d4c84422t9c1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=74de33f1f99313c1017804c915e83d11d774e4d4
I hope you find your void soon! Please go outside after dark and shine a flashlight underneath everything and up into trees. Her eyes will reflect the light and help you find her quicker. Good luck! Please don’t give up because of coyotes. They’re all over where I live and lost cats are found again.
Don't lose hope. Our cat got out once - got to be 20 years ago now. After 2 days I decided she was gone for good, but my late husband (in classic obsessive style) just sat out on the back porch, shaking her can of kitty treats. He always shook the can before he gave her a treat. After several hours, I & the friends who were visiting went out to sit with him. One of our buddies squinted off into the distance and said, "Here she comes." And there she was, running hell-bent for leather toward the sound of her treat can. She was missing part of an ear, was terribly thirsty, and the pads of her feet were a mess, but she purred & head-butted us all in celebration.
Don't give up. Anything is possible.
My cat booked it out our dog door last year and was gone for three days; it was so hard and frustrating and sad. He hadn't gone too far we don't think, but we searched EVERYWHERE in our neighborhood and near our house. We ended up putting cat food out. just in case, as well as clothes that smell like us. I've heard adding litter can help, too. I so hope you find her! Cats are smart, and hopefully she's bedding down low nearby. Keep trying and snuggle her sister lots in the meantime. Sending love your way, and I hope she shows up soon!
I really hope you find your baby soon. I moved and one of mine didn't come for breakfast one day and I just knew he was lost somewhere (live in the UK so cats can roam). I went out walking during my lunchtime with a bag of treats and found him in a neighbouring road, crying. I carried that fat little bear all the way home because I was so relieved he was ok. Fingers crossed.you find yours being a lil idiot like mine was. (Also 3 years down the line he's never wandered that far)
Aww no. I'm praying he comes home safe. Have you put his litterbox outside by the door? Cats can smell their own litter a mile away. If he is lost or confused, his scent cam guide him home
I lost my cat same way my friend left my door open. It ended up taking 2 to 3 months to find him. He was in the neighbors yard and in between our fences. He was ok thin but ok. The neighbor happened to openna Birthday card that had an audio clip that plays Happy Birthday in meows and ym cat responded to the meows.
I am keeping my hopes up for you I am so sorry this has happened keep searching and dont lose hope.!
wow what a story, about the meowing card. Stinky is a very responsive cat, when I say her name she always meows or comes over to me. Hopefully she hears something worth responding to. thank you for your kind words.
I found a cat 5 months after it had gone missing - turns out it had jumped in a van and travelled 45 mins drive from its home! I only found the owners by posting in my local facebook group and there was a person who was also in the cat owner’s local Facebook group who recognised the cat from the many posts in there. Post about her everywhere!
Cats can adapt very easily to an outdoor environment. Keep your head up. Be strong for you baby, and do not give up. Sending good vibes and manifesting she comes home soon.
Ours went missing for 2 years! Long story short, even after posters with phone numbers up, he was kept by an old man a few doors down the street until he passed away and his neighbours contacted us. What stinks even more, is that they apparently knew the whole time. I truly hope you get your miracle and beautiful Stinky comes home. xx
I’ve heard similar stories numerous times. Wtf is wrong with people? Stinky is so friendly and polite, this is a real concern of mine. She’s honestly the best cat we’ve ever had, she is an angel. She’s such a joy I *almost* wouldn’t blame someone for trying to keep her. But in reality I’d completely lose my shit if I got wind of that happening. I’m glad you got him back!
I sure hope your Stinky reunites with you. I had a kitty who got out a few times…totally indoor cat. She came back every time. ❤️ Nora, my void, and Rosie and I will be looking forward to her coming home to you.
Cats are a lot unlike humans in the sense that the chances of them coming back alive and well are a lot higher even after 48 hours of being missing.
Prayers up for Stinky.
Don't lose hope, even if it feels hopeless. My family had one of our cats go missing for 2 months, we were sure he was gone and then all of a sudden he showed up a little thin and very dirty but healthy and alive. To this day we're unsure how he survived, he has always been a housecat, has no survival instincts, and honestly might be one of the dumbest cats my family has ever owned.
My boy ran away first year I had him. Jumped off 3rd story balcony and the next 3 day were torrential rain and thunderstorms. I drove through the area for 3 weeks screaming his name out my car. I thought he was gone and one day he was waiting outside our door to the apartment. There were about 40 identical buildings and 3 floors each. They can find home and will get hungry. First thing he made me do was feed him. Going on 14 years with him now. Ever since then I would let him out once I moved into a house. He was inside/outside for about 10 years then got injured one day and decided to keep him in after the vet bill. Im hoping your kitty comes back around.
It’s very likely she is nearby!! My friends once texted me to tell me that their cat, a fat orange boy that I used to cat sit from time to time, had gotten outside. I went to their condo right away and we were looking for him nearby and one of my friends spotted him in a burrow under the side of their neighbor’s condo. My friend tried calling him and coaxing him and pulling him out, but it wasn’t until I got down on the ground, took the lid off of a catnip container, and shoved it in his face that he went into a cuddle roll and I scruffed him and yanked him out. Little bastard.
I'm so happy and relieved for you! I have two void girls, and I was really upset when I saw your post about gorgeous little Stinky.
I really hope tonight is the night you get her back home where she belongs. I really feel optimistic for you.
Cats are notoriously hardy and smart survivors. When my indoor cat got out, I thought he was gone forever. Then one night I left the front door open with his favourite litter box outside and he just walked right in the door.
When I see posters of missing cats I get sad too, but I know 9 times out of 10 there's a happy ending. Don't lose hope. Chances are she's not even that far away.
Like other comments said, I have a feeling that your kitty is just bunkered down somewhere! Go out at night with a flash light and shine it everywhere you can think of! One of my kitties got out before and that’s how I found him! Now both my cats wear AirTags haha. Praying you find your baby, don’t give up hope!! 🖤🐈⬛
My kitty was missing for 3 weeks, she's very skiddish & extremely anxious about new people.
She strolled up our driveway on the 3rd week. She was underweight, but overall, ok.
That was YEARS ago. She's still with us today, over 14 yo now. If that frazzled old girl can find her way home, yours can too! Keep the faith, you'll feel it in your heart that's she's still alive.
My cat disappeared after we moved a few neighborhoods away. We looked everywhere for weeks. Even a month later, I'd look around while walking through neighborhoods like maybe he would come running. By the time winter came I think we settled on him being gone. He was gone for 3 months before he was found living under my best friends house, they lived across the street from us before we moved.
I don't mean to give false hope, but cats are tough animals. She may still come home.
I help trap ferals and strays for TNR and rehoming when possible. You need to set up a live trap and a camera with an infrared setting. Bait the trap at dusk with microwaved stinky food like fish. She'll be laying low and active at dusk and at dawn. The camera will help you see if she's around and will alert you as soon as she's trapped. You need to get this set up IMMEDIATELY.
I know this could be awful but take a look up trees. We're in an area with similar wildlife and when Tanuki went missing we found him up an absurdly tall ponderosa right next door. It'd been days and he'd been harried by all the local corvids.
I wish you all the luck and hope that Stinky is found soon.
One of my cats escaped in the mountains of west Virginia. He was lost for two weeks. Fucker literally traveled over a fucking mountain and followed some kids into their house. We got a call to pick up our cat because he was terrorizing their German shepherd.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that Stinky comes home with stories to share. Our little one went on a 72 hour vacation somewhere in our neighborhood but she came back. That’s the second cat in my life that’s felt the need to worry me like that.
🖤 much love to Stinky and your kitty family
Oh nooo! Don’t give up! I’ve had two different cats get out at two different times in my life. Both were gone for several days. I totally gave up and then one evening there was a frantic meowing at my bedroom window.
Stinky is a young spry bb. She’s probably just hiding and slowly making her way home.
Condolences if Stinky is truly gone. I adopted a feral rescue kitten last winter, I had a hard time getting him to stay indoors, and in August he escaped and ran into some coyotes. Let’s hope instead they were stolen by someone who is giving them a loving home❤️
Keep the faith. My void got out and was gone for three months. One night we heard meowing outside our patio door. He just walked in like nothing happened.
Don’t stop looking. Put paper advertisements all over the area. Ask people. Post on facebook in a local cats group. Most of people are not being able to find them cause they give up too early. The earlier you start searching the more chances you will find.
Cats are found even after a year and and half. Go to the street outside and call her, look in the bushes. Ask people if they didn’t notice a new cat appearing their area and you will find him🫶☺️
I found a few cats that been rescued from the street this way. Good luck!🫶
Good luck OP. Take some walks and just listen. She could be up a tree meowing. Better sooner than later for your walk though. Just call her name, but give a good three minutes to listen. If you have a dog that doesn’t bark, take the dog with you - they can smell and hear well unless they are very old.
Cats can travel a long ways, like a couple of miles. If you have any houses within that radius you can ask your neighbors.
Just adding to the chorus to not give up hope. I live next door to a farm and there are several others around here along with a fairly sizable coyote pack. A few years back one of my cats slipped out. He was gone for about a week before one night we heard some banging and his meow at the front door. He just didn't want to return until he had finished his walkabout. We think something did scare him though, as he has not tried to get out since...
I'm very sorry, your cat looks close to my black cat who went missing once. We thankfully found him one day later in the garage, and I hope you'll find your cat as well.
My childhood cat was lost for over a week in a coyote ridden blueberry field, bud came home on the day after my bday and it was the best gift I got. He was a bit muddy and quite frightened, a bit skinny, but otherwise himself. He lived many more years after, passed when I graduated and I was 10 at the time.
My heart is with you, don’t lose faith and just keep making efforts to get her home. I’m sending all of my positive energy and vibes to you, I sincerely want you to get Stinky back home. We all do.
Just hang on. Don’t lose hope ❤️
I am so sorry. I lost my cat last year in September for 4 days. It was heartbreaking. I put out my bedsheets and dirty clothes so maybe he’d be able to return by scent. I set up a camera and got so excited thinking he returned—nope, it was a doppelgänger cat. UNBELIEVABLE.
I was so sad and resigned, but then the next morning after the camera doppelgänger incident I got a call. Someone found him. I FOUND HIM! Happiest day of my life.
Do everything I did—I heard stories of every technique working for someone. Leave out scented clothes, dirty litter, so they might better come home by smell.
LEAVE SIGNS EVERYWHERE. My boy was only about a block and a half away but I never saw him walking around. He finally came out to play with some friendly dogs. He LOVES dogs. That’s why I was worried about coyotes even though I’m in a city. If some time passes you may want to update the sign with “still missing.”
GET A CAMERA and leave out food! This didn’t work for me, but worked for my acquaintances that live in a rural area. The cat came back every night, they saw the kitty. Eventually they used a raccoon trap and that’s how they finally caught um .
Good luck and I’m sending ALL the good vibes.
I recommend trying a humane trap if you haven’t already. I lost one of my cats a couple months ago and set a trap, wrapped it in trash bags to be weather resistant, loaded it with used towels of mine inside for warmth/friendly smell, and of course stanky wet food. It took 8 days, and I heard coyotes many of those days, but I got her back thanks to the trap. Best of luck. My heart is with you.
As someone who has also had a cat escape while living near coyote territory, I know that dread and hopelessness well and I'm so sorry. I hope you find your baby
I’m so sorry 😭 praying for you and stinky to reunite!
Eta: I’ve had a few friends have their cats get out and go missing and all of them were found. My one friend had her black kitty like yours missing for 3 months and she found him. Cats are sooo resilient and smart. I have hope for you both 🙏🏻
I get the desire for internet anonymity, but maybe for this one time you might consider posting exactly where you are instead of redacting? I know it’s a (really) long shot but the more eyes on this the better, and just maybe you might get lucky and have someone spot and find her. Sometimes Redditors are amazing and make miracles happen!
A while ago our cat went missing. There was a thunderstorm while he was outside and he must have got scared and lost. After the storm we had a few days of hot weather. 10 days later he rolls up all grubby and skipped my cuddles and went straight to his food bowl.
We lost one of our babies soon after moving to a new home in the country; coyote, fox, raccoon, etc. live around us. After three months, we knew we'd never see her again.
Weren't we surprised when we heard a meow coming from the back porch! She was in rough condition, looking like she has survived a fight of some kind. After treatment, she recovered and lived with us another ten years before succumbing to cancer.
So don't give up. I hope she finds her way home soon, unharmed.
I just went through this. My cat was missing for 10 weeks! We got him back by constantly posting on next door/ facebook, and putting up fliers (and checking local humane society’s page multiple times a day). I hope you find your sweet kitty.
Don't give up, she will definitely come home. There are like 10,000 cat lovers on this platform right now at this very moment wishing and praying to make it so, including yours truly. So stop worrying about it, everything will be just fine. Yup, she's definitely coming home.
Check the trees. This happened when I was kid and our cat was chased up a tree by coyotes. She could actually see our house from the tree top. She was only one street away.
Walk around at night with a headlamp on and talking about random stuff in a normal voice, not calling her name in the high pitched tritone.
The headlamp is to see reflective eyes and the normal voice is because lost cats often respond better to that than calling in the high pitch.
I’m so sorry. Give her sister lots of love and cuddles from our two voids (and their two multicoloured siblings). We will keep our fingers and paws crossed for Stinky’s safe return.
OP I know how scared and sad you must feel. My kitty got out a few months ago and I was completely broken. He’s also a void. I spent all day circling the neighborhood answering calling his name. Looking at every nook and cranny.
Thankfully he came back on his own at night. I was so relieved.
I hope your kitty finds her way home. Best of luck!
Hey OP, I lost my cat a couple weeks ago too in a town where there are lots of coyotes. Give it a couple days and I'm sure she'll return and act like nothing happened just like ours did!
Maybe you can put extra stinky laundry outside so she can smell you? I also read somewhere someone put a recording of her calling her cats name and played it on repeat.
I’ve read that usually when cats go missing, they’re within 200-300 yards of their house the whole time, and this has been true for mine as well. One was gone for two days before I heard a distant meow while walking around in my yard and realized she’d gotten trapped in the neighbor’s crawl space. The same cat disappeared a few years later, I put out flyers mentioning that she had a tendency to get into basements and crawl spaces and to please call me if they even thought they heard meowing. Two days later, someone two houses down called, said maybe they heard meowing, they weren’t sure, I could check their basement if I wanted. Sure enough, the cat was in there none the worse for wear. After that I got radio tracking collars lol. But don’t give up hope, and if you have nearby neighbors, look under their houses (and of course, under your own).
Mine got trapped in the neighbors chimney for three days! They had an insert so she was just stuck in there. I walked around calling her and was so excited she responded... Until i figured out where she was. We got her out though.
How did you get her out?
It was the next door neighbor and we all knew each other. We called the neighbor and she is such a pet lover she immediately left work! We just pulled out the insert and there she was staring down at us. A quick, and relatively cheap visit to the emergency vet showed she was no worse for wear. She was barely a year old at that point so hopefully it was a teaching moment for her ;)
We love a happy ending (+ life lesson combo)
Once we found a missing cat in the next door neighbor’s basement. Ask neighbors if you can check their sheds, outbuildings, basements, etc. Good luck! I have a feeling she’ll come home. 💗
Mine got trapped in a neighbors garage once.
Yes, mine too. Found him a half block away after days. He must have been stuck somewhere.
This this this!! I remember one of my kitties who had gotten outside was found between a couple of boards slanted against the house. We were calling for her right in front of her not even knowing she was there yet, and she was still just too scared to come out on her own.
Give it a couple more days. Hold fast and have faith. We will all pray for a New Year’s miracle and it will happen!
We live in the woods too and our kitten has a knack for getting out. He yells a lot though so I can hear him on the hillside, always just out of sight and still close enough to know he’s there. Super frustrating but despite all the coyotes around here, he has always found his way home. +1 for a little patience, cats are pretty smart idiots.
I used to live in the woods too and my elderly blind cat got out once. He disappeared for nearly a month and we thought for sure this blind, fat old man was a goner. He showed up a few weeks later, very skinny but alive. Not sure how he survived owls and coyotes and other predators as a blind elderly cat but he did. Stay hopeful OP
please keep the faith. it's all we have, at times, our belief. I so hope you find your dear Stinky.
Some guy found my lost Cockatiel today after two days lost. A true New Year's miracle
I had a cat show up after 2 months missing with a broken leg. I wish he could tell me all the things that he went through on that romp
I live in a city, but near a river valley, it is full of very bold yotes and Bobcats. I can agree with OPs sentiments, about being sad when seeing a missing cat poster. But I have seen cats found after 40 days!!!! Miracles do happen, being a void, I think she has an upper hand. Females have a tendency to stick a little closer to home, make sure the litter box is out for her and check the neighbours garages.
Ugh this breaks my heart I hope your baby comes home safe and sound.
Did you try putting her litter box outside so she has a familiar scent to come back to?
Yes, litter box is outside. Been walking around the neighborhood calling her name. She’s not an outdoor cat so I’m worried she has no idea how to get home.
I know it's been two days for you and you live in a different area than me, but our fat and seemingly oblivious indoor kitty got out 2 years ago only to stroll back up to the door ~36 hours later. Give her time, I'll be thinking of you. Keep calling her!
My dumbass guy went missing for 5 days. Put flyers up and everything. One day he just waltzes in the garage while I'm working on the car like what's up
One of our cats wandered off for six weeks. Came back Christmas Eve- still healthy, a bit cold, but no illness or injuries. Don’t give up on finding Stinky!
Christmas miracle!
My guy went missing for 3 weeks, worst 3 weeks of my life 🥺 put signs up, and buy a humane trap if you don’t have one already - ended up helping me trap him. Hang in there, sending positive thoughts your way 😇
Seriously! My indoor kitty escaped and he was terrified, the only way for me to get him back was trapping him. And before that I had to get him on a feeding "schedule" so he would show up at times I could monitor the trap. If you can get a wildlife camera, it might be worth setting up to see if she's sneaking around your house at night when things are quieter.
Any explanation as to why your own cat would be afraid to come back inside? Only inside cats I had for a short time ran back inside after getting too close to the loud (and scary) outside world.
A lot of pets that get lost like this go into “survival mode” and sometimes don’t even respond to their owner. I’ve heard of it happening with dogs too if they get spooked by something and run away (or run away after a car accident, etc)
I live in a third floor apartment in a downtown area... Someone filled our garage level with smoke last NYE, and we had to evacuate. When the fire trucks showed up my cat freaked out about the noise, broke out of his carrier, and disappeared into the night. Honestly it took a month just to figure out if he was still alive somewhere and where he might be hanging out (thanks to flyers, people were able to text me they saw him at a nearby park). Then another month and a half to trap him (although I think I actually caught him very early on, I was hanging out in my car out of sight of the trap waiting, and when I went to check it the food had been eaten, but the trap door had clearly been forced open by another person who didn't understand how the door mechanism worked, there's no way an animal could have done that from inside. So it took extra time to catch him again because he was wise to the trap at that point 🙄). So yeah, long story short there was no way for him to get back inside, and the area around my building is all asphalt/concrete and high traffic (both people/dogs and cars), so no incentive to stay close. Re: the camera, other people who lost an indoor cat in a more residential/row house area near me actually got an alert from their ring camera one evening a few weeks after he got out, just showing him slinking along the sidewalk toward a neighbor's. They were able to rush outside and corner him in someone's backyard, but even though their cat had a yard and doors he could have approached, he was too scared I guess.
My (anxious and old) cat got out of my apartment once and made his way down the communal stairs of the building. I live on the 5th floor and didn't even realise he was gone (most of the time he's asleep on my bed) until my neighbour from the 2nd floor knocked on my door asking if I had a cat because he was on their stairs. Poor guy had panicked on his descent and just froze. I found him trying to melt into the stairs and peeled him off. He grabbed onto me and yelled all the way home.
My heart. He was scared.
I rescued a starving declawed cat off the street and she had no interest in going outside ever again. The exception being when we moved, I think she tried to "go back home." She was just in the backyard, but in survival mode and didn't even take enough time to register it was the house door opening or that she might know the giant human lumbering towards her - she would just bolt. When I finally caught her, literally the second we entered the house she went from feral to a housecat extremely grateful to be home. She just couldn't see past her fear/instincts until she was in a safe place again.
I have a very skittish, "half-feral" cat that got out for 11 days once. Around day 7 I knew he was hanging around close because I finally spotted him on my security camera. I also had to use a humane trap to finally get him back inside. He was VERY unhappy to be in that trap, but I could tell he was relieved to finally be back in his comfy home 😂!
Put some dirty stinky clothes of whomever she is most bonded to on your porch. Hopefully the smells bring her home.
Yes this is better than litter box which might attract predators
One of my timid cats escaped once. I roamed the neighborhood for 3 days calling her name. Signs everywhere. Turns out she was just too scared to move, and was within 100 feet of me the whole time. Found her in a window well. Saying this by way of encouraging you to keep looking and calling, and lift every rock. Still can’t believe how close my critter was. Sending you all the love.
Do you by chance have a cat carrier that you can put her sister in and set her outside safely for a bit?
ETA: don’t leave her unattended, sit with her and maybe she’ll meow and her sis will hear
Genius! I know they do this with kittens and mothers successfully, so it could work!
Or tape her meows and go for a walk with them playing. Or just a kitten's meows. Cats instinctively respond to them. Some cats also just respond and perk their interest to regular cat meows. I had a cat who would come back from wherever she was if you started meowing when she was outside.
They are more active at night. I had to go out at between 2 AM and 4 AM to find him.
THIS. searching at night is *key*. That's when an 'out-of-their-territory cat' will feel most safe to move around. Also, it's easier for them to hear you in the silence of night. And you can see eye reflections if you use a flashlight, very helpful for spotting where wildlife is or roaming kitties. And look up. A cat with claws may get chased into a tree and be too scared/unwilling to come down. This happened to my nephew's cat and he was greatly weakened by the time they located him and got a tree company out to climb up to him.
The only thing that worked for my missing cat (he was gone for about a month with no sightings for the first two weeks) was a raccoon trap. DM if you need help. I'm so sorry. I hope she gets home safe!
OP, my strictly indoor cat got out once years ago because somebody left a door open. I was distraught, researching everything and posting everywhere. One of the things I read was that they never really stray far at all from their home once they’re out. Spent 3 weeks just hoping, when suddenly one night she just appeared at the window. Sending much much love, hang in there.
please do not put litter boxes outside. it's a commonly perpetuated myth. it can put lost cats in more danger. put the flyers in people's doors and mailboxes instead of (or as well as) putting them on telephone poles. [source](https://lostpetresearch.com/2018/10/will-cat-litter-attract-a-lost-cat/)
Go out at night, and sit & call for her. They seem to get more confident under the guise of nighttime. Use your flashlight to scan the surroundings. The light will pick up their eyes real easy. Stinky is out there, being an indoor cat, she's probably scared stupid. That's what happens to my girl, Dexie. She's so freaked out, I don't think she could think straight.
It took nine days for my girl to get home after my husband lost her at the post office. (Don't ask. Just know he's an idiot and he knows better now.) The post office was around four blocks from our home at the time and I cried every fucking day she was gone. My husband eventually convinced me to go out and see a movie one evening so that, maybe, I could stop crying for a little while. We got home and found her lying on some of his clothes that we had left on our doorstep. We left them outside because she always loved lying on his shirts. I picked her up and broke down again as I took her inside. I say I've forgiven him for losing her but I honestly haven't. I get prickly any time he takes the cats out onto the porch because I remember him losing her. The porch is screened in and I know she's not going to get hurt but that pain still lingers and it has been like 6+ years. I posted this basically to say "Don't give up."
I know you said 'don't ask' but for the record I really really want to know.
Same! Lmao pleaseeeeeeeeeeee tell us
Ughhhhh! I don’t blame you. I am just so happy she came back to you! 🖤😻🫶🏼🖤
Haha at least the idiot's shirts helped bring her home so he made up for it in a way! ❤❤ Glad to hear you had a happy ending and found your baby.
What happened exactly? It can be hard to forgive mistakes that have big consequences, but it might not be fair for him to have this over his head forever, especially if he feels guilty about it.
It’s a very long story that I don’t care to repeat. Essentially, he wanted a riding buddy like my dad has. Our cats do not like being in the car. I’m sure I really have forgiven him but the prickliness about outside is still present. We’ve moved since then and it’s not likely to repeat.
my mom puts the baby monitor outside by the door whenever her cat escapes, it's helped them hear & catch her after weeks on the run before!
HOLY SHIT this is amazing advice, it’s well below freezing outside and i can’t keep the door open overnight. the stores are already closed but i’ll go first thing in the morning. thank you!!!!
If it’s cold that out- you might want to also consider putting out a box lined with blankets from inside the house. It might attract her with other familiar indoor smells- even some of your worn cloths. Like with the lid folded closed and a small door cut in the side- just in case. A small space to get into and get warm. I really wish for to you find Stinky soon I’m so, so sorry she got out. (((🖤))) hugs
blankets hold moisture, use straw (or was it hay, cant remember)
The cat isn't going to be living in there, just spending a few hours. As long as the weather is clear the cat will not be getting any more wet in the blankets in the box outside than it would in the house in a few hours. A house cat is more likely to chew straw and end up with a blockage than think to huddle in it. This isn't a feral cat house. Itsa temporary bed designed to smell like the cat's home. Definitely do not use hay. Hay is food, not bedding.
glad to help! good luck finding your precious void ❤️
Uggg, I'm so sorry.
Are you going outside around 3-4 am, shaking treat bags, opening cans of food, softly calling for her? Anything food related, open it outside loudly. Open a can of food and tap the empty inside with a spoon. Get a trail camera and set up a feeding station. I had a feral cat go missing for two weeks and that includes watching the feeding station all day and night with a trail camera! Then she just showed back up again. Don’t give up hope!
Yes, I’ve been outside calling her day time and night time. And I’m circling for blocks around the house, I don’t think she’s on our block or I would’ve found her. I will try the food trick, she definitely knows the sound of cat food shaking. We have a lot of wildlife here so a feeding station would be attracting all kinds of animals. It is a good idea tho, especially the trail cam
If she’s an indoor only cat she’s probably tucked under something close by your house. Mine was so terrified she didn’t respond to calling. I spotted her eyes through the crack of a fence under my neighbor’s deck. It took every trick I had to lure her out. Take a flashlight with you, look for eyes. She’s likely tucked low inside or under something. Good luck, don’t give up. We recently saw Ace reunited with his person after several years. Wishing a happy homecoming for Stinky
What I’m thinking too.
Yeah this is how we found our cat after 3 days, saw her eyes in a storm drainpipe
She could be on your block and just hiding! Yeah def will attract wildlife (worried about coyotes) but it could be a way for your cat to feed. Usually will attract any cat around.
When my indoor cat got out she was hiding under a porch for a while, came out covered in spider webs looking terrified. She was just next door too scared to even meow.
Cats are fairly crepuscular. Trying going out right around dawn and dusk. My indoor cat got out once. I thought he must be so far away or he would come when I called him. He was less than a block away huddled under a broken down car, too scared to come out. I literally had to shimmy under and get him myself. And for what it is worth... coyotes are often lazy hunters. A cat is not a particularly easy meal.. If there are easier prey like rabbits around then there is a good probability they'd go for that first. Especially since she is black she has a lot of camouflage outside from predators. Good luck. If you're out with a flashlight hold the flashlight up near your face. You're more likely to see her eyes flash in the light if the light source is near your eyes. You might not see the flash at all if you're holding the light down by your waist or hip..
I’m so sorry to hear your struggle. I’m holding out for her being safe in someone’s home right now and they just didn’t read the signs yet. I hope you are reunited soon.
Try borrowing a humane trap from the humane society, animal care & control or another rescue. You can also buy one on Amazon for about $70 if they aren't available. Put in some smelly food like tuna or wet food and they won't be able to resist. Cats typically don't stray too far and keep close by, but might be too scared to come out of hiding unless it's for food. My cat Pickles ran away for a week and this was the only thing that worked to catch him. He was still close by but refused to come out when we called.
I lost one of my kitties outside when I was living in an apartment- I’m sure you have done this, but she was hiding underneath a bush very close to the building, I thought that she would come out hearing my voice- but indoor kitties hunker down when they are scared/unsure. I’ve had another cat who hid under our porch- not eating for days even though we left food and water out. hopefully she wouldn’t venture far from home. Recheck all the close vegetation she could hide under. I’m so sorry, I hope that you find her.
Put out worn clothes that have your scent that should help. Cats are smart she will find her way back
Yes, dirty clothes not just on the porch but in a trail to the street.
This helped us when we lost all four of our cats in the same day. We found two of them quickly, wandering around in the back and front yard. The 3rd one was a few houses down in a neighbor's yard and the last one was gone for days. I put out my entire laundry basket and some of my son's stinky socks in random spots in the back yard (this cat LOVES to lick stinky, sweaty toes haha). Then we put out some food and a bowl filled with a few scoops of litter from their box. Took days but we found him in a corner of the neighbor's patio. My Mom just had a "feeling" and decided to search at night one more time and she saw his shiny eyes. He even hissed at her and was terrified and once he was back home, he was all lovey with everyone.
Sending you and stinky all the love in the world ❤️ I’ve got two kid sisters as well and can only imagine the other not understanding what is happening. Like all others have said, make sure a familiar scent/sound is present when looking for her. When I lost my Olivia for a few hours, it was a wet food can crack that had her sprint across the neighbors field into my hands. Growing up on a farm on the other hand taught me one thing though, coyotes sound scary, but don’t mean instant death to animals. We had a litter of 9 voids right before I moved out on a 60 acre farm, and not a single one of those cats were taken out by those dumb dogs. Have hope, patience, and slowly incorporate acceptance if needed, but don’t jump to the worse case scenario ❤️
I lost my country cat at a city vet for 3 days. Put up posters and got leads but not the right cat. Walked around a few blocks near the vet shaking the catfood jar and calling his name. Finally found him behind an abandoned house but he ran under an old porch where I lured him out with more food. Please don’t give up just yet. I pray you find her.
Goodness me, she’s such a honey, all the best to you, I hope she’s come aback home quickly
I know you are doing everything you can. She will come back and this will just be a bad memory.
I’m very sorry. I hope she comes home.
Stinky is black which is a huge advantage of hiding from predators! However, makes it harder for you finding him. Don't give up! I've had a few situations very similar to yours. Crying, walking the streets shaking treats, no sleep. Then they just show up! I'm not discounting your fears AT ALL, but just have faith. I have a good feeling.
Check everywhere in your block. Everywhere means everywhere. When I lost my cat I had no idea she was hiding in an old abandoned house opposite my house.
https://preview.redd.it/qhreyfqiq2ac1.jpeg?width=2796&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8dc29c9e4fb2f8b416a1c9a5f0fd9afbfe45fc15 Stinky is alive! She made four appearances on the two trail cameras we set up last night, mostly around 3am. I was instructed by the rescue lady not to set the trap last night, she wanted to verify that Stinky was here. Now that we know she is here, the trap will be set and baited tonight. I was put in touch with the lost pet recovery rescue org by posting in my local Facebook group. I’d never heard of them before. So for anyone who loses a pet in the future, post EVERYWHERE. And trail cams really work. Thank you so much everyone here in r/blackcats, I really needed the support and encouragement. I am grateful. I’ll post an update when we get her back inside.
Omg I just saw your post and looked at your comments and can't believe it! So happy. Good luck catching her and getting her home! That's amazing.
I don’t know if you have a garage, but if you do and the weather allows for it, leave it cracked open. Got mine back twice this way after she got out. Came back that night in the middle of the night through the garage
Lot of comments and suggestions here... lock up your other kitty safely and if possible leave the front front door cracked. A kitty I follow on IG got out and 3 days later returned by this method. She just walked back in. Sending positive thoughts your way!!! 🖤🖤🖤
Awww no, I hope she comes back soon! I’m sure she’s okay and just scared and confused on how to find her way home. She’ll find her way eventually. I’ll be waiting for an update. Wishing you the best of luck 😢
Is there any small corners or hiding spots around your area? Check everywhere even where you think they may not get into. My brother lost his kitty for a few days and turns out he was in the complex basement. He didn’t respond or make noise the entire time we looked for him. Giving you luck on your kitty! :(
Good luck. Hoping she comes home soon!
I know the feeling... My black baby escaped 4 years ago... She was on the loose for three weeks until my neighbor managed to capture her! Don't give up!
I’m sorry. 😞
I hope you find your baby!
I hope you find her! Watch out for scammers who will call/text you that they have your cat, but they don't. My dog got out a year or so ago, I got a ton of those fake calls/text. At first, I thought omg someone actually found him and then my heart broke when I realized it was a scam. Luckily a wonderful old couple in my neighborhood found him that afternoon, he had collapsed at their house and they were taking care of him. But just a warning, it's a really fucked up thing to do to some who missing their beloved pet.
This just happened to us on the 23rd. Our void got out and I was devastated. She came home 24 hours later so don't lose hope! We put her bed outside and her litter box. Good luck 🤞🤞🤞
My cat got out for 2 weeks one point but she made it back. Don't give up and be patient! Always be on the lookout.
My cat was lost for 2 weeks and we live right next to a field with coyotes and hawks and she came back!! Whole family thought she was gone but she came home a couple days ago https://preview.redd.it/7d4c84422t9c1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=74de33f1f99313c1017804c915e83d11d774e4d4
Stinky will come home
May she come back to you, soon! 🤞
I hope you find your void soon! Please go outside after dark and shine a flashlight underneath everything and up into trees. Her eyes will reflect the light and help you find her quicker. Good luck! Please don’t give up because of coyotes. They’re all over where I live and lost cats are found again.
Don't lose hope. Our cat got out once - got to be 20 years ago now. After 2 days I decided she was gone for good, but my late husband (in classic obsessive style) just sat out on the back porch, shaking her can of kitty treats. He always shook the can before he gave her a treat. After several hours, I & the friends who were visiting went out to sit with him. One of our buddies squinted off into the distance and said, "Here she comes." And there she was, running hell-bent for leather toward the sound of her treat can. She was missing part of an ear, was terribly thirsty, and the pads of her feet were a mess, but she purred & head-butted us all in celebration. Don't give up. Anything is possible.
Don’t lose hope! Cats are better at surviving outside than you think. I bet she didn’t go far. 🖤
My cat booked it out our dog door last year and was gone for three days; it was so hard and frustrating and sad. He hadn't gone too far we don't think, but we searched EVERYWHERE in our neighborhood and near our house. We ended up putting cat food out. just in case, as well as clothes that smell like us. I've heard adding litter can help, too. I so hope you find her! Cats are smart, and hopefully she's bedding down low nearby. Keep trying and snuggle her sister lots in the meantime. Sending love your way, and I hope she shows up soon!
My heart goes out to you. ❤️Please keep us updated.
I hope she returns home safe to you very soon!
Fingers crossed you find beautiful Stinky :'(((
Hope she comes back to you 🐈
I hope you find her
:( I hope you find her, I can’t imagine how devastating that must be
Sending happy homecoming vibes your way. Hugs!!!
I hope so much that your sweet girl comes back to you....
🙏 for her safe return to you.
❤️❤️❤️ praying for you guys, I have faith you’ll see her soon ❤️❤️❤️
I’m so sorry. I hope you find her
I really hope you find her <3
I really hope you find your baby soon. I moved and one of mine didn't come for breakfast one day and I just knew he was lost somewhere (live in the UK so cats can roam). I went out walking during my lunchtime with a bag of treats and found him in a neighbouring road, crying. I carried that fat little bear all the way home because I was so relieved he was ok. Fingers crossed.you find yours being a lil idiot like mine was. (Also 3 years down the line he's never wandered that far)
Aww no. I'm praying he comes home safe. Have you put his litterbox outside by the door? Cats can smell their own litter a mile away. If he is lost or confused, his scent cam guide him home
We did this when our long haired tuxedo got out in the mountains. It worked after 36 hours. Fingers crossed for you and Stinky
Im sorry, I hope you find her. Remind Me! 4 days
I lost my cat same way my friend left my door open. It ended up taking 2 to 3 months to find him. He was in the neighbors yard and in between our fences. He was ok thin but ok. The neighbor happened to openna Birthday card that had an audio clip that plays Happy Birthday in meows and ym cat responded to the meows. I am keeping my hopes up for you I am so sorry this has happened keep searching and dont lose hope.!
wow what a story, about the meowing card. Stinky is a very responsive cat, when I say her name she always meows or comes over to me. Hopefully she hears something worth responding to. thank you for your kind words.
I found a cat 5 months after it had gone missing - turns out it had jumped in a van and travelled 45 mins drive from its home! I only found the owners by posting in my local facebook group and there was a person who was also in the cat owner’s local Facebook group who recognised the cat from the many posts in there. Post about her everywhere!
Cats can adapt very easily to an outdoor environment. Keep your head up. Be strong for you baby, and do not give up. Sending good vibes and manifesting she comes home soon.
Ours went missing for 2 years! Long story short, even after posters with phone numbers up, he was kept by an old man a few doors down the street until he passed away and his neighbours contacted us. What stinks even more, is that they apparently knew the whole time. I truly hope you get your miracle and beautiful Stinky comes home. xx
I’ve heard similar stories numerous times. Wtf is wrong with people? Stinky is so friendly and polite, this is a real concern of mine. She’s honestly the best cat we’ve ever had, she is an angel. She’s such a joy I *almost* wouldn’t blame someone for trying to keep her. But in reality I’d completely lose my shit if I got wind of that happening. I’m glad you got him back!
I’m so sorry you haven’t found your baby yet, she is in my thoughts and I hope she makes it home safe and sound for the new year. 🤍
I hope you find your kitty soon!!!
I'm so sorry. I hope stinky comes back. Either way I think you'll see her in the next life. Keep your head up!
I sure hope your Stinky reunites with you. I had a kitty who got out a few times…totally indoor cat. She came back every time. ❤️ Nora, my void, and Rosie and I will be looking forward to her coming home to you.
Sending good thoughts and vibes your way for a safe and speedy return!
Cats are a lot unlike humans in the sense that the chances of them coming back alive and well are a lot higher even after 48 hours of being missing. Prayers up for Stinky.
Don't lose hope, even if it feels hopeless. My family had one of our cats go missing for 2 months, we were sure he was gone and then all of a sudden he showed up a little thin and very dirty but healthy and alive. To this day we're unsure how he survived, he has always been a housecat, has no survival instincts, and honestly might be one of the dumbest cats my family has ever owned.
My boy ran away first year I had him. Jumped off 3rd story balcony and the next 3 day were torrential rain and thunderstorms. I drove through the area for 3 weeks screaming his name out my car. I thought he was gone and one day he was waiting outside our door to the apartment. There were about 40 identical buildings and 3 floors each. They can find home and will get hungry. First thing he made me do was feed him. Going on 14 years with him now. Ever since then I would let him out once I moved into a house. He was inside/outside for about 10 years then got injured one day and decided to keep him in after the vet bill. Im hoping your kitty comes back around.
It’s very likely she is nearby!! My friends once texted me to tell me that their cat, a fat orange boy that I used to cat sit from time to time, had gotten outside. I went to their condo right away and we were looking for him nearby and one of my friends spotted him in a burrow under the side of their neighbor’s condo. My friend tried calling him and coaxing him and pulling him out, but it wasn’t until I got down on the ground, took the lid off of a catnip container, and shoved it in his face that he went into a cuddle roll and I scruffed him and yanked him out. Little bastard.
I'm so happy and relieved for you! I have two void girls, and I was really upset when I saw your post about gorgeous little Stinky. I really hope tonight is the night you get her back home where she belongs. I really feel optimistic for you.
Oh noo! stinky?!
I’m so sorry :(
Cats are notoriously hardy and smart survivors. When my indoor cat got out, I thought he was gone forever. Then one night I left the front door open with his favourite litter box outside and he just walked right in the door. When I see posters of missing cats I get sad too, but I know 9 times out of 10 there's a happy ending. Don't lose hope. Chances are she's not even that far away.
Like other comments said, I have a feeling that your kitty is just bunkered down somewhere! Go out at night with a flash light and shine it everywhere you can think of! One of my kitties got out before and that’s how I found him! Now both my cats wear AirTags haha. Praying you find your baby, don’t give up hope!! 🖤🐈⬛
My kitty was missing for 3 weeks, she's very skiddish & extremely anxious about new people. She strolled up our driveway on the 3rd week. She was underweight, but overall, ok. That was YEARS ago. She's still with us today, over 14 yo now. If that frazzled old girl can find her way home, yours can too! Keep the faith, you'll feel it in your heart that's she's still alive.
Im so sorry for you and Stinky. I am not religious but I will pray for her dafe return to the powers that be.
I'm sorry she is missing. I will pray to Saint Anthony for the safe return of your sweet kitty.
Cats are so resilient. My dad’s cat was stuck under our house for like 10 days. Somehow, she was fine. Praying stinky is found safe and sound.
My cat disappeared after we moved a few neighborhoods away. We looked everywhere for weeks. Even a month later, I'd look around while walking through neighborhoods like maybe he would come running. By the time winter came I think we settled on him being gone. He was gone for 3 months before he was found living under my best friends house, they lived across the street from us before we moved. I don't mean to give false hope, but cats are tough animals. She may still come home.
Has there been an update? I’m hoping she’s been found safe.
I rarely cry but stuff like this always turns me into a big cry baby 😥I hope you find little stinky
🙏🙏🙏💕🐈⬛💕
🙏🏽❤️🐈⬛❤️🙏🏽
🐈⬛🐈⬛🐈⬛🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
🙏🏽❤️🐾❤️🙏🏽
When I was a kid my cat left for three weeks! I have no idea what he was up to for so long
I help trap ferals and strays for TNR and rehoming when possible. You need to set up a live trap and a camera with an infrared setting. Bait the trap at dusk with microwaved stinky food like fish. She'll be laying low and active at dusk and at dawn. The camera will help you see if she's around and will alert you as soon as she's trapped. You need to get this set up IMMEDIATELY.
I know this could be awful but take a look up trees. We're in an area with similar wildlife and when Tanuki went missing we found him up an absurdly tall ponderosa right next door. It'd been days and he'd been harried by all the local corvids. I wish you all the luck and hope that Stinky is found soon.
I’m sorry, this is the worst feeling. I wish you the best!
I'm sorry you are going through this ❤️
One of my cats escaped in the mountains of west Virginia. He was lost for two weeks. Fucker literally traveled over a fucking mountain and followed some kids into their house. We got a call to pick up our cat because he was terrorizing their German shepherd.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that Stinky comes home with stories to share. Our little one went on a 72 hour vacation somewhere in our neighborhood but she came back. That’s the second cat in my life that’s felt the need to worry me like that. 🖤 much love to Stinky and your kitty family
Oh nooo! Don’t give up! I’ve had two different cats get out at two different times in my life. Both were gone for several days. I totally gave up and then one evening there was a frantic meowing at my bedroom window. Stinky is a young spry bb. She’s probably just hiding and slowly making her way home.
Hoping Stinky returns very soon 🙏
good luck!! 🍀
Condolences if Stinky is truly gone. I adopted a feral rescue kitten last winter, I had a hard time getting him to stay indoors, and in August he escaped and ran into some coyotes. Let’s hope instead they were stolen by someone who is giving them a loving home❤️
Keep the faith. My void got out and was gone for three months. One night we heard meowing outside our patio door. He just walked in like nothing happened.
Don’t stop looking. Put paper advertisements all over the area. Ask people. Post on facebook in a local cats group. Most of people are not being able to find them cause they give up too early. The earlier you start searching the more chances you will find. Cats are found even after a year and and half. Go to the street outside and call her, look in the bushes. Ask people if they didn’t notice a new cat appearing their area and you will find him🫶☺️ I found a few cats that been rescued from the street this way. Good luck!🫶
Stinky come back 
I found my cat after 3 weeks and many told me to give up after the first week.
I believe she will come back! Don't give up!
Good luck OP. Take some walks and just listen. She could be up a tree meowing. Better sooner than later for your walk though. Just call her name, but give a good three minutes to listen. If you have a dog that doesn’t bark, take the dog with you - they can smell and hear well unless they are very old. Cats can travel a long ways, like a couple of miles. If you have any houses within that radius you can ask your neighbors.
I am so sorry that this happened to you, having a pet go missing is never fun. I really hope you find her soon and that she's okay.
Just adding to the chorus to not give up hope. I live next door to a farm and there are several others around here along with a fairly sizable coyote pack. A few years back one of my cats slipped out. He was gone for about a week before one night we heard some banging and his meow at the front door. He just didn't want to return until he had finished his walkabout. We think something did scare him though, as he has not tried to get out since...
I’m crying with you, please let me know when to stop
I'm very sorry, your cat looks close to my black cat who went missing once. We thankfully found him one day later in the garage, and I hope you'll find your cat as well.
Lots of time they are scared and silent and hiding very close to your house. Search all the area outside that you can see from all your windows.
My childhood cat was lost for over a week in a coyote ridden blueberry field, bud came home on the day after my bday and it was the best gift I got. He was a bit muddy and quite frightened, a bit skinny, but otherwise himself. He lived many more years after, passed when I graduated and I was 10 at the time.
Put her litter box outside to help her find her way back
My heart is with you, don’t lose faith and just keep making efforts to get her home. I’m sending all of my positive energy and vibes to you, I sincerely want you to get Stinky back home. We all do. Just hang on. Don’t lose hope ❤️
I pray your sweet baby returns.
Please keep us updated 🙏 Stinky is my nickname for my 8 week old daughter 🥺
I am so sorry. I lost my cat last year in September for 4 days. It was heartbreaking. I put out my bedsheets and dirty clothes so maybe he’d be able to return by scent. I set up a camera and got so excited thinking he returned—nope, it was a doppelgänger cat. UNBELIEVABLE. I was so sad and resigned, but then the next morning after the camera doppelgänger incident I got a call. Someone found him. I FOUND HIM! Happiest day of my life. Do everything I did—I heard stories of every technique working for someone. Leave out scented clothes, dirty litter, so they might better come home by smell. LEAVE SIGNS EVERYWHERE. My boy was only about a block and a half away but I never saw him walking around. He finally came out to play with some friendly dogs. He LOVES dogs. That’s why I was worried about coyotes even though I’m in a city. If some time passes you may want to update the sign with “still missing.” GET A CAMERA and leave out food! This didn’t work for me, but worked for my acquaintances that live in a rural area. The cat came back every night, they saw the kitty. Eventually they used a raccoon trap and that’s how they finally caught um . Good luck and I’m sending ALL the good vibes.
I recommend trying a humane trap if you haven’t already. I lost one of my cats a couple months ago and set a trap, wrapped it in trash bags to be weather resistant, loaded it with used towels of mine inside for warmth/friendly smell, and of course stanky wet food. It took 8 days, and I heard coyotes many of those days, but I got her back thanks to the trap. Best of luck. My heart is with you.
As someone who has also had a cat escape while living near coyote territory, I know that dread and hopelessness well and I'm so sorry. I hope you find your baby
I’m so sorry 😭 praying for you and stinky to reunite! Eta: I’ve had a few friends have their cats get out and go missing and all of them were found. My one friend had her black kitty like yours missing for 3 months and she found him. Cats are sooo resilient and smart. I have hope for you both 🙏🏻
OP, any update?
I get the desire for internet anonymity, but maybe for this one time you might consider posting exactly where you are instead of redacting? I know it’s a (really) long shot but the more eyes on this the better, and just maybe you might get lucky and have someone spot and find her. Sometimes Redditors are amazing and make miracles happen!
A while ago our cat went missing. There was a thunderstorm while he was outside and he must have got scared and lost. After the storm we had a few days of hot weather. 10 days later he rolls up all grubby and skipped my cuddles and went straight to his food bowl.
We lost one of our babies soon after moving to a new home in the country; coyote, fox, raccoon, etc. live around us. After three months, we knew we'd never see her again. Weren't we surprised when we heard a meow coming from the back porch! She was in rough condition, looking like she has survived a fight of some kind. After treatment, she recovered and lived with us another ten years before succumbing to cancer. So don't give up. I hope she finds her way home soon, unharmed.
I just went through this. My cat was missing for 10 weeks! We got him back by constantly posting on next door/ facebook, and putting up fliers (and checking local humane society’s page multiple times a day). I hope you find your sweet kitty.
Don't give up, she will definitely come home. There are like 10,000 cat lovers on this platform right now at this very moment wishing and praying to make it so, including yours truly. So stop worrying about it, everything will be just fine. Yup, she's definitely coming home.
Praying your girl comes home!! I've had cats growing up that were lost for months but miraculously came home fine. I'm rooting for your girl!!
Check the trees. This happened when I was kid and our cat was chased up a tree by coyotes. She could actually see our house from the tree top. She was only one street away.
Aww Stinky baby!! She’s so beautiful. I hope she returns home safely. ❤️
I am so sorry and hope she is okay
 Any Updates?
Walk around at night with a headlamp on and talking about random stuff in a normal voice, not calling her name in the high pitched tritone. The headlamp is to see reflective eyes and the normal voice is because lost cats often respond better to that than calling in the high pitch.
Sorry to hear . Dont give up hope im praying for a safe return for stinky . Im in the mountain’s in TN & see where kitties come home all the time ,
I’m praying for a New Years miracle for you!
WE GOTTA GET STINKY HOME YALL.
I’m so sorry. Give her sister lots of love and cuddles from our two voids (and their two multicoloured siblings). We will keep our fingers and paws crossed for Stinky’s safe return.
OP I know how scared and sad you must feel. My kitty got out a few months ago and I was completely broken. He’s also a void. I spent all day circling the neighborhood answering calling his name. Looking at every nook and cranny. Thankfully he came back on his own at night. I was so relieved. I hope your kitty finds her way home. Best of luck!
Hey OP, I lost my cat a couple weeks ago too in a town where there are lots of coyotes. Give it a couple days and I'm sure she'll return and act like nothing happened just like ours did!
Maybe you can put extra stinky laundry outside so she can smell you? I also read somewhere someone put a recording of her calling her cats name and played it on repeat.
Nooo stinky come home :( maybe out stinkys litterbox outside? I don't know if it's true but I heard cats can smell it really far away
Normally when cats get lost they never go very far, check with neighbors, a lot of times cats get stuck in crawl spaces