A tale of woe...

[Graye]

I am seriously looking for some sympathy (as well as any bright ideas).

My lovely white cat has gone missing and I'm trying to think of ways to track him down. He is a great hunter (although white is not the best colour for a cat trying to live in the woods) and shy so he won't go to anyone at all. He is wearing a collar with an electronic tracker so I can probably locate him if I can get within 100 yards of him. We live in a tiny hamlet with most of the houses only occupied on occasional weekends. I've poked around every barn/empty house and can find no trace, although I'm pretty sure he has gone for a wander in the woods (he has just had two weeks locked in kennels so was probably a bit stir-crazy) and become disorientated. The weather here is quite warm and there is plenty of wildlife so I have no real fears of him not being able to feed himself.

I'll list my plans and if anyone can think of any other ideas I would be grateful. So far I have -

1. Enlarged the local OS map and gridded it so I can be systematic in my search. So far I've covered a circle of about 1/2 a mile radius from the house, using the tracker and calling his name. At the moment I'm on my own so this is a bit difficult but I will have OH back here from Thursday lunchtime. The area is mostly scrubby woodland with a few small fields interspersed with some rambling paths.
2. Done a flyer campaign for the village (only about 20 houses have anyone there on a regular basis) in French and English mentioning a reward for info leading to his return. By recovery I really mean just finding out what has happened to him if the worst comes to the worst. I think that generally speaking the French don't see cats as pets so I thought the reward in large letters might be attractive!
3. Prepared and laminated some similar posters for the local vets, supermarkets, Post Offices etc. These are all at least 7 miles away but all the locals need to go there as there is nothing closer. I'll put a few on trees on the rambling paths but I don't think we have ever encountered another walker on them in the year we have been here.
4. Notified the microchip company that he is missing and giving up to date info on our contact details.
5. There is a "breadman" who calls into the village three times a week so if I can spot him on Thursday I'll ask him to display a poster on his van too as he visits all the local hamlets.

Can anyone think of any other bright ideas which I could try?

[snapdragon]

looks like you have all the angles covered Graye - I can't think of anything else
I do hope your wanderer returns home soon

[red]

sorry to hear this

are there rescue places to visit? might be worth a try?

[StripyPixieSocks]

Got nothing to add to your list but I hope your cat comes home soon

[Graye]

Good idea, Red! I'll check out that out tomorrow.

His microchip has in fact migrated under his left front leg so it might not be spotted immediately so I'll be sure the police, vets and rescue centres know that.

Thanks everyone, for your comments. It does help to have more input, especially when I'm sitting here alone in a huge empty house, missing my buddy. His little friend is missing him too, and looking for amusement/companionship from me all the time.

[StripyPixieSocks]

My cat years ago used to go walkabout for a week or so then saunter in like nothing had happened... I think alot of cats do that from time to time... cheeky wee things they are!

[Jandra]

I know what it is like when your cat goes missing so I'll just send you my sympathies and hope he'll return safe and sound and SOON!

[Millymollymandy]

I do hope he will come back. I think most of us have been there and done that.

I think you've pretty much covered everything that you can do in the way of searching for him/putting the word out.

[Loobyloo]

I can completely empathise with you. One of my little ones went missing a month ago and it turned out after 4 or 5 days of doing the same things you have done that the worst had happened. She had been hit by a car and must have died instantly but the **** that hit her didn't stop and so we didn't find her for days.

However (not wanting to sound like the harbinger of Doom) it sounds like yours is much more able to look after himself (Dixie was just coming up to a year old and wasn't a hunter yet, and the road behind our house is driven on quite fast at night) and has plenty of places to hide!

I have my fingers well and truly crossed for you hun, I know exactly what you are going through and wouldn't wish it on anyone.

much love

looby
x

[evelyn]

You must be sooooo very worried, one of our's was stolen two years ago and i am stll very upset about it, however, it sounds like your fury friend is making a protest after beeing in kenals, catching up on his freedom.

I hope he comes back soon.

Eve

[Loobyloo]

Graye, any news?

I have to say I'm in need of serious sympathy too. My second cat was killed by a car at the end of last week. We have lost both cats within 3 weeks. The house is horribly empty and quiet.

[StripyPixieSocks]

Graye, any news?

I have to say I'm in need of serious sympathy too. My second cat was killed by a car at the end of last week. We have lost both cats within 3 weeks. The house is horribly empty and quiet.

Oh Loo that's terrible I'm so sorry (((HUGS)))

[Graye]

Oh Loobyloo, I'm so sorry. That must be really heartbreaking for you and I know that there is so little anyone can say to make you feel better. Poor babies.

Nothing more on ours but I'm still working on no news being good news. OH arrived on Thursday and we are working our way through the gridded map (almost completely wooded around here so that's good or bad depending on how you look at things). We have posters up, reward offered, flyers through every letter box, vets notified, etc, etc. We are assuming he's lost in the woods and just need to get to within 100 metres of his collar for the tracker to work. It doesn't help that it has rained almost nonstop since last Friday but we are still out from lunchtime until nightfall. I'll make sure to post once we have some news one way or the other.

[JulieSherris]

Keeping my fingers crossed for you here as well, Graye.....

We've just had to rehome the 2 kitties that were left here at the house - they were lovely kitties, but our 6 yr old Basset who has been around cats his whole life, decided that he had a kittie fixation - he got himself worked into such a tizz each & every day & as a result, he's lost a stone in weight over the last 5 weeks!!

On a sadder note, our 16yr old lady persian cross passed away just 6 days after we moved in but at least she made it here & we have a plot in the back garden now that will grow as time goes on, I'm sure.

[kiwirach]

Graye, any news?

I have to say I'm in need of serious sympathy too. My second cat was killed by a car at the end of last week. We have lost both cats within 3 weeks. The house is horribly empty and quiet.

i'm so sorry to hear this loobyloo.