Thread: Wander Lust

Yes, I was really worried, he's been neutered and has been outside a little bit under supervision but I didn't expect him to go off for hours! I didnt have a torch so he could have been close by but just ignoring me calling him. He is happy as pie to be home and I believe he was just explaining himself to Winter there now with his wee churps and miaows as she was hissing. I'm going to get a collar for the both of them so they can go out and people know they are owned. I worry that someone will realize his value and scoop him, this is the area I live in... they've even stolen two black bins! :(

Eeek, that's scary! I'm worried about my Luna doing something like that once summer comes and the patio doors are left open. I don't really want her to go out, and she hasn't shown the slightest inclination to go out, but our two moggies are outdoor cats and spend all their time outside in the summer... I don't really know what to do!

I had two 18 months old, Bubbles and Omar. After much deliberation when I got them I decided to let them out. Apparently majority of accidents happen after 8.30pm at night so I brought them in before then. On 20th March Bubbles went to the door at 9pm desperate for the loo I thought and he won't use a tray so I let him out. He didn't come back and when we went looking he had been hit by a car and was dead. I'm devastated and the reason I've joined this forum. I feel so guilty and I miss him so so much. He was beautiful and I loved him very much.

Originally Posted by bigfella

I had two 18 months old, Bubbles and Omar. After much deliberation when I got them I decided to let them out. Apparently majority of accidents happen after 8.30pm at night so I brought them in before then. On 20th March Bubbles went to the door at 9pm desperate for the loo I thought and he won't use a tray so I let him out. He didn't come back and when we went looking he had been hit by a car and was dead. I'm devastated and the reason I've joined this forum. I feel so guilty and I miss him so so much. He was beautiful and I loved him very much.

I really feel for you, its always devastating to loose a beloved animal whatever the cause, but particularly tragic when its due to something like you have experienced. I used to keep cats, just moggies, about 20 years ago and stopped because I couldn't bear to loose another one in that way. It didn't seem to make any difference how old they were or what the time was, one by one they all went. The two fluffies that have come to live with us now are destined to be house cats, with no chances taken, it really was the only way that I could have had them. I am so sorry that you are having to go through this.

I have a lockable storage room, and an output to the aviary, in the summer when the windows were open and we are sitting in the garden, shut the cats in the utility room so that they can freely enjoy the fresh air, and I do not have to worry about my cats.

Thankyou. I'm suffering dreadfuly. I miss him so much, I love him.

Really feel for you Bigfella,we rescued an old moggie and wanted him to be an indoor cat after us already having lost a cat on our road.Unfortunatly he was desperate to be an outdoor cat(thats what he must have been used too) and one night he just wouldnt come in, so eventually we went to bed and were woken in the early hours by the phone.Someone in the next street had been woken by a lot of noise and when they looked out two dogs were loose and had attacked him,they had been and got him and got our number from his tag,they too were very distressed, it was awful! and thats why Sebastian will never be allowed out.
Sending big hugs at this difficult time.x

I can only imagine what you are going through, Bigfella. It's not your fault, it was simply an accident. We kept moggies for years and they had free access to the outdoors via the catflap. Our road was completely residential but quite near a main road and everyone let their cats out at that time. We were lucky that they were all OK. I think the roads (in the UK) are busier now, and for that reason we stopped letting our moggies roam freely a couple of years ago. They were quite old and we only had to put some netting across the garden gate to discourage them. Now we've got the 2 MCs we've completely enclosed the garden so they can't escape (it was in our kitten contract, but we happily agreed to it).

It is tricky if you have a rescue moggie who has been used to living on his wits and roaming the neighbourhood, and you then try to confine him for his own safety... they won't like it! But you have to make a judgement about it depending on where you live. We took in a beautiful rescue cat last year, and he loved the outdoors so much that he started refusing to come inside at all - he would only nip in for food, and run out again. He also hated our kittens a used to spit at them. But apart from that, the reason we rehomed him with a family friend was because he was such a happy outdoor cat, and we were keeping indoor/garden cats, and it just wasn't going to be compatible.

Originally Posted by Osiris

I didnt have a torch so he could have been close by but just ignoring me calling him.

It actually can be easier to find missing cats at night than during the day--if you have a big bright flashlight (as we call them). You can simply pan it around and pick up glowing eyes even a couple hundred yards/meters away.

Cats definitely have different movement patterns than dogs. They tend to walk only fairly short distances at a time and then sit to listen/watch for significant periods. Over a day they may cover a wide area, but if they are have been out only 15 minutes or so they are quite likely to still be in your yard or a neighbors. They rarely will come when called if they are outside, however.

Last year I accidentally let three of our MCs go in the garage during the evening without realizing one of the doors was wide open. Luckily only about 15 minutes elapsed before I checked on them and saw the open door. Two of them hadn't even left the garage (the two not used to going outside). The one that is used to going outside with me on a leash had left the garage, but since I knew where she liked to go, I figured I would be able to find her. Sure enough, shined the flashlight into one neighbor's yard and called her, and there was a pair of cat eyes right outside our yard, just sitting and taking in the evening. The first time she got out was the scariest, as she was frightened and hid, and we couldn't find her for an hour (during which we kept expanding the search area outward from the house). Turned out she was literally 10 feet from the house. She eventually made a sound when somebody was nearby and they called her name. I have not forgotten that incident however!