Cat left home

[Feline Costumier]

Have you spoken to whoever was looking after him? You may feel it was their fault in part but he obviously chose to live there and they could well be distressed and heartbroken to find what they now consider their cat to be missing. They will also likely know what he likes to eat.

He is no doubt extremely stressed which could well explain the not toileting and not eating, you have effectively pulled him from somewhere he likes to somewhere that is now strange to him. It will take time and patience for him to settle back in. I doubt he'd be terribly amenable to a lead (it should be harness for cats but I assume this is what you mean) if he's never had one before and would probably also find being so restricted stressful if it different from the norm he is used to.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

As long as there is no extra animosity in the house I would keep him in for at least 6 weeks as if he was a new cat with you.

Tuna is not good for feeding so you need to find a cat food he likes quickly.

A cat lead is not a good idea at the moment I feel and all cats dont like them. Best is to keep him in cos he is acting like a new cat at the moment.

You really need one tray per cat and one spare and then once a pattern is established it can be reduced to the trays being used.

He maybe really missing the home he found for himself and you need to watch him carefully because this could lead to behavior problems if he doesnt settle.

[Rhys]

We want him back because he's our cat and we haven't tried to get him back before because we just don't know what to do which is why I am here. We have brought him home but as I said he just runs straight out the catflap and back up there. We have him home at the moment and has been kept indoors since yesterday afternoon. We've got a litter tray indoors now but he hasn't been to the toilet and won't eat cat food but he's eating tuna so I guess we have to find food he likes.

We had Scooby for months before we went on holiday and yes he was neutered as soon as he was old enough - he was the first cat to be done. Bindi has since had 2 litters and then she was speyed. We would bring him back and try and feed him and everything we could but he wasn't interested. Now I am seeking advice on how best to keep him with us. We bought a cat lead yesterday too but should we take him outside a few times a day or would this be teasing him?

[Fire Fox]

  I don't really understand why you suddenly want him back after so long as you already have two cats that don't get on, bringing another one into the situation will only make things worse. I note from your other thead that his sister had a litter before being spayed, was Scooby not neutered when you first let him outside? If so his hormones will explain why he wandered, along with perhaps not having enough time to bond with you before you let him out and went on holiday. The neighbours probably thought you did not want your cat if you were not providing food or veterinary care (flea, worming etc.). Is Scooby neutered now and has he had all his vaccinations?

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

If cats think they have found a better home, they will be gone like a shot.

I think you need to think of the cat and ask yourself why did he go where he is now and why is he scared of you and not want to live at your house.

[Feline Costumier]

Well, you've left it rather a long time and Scooby seems to be well settled into his new home!

What you should have done was keep him in for at least a couple of weeks when he first decided tot ake off, this would have re-established his relationship with his home. Of course he was likely to run away again if he was left to his own devices immediately after disappearing the first time.

The only way you could bring him back is to go and speak to whoever considers him their cat now and see about bringing him back, you would then need to keep Scooby in for a few weeks and I would advise getting a Feliway plug-in too. I wouldn't just go picking him up as this would distress the new owner (as they see it) as much as it distresses you to have him choose to live there.

Good luck!

[Rhys]

Hi there again. Just over a year ago we got 2 cats which were brother and sister. Back in April I think it was, we was away for a week and had someone coming round to feed the cats. When we got back, Scooby was nowhere to be seen. We waited days and didn't see him. We eventually found him living at a house at the top of our street. We got him back and we saw him every couple of days. As it is now he hasn't been home in months. The last few days i've been looking around the top of our street as he lives or hangs around up there. Today, I found him but he seems really scared and doesen't want to come near me. Then, a lady turned up, stood at the pathway Scooby was sitting at a few minutes before and started calling him, by his name! He has a different collar on and seems like he now lives there. She put a bowl of food down and went in.

How can I bring my cat home and get him to stay here again? If he wasn't being fed by other people that would help. We have picked him up in the past and took him home but he runs straight out the catflap and not to be seen again. Even if we get him home, how can we stop him going back to where he is now as it's only a 50 metres up the road.

Thanks.