My cat ran away...

[MrWrite]

Around 3 a.m., I opened the door, and my cat -- who has never been outside on his own -- bolted out the door of my townhouse, down the steps and off into the darkness. Doesn't help that he's a black cat. I looked around with a flashlight, calling his name, until i fell asleep outside in a chair around 5. Got up again at 6:45 and went on another hunt through the (rainy) daylight. Nothing.

We've left his food and favorite toy outside, as well as my shoes (he loves to smell shoes) but there's no sign of him. I should mention that he has been acting weird the last week, sniffing around the door, being generally hyper around the house in short bursts --- and yes, he's neutered, so i don't think he's out after some ass, but you never know.

So my question to the cat-loving SportsJournalists.com contingent -- has anyone ever had a cat suddenly bolt like this? Is it possible that despite being neutered he smells a cat in heat or something? Anyone have any advice or uplifting stories about the cat who despite being naive in the ways of the world and wandering a complex in which every townhouse looks identical, somehow came home?

We're heartbroken, but holding out hope. It gets harder every minute.

Thanks for indulging my lengthy post....

 

[forever_town]

As a long time cat lover, I wish I had answers, but you have my best wishes. No matter how little comfort that provides.

 

[Angola!]

Thanks for indulging my lengthy post....

The Big Ragu scoffs at this line.

 

[MrWrite]

thanks, f_t.

I guess all I can do now is wait with the door open and call his name occasionally (which, incidentally, is Charles Barkley, leading to me getting strange looks as i roam the neighborhood calling it).

(and no that's not him under my screen name, just a random lolcat)

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

thanks, f_t.

I guess all I can do now is wait with the door open and call his name occasionally (which, incidentally, is Charles Barkley, leading to me getting strange looks as i roam the neighborhood calling it).

(and no that's not him under my screen name, just a random lolcat)

I'm sorry, but I had to laugh at that. That's quality stuff.

 

[Ace]

Sorry about your cat, Mr. Write.

Maybe he was picked up by one of Steve Wynn's goons looking for the other Charles Barkley who owes them 400 large.

I bet he's back soon.

 

[BYH]

Growing up, our family's cat was declawed almost as soon as we got her, but she always got out and sometimes disappeared for a day or two. She lived to be 15.

Cats are smarter than we give them credit for. All the houses may look alike, but he'll recognize the smell of yours. My fingers are crossed for you. I'm thankful every day that our younger cat could care less about the outside world while our older cat is a scaredy cat who used to bolt out of our old apartment and promptly cower on the ground, crying, until one of us picked him up.

 

[Ace]

... our older cat is a scaredy cat who used to bolt out of our old apartment and promptly cower on the ground, crying, until one of us picked him up.

That describes a couple of our posters here, too.

 

[StormSurge]

I'm sorry to hear that MrWrite. Hopefully he returns soon, safe & sound.

 

[BYH]

... our older cat is a scaredy cat who used to bolt out of our old apartment and promptly cower on the ground, crying, until one of us picked him up.

That describes a couple of our posters here, too.

You should see me when I try to talk hoops on my alma mater's message board.

I cower and whimper until my wife steers me back here.

 

[imjustagirl]

Mr. Write, first of all, I'm terribly sorry to hear this. I know how panicked and upset you must feel. My mother has called me in tears to the point I can't understand her the two times her baby has gotten out.

He's always come home, or has at least stayed in the neighborhood. My dad actually drove around the next day the first time and he was lying on the porch of a house on the road behind theirs. My dad just pulled in the driveway, got out, scooped him up and took him home.

The fact it's raining, or was, will mean he likely won't just be hanging out on anyone's porch. But I'd be willing to bet he hasn't gone far. Just keep your eyes out, keep looking, and give him hugs when he gets home from his adventure.

And keep an eye out every time you open your door.

 

[bigpern23]

I had a outdoors cat growing up that would sometimes take off for a day or two at a time, but she always came back. Then one day she was gone for good. We searched and put up fliers and all that, to no avail.

About a year later, we were pulling into my grandmother's driveway and saw a cat. Looked an awful lot like the one we lost. After a few calls, she came over and, indeed, it was our cat, Midnight.

My grandmother lived about 10 or 15 miles from my parents' house. Our cat had never been there before in her life. It's the damndest thing that we found her there. Unbelievable, really.

Hopefully you'll get a happy ending, too. And if not, a happy ending at the local massage parlor might cheer you up.

 

[Write-brained]

Around 3 a.m., I opened the door, and my cat -- who has never been outside on his own -- bolted out the door of my townhouse, down the steps and off into the darkness. Doesn't help that he's a black cat. I looked around with a flashlight, calling his name, until i fell asleep outside in a chair around 5. Got up again at 6:45 and went on another hunt through the (rainy) daylight. Nothing.

We've left his food and favorite toy outside, as well as my shoes (he loves to smell shoes) but there's no sign of him. I should mention that he has been acting weird the last week, sniffing around the door, being generally hyper around the house in short bursts --- and yes, he's neutered, so i don't think he's out after some ass, but you never know.

So my question to the cat-loving SportsJournalists.com contingent -- has anyone ever had a cat suddenly bolt like this? Is it possible that despite being neutered he smells a cat in heat or something? Anyone have any advice or uplifting stories about the cat who despite being naive in the ways of the world and wandering a complex in which every townhouse looks identical, somehow came home?

We're heartbroken, but holding out hope. It gets harder every minute.

Thanks for indulging my lengthy post....

I've had indoor and outdoor cats my entire life, and I've had this happen a couple of times.

Some tips: if it's the cat's first time out, it probably didn't get far. It's probably hunched up beneath a bush waiting on you to come get it.

At first, restrict your search to your building and the ones next to it. Pay careful attention to the bushline around the townhouses. And don't be surprised if it doesn't come when you call. They rarely do, just keep an eye out between the bushes.

And when you do grab it expect it to claw your chest up while it tries to run away.

 

[imjustagirl]

Yeah, don't pull it out from underneath a parked car by its left rear leg. That will NOT turn out well.

My finger has six permanent scars, and my upper lip is permanently scarred.

 

[BYH]

Yeah, don't pull it out from underneath a parked car by its left rear leg. That will NOT turn out well.

My finger has six permanent scars, and my upper lip is permanently scarred.

Was that before or after your cat pissed on the laptop as you were waiting in the hospital?

*running like hell*

 

[imjustagirl]

I NEVER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL!

 

[BYH]

Oh.

I will now serve a three-game shame suspension.

 

[imjustagirl]

Go sit in the bullpen and feel it.

 

[Ace]

After having learned her lesson, IJAG uses protection these days when she needs to fetch her cat.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Mr Write, best of luck in finding the kitty. Do heed Write-brained's advice; if it's wet and rainy, odds are he's hunkered down--between bushes, under stairs or crawl spaces, etc.

Cats are pretty damn resilient characters with good survival instincts, if that offers any solace.