[Travelinglady]

Our black cat went missing a number of months back. We put an ad on our neighborhood web page. A nice lady about two streets over contacted us and said she thought he was appearing in her back yard. She was leaving food for him. We went over there, but couldn't catch him. She said she would be glad to tend to him

Now he appeared in our house via the kitty door three days ago and goes right to the food bowl. Poor thing, he's a skinny as a rail. Our other cat is not happy to see him back. But he's trying to sneak in and out.

Who would have thought?

[Nammu]

Oh what a tail he could weave if he could talk!

[MuseumGhost]

I'm so glad he's back. Cats can be so unpredictable and fickle.

[lizardlady]

Trav, good news that he is back.

How about blocking the kitty door so he can't go back out again?

I'm glad he's back

[SlumberKitty]

Good news!!!

[Aurelius710]

What they all said!

[Travelinglady]

I don't know what to do. He escaped the first time because he didn't want to stay inside all the time. I just hope he'll be able to get to some food, avoiding our other cat.

[Nammu]

I know what you mean, it’s hard to keep a cat penned up. I’m so grateful my guy has zero interest in going outside.

[Travelinglady]

Since our other cat (Caroline) tries to attack Sammy when he's in the house, I put Sammy's bowl with food in it on the front porch. Now Caroline lies in wait there....

Caroline doesn't like the food I'm feeding Sammy, so when the bowl was empty this morning, I hope that means Sammy ate it. Caroline can't wait on the porch all the time!

Gee, what challenges cats can create......I hope Sammy sneaks into the house where it's cooler some time. The last time I saw him he was getting under the sofa in the living room....

[possum220]

Naughty Caroline. Caroline needs to get used to seeing Sammy back. I hope that Sammy hangs around home to build up his reserves and get some courage back.

[divine1966]

Sounds like Sammy is being bullied by the other cat and it’s no surprise he runs away. He is under stress. Is there a chance one of the cats could be rehomed so both cats are comfortable in their homes? I’d hate to think that poor cat can’t even eat his food in peace.

Food on a porch could be eaten by raccoons for all you know.

[lizardlady]

Trav, when we were having daily cat wars after Sean moved in I got some calming collars from Amazon. They have lavender, chamomile and a calming pheromone. They helped. Maybe they would help your two?

[downandlonely]

Is Sammy neutered? My boy cat is and is afraid to go outside. If they still have their balls, I think it's hard to keep male cats inside. Biological drive to roam and procreate.

[pachyderm]

When my cats disappeared and then came back, they never divulged what they had been doing...

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by pachyderm

When my cats disappeared and then came back, they never divulged what they had been doing...

Hahahah if they could tell…

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by downandlonely

Is Sammy neutered? My boy cat is and is afraid to go outside. If they still have their balls, I think it's hard to keep male cats inside. Biological drive to roam and procreate.

My daughter’s cat has very limited interest in sticking his nose out. He likes to sit on the window seal smelling whatever is going outside but he has no desire to be outside. I had an indoor cat and she has no interest to see what’s out there.

Having said that, if you leave a door open, there is no saying what’s going to happen. Even the most skittish cat could run out. If the kitty door is open, the car runs out. I’d eliminate the door if I don’t want my cat run out. But this cat possibly runs out because he is under stress. I’d look into ways to ensure both cars aren’t under duress. Maybe it would solve the the issue

[divine1966]

I have a funny story for you all.

My daughter and son in law had major renovations in the house. They told construction workers to watch the door. Their cat doesn’t go outside but if you leave the door open he might get curious.

She comes home and there’s random cat in the house. She asked workers and turns out they kept the door open for too long and they saw a cat by the door, assumed it was my daughters car ran out, they freaked out, grabbed him and brought him inside. Poor random cat wonders around the house confused and my daughter’s cat is hiding under the sofa. Hahah

luckily she found the owner same day, someone down the street. Cats did look similar, both white. It’s a small neighborhood inside the big town so everyone knows everyone. A lot of their neighbors have indoor/outdoor cats so he was just on his daily exploration and got snatched by construction workers. Too funny

[Travelinglady]

liz, I haven't seen any raccoons around here or any other critters that would likely eat cat food. I don't want to re-home either cat. I'm attached to both. I think Sammy could sneak in. But time will tell. I just want to fatten him up right now!

I've heard other critters could sneak in pet doors. But so far nothing we don't own has done that--unless they come in, party, and then leave while we are away!

[MuseumGhost]

I've had cats for a long time. Every single one of them has been a surprise package of personality quirks and qualities.

We do subscribe to the idea that keeping cats indoors is an infinitely safer thing for them. They're also less likely to get ill, or pick up fleas/ ticks/ mites. Any cats that I've ever been talked into letting go outside have always somehow found trouble of one kind or another. But I understand that with some cats, it's actually an impossible expectation for them to stay cooped-up.

So we've found a pretty good compromise. Girl kitty is quite content to stay inside. But boy kitty is a little escape artist. So we've trained him to wear a harness and a leash, and he can then go outside with husband to the garage, and hang out in safety and sunshine. He's out and able to wander a bit, which helps calm his curiosity. We never leave him alone out there; we're scrupulous about that. Even if he only gets to spend a bit of time in the sunshine (half an hour or so, but most days it's longer), he seems content with that. If husband is away and can't get him out, I try to do it.

On days that are too rainy or cold, husband makes some time in the day to bring him up to our bedroom and cuddle with him there. Husband reads while boy kitty sleeps close by. It calms the cat and makes him feel loved. Which is really a bit of a miracle, as this cat is the most restless animal I've ever personally owned. I think it's the fact that he's made to feel valued, and safe.

He's still got a bit of the devil in him, though. We'll probably always have to keep one eye on him, and watch him by outside doors, etc.

Best of luck with your situation. I like the calming suggestion. It can work when territorial things become a problem between cats. Female cats can be surprisingly weird about their turf!

[downandlonely]

I tried the leash and harness on my cat. One time I had to drag him. I'm used to dogs, so I thought he would walk behind me. Turns out he tried not to follow me and ended up skinning all 4 paws on concrete! Poor baby.

Then someone suggested I let him lead, so I tried that. I put him in the grass. He plopped down and refused to move for a few minutes. Then went to try to get back inside. I guess because he's always been an indoor cat, he doesn't like the outdoors.

[MuseumGhost]

Yes, the harness/leash arrangement needs to be done gently, gently. They might need lots of time and patience shown before they totally adapt to it. Cats are generally unhappy when they are inhibited by anything. They also feel very vulnerable when that harness is on---they're thinking "escape plans", pretty much always. So they don't want to be slowed down by anything. But even our little wildcat got used to it.

We don't try to take him for walks on it; that would never happen. But it's there to keep him from giving too much power to his uncontrollable urges. And he's always got the collar on when he's outside as well, in case he escapes; and that's to let people know he's a beloved pet.

The garage visits and the hanging out in the bedroom have become much-appreciated privileges for boy kitty, and he knows he has to be a good boy for them to happen. It's also created quite a strong bond between husband and boy kitty.

[Travelinglady]

Sammy is neutered. Actually we do have a security system, so I know from the cameras that Sammy is coming up to the porch. Yesterday the front doorbell chimed to let us know that something was happening on the front porch. When I looked out the window, Sammy was scarfing down his food. He's really been more of an outside cat once he discovered there was an interesting outside. He was found behind a Food Lion (grocery store) when he was a kitten and adopted by a family--and we later got him when the family passed him on to one of our sons.

Caroline is now on the back porch, so Sammy could take advantage of that.....

Thanks for all your thoughts. Sammy is an old cat and used to his ways, I think. We have have two covered porches, a carport, and even a gazebo, where he could stay out of the bad weather.

[MuseumGhost]

It does sound like you care very much for your kitties, both of them.

We had to sign off on actual legal adoption documents (things are different here in Canada) that in adopting our two cats, who were a bonded pair, that they would always remain indoor cats. I think the Humane Societies and cat shelters have the stats on cats going outside, and husband worked for the local SPCA for a number of years. So we can't rationalize going back on our word, nor forget what we know, and what I've personally experienced.

I've tragically lost three cats (under very different and uncontrollable circumstances, except for one, for which I can never forgive myself) by letting them go outside. I will probably never get over them, although these events happened years ago. So, I've made a commitment ever since to always keep any cats I own safe and inside.

Please forgive my zealous advice. Like I said, things have happened to me.

At least Sammy can find some peace of mind if he can head out away from the girl kitty, and be on his own for a bit. And you do sound like a caring and watchful cat parent.

I am glad Sammy came back.

[Travelinglady]

Thanks. Yes, I think a lot of my kitties--and my dog. I looked out on the front porch earlier tonight and a cat I'd never seen before was digging into Sammy's food. I clapped my hands and it ran off.

Oh, well. I'm sure my cats have eaten other cats' food, since they roam around the neighborhood.....