Hi All,
Looking for advice on what a housecat, who has only been out out our back patio, would do when she decided to leave the house on Friday night thorough an open door. It rained here (close to Vevey) on Friday night, which makes me think she ducked in for cover somewhere. She's 8 yrs old, and a bit curious, but not very active. Have put flyers in the mailboxes around the neighborhood, left one at the local shelter, and have walked for hours on end yesterday to no avail. So, please tell me...

Do cats, on their first time out, know how to get home? I'm encouraged to hear stories about cats coming back after a couple days (and weeks) but tend to think those are experienced outsiders....

Thanks for any advice.

This happened to us quite recently, I won't say what happened but if it's the first time she could well be in hiding.

I just pray she comes back OK, we were not so lucky

I hope she comes home soon, we had this happen and there was a happy ending. Cats seem to have a good homing instinct.
We once had a cat which climbed into a neighbour's car inside their garage and was there for, believe it or not, four weeks! (Our neighbour was unwell and hadn't used the car for a long time.) Our cat survived by some miracle, probably because he was a fatty when he went missing, he was very skinny when he eventually came home. Ask your neighbours to check their garages, sheds, outbuildings etc.
Keep looking and asking around, let us know when she comes home.

I'm sorry to hear that your cat is missing Illinifan.

Have you seen this thread?

Tips on How To Report a Lost or Found Pet

It's important to register her as lost with the cantonal database - this is where many finders go first to look for an owner. Also, is your cat microchipped and registered with ANIS? If so, notify ANIS that she is missing.

And keep pounding the pavement.

A good place to put flyers is on Robidog boxes. Dog walkers will see them there, and most will gladly keep an eye out for your cat as they are out and about all day.

When a friend's indoor cat went missing, it turned out that she had crawled into a neighbor's house via an open window - and no one knew she was hiding in there. My friend only found her by walking up and down the streets, calling her name. You might try knocking on doors in the neighborhood, just in case.

Thumbs pressed that your cat makes it home safe and sound.

I woud not worry too much yet. Every time ours have gotten out for the first time, they have been gone for ages - so much to explore. Ours often also disappear for several days, they usually come back once you have given up and thought that this is it (bastards). The little one once followed when we went for a walk with dogs, all the way out of the village. Disappeared into the corn, would not come out and trotted home a few hours later.

As said, they have good homing instincts.

My cat went missing last year...I went all over the neighborhood calling her name, but nothing. Finally she came back 3 or 4 days later, and VERY hungry and thirsty, so I assume she must have been trapped somewhere.
I hope your cat is well and comes back to you soon!!

Thanks to all for your encouragement and positive thoughts. I did not know about the ANSI registration, so have gone ahead and done that. Will stop off at the police station tomorrow and give them a flyer and the microchip number.

Good thing that we still had our Thanksgiving wishbone around- used it last night. We need all the luck we can get now.

Don't give up hope, there's a good chance she will be back with you soon.
Wishing you lots of luck and love.

It's not been hanging around and crapping near my lawn in Kilchberg has it?

We don't take kindly to cats round there.

My boy Monty back home a few years back went missing for about 3 days. We were very upset and had picked out a lovely picture to put around the neighbourhood and was about to go door to door, when he just turned up yamming his head off. We think he might have got locked in a garage over the weekend.

He also when he was about 2 years old fell into the creek at the back of our property and I only found him as I heard him miaowing very loudly and we heard him from the creek. Luckily it hadn't been raining much so my hero (my Dad) got the ladder and flashlight and climbed down into the creek at 10pm at night and rescued him. Had to give the norty cat a bath, which he wasn't too fond of.

So cats know where home is and think positive thoughts and I am sure she will come home with a good tale to tell you.

I know you're trying to be funny but I don't think the OP will appreciate your humour at the moment.

Not very good taste in my opinion and really insensitive

Our cat went missing in October. She was microchipped so I have registered her as missing with ANSI and with some other lost and found sites for animals. We were looking for her every day and made a lot of posters asking for information about her.

After a week or so the next door neighbor "remembered" that our cat was hit by a car. The neighbor didn't inform us about it at the time of the accident but called the special service to come and take the cat. The cat's microchip was never checked, they just took the cat away. I called this service several times asking for confirmation but they coudn't even confirm that they have taken my cat, no record was made, nothing.

I hope that your cat comes home safe. Ask your neighbors if they have seen her. And call the service that take care of the dead animals on the streets, maybe they have a record about your cat... Sorry, I really hope that this is not the case.

Good luck, let us know if she comes back!

Fingers crossed for your cat to make a quick return. As others have said, they usually make their way back home and if they're not used to being outside, they typically don't roam too far.

In addition to the good points raised here, I would also leave some food outside -- you'll be able to see whether it's being eaten, and it means that hopefully you'll keep your cat closeby.

You should also think about how the cat will get back inside the house -- is it possible for you to leave a door or window open while you are home? Or leave your garage open, so at least it can have some shelter when it gets back?

It's funny -- our cats are forever trying to get out, and when they finally do, they're so terrified of the what's out there that they're desperate to get back in -- but too scared to make the dash for the door. Your cat may be just as scared, so try to do everything you can to keep it fed/watered/close-to-home and provide a safe way to get back in the house.

Nope, the picture was the only funny part, I wasnt trying to be.

You can tour the neighborhood calling her name and holding food, if possible at same time every day, but don't go too far. It is possible that your cat will follow you but stay hidden for a while, and if you go too far away, she will get lost ... And evenings are better for this (less frightening car noises in the streets, and this is the preferred roaming hour for cats, together with dawn.)

If you leave food outside, it is also likely to be eaten by other cats or animals, so not such a good indicator of presence.

If she is not neutered, it may simply end up with extra cats

Doorbell rang at 7:30 today with a neighbor saying that they found a cat in their garage. Caramel looks good, very hungry and thristy, but otherwise in great condition. She likely spent the four day hunkered down in their garage.

So those of you that said she wouldn't go far were absolutely right... it was the neighbor just around the back where she ended up. She didn't have the sense to try and find the house, rather just hid anywhere that she felt safe.

Yesterday, I did contact a pet clairvoyant (English speaking) who was going to try to reach out to Caramel. This was a big stretch for me, but she was actually recommended to me by my pet sitter (a vet student). The website is www.animalcontact.ch for anyone else who could be in this situation.

Thanks SO MUCH for all the words of support the EF pet cornerites all gave me during this very difficult time. I'm off to get reunited with my dear cat.

Great news! I'm so pleased this is a happy ending

Enjoy your reunion