To say I am heartbroken would be putting it mildly.My husband and I have had my cat Rusty for 13 years.On 9/6/09 we were not at home ,when we returned we were informed that Rusty had escaped through a partially open doorr ran off the porch and disappeared He did return the next day to the same place he left from, but when my niece opened the door, he ran once again and we could not catch him The following day I heard him meow, but after a through search of my property we still could not find him. 3 ys later again heard him meowing , but once again he was nowhere to be found.it has now been oer 2 weeks since I've seen him and 12 days since I heard him meowing. We have done everything the experts suggest doing to find a missing cat, but to no avail. I do have his pet carrier outside and have food and water for him (the food is always eaten) we know it has been eaten by a cat , because we left some baking soda in front of his carrier and the tracksl left from in and out of the carrier are cat tracks.I can only hope and pray that they are Rusty's but I just don't know if it is Rusty, why is he leaving time and time again? I wiill add that we've been living here for 9 months and he has never been let out of my home so he would be unfamiliar with the outdoor area, except for brief periods on the porch where I would immediately take him back inside. I'm truly hoping and praying that anyone reading my post, can help me keep my hope alive by reassuring me that he may return. My pain is too great to think otherwise.

Maricle, I'm sorry Rusty got loose. I had a cat named Rusty once too.

How far did you move? Could he return to the old neighborhood? Stranger things have happened with cats.

Have you checked with the neighbors? Was he tagged?

Make sure you let the local animal control officer know immediately, in case someone turns him in.

Cats are pretty resourceful. Keep feeding and sooner or later he'll turn up.

I wish you the best, keep us posted please. Dan

This is scary. My cats are indoor only, and one of them escaped one night from the enclosed back porch, cause I had one of the windows out working on it and forgot about it. So he jumped through that window. I'd also recently moved and he didn't know the area. Scared me to death. (Fortunately he just came back on his own and I found him in the driveway the next day.)

If that's him that's been coming and going, he probably does know the area by now. Doesn't take them long.

He might be off wandering cause he's never had the opportunity to do so. Once he had a taste of it, he wanted more. And if he's got food outside he may find no need to be let back inside. They do make traps - I've never used one, but I know people have used them to catch feral cats that they can't catch.

Put an ad in the paper, check with all the local shelters -- both county run and private ones, animal control, etc. Basically every place that exists out there. Does he have a chip? I'd think you would've thought of that if he had one, but maybe not if you're panicked, or it's been years. And checking the old neighborhood is a good thought.

My worst nightmare.
Call every single vet clinic in the area, within half an hour.
Call all animal shelters, all pet stores.
Make a tonne of posters and post them at said locations, as well as all over the neighborhood. Put it on the radio, in the paper, anything.

Check with your local shelter or pet store to see if they have a cat trap to lend you or to rent to you -- a Havahart trap is what is usually used. Set it with the bait being a small amount of smelly fishy food, like mackerel or tuna. Even consider covering it with a tarp so it doesn't look so scary, like a cage. Put it where you usually put Rusty's food bowl outdoors. Hopefully, you will catch Rusty, not a 'coon or a 'possum.

large animal trap by havahart

UPDATE; As I mentioned in my previous post I have been leaving food and water for my cat and placing it his cat carrier. The food is always eaten. Last night was no exception,but, this time I heard my cat meowing (it was definitely my cat) not once but a few times the meows were coming from the same place Rusty escaped from.I began softly calling his name and shaking his food bowl but he would not approach the house.Finally, after 3 or 4 hours of going outside and calling his name I came in to go to bed. The next morning, once again all the food was gone and his tiny footprints were all around the carrier.(I mentioned in my previous post about a cat experts tip of surrounding the cat carrier or box with baby power or baking soda,so you can see the imprint of whatever is going into the enclousure) what I'd like to ask is, this is the first time in weeks that my cat is meowing very close to home, could this mean he wants to come inside but is too afraid? I know it's very late at night or early morning when the food is eaten and really quiet. Why is he leaving each time but showing himself by meowing? I appreciate any imput tyou may offer.God, he's so close yet so far , it's so heart wrenching.

I don't have an answer for you, but I wanted to say I'm happy to find out he's still around and meowing at you.

I wonder if he's just confused.

The havahart trap might be your best chance of finding out for certain if he is still around and getting him back.

One last thought, does the yard have any holes, pipes, abandoned wells, etc. that he could be trapped in that be too small to notice until you are seaching for signs of them? Have you tried tracking the meowing?

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Originally Posted by Cat1864

The havahart trap might be your best chance of finding out for certain if he is still around and getting him back.

One last thought, does the yard have any holes, pipes, abandoned wells, etc. that he could be trapped in that be too small to notice until you are seaching for signs of them? Have you tried tracking the meowing?

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Thank you for replying: In answer to your questiion, there are many places Rusty may be hiding,in or around my yard, sheds garages bushes and under my back porch (we search these places daily)no there are no abandoned wells or holes and I would imagine that if he were trapped the meows would be much less silent then they are, I hear him meowing quite loud as if he were a few feet away from me but I just don't see him.I can track the meows coming from the same place he escaped from, but when I walk that way, I see noithing. Today I did purchase a havahart trap, we will place it out tonight. I can only hope and pray we catch him.

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Originally Posted by morgaine300

I don't have an answer for you, but I wanted to say I'm happy to find out he's still around and meowing at you.

I wonder if he's just confused.

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Thank you for replying and for your kind words, yes, I am so happy he's around the area , but, at the same time, very confused and sad that he is leaving after eating the food.What I can come up with is the fact that there are many dogs in the area (they are owned and locked in ) that bark like crazy during the night and this may be why he's eating and running back to whatever hiding place he's found. I just don't know, but I will NEVER stop looking for him and praying for his return, he is my baby and very much loved.

Cat1864 has a great idea... use a hava-hart trap. You can purchase them rather inexpensively at hardware or home/farm supply stores. They are harmless to the animal being trapped. For some reason, some kitties are reluctant to return to their homes when they've been out. I hope you get a trap and get that darn kitty back indoors soon! Keep us posted... good luck.

Ren, it was Wondergirl's idea. I just agreed. Give her the greenie.

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Originally Posted by Ren6

Cat1864 has a great idea...use a hava-hart trap. You can purchase them rather inexpensively at hardware or home/farm supply stores.

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Animal shelters and vets sometimes will rent them out. PetSmart sells them.

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Originally Posted by Ren6

Cat1864 has a great idea...use a hava-hart trap. You can purchase them rather inexpensively at hardware or home/farm supply stores. They are harmless to the animal being trapped. For some reason, some kitties are reluctant to return to their homes when they've been out. I hope you get a trap and get that darn kitty back indoors soon! Keep us posted...good luck.

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We just purchased a havahart and will set it up tonight. I totally agree with you regarding his reluctance to return home I just wish I knew why.He's been an indoor cat for as long as we've had him (he only managed to escape 3 times in the 12 years we've had him and for only 3 or 4 days but this was 7 or 8 years ago.) Anyway thank you all so much for your responses they are much appreciated.I will keep you all posted.Marie

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Originally Posted by maricle610

We just purchased a havahart and will set it up tonight. I totally agree with you regarding his reluctance to return home i just wish i knew why.He's been an indoor cat for as long as we've had him (he only managed to escape 3 times in the 12 years we've had him and for only 3 or 4 days but this was 7 or 8 years ago.) Anyway thank you all so much for your responses they are much appreciated.I will keep you all posted.Marie

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I know, it sounds so strange that some seem scared to come back home, but I've seen it posted on another pet forum by cat owners many times. Hopefully, you'll get him back tonight! :)