sunshinegirl Posted January 17, 2008 Posted January 17, 2008 My friend has been cat-sitting for me this week while I'm out of town. She called me tonight to say that my cat ran outside last night and hasn't come home yet. I am stressed out by this in part because she waited 24 hours before telling me, and had done next-to-nothing to actively look for him when she called. She's not an animal person and lacks some common sense at times... so in addition to being worried about my cat, I'm also pissed at her for being so irresponsible and lacksadaisical about looking for him! She hadn't even checked the basement when she called me. I am out of town and not able to get home for another week and a half, so I am not even sure how to help from afar. Does anyone have suggestions of things I can do from here to help track him down? I have posted an ad on craigslist lost & found, and tomorrow I plan to call local animal shelters. I had the friend put out food and water along with a blanket he likes to sleep on.
Trialbyfire Posted January 17, 2008 Posted January 17, 2008 Do you have any other friends or family, who your cat trusts, that could go to your place and start calling and looking for your cat?
Author sunshinegirl Posted January 17, 2008 Author Posted January 17, 2008 Yes, I do have fam & friends. Problem is that they're not around Nate a whole lot so I'm not sure how much he 'trusts' them. Frankly, he's around the friend who's watching him more than anybody else. He's a very friendly cat; it would be very unusual for him to be too shy or afraid to come when called. But I will see if my sister and another friend can go by the house tomorrow if he doesn't turn up; they are animal people so they 'get' it better than my catsitter friend does...and maybe Nate would respond better to them. I don't know. Rationally I know I should not blame this on the friend, but I am emotional and upset and convinced that this wouldn't have happened if I had been home (Nate would have come if I had called him, I would have been searching for him much sooner, etc.).
Trialbyfire Posted January 17, 2008 Posted January 17, 2008 Make up some flyers that someone could print, so your sis and friend can post them up on the telephone posts, etc, when they go looking for him. If he's a friendly cat, he may have holed up with a neighbor. I do sympathize. Pets are family too.
Author sunshinegirl Posted January 18, 2008 Author Posted January 18, 2008 It's been two days now and my cat isn't back. What is worst about the situation is that I am 2000 miles away from home and can't look for him myself... and as much as my friends and family might like my cat, they just don't care as much as I do. So I get an hour of searching from one friend, an hour from another... if I were home I would be pounding the pavement and knocking on doors all day and night long. The second worst thing about is is the friend who was catsitting at the time didn't express so much as an "I'm sorry" or "I'm worried too" until late tonight. If I were in her shoes, I would have been consumed by guilt that I had lost my friend's cat, and I would have been pounding the pavement and knocking on doors... But this friend is leaving in the morning for an international trip that has stressed her out, and pretty much after she told me he was missing last night, she seemed to assume she had done her duty and handed the problem back to me. Back to me when I am thousands of miles away and have limited ability to do anything. I want my cat back.
BeautifulMystique Posted January 18, 2008 Posted January 18, 2008 Sunshingirl, I am so sorry!!! I know exactly how you feel - trust me! I lost 2 of my cats 2 years ago and I am still grieving over my loss. I have no idea where they went and we searched everywhere. Put up posters, ads and everything we could think of and yet, nothing from anyone! I will keep you in my thoughts and pray that your kitty is safe and sound somewhere. Hopefully, Nate will be back in your arms!
Author sunshinegirl Posted January 19, 2008 Author Posted January 19, 2008 Thank you BeautifulMystique, TBF and EYECANDY. I have great news - my cat came home today! A passerby saw him sitting on our front stoop and a friend of mine had posted flyers about him, so the passerby called me. In short, a happy ending. I am still miffed at how my housemate handled the situation, but I will probably have mellowed by the time I see her next so I will probably just let the whole thing drop. (Except I will never have her catsit again!)
BeautifulMystique Posted January 19, 2008 Posted January 19, 2008 Thank you BeautifulMystique, TBF and EYECANDY. I have great news - my cat came home today! A passerby saw him sitting on our front stoop and a friend of mine had posted flyers about him, so the passerby called me. In short, a happy ending. I am still miffed at how my housemate handled the situation, but I will probably have mellowed by the time I see her next so I will probably just let the whole thing drop. (Except I will never have her catsit again!) Sunshinegirl!! I am so thrilled for you that Nate has come home! :bunny: Yep, no more asking your housemate to catsit for Nate!
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