How long does a cat have to be missing before you give up hope?
We went abroad for a week and left the feeding of two cats (we had a third put to sleep earlier this year) to an old neighbour and my daughter who works from ours part time.
DD thought it strange she didn’t return for food on Monday but that’s happened before and she’s usually back the following day. But she wasn’t back Tuesday either. We returned Wednesday and I felt sure she’d come back when she heard my voice. But she didn’t.
Last confirmed sighting of her was last Saturday afternoon.
We have done everything we can do. Asked neighbours to check, done leaflet drops, put posters up, put familiar smells on the doorstep (cat basket and vacuum cleaner contents) called at different times of day/night.
We don’t have many neighbours, and live on a country road with two aspects of the house overlooking fields, so there’s actually very few places she could be.
I think I can accept she may have been hit and is deceased as she does tend to think she owns the road. But what I can’t bear is to think of her shut away suffering somewhere through lack of food/drink and medication for kidney issues.
Lots of people have said to not give up hope as so many cats reappear as if nothings happened, but with a lack of places for her to be, I can’t remain optimistic.
Do cats really ‘get the hump’ when left alone?! Her and her step brother aren’t the best of friends so maybe she got fed up of him? Especially with us being away. But where would she go for so long???!!!
