Why do cats go missing?

A 6 year old white and black neutered female cat has been missing fron Clowne since Saturday 30th July, she is microchipped and her owners are anxious for her return or for news of her.  Please get in touch with us in the first instance if you see her or hear anything of her.  We’ll pass the information on right away.

We’ve had reports of many cats going missing recently.  Why is this, why do cats leave home and hearth and suddenly disappear?  They surely wouldn’t get lost without good reason, cats, more so than other animals, are home lovers, a short wander around is liked but they are not roamers as dogs often are.

Nearly all pet cats are neutered and spayed these days and this helps to keep them home, the urge to run off to find a mate isn’t there.  Cats can’t just vanish.  A friendly cat might, if coaxed,  follow someone else home, although this would be rare.  Cats can find their way back to their own place if still in the neighbourhood.  It’s been known for well-meaning people to pick a cat up believing him to be a stray and then take it to their address.  It might then be either kept or handed in to a shelter in a different area.

If your cat is lost it’s best to do a flyer and get it to every vet and shelter/animal rescue within 50 miles at least.  Phone calls and emails are good to spread the word but most centres have a Lost Pets book or notice board and this is a more permanent record.  It’s amazing how far away cats are taken – one turned up in Paris recently, after being missing for many years.  When the chip was checked he was was reunited with his owners and returned to his U.K. home.

It’s always best to know what has happened, no matter how unhappy, at least you will have closure.  With this in mind you can check with the local council cleansing department who pick up animals that have been knocked down.  Hopefully they will register details and the chip number.  It’s not conclusive as sometimes deceased cats are put in a hedge or a field, but it’s part of the process of finding out what has happened.

The one we don’t want to think about is capture by a fox.  No matter how many people think of them as cute they are wild animals and predators and have to survive.  Modern farming practices and urban sprawl means there is less and less for them to catch and eat nowadays and a cat sometimes becomes an option, especially when the vixen has cubs.  Sadly, you will never know the end if this has happened.

Any news on Sully, or any of the other cats on our Lost Pets Register (check out the website pages) please let us know as soon as possible.