Our beloved cat is missing, Any advice? Options

[a mum]

Sorry to post this in the music forum but I wondered if any of you forumites might have some advice for us.

Our 3 year old tabby is now missing for 2 days. He's white with black/grey markings. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

He has never been away for so long from home. We last saw him at 5 pm on Monday evening when he went out after having his food. Usually he comes back late at night or first thing next morning but he didn't. I went to work thinking that he's probably just around but then when he hadn't been back all day, we started to get a little worried. We have combed the entire neighbourhood, calling out for him and looked in the bushes. We have informed the vets, put up posters and asked around with the neighbours. I have also posted his details on a couple of missing animal websites. I have also called the local council in case he has been run over and also the RSPCA. He's often seen out with another cat from the neighbourhood, but I have gone and checked and this cat is still at home and he has been hanging around our house.

We have just been out again looking for him. Usually he just comes when we call out for him but he's nowhere to be seen. Not sure what has happened to him, and this is so worrying.

We're all just devastated. It's surprising how hard this has hit us. There is this very intense feeling of loss and helplessness. Our daughter is extremely attached to him and she boards during the week, so we haven't even told her yet as we are worried how she would react and cope without us at school.

Any advice/ suggestions? Is there still any hope for us considering it has been more than 48 hours now? This is just not his usual pattern.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[pianophrase]

So very sorry to hear your very sad news (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

When we took our 6month 1 week kittens to the vet to be spayed one of them was 5 weeks pregnant (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) We let her have the kittens and she had 5 of them. Because we had four cats already, we had to find homes for them and I thought I had found good homes, but one of them turned out to be not such a good home (well intentioned but he wasn't cared for very well) anyway the cat started having behavioural problems and eventually the lady asked if I would have him back. I couldn't refuse because I had allowed them to come into the world and I felt responsible, plus he was a lovely cat.

The first thing I did was have him neutered (I think this was a likely cause of some of his problems) and chipped and it took a little while with lots of TLC and attention and a short spell on medication but he finally settled down with our cats and became the most loving, soppy kindest cat - the whole family adored him.

Sadly he went missing about six weeks ago and two days later the local vet rang, they had traced us through the chip he had and unfortunately he had been hit by a car and had not survived (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

After his bad start and everything we had been through I could not believe this had happened and I still feel so bad that we had taken him back, onlly for this to happen - would he still be alive if we had not taken him back?

So very sorry to hear what has happened to Harry, thinking of you and sending you hugs xx

[Hardying]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

So very sorry to hear your very sad news (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

When we took our 6month 1 week kittens to the vet to be spayed one of them was 5 weeks pregnant (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) We let her have the kittens and she had 5 of them. Because we had four cats already, we had to find homes for them and I thought I had found good homes, but one of them turned out to be not such a good home (well intentioned but he wasn't cared for very well) anyway the cat started having behavioural problems and eventually the lady asked if I would have him back. I couldn't refuse because I had allowed them to come into the world and I felt responsible, plus he was a lovely cat.

The first thing I did was have him neutered (I think this was a likely cause of some of his problems) and chipped and it took a little while with lots of TLC and attention and a short spell on medication but he finally settled down with our cats and became the most loving, soppy kindest cat - the whole family adored him.

Sadly he went missing about six weeks ago and two days later the local vet rang, they had traced us through the chip he had and unfortunately he had been hit by a car and had not survived (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

After his bad start and everything we had been through I could not believe this had happened and I still feel so bad that we had taken him back, onlly for this to happen - would he still be alive if we had not taken him back?

So very sorry to hear what has happened to Harry, thinking of you and sending you hugs xx

We've talked about another cat but not sure if we have the heart to love another one in the same way again and be scared of losing him/her. But, perhaps, one day.

Thank you all for understanding. Not many people do.


Very Sorry to read this. Losing a pet is devastating, but Harry was much loved & was fortunate to spend his life with you. Do take care & one day you will be able to enjoy the memories without so much pain XX

[NigelC]

We've talked about another cat but not sure if we have the heart to love another one in the same way again and be scared of losing him/her. But, perhaps, one day.

Thank you all for understanding. Not many people do.

Very sorry to read this. Losing a pet is devastating, but Harry was much loved & was fortunate to spend his life with you. Do take care & one day you will be able to enjoy the memories without so much pain XX

This post really hit home to me.

This is exactly how I felt when we lost our darling Fluff back in 2008. After she died I thought I would never have enough room in my heart to love another dog.

Then just over a year after Fluff died, my wife really took to a little dog who had just come into the animal shelter where we were volunteering. We then adopted two dogs Oliver and Enya, who we simply adore. They haven't replaced Fluff (they never could) but the penny has dropped that it's not about us - rather it's all about giving two elderly dogs a good home.

When we took them, Enya was 10 and Ollie 8. Ollie needed major surgery for a constantly dislocating kneecap and a lengthy course of Hydrotherapy followed. He is now fantastic and runs quicker then any dog I have ever seen (OK maybe proud dad is a bit biased!!). Enya, a nervous little collie/corgie cross has settled really well and just soaks up the love.

We light a candle to Angel Fluff most every night and she is always in our hearts.

As they say, time is a healer and hopefully one day another kittie looking for a good home will find you.

All the best,

Kind Regards

[a mum]

We've talked about another cat but not sure if we have the heart to love another one in the same way again and be scared of losing him/her. But, perhaps, one day.

Thank you all for understanding. Not many people do.

Very sorry to read this. Losing a pet is devastating, but Harry was much loved & was fortunate to spend his life with you. Do take care & one day you will be able to enjoy the memories without so much pain XX

This post really hit home to me.

This is exactly how I felt when we lost our darling Fluff back in 2008. After she died I thought I would never have enough room in my heart to love another dog.

Then just over a year after Fluff died, my wife really took to a little dog who had just come into the animal shelter where we were volunteering. We then adopted two dogs Oliver and Enya, who we simply adore. They haven't replaced Fluff (they never could) but the penny has dropped that it's not about us - rather it's all about giving two elderly dogs a good home.

When we took them, Enya was 10 and Ollie 8. Ollie needed major surgery for a constantly dislocating kneecap and a lengthy course of Hydrotherapy followed. He is now fantastic and runs quicker then any dog I have ever seen (OK maybe proud dad is a bit biased!!). Enya, a nervous little collie/corgie cross has settled really well and just soaks up the love.

We light a candle to Angel Fluff most every night and she is always in our hearts.

As they say, time is a healer and hopefully one day another kittie looking for a good home will find you.

All the best,

Kind Regards

Thank you very much for your very kind words. I can understand what you mean. We have started looking at rescue centres for another dog or cat, to give an animal a loving home, especially as we realised that our dog has begun to miss Harry. It's so sad that he can't voice it or understand what he's missing but just feels the absence of a little furry companion, and looks around for him all the time.

Time is certainly a healer. I especially hope this for our daughter who is distraught and finds it surprising that most of her peers cannot understand why she is sad about losing a 'cat', and has been making silly jokes to her about it. I don't understand it at all. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Hardying]

We've talked about another cat but not sure if we have the heart to love another one in the same way again and be scared of losing him/her. But, perhaps, one day.

Thank you all for understanding. Not many people do.

Very sorry to read this. Losing a pet is devastating, but Harry was much loved & was fortunate to spend his life with you. Do take care & one day you will be able to enjoy the memories without so much pain XX

This post really hit home to me.

This is exactly how I felt when we lost our darling Fluff back in 2008. After she died I thought I would never have enough room in my heart to love another dog.

Then just over a year after Fluff died, my wife really took to a little dog who had just come into the animal shelter where we were volunteering. We then adopted two dogs Oliver and Enya, who we simply adore. They haven't replaced Fluff (they never could) but the penny has dropped that it's not about us - rather it's all about giving two elderly dogs a good home.

When we took them, Enya was 10 and Ollie 8. Ollie needed major surgery for a constantly dislocating kneecap and a lengthy course of Hydrotherapy followed. He is now fantastic and runs quicker then any dog I have ever seen (OK maybe proud dad is a bit biased!!). Enya, a nervous little collie/corgie cross has settled really well and just soaks up the love.

We light a candle to Angel Fluff most every night and she is always in our hearts.

As they say, time is a healer and hopefully one day another kittie looking for a good home will find you.

All the best,

Kind Regards

Thank you very much for your very kind words. I can understand what you mean. We have started looking at rescue centres for another dog or cat, to give an animal a loving home, especially as we realised that our dog has begun to miss Harry. It's so sad that he can't voice it or understand what he's missing but just feels the absence of a little furry companion, and looks around for him all the time.

Time is certainly a healer. I especially hope this for our daughter who is distraught and finds it surprising that most of her peers cannot understand why she is sad about losing a 'cat', and has been making silly jokes to her about it. I don't understand it at all. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Yes, giving a home to another pet when you are ready, will at least mean some good has come out of this very sad situation. I suspect Harry would be pleased to see that someone else would be able to enjoy his former home, rather than having a good home unoccupied.

Here's a poem by Thomas Hardy, which although sad, beautifully describes the feelings when a much loved pet has been lost.
LAST WORDS TO A DUMB FRIEND



Pet was never mourned as you,
Purrer of the spotless hue,
Plumy tail, and wistful gaze
While you humoured our queer ways,
Or outshrilled your morning call
Up the stairs and through the hall -
Foot suspended in its fall -
While, expectant, you would stand
Arched, to meet the stroking hand;
Till your way you chose to wend
Yonder, to your tragic end.

Never another pet for me!
Let your place all vacant be;
Better blankness day by day
Than companion torn away.
Better bid his memory fade,
Better blot each mark he made,
Selfishly escape distress
By contrived forgetfulness,
Than preserve his prints to make
Every morn and eve an ache.

From the chair whereon he sat
Sweep his fur, nor wince thereat;
Rake his little pathways out
Mid the bushes roundabout;
Smooth away his talons? mark
From the claw-worn pine-tree bark,
Where he climbed as dusk embrowned,
Waiting us who loitered round.

Strange it is this speechless thing,
Subject to our mastering,
Subject for his life and food
To our gift, and time, and mood;
Timid pensioner of us Powers,
His existence ruled by ours,
Should - by crossing at a breath
Into safe and shielded death,
By the merely taking hence
Of his insignificance -
Loom as largened to the sense,
Shape as part, above man?s will,
Of the Imperturbable.

As a prisoner, flight debarred,
Exercising in a yard,
Still retain I, troubled, shaken,
Mean estate, by him forsaken;
And this home, which scarcely took
Impress from his little look,
By his faring to the Dim
Grows all eloquent of him.

Housemate, I can think you still
Bounding to the window-sill,
Over which I vaguely see
Your small mound beneath the tree,
Showing in the autumn shade
That you moulder where you played.

October 2, 1904.