My foster babies escaped! ::::cry::::

[Lisa0825]

OMIGOD! What do I do??? Momma cat was so determined to find a way out, and she finally did. then little Chance and Katherine followed. Jennings didn't fit through, or maybe he wanted to stay. I don't know. I saw Chance outside at 3am, when I got up to go to the bathroom and saw Jennings at the window. I'd made the mistake of cracking it open just an inch and a half or so, because I burned something in the toaster oven. Momma Michelle must have been able to actually LIFT the window farther open! I couldn't believe she could do that!!!! I went outside and tried to talk to Chance, but that was a waste, since he still wouldn't let me touch or hold him inside the house. The saddest part was, he tried to get back in another window, but it was closed, so he ran from me!!! he tried to get back IN!!!!

I'm so worried about the little babies!!! Not as much about Michelle because she's back "home" so to speak. But Little Katherine and Chance are lost!!!

I put food inside the front door and left it open a while, while I sat on the couch. I walked the street looking for them in the dark. I left two windows at home open enough for the little ones to come in. I set up a trap, but caught the neighbor's cat instead. I don't know what else to do!!! I am absolutely a wreck! I'm online at the library sobbing!

OMIGOD! How am I going to face the shelter folks again? I have totally let everybody down! They loved those litle babies, and because of me, they are in danger, outside with dogs and cars and weather.

I wish I knew what to do. I wish they'd come back in through the window, because they remember where the food was. What else can I do???







edited to add: I have to go offline now. If anyone has any advice for me, that could help me get these babies home, please reply. WestHoustonDem has my phone number and will get messages to me. I'm just going to go home and cry in private now.

[Lorien]

1. You can try a haveaheart trap

baited with the smelliest cat food you can find. The raccoon sized one works well (you can find them at well stocked hardware stores). You can also put up posters with their pics offering a small reward; I had a cat returned once using that method.

One of our foster moms lost three dogs and about 20 cats and kittens out of her window one night; she also had cracked the window for some cool air, but when she ran to the grocery she came back to find her animals wandering the neighborhood (apparently one of the dogs had worked to window open). She managed to capture all but one of the feral adult cats. Don't beat yourself up about it; stuff happens when you foster. It's unavoidable.

Let us know how it goes.

[WestHoustonDem]

2. Thanks, I passed your suggestion on to Lisa

I'll let you know what I hear from her, now that she's offline.

[CottonBear]

3. I just found (2 hrs ago) my lost cat. I used the lost cat profile service

of Carl Washington, Pet Detective who lives near Augusta, GA. He is the nation's top pet detective. I had my cat back within 48 hours of fully implementing the plan. Go to his website and call his cell # He works 24-7-365. I just got off the phone with him to thank him (literally less than 1 hour ago). The profile service costs $60. (He could have traveled here From Augusta , GA to Athens, GA for $670 to track he rwith his specially trained dogs but I don't have that money. (Google him)

Here's his link: NOTE: He said his e-mail link is messed up. Write down his e-mail addy and then enter it into your e-mail yourself.
http://www.carlwashington-petdetective.com /

PM me your e-mail addy and I will forward all of the info to you that he sent to me. The specific map pfofile for my area will not apply to you but will be helpful if you don't have the $60 to get a personal profile. The baiting, tracking, stakeout and sign/flyer info is invaluable. Bait immediately outside and around your home (in plain sight ) with 9Lives seafood food. SMEAR the food ontot he curb ot ground. (A tablespoon at each location.) Then wait and look. Keep a falshlight with you at all times. Go by a bag of alley cat cat food and I will send the tracking/baiting info to you.

NOTE:
He says DO NOT trap until you have actually sighted your pet. Otherwise you can scare them off. They will be within 3-5 blocks radius of your home depending on theri indoor or outdoor cat profile and their speciifc cat character.

God Luck and DO NOT freak out. It took a week to get my DEAF cat back.

CB

[WestHoustonDem]

5. Thanks! Just PMed you CottonBear

One of the cats was feral and rescued at 8 weeks and she's afraid he won't let her capture him. She's on the way to the shelter to break the news.

[CottonBear]

6. You're welcome. Please check all of your PMs and e-mails for the info.

http://www.carlwashington-petdetective.com /

We need to tell of DUers about Carl Washington, Pet Detective. I never gave up hope that I would find my kitty!

Also call all local area vets, the Humane Society and local animal control agencies and place a missing cat report with all of them.

Let me know WHEN they are found!

Love to the kitties from CB

[IndyOp]

10. Thanks for telling us about pet detectives...

I had no idea such an animal existed. Haven't lost any of mine, but it can happen even to the best pet people.

Lisa --

[CottonBear]

11. You're welcome! Carl's profile service & his personal advice via cell

was the key to getting my deaf cat back 1 week to the hour almost that she got out of the house (and chased by our neighbour's cat). I called him yesterday to thank him and he was in a tree in the woods tracking a lost pet!

I initially spoke with him 2 days after my cat went missing and he told me to send an e-mail about my cat (neighborhood, indoor/outdoor, history, personality, disabilites, etc) and Mapquest and Yahoo maps (which show food stores, restaurants, shcools, etc that may have dumpsters) of my area (exact street address) and I also sent TerraserverUSA (? I think that's the site) aerial photos and described how the area had changed from the time the photo was taken: former woods next door developed and what the woods area is developed as now. He e-mailed me a map with a specific plan to poster, flyer, bait and monitor to find my kitty! It worked!

All DU pet owners should consider using his profile service if they can't afford to have him come and track in person. (He will travel anywhere in the USA.)

[CottonBear]

7. Sorry about the spelling errors in my message. I can't edit it now. n/t

[ernstbass]

4. I hope they come home soon

It's the worst feeling in the world to not know where our animals are. Sending good thoughts to you and the kitties for a speedy safe return.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. I am sooooo sorry. I have no real advice except to notify all neighbors

to let you know if they see any of the kitties so you can set up a trap.
Please keep us posted.
Hoping your babies come home.

[CottonBear]

12. Notifying all neighbours by a flyer put on every car, dumpster & mailbox

in the area where I thought my kitty was lost was the key to getting her home. My flyer had a photo of the cat, all of our cell, home and work#s and address and date where/when cat was lost. Also, I included a brief description of the cat (clolr/breed/collar etc.) I also postered each critical intersection with posters that could be read from 30 yards away and I made our cars into posters as well (back and sides of cars had the big posters.)

[legally blonde]

9. I am sooooo sorry!

I'm sending good kitty thoughts your way for the safe return of your babies.

[Lisa0825]

13. Thanks everyone!

Wydell was very nice about the situation. I think she was as worried about me as about the kitties. I already had one Havaheart trap, and she sent me home with two more and a bunch of canned food too put in them. I trapped and released 5 neighborhood cats, but finally, early this morning, I lifted the towel I had covered the trap with, and there was little Chance, the feral kitten!!! Oh, I was SO happy to see him!!! He was going berzerk in the trap, and I was so worried he was going to hurt himself. I quickly took him inside, and set up the large crate with a litterbox, food and water. I opened the trap into the crate, and he lunged out, howling like a banshee. I spooke softly too him, and put in his favorite toy, hoping he'd realize he's "home." He was still freaking out, so I left him and closed the door, hoping he'd settle down.

15 minutes later, he was howling really badly, so I thought I'd check on him in case he hurt himself. He was standing against the crate, with his front paws and his little pink nose poking through. Now, for those who haven't followed my story with Chance, he had not yet let me touch him, but had been getting gradually closer to me, and had JUST finally jumpped on my bed once while I was in it. I sat next to him, and touched his pw, and he didn't flinch. So, I slowly stuck my hand through the bars, and rubbed his chin. He purred and nuzzled into my hand! I pet him for a few minutes, and he seemed to really love it.

I closed the bedroom door in case he freaked out, and then I opened the crate, picked him up, and snuggled him. He crawled all over me, nuzzling and purring!!! I still thought it might be only fear causing another temporary affectionate stage. I couldn't leave him in that room without the crate because I wanted to leave that window open in case the others try to get back in, so I picked him up and took him to my bedroom, when I had Jennings locked in. I set him down on the bed, and he was still all over me with kitty lovin'! He finally fell asleep stretched across my foot, nd when I had to get up to leave, he let me petand snuggle him more.

I am so happy I found him, and of course I re-set all the traps again. I hope his affection is not a stage, but breakthrough, and that his fear of me is over with.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions, the pet detective info, and sharing your concern. I hadn't felt so awful since I had to put my kitty to sleep this summer.

Keep the good luck wishes and positive thoughts going that I ifind Katherine and Michelle. I'm afraid Michelle will be having her babies outside now, but if so, hopefully she'll bring them into my yard at some point so I can take them in.

Thanks so much everyone!!!!

[okasha]

14. One down.

Let's hope this is just a sign of more good things to come home.

You may just have to adopt little Chance after all.

[Lorien]

15. Thank goodness you caught him!

I doubt that he'll revert to his old feral self-once kittens start to show affection, they usually keep it up. Maybe chance discovered that the wild wasn't that inviting after all!

I hope you'll catch the others soon. Pregnant mothers get really hungry, so that's working in your favor.

[BrklynLiberal]

17. Wow. So glad to hear some good news.

Sounds like that little one learned that there is no place like home.

Please keep us posted.

I will continue to send out positive energy, hoping you find your other babies very soon.

[meti57b]

16. A small miracle! I am so happy to hear one of them came back.

Hopefully, the others will be back soon, too.

[Lisa0825]

18. Momma Michelle came to my door this morning!!!

Still pregnant too! She didn't come inside voluntarily, but she didn't put up a fight when I picked her up either. So now, I am still missing little Katherine! I hope she comes back too!

Chance woke me up this morning walkng all over my head and chest, purring like a tractor!

[Jo March]

19. That's great news! Moma Michelle apparently had second thoughts

It's rough out there on the mean streets for kitties, especially big ole pregnant ones!

I hope that little Katherine comes back, too. I'm sure that she will.

to you for hanging in there. When Jasper went on his little walkabout, I was beside myself! It was awful!

Bless you for taking care of the kitties!

[CottonBear]

20. That is wonderful news! I am so very happy for you and the kitties.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Katherine's safe return.

Chance sounds like a sweetpea! He must be so glad to be home!

[japple]

21. You must be so relieved. I know I am. I came to this thread

many times during the weekend to check if you had posted any good news. I was so thrilled about little Chance's return and now Michelle. After a few nights on her own, your little "birthing room" must seem really cozy to her--that and FOOD! I'm praying that Katherine will also return to you safely. It might help if you can visualize her finding her way back to your warm, safe, home.

[Lorien]

22. It sounds like the escape did Chance good!

What a wonderful transformation. so glad that momma came back too-it shows how great a cat mother you are that she trusts you so.

[BrklynLiberal]

23. I could not say it better than Lorien did. Miracles happen, especially to

good pet mommies.

[IndyOp]

24. I am so happy for you!!

...and your kitties!

[Eurobabe]

29. Excellent news Lisa, glad to hear that almost

everyone is accounted for -- fingers crossed for the straggler....hang in there. I about had a cow when my Sebastian escaped for the first time in 1993, he came back 3 days later when hunger got the better of him, and he decided the sewer wasn't as nice a place as our condo.

[Lisa0825]

25. Here's a pic....

It's fuzzy because I have a cheap-o camera phone. You can sorta see the little cut on the baby's nose...



I took a cute pic of him grooming himself while lying between my knees, but I forgot my camera cable at home. It looks like it's a red feather boa wrapped around him!LOL

I do feel much better now that he and Michelle are home, but I still hate to think of little Katherine being lost.

[BrklynLiberal]

27. Adorable!

[superconnected]

26. I'm just reading this drama for the first time.

I am so glad you got Chance and Michelle back.

Hopefully Kathrine will think better and come home.

[legally blonde]

28. I'm so glad that Chance and Michelle

are back safe and sound. I'll keep sending good kitty thoughts for the safe return of Katherine.

[roguevalley]

30. any news, honey?

[Lisa0825]

31. No sign of Katherine, the last escapee...

And the neighborhood cats have all wised up to the traps, so I haven't caught anyone in a few days. I put flyers on doors for my street and 2 others.

[AirmensMom]

32. I hope you find her, Lisa.

Don't lose hope. We had a cat who came home after 4 years! He got out of my parents' home and someone took him. The next time he excaped, he came home. We were outside and saw him just walking up the sidewalk towards us. He was a master at slipping his collar, which didn't help things.


I'm looking forward to your "Katherine came home!" post ... and hope it happens very soon.

[demnan]

33. Lisa. you are a wonderful person

I regret having children because I didn't have a daughter like you. I say that in all seriousness. You have done great work here. Like all people who do great things, you experince the fact that shit happens. That's why the best among us, the best teachers, policemen, social workers, political crusaders and animal lovers tend to burn out. Don't internalize it. We need your good giving soul in this cold heartless world.



Nancy