Oh God! I suffered yesterday. Pad Thai took off for 4 hours

[demnan]

This cat never had been away from me and I've always supervised his outdoor visits. Pad Thai is an extremely beautiful Classic build Lilac point Siamese. He was on the patio watching birds when I took my eyes off him for 2 minutes and then he was gone. I made a fool of myself canvassing the area calling for him for 3 hours. At dinner time he showed up very hungry and when I scolded him for grieving me, he yoweled as if to say, "It wasn't my fault".

Today he's been as good as gold and hasn't begged to go out as usual. I think I won't let him out again. Whatever he encountered scared him! I'm so glad he's back! I don't know what I'd do without him! He's my life.

[Lorien]

1. How odd-I had the same thing happen two days ago!

My cats don't go outside without a leash, and Puck is the only one that really enjoys walks. Well, I went out to get the mail at around 10am, then around 3pm suddenly noticed that I hadn't seen Puck all day. I searched for her all over the house, and couldn't find her anywhere. When I went into the living room, caught the front door swinging open slightly, then closing from the breeze. I ran outside and started calling Puck. When I got to the backyard, I heard a faint mew from across the fence. I kept calling and the mews kept getting closer. Eventually Puck came flying around the corner of the garage, filthy and panting. She must have been out for hours! Like you, I was VERY relieved to find her. I was starting to think about what life would be like without her, and I don't think I could stand it (especially since I lost a beloved kitty in '03 and another in '04). I'll be much more careful about the front door in the future.

So glad you found Pad Thai, too!

[Longhorn]

2. Years ago, my husband's cat disappeared for a day.

He had some friends over who slept on the sofa bed in the living room. They also had a band and they rehearsed in that same room. When everything quieted down, they realized that the cat had gotten closed up in the sofa bed and they couldn't hear her meow because of the band rehearsal. She wasn't actually stuffed in a mattress or anything; she just couldn't get out from her hiding place when it was closed.

One or more of my dogs will sometimes disappear and now we know where to look. There's a tub room between two bathrooms in a part of the house that isn't used much now that the kids have all moved out. Both doors open in and when they get in there, they somehow close both doors and can't get out. They aren't very vocal about it either, so we often don't know anything has happened until we noticed they're missing.

[SW FL Dem]

3. IN her earlier years, my almost 17 year old cat used to hide from us

I can't tell you how many times I spent hours looking for her only to have her show up when she was good and ready. In desperation, I bought a car key locater (one of those things that you click a remote and it beeps) and attached it to her collar. She hated it, but it was a godsend when she decided to slip out at night and I wanted to go to bed.

[NJCher]

4. that's damn clever!!!

I'm gonna' do it!


Cher

I just did a search for this product--were you able to find one that emits a sound that won't frighten them? I like this idea but I'm a little leery of something that will scare the daylights out of her.

[radfringe]

5. we had a cat that liked to go for rides

During the summer, if a car window was left open, he would hop into the car.

My grandfather stopped by the house to borrow something - when he arrived back home -- the cat crawled out from under the front seat and asked "are we there yet?".

Another time - my dad made it all the way to work (1-1/2 hr commute) -- the cat didn't make a sound until the car was shut off. The cat spent the day being fed and petted by a couple of back office people.

[Eurobabe]

6. Sebastian was lost for 3 days in 1992, he crawled down

some kind of water run off intake thing, I was a nervous wreck. Then early one morning hunger got the better of him and I heard him meowing outside, like only a mom knows her baby's cry.

Glad you found him. Gives you a start doesn't it?

[demnan]

7. Well it's day two

and Paddy is still not begging to go out. He's been his ususal self in every other way. This might be easier than I thought it was going to be.