Flanders is Missing. Heartbroken

Our kitty, Flanders, whom my husband and stepson took in 4 years ago is missing. We're all so sad. We've been everywhere looking for her. We live in the boonies and she's been missing for 3 days and 4 nights. Flanders is such a sweet little kitty and loved to play with my Shih-Tzu. She usually comes home before dark.....

We haven't told my 17 year old stepson. He just lost a German Shepard who's been in their family for over 14 years.  We had to put her down last month. How is he going to deal with this? Not only that, he lost his Mom to Cancer three years ago. Anybody have some advice as to what to say to him? I married last year (first time) and never had my own children.  I'm afraid that he'll keep these feeling in because he has a temper...Thanks everyone.

I am sorry your kitty is missing.  Worrying about outside kitties is why we decided that all of our cats would be inside-only ...

Is she fixed?  Sometimes they'll leave for a week or so to find the right man for the job, if you catch my drift.

Original Post by mypuppymylife:

We've been everywhere looking for her.

When you say you've been everywhere does that mean you've checked all the local animal shelters and stuff? definitely make sure they know to keep an eye out for her if you  haven't!

all i can suggest otherwise is putting up posters all around. maybe some well meaning person thought she was homeless and is keeping her in their house or something.

hope you find her! 

I'm sorry to hear about your kitty :( I would suggest giving it a few more days before you tell your stepson. Make sure there is food and water outside for her. I've had cats go missing for a week or more. Definietely put up posters/call around animal shelters. If you find her, maybe look into getting a tracking chip implanted, if you can afford it. Good Luck!

Thank you. She has been fixed. She's about 3 years old now. When I moved here, Flanders was already an outdoor cat. I had no choice over that. I've had indoor kitties all my life and they never EVER went out. The kitty I brought here does not go out!

jules-We've been to the shelter. What I fear is they've lost cats here before. There are coons, foxes and other larger predators that lurk around at night. I just got so attached to her. Thanks everyone.

cait-I will leave food and water out there tonight.

i hope you find the kitty. and your poor step son, teenage years are hard enough without all of that to put up with in a short time. but from what i've read from you, it sounds like you can help him get through this.

Original Post by mypuppymylife:

cait-I will leave food and water out there tonight.

Tuna! Seriously.

Buy a few cans... Only put one can out on the porch open at a time. It will attract every kitten within smelling distance. :) Just shoo all of the other kittens/cats/etc away. It should be enough to entice your kitty to come home. Remember: Staying on the outlook for her to come a running is important. The reason being the stray cats will fight for the tuna... more aggressive cats shooing others away.

Once we lost our SunShine and used this tactic. She was only lost a day but it felt like forever. We attracted about 20 other cats. but... No SunShine....THEN suddenly I saw him!....  Sunshine was meowing/clawing furiously from the inside of our next door neighbors window!!!

Keep faith!

Don't give up hope whatever you do!

My co-workers cat disappeared for over three weeks and just came home all on her own about a week ago.  Dirty and skinny, but otherwise ok.  She was an inside kitty (and fixed), but for some reason, hopped out the door one day when they let the dog out. 

Definitely try the shelters in case someone picked her up and turned her in and do the posters as well.  We took in a "stray" dog once and put up posters.  His owners finally saw one after a week - they lived over 3 miles from us and hadn't thought he'd wander that far.

The same happened to a friend of mine. Her cat was missing for almost a month. She checked the shelters every two days, put up flyers everywhere and put food out for him. He came back and she heard him crying under her apt. building stairs. She opened the door to her apt and brought out a can of tuna and he ran straight in. He was always an indoor cat though.

Don't give up hope. Best of luck. 

Thank you everyone.

No sign of Flanders this morning. I'm not giving up hope. My Shih-Tzu loved to play with her but was very aggressive. I'm wondering if she might have ran away because he wouldn't leave her alone...I keep trying to think of every other reason other than thinking the worst.

p.s. I will try using the tuna. There are two other strays that come around. Do you think it's possible that she wandered off with these two cats?

I'm sorry to bring this up again, but any sign of Flanders?? 

cait-We presume she is gone. I see the two other black strays n the yard, so she couldn't have run off with them...Thank you so much for asking.

I'm so sorry for your loss. My beloved Mr. Kitten disappeared two years ago. I still miss him.

Thank you moonikins-I'm sorry for your loss, too..