[RockStarMom]

One of my ferals hasn't shown up for 5 or 6 nights now.

She has consistently come every night since September so I know something happened. I want to go out and look for her but that wouldn't really make sense because she never came out during the day and is extremely skittish. I might go to the shelter to look, but I had to use a drop-trap to TNR her because she won't go in regular traps so it's unlikely that she ended up there.

It's just killing me not knowing what happened. Has anyone had any luck with finding a lost feral or having one reappear?

 

[William's Mom]

We also take care of a small group of skittish ferals. I have had ferals disappear and actually show back up MONTHS later. However, I've had some also disappear and never reappear. And I've had others that I've found the bodies of...

Hugs.... I hope she comes back soon. I understand how you feel.

 

[Minky]

We don't have experience with feral colonies, but I would check the shelters just so you'll know if she's not there and that you did all you could.

 

[Liquesce]

Quote:

Originally Posted by William's Mom I have had ferals disappear and actually show back up MONTHS later. However, I've had some also disappear and never reappear. And I've had others that I've found the bodies of...

Ditto all of this. With cats that mostly just come around for the available food and/or shelter, it really borders on the impossible to guess what may have become of them, for better or for worse. Many times I've seen them come back long after having given up on them entirely, and many times not. It's just so hard to anticipate.

 

[BookGoddess]

I take care of a group of feral cats for the local humane society. They have TNR program. I have had cats disappear for a long time then return. Sometimes they're sick and they want to be alone until they get better. One cat disappeared for a whole year, maybe more and I gave up on her ever coming back, then one day she returned like nothing had happened. She was very good at finding food for herself. She was also a hunter. No bird and no mouse was ever safe if she was around. She lived a good long life for a feral cat (over 10 years). She was hit by a car this past December. Unfortunately I've had a few cats disappear and never return. I suspect they may have been in accidents.

I hope your cat returns. Definitely call the local shelters. A few times my cats were picked up by animal control and they were returned to me because I microchipped them.

Is the cat microchipped? That's how I got reunited with cats that were at the shelter.

 

[fruitfulmomma]

Quote:

Many times I've seen them come back long after having given up on them entirely, and many times not. It's just so hard to anticipate.

Same here. We've had some that will disappear and just show up one day after several months of being gone.

You said she's spayed? So, no chance she kittened somewhere then.

Maybe she frequents another home?

 

[RockStarMom]

Thanks, everyone, for all the support. I just went to the shelter and she wasn't there, and she wasn't listed in the files for those deceased on arrival(which I knew she was more likely to be).
The woman at the shelter said they sometimes disappear for a bit while they are off trying to mate, which she said they sometimes do even when they've been fixed. We'll see.

 

[Minky]

Sorry you didn't find her.

You've done all you can, mama, now all you can do is wait and see if she returns, checking the shelters periodically if you want. Just remember, even if she doesn't come back, you made her very happy while she was around.