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09 August 2013

I am having a horrible day ... [More:]
My friend and neighbour, Helen, moved about half a mile away recently. We always feed each other's cats if needed. This week Helen needed to cover as an additional supervisor on a school camping trip, and she asked me to feed her cats.

She's only been in her new place for a few days. She's on the first floor (second floor to Americans), and hasn't yet had the chance to put in a cat flap in the front door. So the cats would be staying indoors, with a litter box. Helen told me she'd left the windows slightly open at the top, for ventilation. They're this style, with a small opener at the top. She'd left them open just a couple of inches and told me that the cats wouldn't be able to open them any further.

I went round on Wednesday and all was well. The friendly cat was pleased to see me. The skittish cat hid, which is normal.

Today I went in and ... no cats. Anywhere. I looked everywhere they might be, and it's unlike the friendly cat to not want lots of attention. The litter box had only been used once, and the food had hardly been touched.

Then I noticed one of the windows was open more than before. So they've somehow climbed up there, pushed the window open and escaped, into a new neighbourhood, backing onto a forest.

I searched for them for over an hour, but with no luck. I'm going back later, and if I don't find them, I'll have to go back again tomorrow. Helen gets home at 10.30 tomorrow night. When I go back this afternoon I'll knock on neighbours' doors to see if they've seen them.

I don't know what to do. I know it's not my fault they got out - it was Helen who left the window open and assured me it would be fine. But those cats must be so scared and I feel sick to my stomach.
Oh that's terrible! I'm so sorry. Fingers crossed for a better ending.
posted by JanetLand 09 August | 05:40
Put out smelly tuna. See if that works.

Is it safe to open the bottom of the window in case they try to get back in?

Check on their old home across the street from you and see if they made it there.

Good idea to check with neighbors.
posted by mightshould 09 August | 07:47
:( Hope they turn up, Senyar. That's awful.
posted by gaspode 09 August | 07:57
Friendly cat is back. I'm in the neighbour's place with the front door open. There is their favourite food halfway up the stairs. Friendly cat has gone out again and hopefully will bring her sister back with her. I can stay here 2 more hours.
posted by Senyar 09 August | 08:10
I'm so glad you've found one kitty - I hope the other one makes it back.
posted by needlegrrl 09 August | 08:11
Keeping my fingers crossed for all three of you. How stressful! :(
posted by BoringPostcards 09 August | 09:03
Fingers crossed, too... hope it all works out!
posted by Pips 09 August | 09:33
Good Luck
posted by rollick 09 August | 11:41
Oh, horrors. I'm so glad 50% of the problem is solved.

We have a skittish cat who I believe is the stupidest cat ever born. She is our only cat who is allowed outside. She returns without fail for food. So I suggest smelly cat food of some sort at feeding time. will address this.

So not your fault, also.
posted by bearwife 09 August | 11:50
Well, the other cat went out to find her sister and didn't come back. I know she's not gone far. But I've been at Helen's flat all day with the front door open, neither of them came home. I couldn't stay any longer, I'm going out tonight.

So I phoned Helen and told her my plan. I've left the bottom part of the window open enough for a cat to get through. To deter burglars, I've drawn the blinds, put on a light and left the TV on. Hopefully it'll only be the cats who jump up onto the porch roof and in through the window and not a burglar. On my way home from my night out, I'll call in again and see if they're home yet.

Oh, and Helen said "I knew they'd got out through that window before when I had the bottom part open, but I didn't think they'd be able to get out through the top part" Sheesh!
posted by Senyar 09 August | 12:31
Sheesh indeed.
posted by JanetLand 09 August | 12:50
(trigger warning for rmless. . .)

We were taking care of someone's bunny while they were in Africa, incommunicado. The bunny (who was 12) keeled over and died on their floor. We felt terrible, and called their vet and the vet offered to store the bunny in the freezer.

We left a note, and a little bunny statue, on their dining room table. They took it very well, but we still feel bad about it.

So, not your fault and you have gone over and above, Senyar. . .

*hug*
posted by danf 09 August | 12:58
EEEEK! danf I am so sad even with the warning... but 12 is a nice old age for a rabbit.

Senyar- that sounds really stressful. I am glad you got the hardest part (talking to the owner) over with. Sounds like she rightly doesn't blame you at all.
I hope they come back soon!
posted by rmless2 09 August | 13:21
Animals can be pretty smart. They're probably close, and will come home soon.
posted by theora55 09 August | 16:52
I bet they come home when they hear and see their "mommy," if not sooner. Jon's parents babysat our cat some years back and he hid in their basement crawl space the whole weekend (afraid of their two very friendly cats, no doubt), but he came right out soon as I was there.
posted by Pips 09 August | 18:38
I just got back from Helen's place, on my way home from a night out. Neither cat had been in, the food was untouched. But as I was locking up, Friendly Cat came up to me, so I let her in, and she chowed down on the food.

Skittish Cat was nowhere to be seen. But Friendly Cat hopped out of the window I'd left open, onto the porch roof, down to the ground and then back up again. So she's learned that she can get in, and hopefully she'll find her sister and teach her how to get in too.

I'll go back tomorrow morning. I have no big plans for the day, so if Skittish Cat hasn't come hope I can sit in Helen's flat with the front door open.
posted by Senyar 09 August | 18:46
I'm sending good "Kitty cat come home!" vibes.

My indoor-only cat got loose about one week after I moved to a new place, in a snowstorm. I didn't realize she was missing until several hours after she must have made her escape. I got woken up that night by her yowling her head off in the back yard; she had easily (apparently) gotten back to the house but, as it was a snowstorm and I had everything closed up, couldn't get back in until I woke up and opened the door. She was none the worse for wear.
posted by occhiblu 09 August | 22:09
The Horribles.
The Bees decided to flee into yonder darkness soon after we moved in, and it's kind of a long story of her possibly spotted trapped on the neighbor's fence and me sheathed in bug bites and worry before she came sauntering in at dawn. My concern was that she'd be lost in a new neighborhood and she'd definitely be Skittish Cat to anyone but me. If the other cat is her actual sister, it's less of a worry in my mind, because she is most probably keeping tabs on her.

I've been having an issue with the Bees in the last couple days just because she went out again and got into some kind of fight with a rather fetching white cat with grey spots, which is odd for one since my neighbor assured me there were no strays here which is why spotting the Bees was so notable. Anyway, she's not eating or so it seemed. I can't tell if she's messing with me like when she wouldn't come inside or if something is really wrong. Is she just holding out for treats? I switched back to her old crappy food, got a new bowl, moved stuff around--
--this is the problem: she will do whatever I want. She will wear a hat, fer pete's sake, (and I have this dragtastic pink leopard fur robe with sparkly ermine nearly ready to go) so I made it clear to eat of the newer food she kept signaling was poopy poop poop and she did-- why can't she be obstinately communicative like my other cats were? She doesn't care for tuna or salmon or any wet food, Princess Weirdo wants water crackers and strawberries that must be held--

--coming back to your issue, perhaps your Skittish Cat is like my tiny freak, in which case she may be waiting for her mom, and possibly screwing with you both.

Tiny freak is going to the doctor, though.
posted by ethylene 10 August | 04:04
Sending good kitty vibes your way today.
posted by mightshould 10 August | 04:05
This morning Friendly Cat was in, but no sign of Skittish Cat. I'm fairly sure she hasn't gone too far and she might be spooked by two other (friendly) cats who live next door. But Friendly Cat has been going in and out of the window and so I hope Skittish Cat will get hungry enough to follow her sister indoors.
posted by Senyar 10 August | 04:28
This is incredibly stressful!

I wonder what the odds are that Skittish cat is still inside? I once cat-sat for a friend with a nervous cat. When she didn't show in the morning for breakfast, I searched the house thoroughly, then the woods nearby, and really freaked out. Right before I had to leave for work I looked under the bed again - and this time saw a bit of tail. She had burrowed into some blankets, deeply.
posted by Miko 10 August | 20:10
This is incredibly stressful!

Yes! I keep checking back in to see how it's going!

I assume Helen's back home at this point, but Senyar, update us if you get a chance!
posted by occhiblu 11 August | 00:33
Missing Kitty Update!

Helen got home last night, and Friendly Kitty (who was outside again) came up to her as soon as she arrived home. Helen spent 2 hours looking for Skittish Kitty, but no joy. But this morning, as soon as she called, the cat appeared from out of the woods. Both cats are now home and safe.

Miko: I turned the flat inside out looking for her, looking in every possible corner and moving out furniture to see if she'd got behind. She's definitely been out all this time. Stupid, silly cat.
posted by Senyar 11 August | 05:48
great news!
posted by Firas 11 August | 07:15
Oh senyar, that's the update we were hoping for! Wonderful news. Stupid, stupid kitty.
posted by msali 11 August | 09:27
Yes, that's good to know. Those cats (and Helen) owe you for all the anxiety they put you through. :)
posted by JanetLand 11 August | 09:43
So glad the kitties got home safe! And you are an awesome, awesome friend and neighbor.
posted by TrishaLynn 11 August | 11:57
WHEW!
posted by rainbaby 11 August | 12:59
Yay!
posted by occhiblu 11 August | 13:04
WONDERFUL!
posted by mightshould 11 August | 14:41
Whewwww!
posted by Miko 11 August | 18:20
Excellent news.
posted by gaspode 11 August | 18:46
This is why I prefer birds.
posted by Splunge 11 August | 23:44
Just saw this! So glad it turned out well!
posted by amro 13 August | 11:05
Photo Friday: Tattoos. || Big doin's in town this weekend

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