Lost cat any helpful suggestions.

[noxlumos]

Hi, We've recently taken in two persians who have always been indoor cats. We haven't let them out as they are both very nervous, however one has totally disappeared and we can only imagine that the guy who came to service the central heating must have left the door open today ( even though told not to).
We have a very large house which we've ransacked so we're pretty sure he's not in here, but he may be hiding I hope somewhere, but this cat does not come to call, only eats at a set time and I'm worried to death he's out on his own tonight. We're in the grounds with flashlights, but any suggestions as to how to entice him back if he is out would be very warmly received as calling and food don't seem to be doing the trick.I can't think of another way of getting him back as he's so nervous of people that if you walked by him he's likely to hide all the more.

[lankeela]

Let things go quiet, and leave a door open. Ok you'll be a bit cold, but he is unlikely to come if he is nervous when you are calling and shining lights. Leave some very smelly food (fish for instance) near the door so he can smell it to attract him.

[noxlumos]

Thank you for your suggestion but CAT NOW FOUND, hding INSIDE an old victorian drop end sofa ( got in from underneath where the fabric base had come away, nice hidey hole where there drop end was). House now needs a bulldozer to tidy it up.Lol.
Thanks so much for trying to help, really appreciated.

[lindapinda]

Glad the cat was found!..Our indoor cat was left with my sister-in-law for a week,and she thought he had got out..but he was eventually found in the lining underneath the sofa,where there had been a tear in the material!..They love the safe,cosy places!..Scare us crazy in the process!

[WendyS]

Glad your cat has been found. Know from experience how distressing this can be when they go awol. Have you got somewhere in your house like a nice large dark box which can be left in a permanent place for them to run to for refuge when they get scared? If they get used to knowing it's there, cats will sometimes use it as their safe place and can be more easily found.

[beryllium]

Hi there,
Very glad you found the cat, amazing creatures aren't they ?lol
My bro and sis in law had gas people come to fix the heating and the fitters were told to shut the door whilst the floor was up.
Then, in the evening, they couldn't find 2 of their cats (out of 6) and realised British Gas had resealed the floor with 2 cats under the boards!!!! my brother had to rescue them.
British Gas' chief exec couldn't appologise enough and sent flowers and wine as a sorreeeeeeeee....... poor blumin cats :-)

[noxlumos]

Oh bloody hell Beryllium how awful.Thank you all for your kind thoughts. We have got multiple really good hidey holes but he was very determined not to found AT ALL. He did it again today little monkey.Lol. I'm hoping we can just gently socialise him a wee bit. We sat him down in the snug with us tonight and fed him tidbits by hand and seems ever so slightly calmer, but I've a feeling it'll be a long process.Thanks to you all once again:)

[B00]

Can I just point out that I want to live in Noxy's house....he's got a very large house...with "grounds" and a "snug" !!!

[mesmerred]

Hi am really glad you found your cat. I also know from experience how distressing it is. However I learnt a lot from the experience, e.g. cats usually don't stray too far if they are nervous and can often be found very near by. Mine was under the hedge next door. Also, don't give up as I found mine after a month! With my cats since then I have taught them to know and come to my whistle which has proved very useful.