Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,015
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Jul 20, 2014 22:34:35 GMT
She came out of the other living room vent. She stood there for a long while. I had the lights out and was sitting as still as a statue across the room. She finally started creeping out into the kitchen and I raced across the room and slammed the 2 living room vents closed. Then I moved chairs on top of all of them. She is off hiding somewhere new but she can't get back down into those ducts now and she has access to food and water in multiple places around the house. ***************************************************************************************************************** Trixie is in the duct work but they were unable to get her out. When they first found her, she was 8 feet from the vent. She wasn't moving and they thought she was dead but they poked her with the camera and she moved and then turned. They went up through the garage ceiling and ripped open the soft duct and actually had her leg but she pulled hard and ran. She ran into a hard duct and they found her with the camera again but they had to use a saw to get that open and that scared her so she ran further before they could get to her. After that, they lost her and the cameras weren't able to find her again. The best guess is that she went around a "T" that has a hard duct to the second floor so she can't get up it but it is also not accessible because of its location. She can get back to the place where they punched the hole in the hard duct and she can get down into the air filter area in the furnace and they believe those are the only two directions she can go. We put tuna fish and water by the hole and a ladder if she decides to jump down. We'll keep checking the air filter. But to be honest, I don't feel like this story is going to have a happy ending. She's been many days without food or water and she doesn't want to come out. I don't have any idea what we're going to do if she dies in there because they don't seem to think we can get to the part where she is without tearing out the whole furnace. ****************************************************************************************************************** where might you hide? Trixie has gone missing for up to 48 hours before; she has a hidey hole somewhere that we haven't been able to figure out. She has always turned up within 24-48 hours. We were away last week and had a pet sitter. Trixie went missing last Sunday but turned up on Tuesday. Then she disappeared again on Wednesday and hasn't been seen since. We got home last night and I expected her reappear overnight but she hasn't. We've now turned over every couch and stuffed chair in the house, looked under every large piece of furniture and washer/dryer, moved the refrigerator, emptied closets and looked through toy bins. One of the other cats did pull up a floor grate while we were gone and it's possible she went in there but I guess I'd expect we'd smell something by now if that were the case So far I haven't noticed any smell that might indicate she's dead or even that she's peeing/pooping outside of the litter box. I'm at a complete loss and more than a little bit heartsick. ETA: Here, Dobby has just bitten the tail of Beezus, one of our Siamese cats. Here she is confused why Beezus hissed at her and ran away.
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Post by icedcoffee14 on Jul 20, 2014 22:39:58 GMT
Other than the under couch only place my cats ever hid was under the bed in the boxsprings. They actually made a hole in the fabric under there and got in and slept.
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MaryC
Full Member
Posts: 213
Jun 25, 2014 21:52:55 GMT
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Post by MaryC on Jul 20, 2014 22:45:00 GMT
Do you have a open space on top of your kitchen cabinets? One of our cats hid up there and came down at night after she was traumatized by a trip to the vet's office. Also check the underside of your box springs to see if she's made a hidey hole there. Look behind the books on bookshelves and in places where you don't think she could have gotten. Cats are amazing at squeezing into places we wouldn't expect. Have you tried opening a can of something smelly like tuna to draw her out?
Is it possible she got outside with no one noticing? Try going outside tonight with a flashlight and calling her. Sometimes cats are easier to spot at night because their eyes glow. Praying you will find her safe and sound.
Edited to add: Also, open cabinets and drawers, any place she could have accidentally been shut into.
Is she still bonded with her kitten - does she interact with it? We once got a mama cat to come out of hiding by putting the kitten in a cat carrier. She didn't like it and meowed loudly, and mama cat came running to the distress call.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,276
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Jul 20, 2014 22:45:05 GMT
The call of nature is pretty strong in a feral cat. Was she fixed? She might have slipped out -looking for love in all the wrong places.....
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Post by greenlegume on Jul 20, 2014 22:48:10 GMT
I hope she turns up.
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Post by melrose on Jul 20, 2014 22:50:20 GMT
How did you come to have a feral cat living inside your house? That must be a story! I feed feral cats, trap them for spay/neuter and release them. I can't imagine having one in my house however. Do tell!
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ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,019
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
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Post by ddly on Jul 20, 2014 22:55:27 GMT
We have an opening at the base of our cabinets on a corner. There is just a board/ facing to cover the 3-4 inch space where the dishwasher meets the corner cabinet. Our cats have hidden in this spot.
Hope you find her!
Lisa D.
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,015
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Jul 20, 2014 23:01:30 GMT
It is too long to type out the whole story (I should have saved the thread from Two Peas ) but we tried to trap her for months over the winter, finally caught her and she gifted us with a kitten almost immediately. They lived in a dog crate in my closet for several months. Now she lives under the bureau in my craft room. She gets braver every day and before we left for vacation, she'd play "whap" with both my husband and me. She lets my dd pet her sometimes. Behind books on a shelf is a possibility, I guess I'll start pulling books next. We already checked the box springs. She doesn't like tuna or any food other than dry which makes it even harder.
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Post by Regina Phalange on Jul 20, 2014 23:10:25 GMT
She won't come to Dobby's calls? Maybe try Dobby in the carrier so she'll yell for help?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 6:35:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2014 23:12:32 GMT
I hope Trixie turns up. Maybe she was just spooked by the pet sitter. She's got trust issues with humans...it's taken her this long to even tolerate you and your family. How about a kitten picture for this thread? Come on...throw us a bone, will ya'?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 6:35:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2014 23:13:27 GMT
OOOhhh...I like putting Dobby in the carrier...maybe Trixie will come running if Dobby starts vocalizing.
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Post by Skellinton on Jul 20, 2014 23:33:29 GMT
Oh, I was wondering how Trixie was doing, I am so sorry to hear she is missing! One of our cats disappeared one day when my husband was out of town, I was hysterical even though I KNEW he had not gotten out since I had seen him since the last time I went out. I still out up missing signs up and down our street and after a day of missing he just sauntered out of the scrapbook room like nothing had happened. To this day I have no idea where he was. I have no advice to give, but I will say a prayer that she comes out soon. Has she been more interactive since your last update? I am so sorry, I hope she comes out soon.
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,831
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Jul 20, 2014 23:34:33 GMT
Poor kitty. I hope he turns up soon.
Phase you checked behind shower curtains?
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Post by Suziee2 on Jul 20, 2014 23:38:39 GMT
Other than the under couch only place my cats ever hid was under the bed in the boxsprings. They actually made a hole in the fabric under there and got in and slept. This..... Hope you find her soon.
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Post by Skellinton on Jul 20, 2014 23:40:06 GMT
Does the vent go under the house? Is there a way for her to get out from there? Have you seen her since you came home, or was it the pet sitter who saw her last? Maybe the chaos of looking for her is upsetting to her? I know it is hard, but maybe if everyone is just very quiet and still she will come out? I say that because when we had a cat sitter she only "accidentally" saw one of our cats when she had been sitting quietly at the table reading for about an hour, Walter came quietly down the hallway from where he had been hiding, but he saw her and turned and ran back to his hiding spot. Since Trixie is so timid, maybe she just needs some quiet to feel comfortable? Easier said than done, I know, when you just need to know she is safe!!!
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Post by lovetodigi on Jul 20, 2014 23:49:43 GMT
Could she have gotten out? You might want to check behind your washer and dryer.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 6:35:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2014 23:58:24 GMT
I hope you find her! I remember your post from 2Peas! Cats can find places to hide that you would never think. My Nala liked to hide in the box spring, but since you already looked. The couch? Is there a way she could've climbed up in there? She'll come when she gets hungry. Update when you find her! And I agree...need pictures!!
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back to *pea*ality
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Jul 21, 2014 0:12:12 GMT
This happened to a family member. They have a home at the Jersey shore. The garage door was open and they had no idea the neighbors cat wandered in. They shut the door and left and didn't return until the following weekend.The cat did survive but was malnourished and dehydrated. Maybe check with your neighbors.
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AmyS
Full Member
Enrich your life through crochet. (tm)
Posts: 178
Location: North Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 3:16:46 GMT
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Post by AmyS on Jul 21, 2014 0:27:43 GMT
Do you have any pieces of furniture that are flush to the floor on the front and sides but might have just a couple inches of space from the floor on the back side? We have one cabinet that I was absolutely SURE none of our cats could fit under, until saw one come out from there with my own eyes. I had just looked behind there and the cat wasn't between the cabinet and the wall.
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,716
Jun 26, 2014 14:12:17 GMT
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Post by anniebeth24 on Jul 21, 2014 0:28:05 GMT
About half of our basement is finished. My cats love to climb the shelves in the unfinished part and then crawl onto the ceiling of the finished part. Saw them coming out of there once, but otherwise never would have known they go in there. Is that a possibility?
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AmyS
Full Member
Enrich your life through crochet. (tm)
Posts: 178
Location: North Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 3:16:46 GMT
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Post by AmyS on Jul 21, 2014 0:31:15 GMT
I also found a cat somehow IN the clothes and hangers in the closet one time.
We had one get up in the box springs one time. We also have one recliner that has a tiny space in the back that they can crawl into. Do you have anything that sits on a shelf with space behind it? Even if you think they can't get up to the shelf, a determined cat can usualy find a way to do so.
Have you opened all bathroom cabinets, closet doors, doors to any rooms that usually remain shut?
Is there a clothes hamper she might have been able to get in to?
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Jul 21, 2014 0:31:40 GMT
Is the sitter sure she didn't sneak out to eat and go back into hiding?
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AmyS
Full Member
Enrich your life through crochet. (tm)
Posts: 178
Location: North Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 3:16:46 GMT
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Post by AmyS on Jul 21, 2014 0:34:13 GMT
Any big shoes or boots in a closet she could cram herself into?
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,015
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Jul 21, 2014 0:48:29 GMT
Yes, the pet sitter is very sure she did not get out. We left the doors to the basement and 2 of the kids' rooms closed. Both the sitter and dh & I have searched those spaces top to bottom though. The pet sitter also moved all the furniture and looked behind the washer & dryer, she was very thorough. I'm really afraid she crawled down into the vent. It would be the perfect hiding spot.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 6:35:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2014 0:51:47 GMT
Yes, the pet sitter is very sure she did not get out. We left the doors to the basement and 2 of the kids' rooms closed. Both the sitter and dh & I have searched those spaces top to bottom though. The pet sitter also moved all the furniture and looked behind the washer & dryer, she was very thorough. I'm really afraid she crawled down into the vent. It would be the perfect hiding spot. Please don't worry yourself. I really TRULY think that if Trixie were in any kind of distress (stuck somewhere...even in a vent or under the house) that she'd vocalize and you'd hear something. You would know if she were in distress.
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Post by jjpswife on Jul 21, 2014 0:52:35 GMT
I'm so sorry...I hope you find her soon.
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,015
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Jul 21, 2014 0:52:37 GMT
I added some Dobby photos for you Jenny.
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janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
Posts: 5,641
Jun 26, 2014 14:35:07 GMT
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Post by janeliz on Jul 21, 2014 1:20:55 GMT
Oh, I hope she turns up soon! I was wondering how they were doing. Dobby is absolutely precious.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 6:35:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2014 1:28:08 GMT
In the first picture, it really looks like Dobby is kind of "leaning away" from Beezus. Dobby is adorable. Our neighbors just got a kitten...so tiny. I've already been over twice to "visit" and they're going out of town in a few weeks...YAY! (they usually take their dog to have someone else watch the dog...but I care for the cat...now cats) I'll have plenty of kitten time.
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,015
Jun 25, 2014 20:07:06 GMT
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Post by Sarah*H on Jul 21, 2014 1:37:38 GMT
I grew up in the country and have been a pet owner to lots of cats over my lifetime. Dobby ranks in the top 3 favorite cats I've ever had; there is just something really special about her. She has charmed our vet and the vet tech as well. She has changed the dynamic and personalities of our other cats as well, making them more social and playful. She's been a wonderful addition to our menagerie.
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