New cat we are temp housing for a family member is disappeared. When to worry?

[Anonymous]

We are temporarily watching two cats for a family member who is abroad for several months. They arrived Tuesday, and I haven't seen one of them since last night. The food is gone and the litter box is being used, but I have no way of knowing which one of them is using it. It is possible he got outside when we let the dog out this morning, but we were careful and didn't see him around.

I know he could just be hiding because of the new surroundings, but we have looked in every nook and cranny we can think of and he is nowhere. Should we be worried, and what can we do to try to lure him out if he is hiding?

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

If you don't see him after 36 hours or so, get a little worried. He's probably hiding in the house and will come out at night. This isn't really all that abnormal. Even my loving cats will disappear for up to 24 hours once in a while.

Try to ensure they don't get out when you let the dog out, and if you have one, set up a webcam by the food bowl. I bet he found a great hiding spot somewhere under a bed, on a kitchen chair under the table, or somewhere else and has no problem eating and using the box at night.

One friend got a rescue cat and did not see it for two weeks. It ate the food and used the box, but was invisible otherwise. They can be pretty reclusive when they have a big change.

[Anonymous]

It's probably hiding inside, but just in case, look in the bushes and shrubs near the door.

[Anonymous]

It's likely that the cat is hiding somewhere inside--they are good at hiding.

BUT how sure are you that the cat didn't escape when the dog went in or out? Cats are prone to try to escape from unfamiliar places, so you need to be super-vigilant about the doors. When the cat reappears (very likely), you need to remember to close doors right away every time.

The webcam idea is a good one.

[Anonymous]

OP here. He was stuck inside the couch! We finally sat down and felt the couch move. Pulled it away from the wall and removed the Velcro back. He FELL out! He immediately ran into the basement and we can't find him since. But we know he is here!

This cat thing is going to take some getting used to! ?
Thanks for the responses!

[Anonymous]

Oh, poor kitty! I'm glad you at least know he's there! I hope he settles down soon.

[Anonymous]

Happens all the time OP! I remember a week after my parents moved, I got a hysterical call that her beloved cat was missing and must have escaped outside. Turns out, she was just hiding in one of the many packing boxes. It takes time for them to get used to new surroundings!

[Anonymous]

Happy he is found!! They are very good at hiding. Just keep the water, food and little box out. He will settle in in time.

[Anonymous]

Give him a couple weeks to settle in. Get some treats in a bag and shake the bag, give a treat (where's he's hiding.) He'll get used to the shake shake treat routine and then you'll be able to shake the bag any time to get him to come out. My cat loves treat time!!

[Anonymous]

When we were last at my in-laws' BIL couldn't find his cat when he was getting ready to leave (who brings a cat for a weekend?). I found her hiding in FIL's office bookcase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He was stuck inside the couch! We finally sat down and felt the couch move. Pulled it away from the wall and removed the Velcro back. He FELL out! He immediately ran into the basement and we can't find him since. But we know he is here!

This cat thing is going to take some getting used to! ?
Thanks for the responses!

What the heck??? Inside the couch??!! lol!!!

[Anonymous]

If you are almost positive he didn't get outside when your dog did, he most likely is hiding out somewhere due to the new environment. Cats are notorious for doing this, hence the term "fraidy cat." Lol.

I have an idea...Can you get the family member on Skype or a FaceTime chat screen + have them call the missing kitty? If the cat can hear and recognize their owner's voice, it just may coerce him out of hiding.

Wouldn't hurt to try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are almost positive he didn't get outside when your dog did, he most likely is hiding out somewhere due to the new environment. Cats are notorious for doing this, hence the term "fraidy cat." Lol.

I have an idea...Can you get the family member on Skype or a FaceTime chat screen + have them call the missing kitty? If the cat can hear and recognize their owner's voice, it just may coerce him out of hiding.

Wouldn't hurt to try.

He was in the couch.

Read the thread. It's short.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are almost positive he didn't get outside when your dog did, he most likely is hiding out somewhere due to the new environment. Cats are notorious for doing this, hence the term "fraidy cat." Lol.

I have an idea...Can you get the family member on Skype or a FaceTime chat screen + have them call the missing kitty? If the cat can hear and recognize their owner's voice, it just may coerce him out of hiding.

Wouldn't hurt to try.

He was in the couch.

Read the thread. It's short.

Who pissed in your cornflakes?

[Anonymous]

OP here with an update.

One of the two cats has completely acclimated to the family. She roams freely and will even curl up on my lap. The other one, couch-cat, we almost never see. It has been 48-hours now since we last saw him. I'm nearly certain that he is still in hiding, and i would assume that two cats are using the litter box and the food. Is this just going to be our new norm now? That there is a cat somewhere that we are feeding and cleaning up after, but we'll just never see him?