2 cats in two years gone missing in March

M5

Hi all,

We moved to a rural address and brought our male cat with us. By March he had disappeared. He never left the house for more than a few hours

We got a kitten, also male, in June, really great with our 7 month old and also affectionate and clean. Again, 1st week in March and he has disappeared.

Any suggestions on what could have happened? Both cats were well fed, and had plenty of attention. I thought it was possibly to do with mating season as neither were neutered

Nody

Why would you ever let a unneutered cat out?! That is not only asking for trouble but yes, they will walk away and most likely not find their way back (or care).

kylith

Could well be gone looking to breed.

I have to add my voice to the choir? Why wouldn't you neuter? And why would you let an unneutered cat roam?

intheclouds

Unneutered male cats will wander to mate and while wandering will fight and may be killed by other animals (especially in a rural location).

Its really stupid to keep an unneutered male and allow him to wander, you are practically guaranteed that he will go off fighting and mating and come to harm. You dont often see old unneutered males and thats why. Its also hugely irresponsible to allow an unneutered male wander impregnating any female he comes across in heat contributing to the feral cat population we already have in this country.

M5

Op here again. 2 neutered cats, 1 male one female also disappeared.

Both were quite wild originally but had recently become affectionate. Again, well fed and looked after. Third female cat of the same litter still here.

Something else going on here folks. Any suggestions?

Donnielighto

If you're near sheep farmers there's a chance they were shot if they went into the farm. Cats carry toxoplasmosis which causes sheep to abort and spread it to sheep through urine on hay and the like.

M5

Donnielighto wrote: »

If you're near sheep farmers there's a chance they were shot if they went into the farm. Cats carry toxoplasmosis which causes sheep to abort and spread it to sheep through urine on hay and the like.

Possible I guess, I know most of my neighbours though and it's not been mentioned to me (either as it being a problem or otherwise) Could be gone further afield I guess.

That's 4 gone now, even made sure to get wild ones last time with family. Think I need a dog to protect my cats

muddypaws

M5 wrote: »

Possible I guess, I know most of my neighbours though and it's not been mentioned to me (either as it being a problem or otherwise) Could be gone further afield I guess.

That's 4 gone now, even made sure to get wild ones last time with family. Think I need a dog to protect my cats

But then you'd have to let your dogs out to roam with the cats, which won't end well.

I'm sorry OP, I don't know, have you checked local roads to see if they have been run over?

mosi

OP, were the cats kept inside at night? If not, then any cats you have now or in the future should be brought in before dusk as night time is the most dangerous time for them.

ShaShaBear

Have you tried keeping the cats indoors to stop them going missing?