Elderly cat has disappeared
Discussion
It's early days however Pepper our elderly cat seems to have disappeared and, obviously, I'm concerned.
Pepper is (approx) 19, she is a rescue tortoiseshell who we got from the RSPCA about 17 years ago, she has always ruled the house and put both Humphrey (dog) and Jazzy (younger cat) in their place, however she has always had a softer vulnerable side and absolutely loves human attention, to the point of sometimes being annoying.
She has never had any major health issues and over the last few years has never really ventured outside much, struggled to jump up to the work surface to feed herself and has the odd mis-hap when jumping from one sofa to the other, for example, I've just put this down to old age, anyway increasingly she has just been staring into space and looking increasingly uncomfortable when feeding, with her hind legs sliding and she has increasingly been losing balance, oddly in the last couple of weeks she has been sleeping during the day outside on the flower border just underneath the lounge window.
I saw her this morning for breakfast, she had her meat and them stood guard on the table to get the last drops of milk from my cereal, she does that every morning.
I've come home from work and she's not about, the wife hasn't seen her either, it's now 21:30 and by now she would normally be all over me, to the point of being annoying, I haven't a clue what's going on, you may say "it's early days!" however I know my cat, something isn't right.
Pepper is (approx) 19, she is a rescue tortoiseshell who we got from the RSPCA about 17 years ago, she has always ruled the house and put both Humphrey (dog) and Jazzy (younger cat) in their place, however she has always had a softer vulnerable side and absolutely loves human attention, to the point of sometimes being annoying.
She has never had any major health issues and over the last few years has never really ventured outside much, struggled to jump up to the work surface to feed herself and has the odd mis-hap when jumping from one sofa to the other, for example, I've just put this down to old age, anyway increasingly she has just been staring into space and looking increasingly uncomfortable when feeding, with her hind legs sliding and she has increasingly been losing balance, oddly in the last couple of weeks she has been sleeping during the day outside on the flower border just underneath the lounge window.
I saw her this morning for breakfast, she had her meat and them stood guard on the table to get the last drops of milk from my cereal, she does that every morning.
I've come home from work and she's not about, the wife hasn't seen her either, it's now 21:30 and by now she would normally be all over me, to the point of being annoying, I haven't a clue what's going on, you may say "it's early days!" however I know my cat, something isn't right.
It's always a worry when elderly cats wander off.
My old girl (must have been 18+) and a rescue cat often went in the field at the rear of our house to sunbathe or hunt and never roamed farther. When we hadn't seen her all day our hearts sank and we never did find her despite extensive searching for weeks.
Guess she took herself off to die somewhere which is a shame as we never had closure on what happened to her.
My old girl (must have been 18+) and a rescue cat often went in the field at the rear of our house to sunbathe or hunt and never roamed farther. When we hadn't seen her all day our hearts sank and we never did find her despite extensive searching for weeks.
Guess she took herself off to die somewhere which is a shame as we never had closure on what happened to her.
Granville said:
It's always a worry when elderly cats wander off.
My old girl (must have been 18+) and a rescue cat often went in the field at the rear of our house to sunbathe or hunt and never roamed farther. When we hadn't seen her all day our hearts sank and we never did find her despite extensive searching for weeks.
Guess she took herself off to die somewhere which is a shame as we never had closure on what happened to her.
Our old Black Cat did this nearly two years ago, now. Still miss the old Bruiser.My old girl (must have been 18+) and a rescue cat often went in the field at the rear of our house to sunbathe or hunt and never roamed farther. When we hadn't seen her all day our hearts sank and we never did find her despite extensive searching for weeks.
Guess she took herself off to die somewhere which is a shame as we never had closure on what happened to her.
With a cat of that age that's showing senile behaviour I would not let them outside, my old girl never ventured out side for the last 3/4 yrs of her life, as she was deaf and very doddery.
At your cats age she could quite simply wonder off as old animals can do and find a spot to retire to.
At your cats age she could quite simply wonder off as old animals can do and find a spot to retire to.
Agree with Rosie, at her point in life it may be best to keep her indoors, or at least confined to your garden? With her balance and stability issues she could injure herself, or be vulnerable to a dog/ fox attack 
Glad she turned up safe this time. It's bad enough when they go missing when they're young and healthy.
Glad she turned up safe this time. It's bad enough when they go missing when they're young and healthy.
I thought I'd piggy back this thread because my elderly cat has disappeared. Cooper was 15 and I'd adopted him as a kitten when I first moved to the US in 2004. He's been with me through a divorce and redundancy/unemployment. He's an indoor/outdoor cat and never goes far. Last Saturday he went out late in the evening. I called him in, but no sign. Not unusual with the warm evenings we have here, so I went to bed. I usually get up and he's there at the back door waiting for breakfast. Not this time and I haven't seen him since. I live in a cul-de-sac and have contacted all my neighbours, and searched the gardens. Not a sign of him anywhere. I've heard when its their 'time' they can wander off to pass away. Unfortunately there are the occasional sightings of coyotes here, and I have feared the worse.
He was still a spritely chap and always liked to be close. Its been a sad week, coming home from work and he's not there waiting for me on the driveway, not having to do all the things you do for the furry little things etc. Not knowing and having closure and thinking the what if's etc......ouch....I just hope he didn't suffer.
Is it true about cats leaving like this when its their 'time'?
He was still a spritely chap and always liked to be close. Its been a sad week, coming home from work and he's not there waiting for me on the driveway, not having to do all the things you do for the furry little things etc. Not knowing and having closure and thinking the what if's etc......ouch....I just hope he didn't suffer.
Is it true about cats leaving like this when its their 'time'?
This is the only problem with cats,you have no control over then once they leave the house
I get attached as do my kids, we’ve lost one to a car and our oldest cat went missing couple of years back.
Of the two we have now one comes back literally 5 minutes later, and the other is anyone’s guess, quite often strolls back a day later
Hope it turns out well
I get attached as do my kids, we’ve lost one to a car and our oldest cat went missing couple of years back.
Of the two we have now one comes back literally 5 minutes later, and the other is anyone’s guess, quite often strolls back a day later
Hope it turns out well
One of ours was missing for about 6 weeks. Not a sight nor sound of her whilst her sister was in every night. Five days ago she turned up at the front door. She has gone again now, spent a few days with us, had some food, slept on the bed etc. Guessing she is back off over the fields.. Cats are incredible creatures, never lose hope.
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