Pets

People said that I should have called him Houdini because be was such an escape artist. He'd scoot out a door faster than lightning and take off for who knew where? Usually it was just a couple days before he was back at my door to come inside.

But one time he was gone for two weeks. I thought I'd never see him again. I had just moved from a village on the other side of the county to where I live now.

Merlin often got outdoors in the semi rural village where I used to live. When he slipped out my door at the new place, he apparently went back to the old home, then made his way back to my new place again. One morning I opened my front door to see him walking up the sidewalk toward me.

Guess he had to figure out what was going on. That adventure seemed to spook him. He didn't take off after that.

Another cat of mine, a ginger named Leo, disappeared the night of a Christmas party.
He was only about 6 months old, and I'd only had him about two months. The noise and number of people at the party scared him so be raced out the door when a kid opened it. Did not come back in the morning. I was heartbroken and worried because he was so young. About a week and a half later, he showed up at my back door meowing to be let in.

I have no idea where he was during that time. Someone might have taken him in thinking he was a stray. Or, since I got him from a friend who found him as a stray, he might have gone back to his old territory when he was frightened. But, he found his way home to me on his own again.

Another cat, a half Siamese named Alex, slipped out a kitchen window when I left it open to air out the kitchen after burning food on the stove. We had just moved from PA to Ohio, a semi rural Cleveland suburb. We lived on the first floor of a 3 story apartment building.

I did not notice that he was gone until late evening. I went all around the building searching. Alex had a habit of answering back vocally whenever I called him, so he must have been far away, beyond my ability to hear him respond, if he did. I put up signs everywhere describing him.

About two weeks later, I found him sitting outside the window that he had jumped from. He did not know where the apt. building entrance was. I rushed to pick him up and he clung to me, as relieved that he was home again as I was.

So, if a cat has a good bond with you, it will find its way back again unless something holds it back, like another person finding it and taking it home. If that happens, it will get loose and come back as soon as it gets a chance to.

There is the chance that we don't like to think of, that the cat was hurt by another animal or a car. But before worrying about that, I'd just keep looking, calling its name, staying alert to its meow or other signs that it's nearby again. Might take a couple weeks or a month.

He could also advertise in the local newspaper or post a pic in social media in his area. Check with the nearest animal shelter to see if the cat was taken there. Check with vets in the area in case someone took it in as a stray and went to a vet for a check up.

Hope it turns out well for him and the cat.