I am a avid cat lover. Over the past 3 years I have had 9 cats go missing.Any ideas what could be happening.?

Question

All my animal have been very happy and loving and spend most of their time inside. I know they would never run away. Each time there has been no trace of them, even door knocking and flyers not bringing any answers.

Another one of my beloved went missing last night, although this time it was different. There was scratch marks on the backyard concrete and a small amount of fur. We have an enclosed yard and I am always very careful to check the gates are all closed before bed.

I am so upset and tired of losing my family members but am at wits end as what to do find out whats happening to them.

Answer 1

i think its some type of predator taking your cats(bird of prey, foxes, coyotes).I live in a busy noisy city, and i see hawks and owls regularly, catching pigeons and squirrels.

I see foxes too:at night.

Answer 2

You're letting the cats out at night? Stop doing that and you'll stop losing cats. Kind of simple really. Keep the cats indoors - problem solved.

Answer 3

If you're letting your cats out at night then stop that straight away. Get a kitty litter and keep them inside from dinner time (cause it's easier to lock them in while they're eating) to the morning. Cats can not only harm wildlife and other cats at night but can be harmed BY wildlife which sounds like it might have been the case for you.

Remember that cats and many other animals are very good at climbing over fences, roofs etc and gates will not contain them. (My cat even gets out of the small gap above the garage door when he wants to, they are very tricky little things)

Other than that it's always a possibility that one of your neighbours has been hurting the cats.

Answer 4

How horrible!!

This won`t help to bring back those you have lost, but is an excellent way to prevent it. I have done it and it works like a charm.

I have put chicken wire at the top of my fence, bending it inward, keeping my cats from escaping the yard. It allows them to enjoy the outdoors, while staying safe as indoors.

Be sure to use the thicker, heavy type, not the soft kind. Maybe a foot and a half, rolling it inward. I just staple gunned it all the way around my wooden fence, and also around any tree trunks at the fence height, as they can climb trees, etc. and still get out.

If your fence is chain-link, then you would need to buy the kind that will attach to it.

Good luck, how awful for your little kids.

Answer 5

Where do you live?  I live in Colorado and you can't leave cats or small dogs outside because there are coyotes that scavenge at night

Answer 6

Have you pissed your neighbours off ?  Perhaps your neighbours don't like you or simply don't like cats. They might be taking your cats "for a drive" - sad but maybe true

Answer 7

It may be that someone local is going around stealing peoples cats or is it possible that your cats are getting out of your enclosed garden and not being able to get back in easily?

The only thing you can do is not let them out at all, cats soon adjust to being permanent indoor cats.

Answer 8

Not sure what could it be. I hate to tell you this, but it could be that someone is stealing your cats. Don't know why someone would do that, but they do. Most cat stealers usually work at night, to make sure they are not seen.  If your cats spend most of them inside and ever will run away, its possible that they are being held captive somewhere. It might explain why door knocking and flyers have no success. The scratch marks and fur, suggest that your cat put up a fight, and was trying to get away. The cat must have been very distressed to put scratch marks in the concrete.

I think it's very much possible, because my dad used to have a very beautiful female ginger cat before I was born. He used to tell me that it was the most obedient cat, he knew that she'd never run away too. Then one day she just disappeared. No trace of her since, and that was 30 years ago. Maybe there is someone you may know that really despises cats? Usually these people are cat haters with a passion. Good luck.

Answer 9

I am sorry what has happened to you. I think some people do not appreciate cats as much as you. I have been responsible cat owner for very long time but recently my chartreux cross got poisoned and found dead on the street. I hope this is not a case for you. There is nothing worse than you can not have closure for your beloved ones.

Answer 10

Well they're ouside, anything can be happening. Your neighbors could be setting traps for the cats when they go into their yards, predators, someone stealing them.

People actually drive around looking for stray or roaming animals, pick them up and sell them to labs or use them for traiing dogs to fight.

I'm leaning towards a predator. Bird, coyote, fox...

Answer 11

  

If they are cats then I believe that  they really don't want to be with you. If they are dogs this if the same.  

Remember all animals are here on the earth not for you, but for their own life.  If they choose to stay with you-- then they do-- if they don't, then they don't.

It is their choice. Don't cry over another's choice. :)

---Allison

Answer 12

maybe they wanted to go outside and play or maybe they just jumped out of you fence

Answer 13

I have the same problem. I finally started to keep all my 6 cats indoors. In my case, its owls. One of them even got my poor rooster. i am sorry for you missing animals!