Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/7/2009

Question
Our one year old male neutered cat has been missing for a week now.  We adopted him from our local shelter and have had him for 5 months.  He has been going outside since we have had him.  We posted flyers and have had two phone calls regarding sightings.  The lastest sighting was in my neighborhood about a block away.  When we arrived there my 11 year old son saw our cat and yelled his name.  Our cat then ran off into the woods away from us.  This was devasting to our family.  Why would he run away from us?  He was much loved in our home and my family doesn't understand.

Answer
Erica,

It's sad to say, but your cat is probably where he wants to be right now. Even though he is 'owned', he is still an independent creature. There is something that may be attracting him where he is. It could be a family of rodents, another cat he has become 'friends' with, someone feeding him, etc., or possibly, a child-free home.

Some homes with children have too much activity for a cat. I only I mention this because there is a chance that it is the reason your cat 'moved'. Does your son have friends that, without his knowledge been mean to the cat? Could have been 'rowdy' and scared the cat? Your son may have been raised correctly, but there are a lot of children who have not been taught how to be kind or gentle around animals.

The cat more than likely knows where his home is and he will come back if and when he wants to. I had a cat that disliked kittens, and when I fostered some, he left and moved to a neighbor's house that did not have cats. He would visit periodically but leave right away again. Then, six months later he came back and stayed, like he had never left.

The above are just possibilities. Sometimes only a cat knows why he does something for sure. I would keep trying to get him home, but maybe it would be better if you called him and not your son. But if you do, and he goes away again, sadly, I would let him be and not try to force him to stay at your house. It will depress him and may make him aggressive and unhappy. Hopefully, whatever is keeping him interested where he is at, he will get bored with, and come home to stay.

Tabbi