Expert: DebbieC - 3/28/2007

Question
QUESTION: Please help i have a feline who is about 9 months old we rescued her  from a scrap yard and she has been missing since 08.00gmt yyesterday morning.There has been a cat moaning all night at the window,she is not spayed do you think she has run off with the male too breed?????? HELP im gutted.
ANSWER: ((((((Paul)))) I'm so sorry to hear about your missing baby!  Please make sure you have fresh water and at least dry food just outside for her in hopes of having her stay closer to your home.  Yes, if she was not spayed yet - it's kitten making season - The cat moaning or howling sounds are typical for cats in heat.

Give her a few days leaving fresh water and her favorite food outside and call for her regularly to see if you can get her to come back home after her outtings!

Please let me know if you don't see her for several more days - but I have a feeling your little girl is out and about trying to breed!  I'm sure the next time you catch her, she will get a trip to the Vet for spaying :-)  I'll look for your answer to see if she's come back after this heat.

Thanks Paul,

Debbie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Debbie thanks for your answer it did put my mind and rest slightly but still no sign of her how long do you think the heat could last for?

Answer
Hi Paul,  I'm sorry to hear she has not returned yet!  Let's go into full trapping mode now.  Still put the fresh water and her dry food out, but try to borrow, rent or buy a trap (or dog crate) we will use to try to trap with.

Most feed stores or shelter have traps to lend.  Also get some PetZyme from your pet store to disinfect your trap with.  The shelters are pretty good at disinfecting the ones they lend out, but to make sure I still spray the PetZyme in and round the trap and let it dry.  Get a large bath towel and wrap the trap like a burrito, leaving the front door open.  I use duct tape to keep the towel on tight and stop it from flapping round.  

Now add to your food station tuna in oil, Jack Mackerl (in the tinned meat grocery store section usually and VERY stinky!).  Put just a taste on a small plate just in front of the trap with a bit more on a plate (or light weight bowl, plastic) just inside the trap for about 1 week.  

Fresh hot chicken (KFC like) with the skin off and chunks tossed inside the trap have caught MANY cats for me as well as hot fresh french fries!  Something bout that hot greasy smell drives them crazy.

Next weekend, you can move the food inside the trap to the back then set it when you have time to watch it.  As soon as a cat is caught/trapped, get the trap up and cover with a sheet to calm the cat down and put it somewhere safe - garage, spare bath, etc... After 1/2 hour peek and see if it's your cat - a GOOD look just in case - if not you'll need to plan on what to do with other "strays" or ferals you may catch.

Watch as much as you can this weekend from sunset to dawn your food station to see who/how many and WHERE the cats seem to wander IN your yard from, and where they disappear off to... This is important because cats use the same paths.

I'll look forward to hearing if you can get a Humane trap, if you saw any cats come eat this weekend & how your doing ok?

Hang in there Paul, I think we can get her back!

Debbie