I do hope Geoff and Igor can help. I know it's a worrying time, but I need to tell you about what happened with an old cat of ours some years ago. Rusty, our Oriental Ticked Tabby went missing on Boxing Day. We thought he was probably shut in a shed / garage, and expected him home for tea. No sign... Several days went past and we had banged on every garage door / shed in the area, hoping to hear a reply (he was quite vocal!) We decided to slap pictures up everywhere around Cosham / Drayton / Wymering. After about 2 weeks, we started getting calls from people on Portsdown Hill saying there had been acat looking like Rusty up there for a few days. I was working in London then, and driving back each night to search, then going bak to work in the morning. Zombie was not the word for me... After @ 5 weeks, we had about given up hope, and I had reserved a kitten from a work colleague, as Rebecca, then 7,was beside herself with losing him. I was on my way down one Friday, when my Mum rang me - They had a little old lady round the corner, who said she had Rusty. She fed hedgehogs, and there had been a cat coming into the garden and eating the food she put out. She had gradually moved the food into the house, and eventually trapped the cat in her conservatory. Mum and Rebecca were on their way round, as the lady had taken the collar off, and got the number from the barrel! It was Rusty - He had a badly cut shoulder, and had obviously been injured - possibly as far back as Boxing Day! Vet trips and full check-over, TLC and lots of gentle cuddles. Oh - And we did get the kitten, a few weeks later, who became his baby....
Anyway, what I am saying is DON'T GIVE UP - We were just short of 6 weeks, and Rusty had almost found his way back home! I would suggest looking round the allotments just down from the vet - Lots of quiet places for a lost / scared cat to hide, and you can sit there just calling him to see if he will come out? I know when Merlin escaped, giving me apoplexy, before I gave in and got the cat flap fitted, he would respond to my calls, and try to get back to my voice.
Sending Hugs. If there's anything I can do, let me know - I have pm'd you my mobile number. xx
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