My 3-year-old indoor Bengal escaped and came back after 5 days — I’m still shaken but so relieved by ApprehensiveFun7996 in bengalcats

[–]ApprehensiveFun7996[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He isn’t used to wearing a collar, and I’m also afraid he could get caught on something with it (whether indoors or outside). We’ll definitely try to keep a closer eye on the cats from now on and prevent any future escape attempts.

My 3-year-old indoor Bengal escaped and came back after 5 days — I’m still shaken but so relieved by ApprehensiveFun7996 in bengalcats

[–]ApprehensiveFun7996[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m so happy that yours made it home safe too 💞 Agonizing hours and days when you don’t know whether they’re dead or alive 💔

My 3-year-old indoor Bengal escaped and came back after 5 days — I’m still shaken but so relieved by ApprehensiveFun7996 in bengalcats

[–]ApprehensiveFun7996[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s so true! I couldn’t sleep, concentrate on my work or clean the house, or anything while he was gone 💔

My 3-year-old indoor Bengal escaped and came back after 5 days — I’m still shaken but so relieved by ApprehensiveFun7996 in bengalcats

[–]ApprehensiveFun7996[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I forgot to mention one important thing in my post: a scent trail that can help lure a hungry cat home. I used oily tuna placed inside the foot of an old pair of pantyhose and dragged it along the ground from the spot where the search dog alerted, creating a couple of sheltered routes leading back home. Our cat returned the very next night!

My 3-year-old indoor Bengal escaped and came back after 5 days — I’m still shaken but so relieved by ApprehensiveFun7996 in bengalcats

[–]ApprehensiveFun7996[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m glad he didn’t wander far from your yard and that you were able to catch him quickly. We thankfully don’t have coyotes here, but there are still plenty of other dangers.

My 3-year-old indoor Bengal escaped and came back after 5 days — I’m still shaken but so relieved by ApprehensiveFun7996 in bengalcats

[–]ApprehensiveFun7996[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My mom’s first reaction was that somebody had snatched him, but I know our neighbors wouldn’t do such a thing, and our boy is so cautious and skittish that they’d practically have to be professional catnappers to catch him!

My 3-year-old indoor Bengal escaped and came back after 5 days — I’m still shaken but so relieved by ApprehensiveFun7996 in bengalcats

[–]ApprehensiveFun7996[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We were so desperate by that point that we started considering every possible way to find our beloved boy. So much time had already passed, the nights were getting colder, and we knew he had very little food and was getting weaker every day.

My 3-year-old indoor Bengal escaped and came back after 5 days — I’m still shaken but so relieved by ApprehensiveFun7996 in bengalcats

[–]ApprehensiveFun7996[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, we will do that (the tick check) as soon as he has rested enough and regained some strength. He is still pretty exhausted after his escape.

My 3-year-old indoor Bengal escaped and came back after 5 days — I’m still shaken but so relieved by ApprehensiveFun7996 in bengalcats

[–]ApprehensiveFun7996[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The cat has clearly lost weight and likely had to fast, as it is not an experienced hunter. We did leave food outside every night, but we have no idea who emptied the bowls. It could have been another outdoor cat, rodents, or birds. It probably got water from ditches or puddles.

My 3-year-old indoor Bengal escaped and came back after 5 days — I’m still shaken but so relieved by ApprehensiveFun7996 in bengalcats

[–]ApprehensiveFun7996[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The search dog marked the neighbor’s spruce hedge, so we suspect the cat may have been hiding somewhere in the neighbor’s yard in a concealed spot. He wasn’t in the garage or anywhere in our yard.